DUP Seek Changes In First Minister Nomination

Changing the process for electing a First and Deputy First Minister to the NI Executive at Stormont is being put forward as part of suggested reforms for the legislative body.

The DUP Leader and outgoing First Minister, Peter Robinson, has launched a new policy document for the pro-union party entitled 'Making Stormont Work Better'.

He said the document is a "DUP roadmap to improving our structure and processes of government".

Amongst the other issues addressed are suggested discussions amongst parties prior to the current Ministerial selection process [d'Hondt] being and all-party commission to tackle difficult issues.

Mr Robinson has also said that getting more unanimous decisions within the Executive is important.

He also called for the abolition of the Civic Forum, a reduction in number of Stormont Departments and a move to a maximum of 80 MLAs by 2015 [currently 108].

He has also favoured the ability to move a motion of 'No Confidence' in a Minister as well as removing community designation and moving to 65% weighted majority votes.

Commenting at the launch in East Belfast, Mr Robinson said: "The DUP wants to normalise the political arena in Northern Ireland.

"Whilst improved political arrangements can help to enhance the functioning of devolution, we must remember that for most people, the key concern is how devolution can help them, rather than the detail of how it is structured.

"Ultimately the willingness of political parties to operate government will have as much to do with the success of devolution as the precise nature of the arrangements themselves," he said.

"We recognise that change to the way in which devolution operates in Northern Ireland will only come about by agreement.

"It has been suggested, by a few who have no record of successfully reaching agreement, that the only way to change the present arrangements is to refuse to operate them and then force a renegotiation.

"This would be a recipe for constitutional instability, inevitably leading to a breakdown of the institutions, a loss of momentum and years of Direct Rule with Dublin interference. Indeed, it would be deeply damaging to Northern Ireland."

He also said that, on the basis of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee's report and the level of support that each proposal was able to attract, the UK Government should bring forward legislation to normalise politics in Northern Ireland before the 2015 Assembly election.

"There is a legal requirement placed on the Assembly to provide a report on how the Assembly can be improved," he said.

Turning to the mechanism to appoint the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, as agreed at St Andrews, he claimed this was not faithfully implemented in the ensuing legislation.

"We will continue to press to have the agreed arrangements implemented as per the St Andrews Agreement, namely that the nominee of the largest party from the largest designation should become First Minister."

He also said that, in the long-term, the best means of governing Northern Ireland would involve a voluntary coalition Executive and weighted majority voting of around 65% in the Assembly, resulting in an end to Community Designation.

"This system could provide for both an Executive and an official Loyal Opposition outside of government instead of a 'Disloyal Opposition' within government.

"This would be consistent with normal democratic institutions while respecting the particular circumstances of Northern

Ireland. This should be the long-term goal of all of the parties in Northern Ireland.

"However, we must be realistic about the ability to achieve it in the short-term.

"While voluntary coalition would undoubtedly improve the performance of devolution in Northern Ireland, it would be a mistake to assume it is a panacea to all of the problems that we face," he said.

(BMcC/GK)