Call for 'shadow committees' at Stormont

An MLA has proposed the setting up of 'shadow committees' at Stormont to enable Assembly members to tackle some of the key issues concerning the community.

The Ulster Unionist Assembly member for Strangford David McNarry said: "As a proactive MLA I have had my constituency office open for the past five weeks, dealing with many local issues on the ground.

"I was delighted to learn that our offices at Stormont are being made available and I am asking my colleagues to support my proposal to have ten Departmental Shadow Committees up and running as soon as possible.

"This, I believe, is vital because just look at the issues which the Northern Ireland Office Ministers are dealing with at present - racism, sectarianism, unemployment, hospital trolley waits and, in my own constituency, European decisions affecting fishing and agriculture. It is frustrating not to have a debating chamber to consider these issues."

Mr McNarry said that while he realised that the proposal did not bestow any power to the committees, the resulting dialogue had the potential for "serious recommendations to the brought to the attention of the Government".

The suspended administration costs taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds every week, and Mr McNarry said he believed that shadow committees would provide some justification for MLA to draw a salary following the November election.

He said that while he understood that a review of some kind was to take place, not every Assembly member would be asked to participate in that review and that as an interim measure shadow committees could enhance MLA status.

It is unlikely that the Northern Ireland Assembly will formally resume until the completion of a joint governmental review of the institutions in the next few months.

(SP)