Member's statement: Michael McMonagle: No Confidence Motion

Member's statement by Mr Timothy Gaston on 15 October 2024.

MLA

Mr Timothy Gaston

Party at the time

Traditional Unionist Voice

Date

15 October 2024

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

Michael McMonagle: No Confidence Motion

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4592475

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Two weeks ago, the First Minister became embroiled in the Michael McMonagle scandal. While the Dáil has found time for a debate on the issue today, MLAs in this Chamber had a mere 30 minutes to question the First Minister. Many of those questions remain unanswered and, indeed, need serious scrutiny. We heard plenty of sound and fury from the Benches to my right that day, but, a week later, the only motion that has been submitted on the issue — a motion of no confidence in the First Minister and the Economy Minister — sits in the Business Office with only a single signature on it. The truth is that, right across the Chamber, the parties have, once again, given Sinn Féin a bye ball. It appears, to date, that, for the vast majority of MLAs, child protection is secondary to protecting the institutions. The First Minister's claim that she made when she was before the Executive Office Committee on Wednesday 2 October is simply not compatible — I cannot stress that enough — with the images that have since emerged in various newspapers. The First Minister's claim simply is not credible, and her reputation is in tatters. It is clear that there is an obvious desire on the part of some to sweep the issue under the carpet. Let us not forget that Minister Murphy is linked to the scandal as well. He sought to blame the British Heart Foundation for employing McMonagle without due diligence. We now know that the foundation contacted his party in August 2023. What did Minister Murphy's party tell the British Heart Foundation as it sought to do due diligence checks? When he spread dangerous misinformation about the duty of employers when it comes to paedophiles, where were the demands for his ministerial head? The Sinn Féin Member for North Antrim, Mr Philip McGuigan, having signed off on Michael McMonagle's pass, did not immediately revoke it when the abuse came to light. In fact, it was cancelled only within the past number of days. My goodness: where is the accountability? Where in the House are the genuine concerns for safeguarding issues? A few days ago, I stood in the Chamber and addressed primary-school children who were here on a visit. Does that not chill every decent-thinking Member in the Chamber? The question is this: what will we do about it? Am I wrong in my belief that it will just be swept under the carpet? There are interesting precedents. Peter Robinson stepped aside when scandal swirled around him. Arlene, now Baroness Foster, was forced from office over the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scandal. Will the First Minister step aside —

— while those issues are investigated?

I remind the House —

— that the DUP has it in its power —

— to do something about it.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:26 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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