Public Affairs

Assembly round-up

Stormont sky Sm Parties differed over the Haass proposals when they were debated in January. The impending election campaigns mean that time is of the essence for making law and policy.

January’s proceedings opened with warm tributes to the late Paul Goggins – the last and one of the most respected direct rule ministers. DUP MLA Pam Cameron mentioned that her husband, Michael Cameron, was previously Goggins’ private secretary.

Goggins’ family had asked Cameron to convey “Paul’s eternal wish that all politicians here continue to build the trust and deliver the future that Paul hoped everyone in Northern Ireland would enjoy.”

Trust, though, was in short supply when members debated the Haass proposals later on 13 January. A motion calling for the proposals’ implementation was brought forward by Sinn Féin’s Gerry Kelly and was narrowly rejected by 52 votes to 49.

Peter Robinson counted “over 340 separate elements to the Haass proposals” and said that more work was needed to find areas where the five main Executive parties agreed: “It is far better to do it now when we have a clear insight into one another’s views on the issues concerned, and then let us try to resolve the outstanding matters.”

PRESS RELEASE IMAGE

27/1/14: Kennedy and Durkan launch Northern Ireland ecar DRIVESHOW

Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy (right) and Environment Minister Mark H Durkan (left) have launched DRIVESHOW, a series of electric vehicle information and test-drive event to be held at venues across Northern Ireland.

DRIVESHOW is a joint initiative between the Department for Regional Development and the Department of the Environment.

The road show events will give private and business drivers an opportunity to see and test drive the latest electric vehicles on offer from manufacturers including BMW, Nissan, and Renault. It will visit Enniskillen, Coleraine, Cookstown, Newry, Larne, and Londonderry during February and March. Picture: Michael Cooper The next day, Edwin Poots formally launched an autism strategy for Northern Ireland. Poots acknowledged the “vital role” of the community and voluntary sector in its development but also cautioned that voluntary organisations “constantly compete with one another” for funding and attention. He hoped to see more co-operation between the organisations in the sector as they could “achieve so much more” by being united and “working in tandem” with government.

The Public Service Pensions Bill was one of the largest and most complex pieces of legislation to come before the Assembly for some time. It passed its further consideration stage on 27 January with unionist MLAs and the Alliance Party supporting it on parity grounds. Nationalists and the Green Party were opposed, claiming that it would increase pressures on public sector workers.

OFMDFM question time saw Martin McGuinness acknowledging the level of public disappointment about the Assembly. “It is incumbent on all of us to be positive and constructive and to recognise that the lot of politicians among the general public is not great,” he said. “I find that embarrassing. What we need to do is show the public right across society that we have the ability to tackle these difficult [Haass] issues.”

Most of the Assembly’s spring business will need to be completed in March. Its Easter recess begins on 11 April and by the time members return on 28 April, the European and local election campaigns will be well under way. Many MLAs will be out and about on the campaign trail. Polling takes place on 22 May with the final results expected on 26 May.

Major debates
Date Subject Result
13 January Haass proposals: call for implementation Negatived: 52-49
14 January Public Service Pensions Bill: consideration stage Amended
20 January Rural development: call for increased funding Negatived: 63-24
27 January Public Service Pensions Bill: further consideration Amended
28 January Health: accident and emergency departments Resolved: no vote
Stormont diary
Committees
Date Subject
5 March Finance: equal pay claims
11 March Agriculture: Reservoir Bill scrutiny
19 March Education: careers education
12 March Public Accounts: police staffing
26 March Employment: labour statistics
Recess
11 April Easter recess starts
27 April Easter recess finishes
European and council elections
24 April European nominations close
29 April Council nominations close
22 May Polling day
23-24 May Council counts
26 May European count
Bill tracker
Executive Bill Stage
Budget Committee
Carrier Bags Consideration (28 January)
Education Committee
Financial Provisions Consideration (11 February)
Health and Social Care Final (11 February)
Licensing of Pavement Cafés Committee
Local Government Committee
Public Sector Pensions Final (4 February)
Reservoirs First (20 January)
Tobacco Retailers Further consideration (10
Welfare Reform Committee
Non-Executive Bill Stage
Human Trafficking and Exploitation Committee
Road Traffic (Speed Limits) First (9 December)
New Act
Road Races (Amendment) (17 January)
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