Givan: Minister criticised for LCC meeting while declining others

The department also said that neither the minister nor his special advisor had sought or received “any guidance from the department’s permanent secretary or the department’s legal advisors in advance of the meeting with the LCC”.

“Like many people, I was quite concerned that the minister had met with the LCC, particularly as we had a lot of feedback from other groups and organisations who had sought to meet with the minister and had been turned down”, de Faoite told BBC News NI.

“I’ve been contacted by a number of different groups, in relation to a range of issues.”

De Faoite said that included organisations who wanted to meet the minister about “special educational needs (SEN) provision, the reform of relationship and sexuality education (RSE), the provision of free school meals and support for children and families that are struggling through the cost of living crisis”.

“Groups that have all tried and sought to meet the minister and have been refused.”

De Faoite’s SDLP colleague Matthew O’Toole also questioned the minister in the assembly on Monday.

In response, Givan said that he had accepted 324 invitations to meet from “schools, individuals and many organisations” since taking up office.

The minister said he had “fulfilled hundreds of these, including visits to many schools and community facilities that represent every part of our society”.

“Given the significant demands on my diary, it would not be possible to accommodate every request,” he continued.

“I will not make any apology for making sure that we seek to move every part of our society forward.”