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NI Assembly passes motion that DUP has breached pledge of office | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Stormont Assembly has passed a motion ruling the DUP's policy of rolling ministerial resignation a breach of their pledge of office. | The Stormont Assembly has passed a motion ruling the DUP's policy of rolling ministerial resignation a breach of their pledge of office. |
For almost six weeks, the party has allowed its ministers to accept office temporarily before resigning again. | For almost six weeks, the party has allowed its ministers to accept office temporarily before resigning again. |
The DUP was protesting after the PSNI announced IRA members were involved in the murder of Kevin McGuigan. | The DUP was protesting after the PSNI announced IRA members were involved in the murder of Kevin McGuigan. |
The party said it could not continue to work with Sinn Féin in the assembly and executive. | |
But other parties have criticised the approach, which has left the departments of health, social development and enterprise and regional development without ministers. | But other parties have criticised the approach, which has left the departments of health, social development and enterprise and regional development without ministers. |
Today's motion was proposed by the Alliance Party, which initially supported a short break in the assembly after the PSNI's announcement. | Today's motion was proposed by the Alliance Party, which initially supported a short break in the assembly after the PSNI's announcement. |
Chris Lyttle, of the Alliance Party opened the debate. | Chris Lyttle, of the Alliance Party opened the debate. |
He said: "If a minister accepts office knowing they will be unable to perform these roles - to answer questions, to attend committees, or give account to MLAs for their actions - then they have clearly brought into question their commitment to their pledge of office." | He said: "If a minister accepts office knowing they will be unable to perform these roles - to answer questions, to attend committees, or give account to MLAs for their actions - then they have clearly brought into question their commitment to their pledge of office." |
He said the party's "now-you-see-them-now-you-don't approach" could not be allowed to continue. | He said the party's "now-you-see-them-now-you-don't approach" could not be allowed to continue. |
The DUP did not speak in the debate. | The DUP did not speak in the debate. |
UUP MLA Jo-Anne Dobson accused the DUP of acting "in the most ham-fisted and stupid way possible". | UUP MLA Jo-Anne Dobson accused the DUP of acting "in the most ham-fisted and stupid way possible". |
Sinn Féin Assembly member Rosie McCorley said: "I believe it is unacceptable we have ministers who aren't ministers." | Sinn Féin Assembly member Rosie McCorley said: "I believe it is unacceptable we have ministers who aren't ministers." |
SDLP MLA Fearghal McKinney told MLAs the DUP claimed their strategy was going to put focus on a murder, but instead the party had "brought focus only on its own failed strategy". | SDLP MLA Fearghal McKinney told MLAs the DUP claimed their strategy was going to put focus on a murder, but instead the party had "brought focus only on its own failed strategy". |
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