One MLA spoke of the politics of “distraction, fear and division” resurfacing, which have “upended these institutions in the past”.
The motion tabled by Sinn Féin noted that “the majority of people here voted to remain in the European Union” and adds that “our long-term future would be best served by rejoining the European Union”.
Before the UK left the EU, Northern Ireland sent three MEPs to the European Parliament. Sinn Féin called on the Assembly to recognise the “democratic deficit” as a result of Brexit and to support the request made by Irish MEPs in a recent letter to the President of the European Parliament for observer status in the European Parliament for locally elected political representatives.
The DUP tabled a petition of concern, a mechanism that allows 30 or more MLAs to petition the Assembly for a vote to require cross-community support rather than a simple majority.
It has the support of the DUP, UUP and TUV.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson welcomed that unionist MLAs united behind the petition of concern. “This joint action shows how seriously we take any proposal that would move Northern Ireland closer to the EU,” he said.
“It is right, and fully in line with the Belfast and St Andrew’s Agreements, that such a significant issue cannot be pushed through on a one-sided majority.
“Securing these signatures ensures our position cannot be overridden or used to advance Sinn Fein’s goal of weakening Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom.”
Stormont Speaker says some MLAs need to ‘cool their jets’
Speaker Edwin Poots said the debate could proceed, although a vote on the substantive motion could not be taken as there must be a 14-day consideration period which ends on December 21.
MLAs did however vote on an SDLP amendment which proposed the establishment of a European Commission office in Belfast.
Out of 75 members who voted, 42 members voted ‘aye’ and 33 ‘no’, meaning the amendment was agreed.
SDLP leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Matthew O’Toole said a majority of this House have now given their clear view of the need for a European Commission office in Belfast. “The public will draw their own conclusions about what this House supports,” he added.
The petition of concern led to accusations of a “political stunt” from Sinn Fein, with its MLAs saying its use in this instance was “disgraceful” and a “subversion of democracy”.
Mr O’Toole said his party had already tabled a motion that was almost identical six months ago and the DUP had not mounted a petition of concern.
He said it was therefore pointless as the motion before the Assembly is “non-binding”.
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley said the motion “misrepresents” the views of Northern Ireland and has no support from unionists. He told the Assembly that some constituencies voted to leave and others voted to stay. Trying to re-write a democratic decision “undermines these institutions”, he added.
Observer status MEPs have no right to vote, Mr Buckley said, and therefore have no right to influence votes.
He claimed other parties are “howling in the wind” about observer status as they didn’t speak at a previous debate on 300 areas of EU law, branding them “hypocrites”.
The DUP MLA also accused Mr O’Toole of sounding like “a spoilt, crying toddler on Christmas evening whose lost their Christmas present to the cousin”.
Alliance deputy leader Eoin Tennyson said the deployment of a petition of concern on this vote was “a shameful perversion of democracy and an abuse of process”. The MLA for Upper Bann said the DUP complained of a “rigged debate” but said there is no clearer rigging of a debate than deploying a petition of concern because “now nobody’s vote matters other than the DUP who wish to govern by diktat”.
He said we have seen where the petition of concern leads. In the past it was “abused” to deny LGBTQ people their rights, to prevent members from being held to account and to “derail bread and butter politics” — which led to a breakdown in relationships and collapse of the institutions.
Mr Tennyson said there was “an awful lot of sneering and laughing” during the debate. He said it isn’t a game or “debate club”, it is about delivering for people who elected them, “not to come here every day and knock lumps out of one another”.
The Alliance MLA warned that the politics of “distraction, fear and division have upended these institutions in the past”.
Mr Tennyson asked about the appropriateness of Mr Buckley shouting across the chamber and whether the DUP MLA should ‘cool his jets’. Deputy Speaker Carál Ní Chuilín said there were numerous MLAs who “need to cool their jets”. She also remarked on “the lack of courtesy from certain members” and asked them to reflect on it.
One of those who proposed the motion, Declan Kearney, ended the debate by talking up the need for the reintegration of Northern Ireland within the EU.
Follow along on our live blog:
Key updates
Buckley accuses Sinn Fein motion of ‘misrepresenting’ NI views
Petition of Concern on EU observer status motion secured
What is a petition of concern?
Sinn Fein accuses DUP of ‘political stunt’
SDLP amendment on setting up European Commission office in Belfast agreed by majority of Assembly
75 members voted, 42 members voted ‘aye’ and 33 members voted ‘no’, meaning the amendment which proposed the establishment of a European Commission office in Belfast was agreed.
The Speaker reminds the Assembly that a vote on the substantive motion will not take place due to the petition of concern, supported by unionist parties.
Correcting the record from the earlier debate, Matthew O’Toole says that when the House debated a very similar motion, it was not supported, as some members abstained.
He then wanted to put on the record that a majority of this House have now given their clear view of the need for a European Commission office in Belfast. “The public will draw their own conclusions about what this House supports,” he added.
That concluded today’s debate on the observer status motion.
Minister asked for examples of ‘safeguarding’ Irish language
Mark H Durkan asks the Minister to spell out what steps he has taken since he became Minister to safeguard the Irish language, in order to demonstrate that his interest is “not zilch”.
In response, Mr Lyons says the promotion of the language takes place through his department dependent on funding from North-South bodies and that is where work takes place.
Gordon Lyons unsure of when he will meet new language commissioners
Alliance MLA Danny Donnelly asks if the Minister has any plans to meet with the new language commissioners.
Mr Lyons says he does have plans but is not sure whether those dates have been set yet.
Communities Minister confirms he has not yet met with Irish language commissioner
Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan asked a question about the Irish Language Strategy.
Mr Lyons said the detailed timing of this work is largely outside the control of his department and there is a wide range of material to be considered. He suggested that in time proposals will be brought forward on the strategy.
Mr Sheehan said now that Pol Deeds has been appointed as the Irish language commissioner, what discussions the Minister has had with him.
At the end of October Mr Deeds was appointed as the Irish Language Commissioner, and Lee Reynolds as the Commissioner for the Ulster Scots and the Ulster British tradition.
Mr Lyons confirms he has not met with the Irish language commissioner at this stage, adding that he hasn’t met any of the commissioners at this stage.
The Minister makes reference to Pat Sheehan sighing and saying his interest is ‘zilch and zero’. In response, Mr Lyons says he has not had responses from the Infrastructure, economy and finance departments, adding that he should ask his party colleagues about their interest.
Mr Lyons adds: “The Truth might hurt, but that is what is happening.”
Communities Minister accused of not taking on board views of all stakeholders during liquor licensing review
Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw says it is clear the Minister took his direction on the ‘surrender principle’ from Hospitality Ulster.
She accuses Mr Lyons of failing to engage with other stakeholders and brewers.
Mr Lyons says Ms Bradshaw is “making that up” as she has “no idea” who informed his views. He accused the Alliance MLA of “trying to muddy the waters”, saying he considered all of the evidence.
Questions for Communities Minister
Minister Gordon Lyons is challenged on a recent decision to not reform the surrender principle, which is leading to licenses from pubs being taken up off licenses.
Mr Lyons says pubs are struggling to stay open in other parts of the UK too.
Deputy First Minister asked to accept Brexit was an ‘economic and political disaster’
Ms Dillon responds that the petition of concern is about protecting minority rights. She adds that there was consensus from the people in the North that “they did not want to be removed from the European Union”.
Ms Dillon follows up by asking the Mrs Little-Pengelly if she would accept that Brexit and everything that resulted from it has been an “economic and political disaster?”
The dFM responds that there was not consensus as a majority across the UK voted to leave. She said the Good Friday Agreement recognised that Northern Ireland would remain, in its entirety, as part of the UK until such point as the people of NI and the RoI voted to leave.
Emma Little-Pengelly defends use of petition of concern
Returning to the debate from earlier on observer status at the European Parliament, Sinn Fein MLA Linda Dillon asks the deputy First Minister whether it was “entirely inappropriate” for the DUP to use a petition of concern, which is about protecting minorities, when the motion was about increased representation.
Ms Little-Pengelly said it was nationalist parties who pushed hard for those protections.
She said “it is now the case that whenever there is a majority, there is a feeling that there may be a slight majority in relation to a particular issue, no matter how divisive that may be, that that should simply prevail; that is not the way that these mechanisms work and we’ve seen that play out at City Hall, we’ve seen that play out in this place.”
The deputy First Minister added this is the mechanism to demonstrate where there is “no clear cross-community consensus”.
A Christmas Carol reference has made it into a Stormont debate
Mr O’Toole dissatisfied with Mrs Little-Pengelly’s response says she could not guarantee a multi-year budget or institutional reform.
“Your party claims to want to make Northern Ireland work but your actions suggest anything but,” Mr O’Toole said.
“First Minister, deputy First Minister, in sincerely wishing you and your colleagues a very Merry Christmas, can I warn you? Can I say that if a ghost appears before you or your colleagues before Christmas eve, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, and shows you a vision of a New Ireland, that you reflect on whether your party’s actions have helped to hasten that day?”
Breaking into a reluctant laugh, Ms Little-Pengelly says she is absolutely committed to making Northern Ireland work. She spoke of working together to drive forward transformation, saying that is “no laughing matter”.
The SDLP pulls out the panto pun this time in a jibe at Executive ‘dysfunction’
Another reference to the panto season has emerged, with Declan Kearney talking about it earlier.
This time, Matthew O’Toole tells the deputy First Minister that panto season has begun with an argument between the Education Minister and Finance Minister over the budget.
He said the NI population deserves a multi-year budget and have been promised it.
But, he said, “budget dysfunction” has been going on nearly as long as May McFetridge at the Grand Opera House.
“The difference is that May is entertaining and unlike this place she provides value for money.”
He asked for a guarantee if there will be a multi-year budget and whether her party would block it.
In response Emma Little-Pengelly said it is a “serious matter” and the exchange of letters between the education and finance ministers, “outlined very starkly the challenges that we face in our core public services”.
She said that until we get transformation, NI will continue to see “inefficient services” and these are “big issues for the Executive to take on”.
Deputy First Minister question time: Equality Commission funding
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly is asked about funding for the Equality Commission. She says The Executive Office (TEO) is committed to ensuring the Equality Commission has the necessary resources to fulfil its statutory duties.
Kearney talks of ‘reintegration’ to EU as he accuses the DUP of ‘subverting democracy’ through use of petition of concern
Sinéad Ennis says the use of a petition of concern is “disgraceful” as it is a mechanism used to protect minority rights but it is being used to “block a vote”. She says that is democracy and asks why the DUP is “afraid of it?”
Declan Kearney accuses the DUP of “subverting democracy”.
He believes NI should maximise democratic engagement with the European Commission and believes Brexit has been an “economic, social and political disaster”.
After an intervention by DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley in which he accused Sinn Fein of having constitutional motivations when tabling the motion, Mr Kearney responds by asking him if he’s read it and says “it isn’t quite pantomime season yet”.
Mr Kearney says the proposals in the motion would help with the reintegration of the North within the EU and it is “not about the fake news narrative” put forward by others in the Assembly.
He accused others of “sticking their heads in the sand”.
That ends the debate on ‘observer status’.
Speaker says some MLAs need to ‘cool their jets’
Eoin Tennyson asks the principal deputy Speaker, Carál Ní Chuilín, about the appropriateness of Mr Buckley shouting across the chamber and whether the DUP MLA should ‘cool his jets’.
The Speaker ends the debate by saying there are numerous MLAs who ‘need to cool their jets’.
She also remarks on “the lack of courtesy from certain members” and asks them to reflect on it.
SDLP MLA in heated exchange with DUP
SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin thanked Sinn Fein for bringing a motion they’d tabled back to the Assembly, and Mr Gaston for awarding the SDLP the prize of “most European party”.
She said the majority on this island voted to remain in the EU and deserve steps towards better partnership.
Ms McLaughlin spoke of building European links and said there is “nothing to fear from observer status”.
She said an SDLP amendment calls for the establishment of an EU Commission office in Belfast, saying “it makes no sense that we do not already have one.”
Pointing to DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley, the Foyle MLA said she “totally refutes” his assertion that the SDLP does not raise issues in relation to trade barriers as she raises such concerns on a committee in which he also sits. That led to Mr Buckley shouting inaudible responses across the chamber.
TUV MLA hits out at parties who support arrangement that ‘led to our colonial status’
TUV MLA holds up a Christmas card from the SDLP with a list of priorities and says Matthew O’Toole takes the prize for “biggest Europhile” in the Assembly, “marginally ahead of Alliance”.
He says the democratic decision was to leave the EU and it should have restored sovereignty to all of the UK.
Mr Gaston tells the Assembly NI is governed by laws to which it has no input. He describes an EU observer role as “nonsense”.
He also says NI does not need an EU commission office, as suggested by the SDLP. Mr Gaston said those supporting today’s motion also support the implementation of the Protocol.
The TUV man said you cannot complain about democratic deficits while supporting the arrangement that has led to “our colonial status”.
Alliance accuses DUP of wanting to ‘govern by diktat’ and warns of divisive politics collapsing institutions
Mr Tennyson says ‘we are all minorities’, whether you are unionist, nationalist or other.
He says the deployment of a petition of concern on this vote is “a shameful perversion of democracy and an abuse of process”.
The MLA for Upper Bann said the DUP complained of a “rigged debate” but said there is no clearer rigging of a debate than deploying a petition of concern because “now nobody’s vote matters other than the DUP who wish to govern by diktat.”
He said we have seen where the petition of concern leads, in the past it was “abused” to deny LGBTQ people their rights, to prevent members from being held to account and to “derail bread and butter politics” – which led to a breakdown in relationships and collapse of the institutions.
Mr Tennyson said there was “an awful lot of sneering and laughing” during the debate, saying it isn’t a game or “debate club”, it is about delivering for people who elected them, “not to come here every day and knock lumps out of one another”.
He warns that the politics of “distraction, fear and division have upended these institutions in the past”.
‘DUP the architects of own misfortune’, says Alliance Party MLA
Alliance deputy leader Eóin Tennyson says that despite campaigning for Brexit 10 years ago, the DUP can’t name ‘a single solitary benefit of leaving the European Union.’
He says the DUP can’t campaign for Brexit then pin “all of the inevitable consequences” on the Windsor Framework.
“It’s the political equivalent of driving your car into a brick wall and then blaming the airbag for your broken nose,” Mr Tennyson said.
The Alliance MLA said the DUP was warned about all of the consequences and his party believes observer status would be beneficial.
He said the DUP are “the architects of their own misfortune”.
‘Dual market access’ benefitting NI, says Sinn Fein MLA
Foyle MLA Padraig Delargy says the Windsor Framework is helping businesses to grow and Invest NI was clear that dual-market access aids exports and helps attract jobs, adding that the issue has been “politicised” by some parties.
He says NI did not choose Brexit but had it “imposed on us” and this impacts on the economy, rights and young people’s futures.
UUP MLA brands motion a ‘farce’
UUP MLA Steve Aiken tells the Assembly some believe a united Ireland within the next few years to be a credible proposition and that is “precisely what this motion implies”.
He says the motion doesn’t seek to address issues facing NI due to the Protocol.
Mr Aiken describes the motion as a “farce” and says no party that supports the peace agreement should support it.
Buckley accuses Sinn Fein motion of ‘misrepresenting’ NI views
DUP MLA Jonathan Buckley says the motion “misrepresents” the views of Northern Ireland.
He tells the Assembly that some constituencies voted to leave and others voted to stay and trying to re-write a democratic decision “undermines these institutions”.
Observer status MEPs have no right to vote, Mr Buckley adds, and therefore have no right to influence votes.
He claims other parties are “howling in the wind” about observer status as they didn’t speak at a previous debate on 300 areas of EU law, branding them “hypocrites”.
Mr Buckley reiterates that the motion has no support from unionists.
