Assembly round-up

As the Assembly beds down, new members are reminded of acceptable conduct, while a major health announcement is followed by controversy over a key political appointment.

The new mandate began on 12 May with 25 fresh faces (eight women), while high profile casualties included the SDLP’s Tommy Gallagher and Declan O’Loan, the UUP’s Fred Cobain and independent Dawn Purvis.

Martin McGuinness introduced Michelle O’Neill, Carál Ní Chuilín, John O’Dowd and Martina Anderson to the media saying they were chosen because they were “smart cookies.” Meanwhile, the other parties mainly played it safe, allocating ministries in terms of experience. Peter Robinson said he was sticking to a “winning team” with Sammy Wilson, Arlene Foster, Nelson McCausland and Edwin Poots. Independent David McClarty refused the UUP’s invitation to rejoin, therefore Alliance’s Stephen Farry took the employment and learning post. David Ford was later re-elected for the justice ministry. The UUP’s Danny Kennedy took regional development.

Alex’s Attwood’s appointment to the environment ministry “disappointed” SDLP deputy leader Patsy McGlone and there are rumblings of disquiet within the party. McGlone has indicated that the party needs to re-organise in constituencies where it “failed to deliver”. However, leader Margaret Ritchie has denied there is a crisis saying its vote has only gone down less than 1 per cent.

One new voice, the TUV’s Jim Allister, was reprimanded for “almost reaching the point of challenging the authority of the Speaker” after he claimed that William Hay had previously “sought to block the telling of the truth about individuals such as Bomber (Gerry) Kelly, who sits in the House.” Sinn Féin’s Carál Ní Chuilín asked that Hansard be checked to determine whether his language was unparliamentary.

He went on to dispute the absence of debate around the nomination of First and deputy First Ministers, “particularly in circumstances where one of those is a self-confessed terrorist commander.”

A public clash with the newly nominated First Minister in the lobby followed Robinson’s commitment to be “a thorn in the side of anyone who would try to obstruct the democratic will of the people of Northern Ireland,” including those in the House who think they can disturb the will of the people by political means. Allister told the media: “He was directing his comments in truth at every voter who voted TUV and everyone who dares to challenge the DUP and Sinn Féin agenda.”

Robinson’s rocky year was acknowledged by his nominator Sammy Wilson who said the DUP leader had to operate “against the background of massive media publicity against him, domestic difficulties and personal disappointment.”

Martin McGuinness translated the votes as “the people voting for their leaders to work together no matter what their allegiance.” In an apparent reference to Tom Elliott’s comments about Sinn Féin, McGuinness said: “I am an Irish republican and my allegiance is to the people of Ireland, but I can work with people who observe a different flag without being offended by that.”

Getting down to business on the second day, royal assent was granted to 13 bills including Daithí McKay’s on a plastic bag charge and Dominic Bradley’s on an autism strategy.

A trip to Dublin saw the First Minister, Tom Elliott and Margaret Ritchie meet Queen Elizabeth at the War Memorial Gardens at Islandbridge after she laid a wreath commemorating Irish soldiers who died fighting in World War One. Robinson welcomed Sinn Féin’s “silent, if not benign neutrality” to the visit but said they “would not have been out of place representing their community.” Robinson and Gerry Adams were given front row seats the following week in College Green for President Obama’s rousing address.

Members paid their respects to former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald whose state funeral was held on 22 May. He was remembered for his contribution to Northern politics, particularly signing the Anglo-Irish Agreement; the “foundation stone upon which our political institutions are now built.”

The Assembly’s 18 committees were appointed on 23 May, while the Health Minister announced that the Altnagelvin radiotherapy unit will be open by 2016. Reflecting on his meeting with cancer patients who have to travel to Belfast for treatment, Edwin Poots said: “We should give thanks to God for good health and show compassion to those who are less fortunate than us.”

Sinn Féin’s decision to appoint Mary McArdle, convicted of assisting in the murder of a magistrate’s daughter, as special adviser to Carál Ni Chuilín was described by Peter Robinson as “insensitive and a mistake.”

The Education Committee intends to get straight to work and is the only one to have worked out a comprehensive forward planning diary. This includes a briefing from the new Minister on his education priorities and departmental briefings on transfer arrangements, spending plans and the reform of education administration and RPA.

The Standards and Privileges Committee has indicated that the appointment of an Assembly Commissioner for Standards will be a priority, as will a further review of privilege and the code of conduct.

Meanwhile, the Health Committee has said it will focus on a new radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin Hospital, care for the elderly and saving money, for example, by cutting consultants’ bonuses.