Debate contribution: Standing Order 27A: Voting by Proxy
Debate contribution by Mrs Sinéad Ennis on .
- MLA
- Mrs Sinéad Ennis
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 22 October 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Committee Business
- Heading
- Standing Order 27A: Voting by Proxy
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4608236
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Go raibh maith agat,
Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. To remove any element of doubt for some Members, I will say that what we are debating here is a new Standing Order on proxy voting for parental leave. The clue is in the title for people who are a bit confused as to what we are discussing here today. It is my pleasure to make a winding-up speech on the motion. I will begin by thanking everybody who took part, and I welcome the fact that the debate has been largely positive and welcomed the new Standing Order. Most MLAs who contributed to the debate will recognise that we are not Assembly employees and that we cannot take leave for maternity, paternity, adoption etc in the same way that an employee can. I appreciate Sian's outlining the difficulties that face new parents, particularly new mothers, when they are in a political role. I know what it is like. I have been in the situation where maternity leave was not an option, and I was answering constituency queries from a maternity ward, which was not ideal. Overall, in the Chamber today, there has been a broad welcome for the new Standing Order. It will allow MLAs to take such leave and still have their vote count, thus ensuring that they continue to represent their constituencies. The new provision will ensure that a core part of the role that an MLA has been elected to do can still be delivered. I will pick up on some of the points that Members have raised. Diane talked about the guidance in relation to the Standing Order. The Standing Order is what is being voted on today, and the guidance will issue from the Speaker's Office. The Committee has made suggestions as to what should be in the guidance, but, ultimately, it is up to the Speaker. I assure the Member that the Committee has been in close contact with the Speaker throughout the development of the Standing Order. His thoughts and views have been extremely helpful to the Committee, and I am sure that he has taken note of the comments made by Members today on what may or may not be included in the guidance.
Gerry Carroll asked why the provisions will not extend to other instances such as ill health and bereavement. The Committee did not include other categories in the provisions for proxy voting that I have just outlined. I am aware that other places provide for proxy voting in categories such as ill health, bereavement and absence on official business, but even a quick glance at those categories showed that a number of issues would need to be considered in more detail before such provisions could be introduced to the Assembly. I assure the Member that they are firmly on the Committee's radar, and we may deal with them at a future time.
I am speaking as Deputy Chairperson of the Procedures Committee and can assure the Member that that was a considerable part of the Committee's consideration. However, once we sat down to look at it, we saw that the breadth of considerations on which we would have to deliberate was large. As the Chairperson said, we decided to do the work in small chunks. COVID was an exceptional time. I am sure that there is learning to be taken from COVID — the arrangements were convenient — but I do not think that we want to be in a place where it is, "Whatever you're having yourself". We need to start by introducing the provisions for parental leave. That is the most pressing concern, but the Committee has committed to looking at other circumstances that we all encounter in our daily life. Gerry, you also raised the deadline of 4.00 pm. The Committee discussed issues relating to the notification process, including the deadline, and we are aware that some Members would like the deadline to be as late and as flexible as possible. To repeat what the Chairperson said, ensuring that the integrity of our voting system is never called into question was first and foremost in our minds. While having a 9.30 pm deadline on the day worked during the pandemic, it is not ideal. We heard from officials that a sitting day is one of the busiest times of the week in the Business Office. Processes and systems must be put in place to make the proxy voting system work seamlessly and to ensure the integrity of the vote. For that reason, we agreed that the approach suggested by the Speaker of a 4.00 pm deadline would be more suitable. Members may wish to note that the deadline is not provided for in Standing Orders but will be in the guidance. We see the Standing Order as a progressive and inclusive step that will benefit the Assembly as a whole and bring us into line with other Parliaments. I am pleased that, overall, there has been a warm welcome for it from MLAs, and I commend it to the Assembly.
843 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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