Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Danny Kennedy tabled a motion today calling on the Executive to get a move on and produce, before the Halloween recess, an executive legislative programme detailing executive business for the current assembly session.
Speaking in the House Mr Kennedy said,
“This is the 166th day since the Ministers and Executive assumed office. This is almost 24 weeks, nearly half a year.
In that time, this Assembly has debated 68 private members motions. These motions are basically nothing more than members of this House flagging up issues of concern to them. That is all. They may be worthy and well intentioned but in terms of action, they are going nowhere. I contend that the sheer number of them is undermining the reputation of this Assembly. It is causing journalists to comment that this is not a legislative Assembly at all but nothing more than a debating chamber.
It would be more normal if Executive business dominated 70% of the Assembly’s time and private members business some 30% and not the other way around. In the first mandate this was the case.
That is why I tabled a motion asking the Executive to produce a legislative timetable detailing executive business to come before the Assembly before Christmas.
The Assembly is meant to work. It is meant to legislate. It is meant to administer. It is not meant to sit like some third world dictator’s Rolls Royce with no petrol in it. So I am saying to the Executive – get a move on.”
Continue Reading E-mail October 15th, 2007
Danny Kennedy MLA
Speaking following today’s Assembly debate on the Bill of Rights Forum, Ulster Unionist Party Chair of the Committee of the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has urged that the Bill of Rights process firmly focus on the remit given to it by the Belfast Agreement and not expand into a highly politicised agenda.
Mr. Kennedy said, “Today’s debate on the Bill of Rights Forum demonstrated the urgent need for the Forum to focus on the remit and mandate given to it by the Belfast Agreement. The Agreement stated that rights supplementary to the European Convention of Human Rights were to be considered in the context of ‘the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland’. The Bill of Rights process, however, has expanded to include an understanding of rights far beyond that indicated in the Agreement and far beyond the understanding of a bill of rights in the United Kingdom constitution.
“The Bill of Rights issue is a vital debate for politics and political institutions in Northern Ireland. It reflects debates in other democracies, particularly those shaped by the British tradition of parliamentary government – how to strike the right balance between the powers of a parliament and the powers of the courts; and how to protect the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual while also recognizing our responsibilities in society. The debate is not about the personalities or backgrounds of those who sit on the Forum. It is much more important than this. It is a debate about how we are to be governed – through elected representatives in a democratic Assembly or through the courts.
“The Ulster Unionist Party is participating in the Forum in order to ensure that a clear, robust voice is heard arguing for the Bill of Rights process to adhere to the remit given by the Belfast Agreement. A failure to do so will result in the absence of cross-party support for any Bill of Rights proposals”.
Continue Reading E-mail October 15th, 2007
Danny Kennedy MLA
