An investigation into an alleged breach in information security has been ordered in Parliament Buildings.
The internal probe follows a suspicion by management that information concerning Assembly memers' expenses had been violated.
Over a year ago the Commission or engine room of the Assembly which acts as the guardian or custodian of the well-being of the institutions decided greater transparency had to be brought into the system. This included the publishing of members' expenses and office allowances.
The first tranche of those expenses was unveiled unofficially and officially last week.
A second tranche is due in November.
There is a report that a disc containing details of expenses going back further in time has surfaced prematurely.
This is now understood to be the subject of careful scrutiny by journalists in the BBC.
Several Assembly employees were moved from their desks last Friday following a suspicion by management that information had gone walk about.
I gather computers are at the heart of the investigation.
The PSNI is not involved. This is purely an internal investigation at this stage.
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