Debate contribution: Election of Speaker and Deputy Speakers

Debate contribution by Mr Gordon Lyons on 27 October 2022.

MLA: Mr Gordon Lyons
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 27 October 2022
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Assembly Business
Heading: Election of Speaker and Deputy Speakers
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4178218

Text

Let us be clear: this is not a serious attempt to elect a Speaker. It is not even an attempt to have a debate about how we can best help those who are in need. It is not even a debate about how we can sort out the problems that are preventing political stability and the ability to form an Executive. Rather, it is the campaign launch from the parties opposite ahead of the election. This is nothing more than a stunt. Everyone here today knows that there will be no Speaker elected and that there will be no First Minister and deputy First Minister, or other Ministers, appointed, and we know why: because devolution in the Assembly and in the Executive can take place only when it is on a firm foundation, and that foundation has been shot to pieces by the Northern Ireland protocol. It has disrupted Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom, it has created an economic barrier and it has led to constitutional change without cross-community consent. We do not have political stability in Northern Ireland, and that is as a result of the protocol. To those who disagree, imagine for a second if there were checks, control posts, charges and bureaucracy between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Imagine if those were in place and nationalist Ministers were forced to implement those changes. That would not be acceptable to anyone, and it would not be a firm foundation on which we could build political stability. We have heard much over the past number of months about the need to protect the Belfast Agreement: that the protocol is in some way a solution to that, and that it protects it. Of course it does not: it blows it to pieces. It has become apparent over the past number of days and weeks, in particular, that many of the parties opposite only care about the Belfast Agreement when it suits them, because we have the SDLP and Sinn Féin calling for joint authority, which is clearly a breach of the Belfast Agreement, and the Alliance Party wanting to exclude unionists from government here in Northern Ireland.
Of course they are disagreeing, and of course —
— they are rolling their eyes. Naomi, I have got news for you: —
— we are not going to sit down and shut up. We are going to be listened to —
— because unionists have legitimate concerns.
It will not be a point of order, Mr Acting Speaker.
I am more than happy to direct my remarks through you, so I will say it again: we are not going to sit down and shut up —
— because we have legitimate concerns, and those concerns are going to be listened to. It has always been the case that devolution has worked best when we have that buy-in and consent from unionists, nationalists — and, yes, from others; I acknowledge that. That is when it has worked best.
I can confirm to the Member that not only did they not recall the Assembly, not only did they not call for the exclusion of Sinn Féin, but, when there was a recall debate, they did not even turn up. I think that that shows you where their priorities lie. We do best here when we are working together — when we have a firm foundation on which to build stable devolution. We do not have that solid foundation right now, but I hope that we will. That is where the barrier is coming from. Let me make one more point before I finish. There is a lot of cynicism in politics these days. That is understandable, but my party went into the last election on a very clear manifesto and with very clear pledges. We said that we would not return to government here unless those issues with the protocol were dealt with and dealt with once and for all. I simply say this: we made a promise, and we are going to keep it.

675 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Awaiting analysis

This record has not been analysed yet. It is not counted in any total until it has been assessed.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification