Menu
09/09/2009
New Stormont Clashes
Sinn Fein has criticised a speech by Peter Robinson, outlining proposed changes to Assembly voting rules.
Mr Robinson called for an end to vetoes, which can be exercised by either nationalist or unionist parties.
Vetoes allow larger parties in the Assembly to block policies or legislation they dispute.
The system has previously resulted in deadlock over a number of contentious issues.
Instead, Mr Robinson said all votes in the chambers should be cast on a cross-community basis rather than community designation.
He claimed the current system, which was designed under the Good Friday Agreement, "entrenches community division and hinders the development of normal politics".
Mr Robinson said there was no need to wait until 2015 to change the process, and suggested a 65% Assembly majority on votes would be more effective.
The impending devolution of policing and justice powers to the Assembly made the matter more pressing, Mr Robinson said.
Changes at the Executive table were also proposed, with an end to majority voting. Ministers would instead work towards unanimity.
The DUP First Minister's speech, delivered at the Ulster Hall yesterday, was not cleared by the Deputy First Minister's office. Mr Robinson said he was speaking as the Democratic Unionist leader.
Martin McGuinness compared Mr Robinson's stance to that taken by former UUP leader and First Minister David Trimble.
Mr McGuinness accused Mr Robinson, who had just returned from holidaying in Florida, of suffering from "sun stroke" and spending "too much time at Disneyland".
"Peter's proposals appear to be some attempt to create the conditions where other parties can gang up on Sinn Fein, that will not be allowed to happen," said the Sinn Fein minister.
"The propositions expressed by the DUP leader are fantasy politics."
The UUP said Mr Robinson is conscious of his party's poor performance at the European elections, where Sinn Fein topped the poll.
Ulster Unionist deputy leader Danny Kennedy claimed the DUP was afraid Sinn Fein would become the biggest party at Stormont following the next Assembly elections.
(PR/GK)
Mr Robinson called for an end to vetoes, which can be exercised by either nationalist or unionist parties.
Vetoes allow larger parties in the Assembly to block policies or legislation they dispute.
The system has previously resulted in deadlock over a number of contentious issues.
Instead, Mr Robinson said all votes in the chambers should be cast on a cross-community basis rather than community designation.
He claimed the current system, which was designed under the Good Friday Agreement, "entrenches community division and hinders the development of normal politics".
Mr Robinson said there was no need to wait until 2015 to change the process, and suggested a 65% Assembly majority on votes would be more effective.
The impending devolution of policing and justice powers to the Assembly made the matter more pressing, Mr Robinson said.
Changes at the Executive table were also proposed, with an end to majority voting. Ministers would instead work towards unanimity.
The DUP First Minister's speech, delivered at the Ulster Hall yesterday, was not cleared by the Deputy First Minister's office. Mr Robinson said he was speaking as the Democratic Unionist leader.
Martin McGuinness compared Mr Robinson's stance to that taken by former UUP leader and First Minister David Trimble.
Mr McGuinness accused Mr Robinson, who had just returned from holidaying in Florida, of suffering from "sun stroke" and spending "too much time at Disneyland".
"Peter's proposals appear to be some attempt to create the conditions where other parties can gang up on Sinn Fein, that will not be allowed to happen," said the Sinn Fein minister.
"The propositions expressed by the DUP leader are fantasy politics."
The UUP said Mr Robinson is conscious of his party's poor performance at the European elections, where Sinn Fein topped the poll.
Ulster Unionist deputy leader Danny Kennedy claimed the DUP was afraid Sinn Fein would become the biggest party at Stormont following the next Assembly elections.
(PR/GK)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
05 May 2021
L'Derry Sinn Fein MLAs Will Not Stand For Party At Next Assembly Election
Sinn Fein MLAs Martina Anderson and Karen Mullan will not stand for the party at the next assembly election. The decision was made after a party review revealed election disappointments in L'Derry.
L'Derry Sinn Fein MLAs Will Not Stand For Party At Next Assembly Election
Sinn Fein MLAs Martina Anderson and Karen Mullan will not stand for the party at the next assembly election. The decision was made after a party review revealed election disappointments in L'Derry.
06 September 2007
Former Sinn Fein MLA Dies
Former Sinn Fein member and paramilitary activist John Kelly has died. Mr Kelly, who was a provisional IRA activist, spent 15 years behind bars in both Northern and Southern Ireland. He was a co-defendant in the alleged arms smuggling trial that collapsed with Charles Haughey, who later became Taoiseach.
Former Sinn Fein MLA Dies
Former Sinn Fein member and paramilitary activist John Kelly has died. Mr Kelly, who was a provisional IRA activist, spent 15 years behind bars in both Northern and Southern Ireland. He was a co-defendant in the alleged arms smuggling trial that collapsed with Charles Haughey, who later became Taoiseach.
27 January 2004
Unionists are uniting around the DUP, claims Iris Robinson
The DUP has responded to a call for unionist unity by UUP MLA David McNarry claiming that unionism is uniting - around the DUP. Strangford DUP MLA Iris Robinson said: "Unionists are uniting around the position and policies of the Democratic Unionist Party.
Unionists are uniting around the DUP, claims Iris Robinson
The DUP has responded to a call for unionist unity by UUP MLA David McNarry claiming that unionism is uniting - around the DUP. Strangford DUP MLA Iris Robinson said: "Unionists are uniting around the position and policies of the Democratic Unionist Party.
26 September 2013
DUP Denies Assembly Is In Crisis
DUP East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has said the evidence from conversations around Stormont is not that the Assembly is in crisis but rather that the Sinn Fein leadership is having a management crisis.
DUP Denies Assembly Is In Crisis
DUP East Antrim MP Sammy Wilson has said the evidence from conversations around Stormont is not that the Assembly is in crisis but rather that the Sinn Fein leadership is having a management crisis.
08 March 2007
First MLAs elected to Stormont
Click here for latest results... The first MLAs have been elected to Stormont as counting continues in Northern Ireland’s Assembly election. DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson topped the poll in East Belfast while Alliance candidate for the area Naomi Long was also elected in the first counts.
First MLAs elected to Stormont
Click here for latest results... The first MLAs have been elected to Stormont as counting continues in Northern Ireland’s Assembly election. DUP deputy leader Peter Robinson topped the poll in East Belfast while Alliance candidate for the area Naomi Long was also elected in the first counts.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:The day will be very windy with strong to gale force westerly winds becoming occasionally severe along the north coast. Sunny spells will be interspersed with scattered showers. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:West to northwest gale force winds, severe along the north coast, will continue overnight. Frequent showers persist, merging into longer periods of rain at times and turning wintry. Minimum temperature 1 °C.
