• THE leader Comment in the CNJ (Where the real blame for our desperate housing crisis lies, December 14), together with the excellent letter by Mick Farrant in the same issue, was spot on.

It is time to stop protecting the ineptness of so many staff in this area. No longer should they be allowed to rely on “it is the procedure”.

Was this not the Nazi defence that failed at Nuremberg, latterly at Strasbourg and in the English courts?

The “Nolan Principles” of public life which I understand all public sector workers seek to abide by must be enforced.

Judge Michael Patrick Nolan, Baron Nolan, PC DL QC, was founding chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

Government guidance on the principles, published in May 1995, reads: “The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder. This includes all those who are elected or appointed to public office, nationally and locally, and all people appointed to work in the Civil Service, local government, the police, courts and probation services, non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), and in the health, education, social and care services. All public office-holders are both servants of the public and stewards of public resources. The principles also apply to all those in other sectors delivering public services.

— 1.1 Selflessness
Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

— 1.2 Integrity
Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

— 1.3 Objectivity
Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

— 1.4 Accountability
Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

— 1.5 Openness
Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

— 1.6 Honesty
Holders of public office should be truthful.

— 1.7 Leadership
Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.”

SARAH BIRD
Address supplied