“Get a Move On”, Kennedy tells Executive
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.”