NI Assembly: 'we're sending a clear message' over Protocol - DUP leader
Last updated 16th May 2022
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson made it clear today (Friday) that the DUP was sending a "clear message" to the EU and UK Government over unresolved issues around the Protocol.
It followed the party leader's indication that he would not support the election of a new Assembly Speaker.
Without a Speaker, the Assembly simply cannot function.
The new 90 MLAs met for the first time in the Stormont chamber after last week's Northern Ireland Assembly election saw Sinn Fein emerge as the largest party for the first time.
The first order of business was for MLAs to sign the roll of membership, before the sitting was suspended for lunch.
After this DUP MLA Paul Givan confirmed to the Assembly that his party would not be supporting the election of a speaker.
The Ulster Unionists nominated Mike Nesbitt and the SDLP nominated Patsy McGlone.
Mr Givan told MLAs: "The DUP received a mandate to remove the Irish Sea border and our mandate will be given respect. Our message is now clear, it is time for action, words will no longer suffice.
"It is because we want these institutions to endure that we are taking the action we are taking today.
"Northern Ireland works best when we work together. Those who now call for majority rule need to recommit themselves to the principles of the Good Friday Agreement.
"We will not be dictated to, we will be treated with respect and equality. Now is the time for action."
The DUP has also said that it will not nominate for the position of deputy first minister, which will prevent the forming of a new executive, as part of its protest against the protocol.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill told MLAs the public is hoping that elected parties had "the maturity and courage" to take responsibility, adding that "there is absolutely no reason we should be in a rolling crisis, even for one second".
It is the job of politicians to "properly fund" the healthcare service and to agree a three-year budget and invest in the health service, Ms O'Neill said.
"This is our hour of decision, not tomorrow, and not for a moment longer can the DUP deny democracy, punish the public, boycott this Assembly and executive, and prevent us from putting money in people's pockets," she added.
"Every one party in this chamber told the electorate that they would turn up on day one. Well, the DUP have failed on day one."
Earlier, outgoing speaker Alex Maskey thanked his Assembly colleagues, as well as his family, in a speech to the Assembly.
He also told MLAs that politicians in Northern Ireland had come through political difficulties before.
Mr Maskey said: "I recognise that we are currently in a difficult political situation.
"Since 1998, we have all seen our fair share of those. Those of us who were here in 1998 and since then had big issues to deal with. However we did come through them.
"The last two years we were able to meet the challenges of getting the Assembly re-established and keeping the Assembly functioning to take important decisions during the pandemic.
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