New man at the ministry

New man at the ministry

31 July 2013

STRANGFORD Assemblyman Simon Hamilton has been appointed Stormont’s new Minister of Finance and Personnel.

The 37 year-old, who has shadowed his predecessor Sammy Wilson for the past two years, was elevated to the main role on Monday morning by First Minister Peter Robinson.

Mr. Hamilton, who lives in Comber and whose father and mother are from Killyleagh and Ardglass respectively, now has responsibility for administering millions of pounds to the various government departments.

He admits there are challenges ahead, but as one of the Stormont Executive’s youngest ministers, Mr. Hamilton says they are challenges he can’t wait to get his teeth into.

Elected to the Assembly in 2007, the MLA is viewed as one of the rising stars within the DUP, with Mr. Robinson saying Mr. Hamilton had demonstrated his “tremendous capability and hardworking mind-set” in various positions inside and outside the Assembly.

Mr. Hamilton said he is “honoured” to be appointed and it has been his privilege to serve as Mr. Wilson’s Assembly private secretary for the past two years, gaining “invaluable experience and guidance from him.”

“Working as Sammy’s private secretary for the past two years has provided me with an opportunity to get my head around the system and the inner workings of the department,” said Mr. Hamilton.

“But even if I had been Sammy’s deputy for 22 years, nothing prepares you for the moment when the party leader confirms that you will be in charge of such an important ministerial portfolio.”

The Strangford MLA said key decisions which he now has to take rest squarely on his shoulders, suggesting there is no amount of time which can prepare for the moment when you are told you are in charge and that from now on “the buck stops with you.”

Mr. Hamilton admits a challenge lies ahead in balancing his role as finance minister for all the people of Northern Ireland and continuing to represent his constituents.

He continued: “The thing for me to do is maintain the balance of doing what is an incredibly important job to the best of my ability on behalf of all the people in the country. I am also conscious that it’s the people of Strangford who elected me and that ultimately I am accountable to them.

“From their perspective, they have a voice at the Executive putting their concerns across. I still have a job to do and will still represent them at Stormont.”

Mr. Hamilton admits while his new job will be demanding, given the current economic situation and the cuts to the Stormont budget, he says his predecessor has left him a firm foundation to build on.

He added: “There will be several more years of austerity measures from Westminster but there are some positive signs. The unemployment level has fallen to its lowest in recent years and there are signs of confidence building in the economy. But there is still much to do and people do not feel as though they have yet turned the corner.”

Mr. Hamilton, who says he’s committed to working in the best interests of everyone in Northern Ireland, accepts that people want to see things getting done and he hopes to play his part at ministerial level in helping achieve that.