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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Robinson in Assembly reform call | Robinson in Assembly reform call |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| DUP leader Peter Robinson has said he wants to change the way the Northern Ireland Assembly makes its decisions as soon as possible. | DUP leader Peter Robinson has said he wants to change the way the Northern Ireland Assembly makes its decisions as soon as possible. |
| Mr Robinson said ending the veto that parties can exercise is as important as devolving policing and justice powers. | Mr Robinson said ending the veto that parties can exercise is as important as devolving policing and justice powers. |
| The first minister signalled there could be a delay in transferring these powers due to problems around finance. | The first minister signalled there could be a delay in transferring these powers due to problems around finance. |
| He added there was no need to wait until 2015 to change voting rules and end community designation. | He added there was no need to wait until 2015 to change voting rules and end community designation. |
| "The St Andrews Agreement provides for a review of arrangements by 2015 but we should address problems when they exist and not await an arbitrary date," he said. | "The St Andrews Agreement provides for a review of arrangements by 2015 but we should address problems when they exist and not await an arbitrary date," he said. |
| As a moral and practical matter, community designation is fundamentally flawed Peter RobinsonDUP leader | As a moral and practical matter, community designation is fundamentally flawed Peter RobinsonDUP leader |
| "Coasting along is not an option for those who want good governance." | "Coasting along is not an option for those who want good governance." |
| Mr Robinson said "parties that are ideologically opposed on a whole range of issues are always going to have issues where they have fundamental differences". | Mr Robinson said "parties that are ideologically opposed on a whole range of issues are always going to have issues where they have fundamental differences". |
| "It is not always going to be possible to reach an accommodation and as a result of our voting system a failure to agree means deadlock - this has been the case on a number of issues," he said. | "It is not always going to be possible to reach an accommodation and as a result of our voting system a failure to agree means deadlock - this has been the case on a number of issues," he said. |
| Mr Robinson was speaking at a conference at the Ulster Hall entitled "How can devolved government deliver for citizens", also attended by former Scottish first minister Jack McConnell. | Mr Robinson was speaking at a conference at the Ulster Hall entitled "How can devolved government deliver for citizens", also attended by former Scottish first minister Jack McConnell. |
| He told delegates that the abolition of community designation - the system by which assembly members are categorised as unionist, nationalist or other - was at the heart of proposals which his party will publish in greater detail later this month. | He told delegates that the abolition of community designation - the system by which assembly members are categorised as unionist, nationalist or other - was at the heart of proposals which his party will publish in greater detail later this month. |
| Peter Robinson's comments regarding how he and his cohorts in Sinn Fein conduct Executive meetings demonstrate that our criticism has been entirely justified Alasdair McDonnellSDLP deputy leader | |
| "As a consequence of this, new voting arrangements for the Assembly and the Executive will be required," he said. | "As a consequence of this, new voting arrangements for the Assembly and the Executive will be required," he said. |
| "As a moral and practical matter, community designation is fundamentally flawed. | "As a moral and practical matter, community designation is fundamentally flawed. |
| "It is deeply undemocratic, it entrenches community division and hinders the development of normal politics in Northern Ireland and in practice means that the votes of all Assembly members are not equal." | "It is deeply undemocratic, it entrenches community division and hinders the development of normal politics in Northern Ireland and in practice means that the votes of all Assembly members are not equal." |
| The Stormont voting system - created by the Good Friday Agreement - effectively hands those who control most unionist or most nationalist votes a veto over any initiative and was meant to act a guarantee to either side. | |
| Mr Robinson acknowledged this was an initial safeguard but said there were other ways to provide community confidence. | Mr Robinson acknowledged this was an initial safeguard but said there were other ways to provide community confidence. |
| He said the DUP was proposing the introduction of weighted majority voting. | |
| "Where a cross-community vote is required by legislation or triggered by a petition of concern, a proposal would require the support of 65% of Assembly members present and voting to pass," he said. | "Where a cross-community vote is required by legislation or triggered by a petition of concern, a proposal would require the support of 65% of Assembly members present and voting to pass," he said. |
| Mr Robinson said this would mean "that no single political party would have the capacity to block proposals which otherwise could command widespread support". | Mr Robinson said this would mean "that no single political party would have the capacity to block proposals which otherwise could command widespread support". |
| He said parties could form coalitions on various issues to provide the required majority. | He said parties could form coalitions on various issues to provide the required majority. |
| "Neither Sinn Fein nor the DUP alone would have a veto but support from both sections of the community would still be required," he said. | "Neither Sinn Fein nor the DUP alone would have a veto but support from both sections of the community would still be required," he said. |
| "In the Executive where a cross-community vote is required, parties would vote on the basis of their strength in the Assembly." | "In the Executive where a cross-community vote is required, parties would vote on the basis of their strength in the Assembly." |
| 'Greater role' | 'Greater role' |
| Mr Robinson reached out to the Ulster Unionists and SDLP, promising them more consultation ahead of Executive meetings. | Mr Robinson reached out to the Ulster Unionists and SDLP, promising them more consultation ahead of Executive meetings. |
| He criticised the approach of these parties to date and the way they have handled Executive business, suggesting they had been "less than responsible" in their approach. | He criticised the approach of these parties to date and the way they have handled Executive business, suggesting they had been "less than responsible" in their approach. |
| He said he would consider offering unanimity over decisions at the Executive table. | He said he would consider offering unanimity over decisions at the Executive table. |
| Mr Robinson is also seeking changes to the Ministerial Code which would require the first and deputy first minister within a "reasonable period" to table and permit a vote at the Executive on a matter proposed by any minister. | Mr Robinson is also seeking changes to the Ministerial Code which would require the first and deputy first minister within a "reasonable period" to table and permit a vote at the Executive on a matter proposed by any minister. |
| It's all pretty typical of the DUP - they are in a mess entirely of their own creation and shackled to Sinn Fein, and now expect the rest of us to bail them out Danny KennedyUUP deputy leader | |
| On the issue of policing and justice, he warned that the transfer of these powers could be delayed if the government maintains its present position on funding. | On the issue of policing and justice, he warned that the transfer of these powers could be delayed if the government maintains its present position on funding. |
| "The people of Northern Ireland would not thank us if we took on functions which are not properly funded and then be forced to divert funds from health and education to meet the shortfall," he said. | "The people of Northern Ireland would not thank us if we took on functions which are not properly funded and then be forced to divert funds from health and education to meet the shortfall," he said. |
| SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell said Mr Robinson's comments "regarding how he and his cohorts in Sinn Fein conduct Executive meetings demonstrate that our criticism has been entirely justified". | SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell said Mr Robinson's comments "regarding how he and his cohorts in Sinn Fein conduct Executive meetings demonstrate that our criticism has been entirely justified". |
| "In the wider community there is a steady growing sense of disappointment at the quality of devolved government with little policy innovation, poor prioritisation, no real decisions and no real delivery. | "In the wider community there is a steady growing sense of disappointment at the quality of devolved government with little policy innovation, poor prioritisation, no real decisions and no real delivery. |
| "We need to see a positive and proactive agenda in the Executive." | "We need to see a positive and proactive agenda in the Executive." |
| Ulster Unionist deputy leader Danny Kennedy questioned whether Mr Robinson's plans to give his party and the SDLP a greater role in Executive business was "an admission we haven't had the role we should have had". | |
| He said the DUP's plan to abolish community designation "looks suspiciously like the DUP trying to change the rules because, having examined their performance in the Euro election, they fear that their vote will continue to collapse and that Sinn Fein will emerge as the largest party". | |
| "It's all pretty typical of the DUP - they are in a mess entirely of their own creation and shackled to Sinn Fein, and now expect the rest of us to bail them out," he said. |