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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Stormont crisis: Northern Ireland Assembly adjournment to be discussed | Stormont crisis: Northern Ireland Assembly adjournment to be discussed |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A Stormont committee is to meet later to discuss adjourning the Northern Ireland Assembly. | A Stormont committee is to meet later to discuss adjourning the Northern Ireland Assembly. |
| DUP leader Peter Robinson said his party would resign from the Stormont Executive if the committee did not agree the proposal or if the government does not suspend the institutions. | DUP leader Peter Robinson said his party would resign from the Stormont Executive if the committee did not agree the proposal or if the government does not suspend the institutions. |
| It follows a political crisis sparked by the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr. | It follows a political crisis sparked by the murder of former IRA man Kevin McGuigan Sr. |
| This deepened after the arrests of three senior republicans on Wednesday. | This deepened after the arrests of three senior republicans on Wednesday. |
| Sinn Féin's northern chairman Bobby Storey is one of the three republicans being questioned about the murder. | Sinn Féin's northern chairman Bobby Storey is one of the three republicans being questioned about the murder. |
| The Police Service of Northern Ireland's Chief Constable George Hamilton said last month that Provisional IRA members had a role in Mr McGuigan Sr's murder. | The Police Service of Northern Ireland's Chief Constable George Hamilton said last month that Provisional IRA members had a role in Mr McGuigan Sr's murder. |
| But he said there was no evidence at that stage that the killing had been sanctioned at a senior level of the organisation. | But he said there was no evidence at that stage that the killing had been sanctioned at a senior level of the organisation. |
| Stormont business committee | Stormont business committee |
| The committee has 10 members drawn from the five main parties and is chaired by the speaker and includes party whips. | The committee has 10 members drawn from the five main parties and is chaired by the speaker and includes party whips. |
| It generally meets once a week while the assembly is sitting. | It generally meets once a week while the assembly is sitting. |
| Its main function is to consider what business is to be scheduled for assembly plenary sessions, held on Monday and Tuesday. | Its main function is to consider what business is to be scheduled for assembly plenary sessions, held on Monday and Tuesday. |
| The current speaker is Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin and it is the speaker who has the power to allow a recall of the committee. | The current speaker is Sinn Féin's Mitchel McLaughlin and it is the speaker who has the power to allow a recall of the committee. |
| The DUP now want the assembly to be adjourned. This would mean that ministers remain in office, but the assembly does not meet for a time. | The DUP now want the assembly to be adjourned. This would mean that ministers remain in office, but the assembly does not meet for a time. |
| DUP Finance Minister Simon Hamilton said the situation was "very difficult" but said he thought a resolution was possible. | |
| Serious situation | |
| "It is not business as usual, it cannot be business as usual," he said. | |
| "We need to have space for talks... we have had murder now being investigated. | |
| "It highlights the seriousness of the situation." | |
| The DUP asked for the assembly's business committee to meet on Thursday to discuss a proposal to do so. Stewart Dickson, Alliance, said he had been told the committee would meet at 14:00 BST. | The DUP asked for the assembly's business committee to meet on Thursday to discuss a proposal to do so. Stewart Dickson, Alliance, said he had been told the committee would meet at 14:00 BST. |
| "First of all we would be encouraging the parties to return to talks via the secretary of state, but we also believe that it's important that there is space for that to take place in," he said. | "First of all we would be encouraging the parties to return to talks via the secretary of state, but we also believe that it's important that there is space for that to take place in," he said. |
| "If an adjournment would assist that and would assist the assembly to continue to allow those talks to take place, then we would be supporting a motion to adjourn the assembly for a fixed period of time." | "If an adjournment would assist that and would assist the assembly to continue to allow those talks to take place, then we would be supporting a motion to adjourn the assembly for a fixed period of time." |
| Analysis Mark Devenport political editor | |
| The political difference between adjournment and suspension is that adjournment would be a voluntary decision by the parties of the assembly and therefore that would not necessarily be as big a deal as suspension. | |
| In that scenario, the secretary of state would be in control of the institutions and she would decide how long it would go on and when the assembly might come back. | |
| Grave mistake | Grave mistake |
| As the DUP are the largest party, the power-sharing institutions cannot operate without them. | As the DUP are the largest party, the power-sharing institutions cannot operate without them. |
| Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said it would be a grave mistake on the part of the British government to suspend the institutions. | Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has said it would be a grave mistake on the part of the British government to suspend the institutions. |
| Last week, the DUP put an adjournment motion to the assembly's business committee, but it was defeated after Alliance was the only party to back it. | Last week, the DUP put an adjournment motion to the assembly's business committee, but it was defeated after Alliance was the only party to back it. |
| It is understood the SDLP met on Wednesday night to discuss the adjournment proposal. | It is understood the SDLP met on Wednesday night to discuss the adjournment proposal. |
| The party have not definitively stated their position, but it is believed they are still against the idea of adjourning the assembly. | The party have not definitively stated their position, but it is believed they are still against the idea of adjourning the assembly. |
| They are due to meet Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Enda Kenny in Dublin on Thursday morning. | They are due to meet Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Enda Kenny in Dublin on Thursday morning. |
| Ulster Unionist Party MP Tom Elliott has described the calls for adjournment as "bluster" but has said the UUP would support the proposal if Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams "came up to the mark". | Ulster Unionist Party MP Tom Elliott has described the calls for adjournment as "bluster" but has said the UUP would support the proposal if Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams "came up to the mark". |
| Mr Elliott said: "Until Sinn Fein, the two governments and the PSNI are on the same page with regards to the existence of the IRA, there will be little trust or confidence." | Mr Elliott said: "Until Sinn Fein, the two governments and the PSNI are on the same page with regards to the existence of the IRA, there will be little trust or confidence." |
| Previously UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said Mr Adams had to say that the IRA still existed and had structures. | Previously UUP leader Mike Nesbitt said Mr Adams had to say that the IRA still existed and had structures. |
| Alliance Party leader David Ford has said his party are "exploring a number of options" so parties could "take a step back and participate in talks in a calm manner" - suggesting Alliance are prepared to support the adjournment proposal. | Alliance Party leader David Ford has said his party are "exploring a number of options" so parties could "take a step back and participate in talks in a calm manner" - suggesting Alliance are prepared to support the adjournment proposal. |
| But the support of the Alliance Party alone would not be enough for the DUP proposal to be passed by the committee. | But the support of the Alliance Party alone would not be enough for the DUP proposal to be passed by the committee. |