A deal was finally reached on justice devolution, paving the way for new powers to Stormont, and the Assembly’s future again depends on the success of either side of the accord.
From the start, it was clear that February’s business in the Assembly would take second place to the Hillsborough talks and their end result. OFMDFM question time on the first of the month was cancelled as the respective ministers were tied up in the negotiations.
Members’ attention instead turned to educational matters later that day, when Caitríona Ruane was criticised for her “unacceptable” interim board arrangements, amid claims the Assembly’s authority had been undermined.
That was the UUP’s view, as the Assembly had previously voted for a single education and skills authority. Ruane, in response, reiterated her backing for that authority and criticised the motion’s supporters for not putting forward a “workable alternative”.
The House was, though, united on providing on-site financial aid and advice to cancer patients. Michelle O’Neill claimed that some 91 per cent of households with a person with the condition suffered a loss of income or increased costs as a direct result. Michael McGimpsey was not present for the debate as he considered it a social development matter. On his behalf, John McCallister suggested that the Social Security Agency give that advice in hospitals.
Peter Robinson, meanwhile, returned as First Minister, notifying the Speaker in a letter dated 3 February. Martin McGuinness did take OFMDFM questions on its return on 8 February, during which Paul Butler asked whether there were any plans to set up a dedicated programme to tackle child poverty using the Executive’s emergency funds under the Financial Assistance Act. Responding, junior Minister Gerry Kelly said the Executive would consider non-legislative options first, perhaps drawing from the dormant bank accounts.
Reporting back from Hillsborough, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness jointly addressed the house the next day. The former majored on justice while the latter focused on parading. Robinson again spoke very personally referring to his “sense of duty [when] every brain cell and every blood cell cried out to me to watch from the sidelines rather than from the front line.”
McGuinness, for his part, labelled the UUP and SDLP as “the two grumpy parties” in response to Dolores Kelly’s heckle of “no nationalists need apply.”
This month also saw the third private member’s Bill come before the House. The Local Government (Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill, to abolish MLAcouncillor dual mandates, was presented by Dawn Purvis and will be put on the future business list until a second stage date is finalised. As the fiscal pressures grew, the Budget Bill was making a swift passage through the chamber.
As agendaNi pointed out last month, Sinn Féin was the only party prepared to collapse the Assembly at that point over justice devolution.
The ‘clever device’ suggested by the DUP, which would see Peter Robinson take the same course of action if progress were slow on parades, means that republicans are not alone in questioning Stormont’s future.
It is also plausible that Sinn Féin would pull out if justice devolution were not delivered.
However, as stated elsewhere in this edition, both parties have strongly backed the deal in public and presumably neither would want to be blamed for its failure.
A sobering moment on 23 February, when MLAs united to condemn the Newry court house attack, though was a reminder that some people in the province are prepared to take up terrorism, whether justice is to be devolved or not.
| Major debates | ||
| Date | Subject | Result |
| 1 February | Education Bill: criticism of Minister for not securing consensus and unacceptable interim arrangements, undermining Assembly’s authority | Resolved (58-24) |
| 2 February | Cancer treatment: patients’ financial vulnerability and call on Health Minister to provide financial aid and advice | Resolved (no vote) |
| 8 February | School estate: need for new build and ongoing maintenance to ensure estate is fit for the 21st century and call for adequate funds | Resolved (no vote) |
| 22 February | Local government: concern about ongoing uncertainty and delay in the reform programme and calls on OFMDFM to advise when legislation will be introduced | Resolved (no vote) |
| 23 February | Dementia: increase funding for dementia research to reflect its scale, seriousness and impact | Resolved (no vote) |
| Stormont diary | |
| Justice devolution | |
| 9 March | Cross-community vote |
| 12 April | Transfer date (proposed) |
| Question times | |
| 1 March | OFMDFM / Environment |
| 2 March | Culture |
| 8 March | Health / Regional Development |
| 9 March | Social Development |
| 15 March | Education / Agriculture |
| 16 March | Finance |
| 22 March | OFMDFM / Employment |
| 23 March | Enterprise |
| Committees | |
| 10 March | Employment: study visit to Queen’s University |
| 11 March | Social Development: DSD briefing on Urban Regeneration and Housing Bill |
| 18 March | Regional Development: sustainable transport stakeholders event |
| 16 March | Agriculture: DARD update on Animal Welfare Bill |
| Recess | |
| 27 March | House rises |
| 12 April | House returns |
| Bill tracker | |
| Executive Bill | Stage |
| *Budget | Consideration (23 February) |
| Civil Registration | Committee (report printed) |
| Education | Committee (report printed) |
| Employment | Committee (report printed) |
| Forestry | Committee |
| Housing | Consideration (16 February) |
| Local Government | Final (23 February) |
| Roads | Committee |
| Water & Sewerage Services | Final (16 February) |
| Wildlife & Natural Environment | Committee |
| Non-Executive Bill | Stage |
| Carer’s Allowance | First (31 March 2008) |
| Community Use of School Premises | First (31 October 2008) |
| Local Government (Disqualification) (Amendment) | First (9 February) |
| New Acts | |
| Department of Justice (12 February) | |
| Pensions Regulator Tribunal (12 February) | |
| *accelerated passage. Information correct at time of going to press | |
Tags: Politics
