Ian Paisley, Jr. scandal

The Ian Paisley, Jr. scandal began in the summer of 2007 over the nature of the relationship between a Junior Minister of Northern Ireland Ian Paisley, Jr. and property developer Seymour Sweeney. On 11 September 2007 North Antrim Sinn Féin MLA, Daithí McKay, used parliamentary privilege to name Sweeney as a member of the DUP in the Assembly, and suggested that there was a strong "conflict of interest" between Mr Sweeney's membership of the DUP and a DUP Minister's decision to "be of a mind" to approve Mr Sweeney's application for a Visitor Centre at the Giant's Causeway. Questions were raised during an edition of Spotlight on 23 September 2007 as to whether or not Mr Paisley had acted improperly when lobbying for Mr Sweeney regarding the Giant's Causeway visitor centre. It has also emerged that Mr Paisley bought one of a series of houses built in Bushmills by Mr Sweeney (at full market value) after a local councillor and the previous landowner had been told that planning permission would not be granted for a development of more than two houses on that site.

He made a public blunder in an interview in which, after having been asked of his relationship with Sweeney, he said "I know of him." This prompted several prominent media figures to parody the moment. Nuala McKeever, the actress known for her roles in local comedies such as Give My Head Peace and her one woman show "Out Of the Box", joked in her Ireland-based touring sketch-show, "It's Not all Rain and Potatoes", "Ian Paisley Jr. is developing a new throat-lozenge. It's called Fisherman's acquaintance. It has no sugar but it has a few sweeteners." This is a reference to the confectionery item, Fisherman's Friend.

The Sweeney controversy took yet another twist in January 2008 when Jim Allister MEP made public a letter from David Hanson to Mr Paisley listing six requests by Mr Paisley relating to constituency matters which Mr Allister alleged formed part of the negotiations for the St Andrews Agreement a number of which related to Mr Sweeney, continued funding for the North West 200 being also among the requests. Mr Paisley apologised for any embarrassment he had caused the party but maintained he had done nothing wrong.

Derek Conway influence

There was further controversy in February 2008 following scrutiny on the employment of family members by politicians after the Derek Conway scandal when it emerged that Mr Paisley was on his father's payroll as a researcher in the constituency of North Antrim in addition to his roles as an MLA and a Junior Minister

Resignation

Paisley resigned his Junior Minister position on 18 February 2008