Assembly round-up

Members got down to the detail of fuel duty, Lough Neagh’s ownership and social care in April’s private member’s motions but a lack of legislation still holds up progress.

A series of moving tributes to mark the Titanic centenary gave proceedings a solemn tone when the House returned after Easter on 16 April.

DUP East Belfast MLA Sammy Douglas recalled how Belfast’s pride in the ship had been “badly dented” by its loss and his father, who worked in the Harland and Wolff yard, never talked about it.

“In the present economic climate, we need people of vision, people who can dream dreams,” he remarked.  “As CS Lewis, one of East Belfast’s most famous sons, reminds us: ‘You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.’”

From the Sinn Féin benches, Cathal Ó hOisín remembered that neither the ship nor the shipyard were equal or shared spaces and thanked the First Minister and Lord Mayor of Belfast for their tributes.  The Assembly resolved to note the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s maiden voyage, acknowledge the “innovation and ingenuity” of its design and construction, welcome the creation of Titanic Belfast (and its own commemoration) and call for “any further marking of the anniversary or memorial to be solemn and dignified”.

William Hay also welcomed two new MLAs for South Down, Seán Rogers (SDLP) and Chris Hazzard (Sinn Féin), replacing Margaret Ritchie and Willie Clarke respectively.

The atmosphere became tenser during a debate over the Disappeared, when Sinn Féin came in for strong criticism from other parties.

However, the party’s motion on bringing Lough Neagh “back” into public ownership was passed the following day.  Proposer Francie Molloy said: “The fact that we have no overall responsibility for Lough Neagh prevents us from putting in place a strategic approach for its future development.”  The UUP, TUV and unionist independents objected.  Jo-Anne Dobson pointed out that the lough was currently private property (it was unclear whether it had ever been publicly owned) and claimed that the proposal amounted to “nationalisation”.

The next week, John O’Dowd announced an extra £6 million for childcare during a debate on pre-school admissions.  Alliance’s Judith Cochrane had brought forward the motion, as working parents had faced a shortage of places (while benefit claimants were given priority) but had less free time to take their children to and from nurseries.

Sinn Féin’s call to devolve fuel duty was rejected on cost grounds on 24 April, but the House did condemn the Treasury’s 3p rise and call for duty relief, based on the Treasury’s existing scheme for the Scottish islands.

While the number of Executive decisions is picking up, and ministers have been busily promoting Northern Ireland’s interests abroad, the legislative process is grindingly slow.  Since the Assembly election, three acts have been passed and just three bills are now before the Assembly.  This is matched by the number of private member’s bills being prepared: on special advisers, children’s services and care within families.

In a troubling development, DUP ministers were also strongly criticising the Attorney-General and the Northern Ireland Audit Office, tasked with giving independent legal advice to ministers and holding government to account.
The House continues its work throughout May and June, and rises for the summer recess on 6 July.

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