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Stormont crisis: Bid to adjourn Northern Ireland Assembly fails | Stormont crisis: Bid to adjourn Northern Ireland Assembly fails |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An attempt to adjourn the Northern Ireland Assembly has been defeated amid a growing political crisis for Stormont's power-sharing institutions. | An attempt to adjourn the Northern Ireland Assembly has been defeated amid a growing political crisis for Stormont's power-sharing institutions. |
The proposal was opposed by the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and Sinn Féin. | The proposal was opposed by the Ulster Unionists, the SDLP and Sinn Féin. |
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said it will quit Northern Ireland's ruling executive if the assembly is not adjourned or suspended by the government. | The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said it will quit Northern Ireland's ruling executive if the assembly is not adjourned or suspended by the government. |
The crisis was sparked by the murder of a former IRA man last month. | The crisis was sparked by the murder of a former IRA man last month. |
The killing of Kevin McGuigan Sr caused a political row after Northern Ireland's police chief said members of the IRA had a role in the murder, and that the organisation still existed. | The killing of Kevin McGuigan Sr caused a political row after Northern Ireland's police chief said members of the IRA had a role in the murder, and that the organisation still existed. |
But he added that it was committed to politics and is not engaged in terrorism. | But he added that it was committed to politics and is not engaged in terrorism. |
Sinn Féin said the IRA had "gone away". | Sinn Féin said the IRA had "gone away". |
But the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) said Sinn Féin's denial that the IRA existed caused a breakdown in trust and it left its government role. | But the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) said Sinn Féin's denial that the IRA existed caused a breakdown in trust and it left its government role. |
The crisis deepened on Wednesday when Sinn Féin's northern chairman Bobby Storey and two other senior republicans were arrested in connection with the murder. | The crisis deepened on Wednesday when Sinn Féin's northern chairman Bobby Storey and two other senior republicans were arrested in connection with the murder. |
As the DUP is the largest party in Northern Ireland, the power-sharing institutions cannot operate without them. | |
On Tuesday, Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson, the DUP leader, warned: "If the assembly and executive falls we are probably talking about the best part of a decade before it would ever be revived." | |
The adjournment proposal was put before Stormont's business committee and was rejected by three of Northern Ireland's main parties. | The adjournment proposal was put before Stormont's business committee and was rejected by three of Northern Ireland's main parties. |
After the vote on the adjournment, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said that if the DUP resigns from the executive then "we move immediately to an election". | After the vote on the adjournment, Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness said that if the DUP resigns from the executive then "we move immediately to an election". |
He added: "I don't think people want an election at this time." | He added: "I don't think people want an election at this time." |
The UUP leader Mike Nesbitt called on the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers to suspend the assembly. | The UUP leader Mike Nesbitt called on the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Theresa Villiers to suspend the assembly. |
"This is about a murder, the status of the IRA in 2015. | "This is about a murder, the status of the IRA in 2015. |
"We need suspension of institutions and of salaries of members of the legislative assembly. We call on secretary of state to take action." | "We need suspension of institutions and of salaries of members of the legislative assembly. We call on secretary of state to take action." |
Analysis: Jon Brain, BBC News correspondent | Analysis: Jon Brain, BBC News correspondent |
The only real hope of saving the Northern Ireland Assembly was that Stormont's business committee would vote for an adjournment. | The only real hope of saving the Northern Ireland Assembly was that Stormont's business committee would vote for an adjournment. |
That would have given the assembly and politicians breathing space to negotiate and find a resolution to the problems they have been facing. | That would have given the assembly and politicians breathing space to negotiate and find a resolution to the problems they have been facing. |
The fact that option has been rejected means we could now get a suspension imposed from Westminster. | The fact that option has been rejected means we could now get a suspension imposed from Westminster. |
If that doesn't happen, then DUP ministers will walk out. | If that doesn't happen, then DUP ministers will walk out. |
We are in uncharted territory now, this is clearly a real crisis developing. | We are in uncharted territory now, this is clearly a real crisis developing. |
The SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said his party's decision to vote against the adjournment was unanimous. | The SDLP leader Alasdair McDonnell said his party's decision to vote against the adjournment was unanimous. |
"The adjournment was being sought on the basis of arrests, which was a direct interference between the policing and the judicial process," he said. | "The adjournment was being sought on the basis of arrests, which was a direct interference between the policing and the judicial process," he said. |
"We will not cross the wires of the political process here and policing and that is what the DUP have been doing, creating a crisis here around the arrest." | "We will not cross the wires of the political process here and policing and that is what the DUP have been doing, creating a crisis here around the arrest." |
He criticised other parties for putting the institutions at risk but said adjournment was not the answer. | He criticised other parties for putting the institutions at risk but said adjournment was not the answer. |
David Ford, the leader of the Alliance Party, which voted in favour of an adjournment, said the leadership of the UUP and the SDLP had "sacrificed the peace process". | David Ford, the leader of the Alliance Party, which voted in favour of an adjournment, said the leadership of the UUP and the SDLP had "sacrificed the peace process". |
"The people of Northern Ireland are disappointed at how devolution has worked. | "The people of Northern Ireland are disappointed at how devolution has worked. |
"The reality is we are going to have to have talks - it would be better they happened in the next weeks than in five years time." | "The reality is we are going to have to have talks - it would be better they happened in the next weeks than in five years time." |