{"id":26415,"date":"2022-05-30T11:52:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-30T15:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26415"},"modified":"2022-06-01T11:55:07","modified_gmt":"2022-06-01T15:55:07","slug":"dup-blocks-new-attempt-to-elect-speaker-at-stormont","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=26415","title":{"rendered":"DUP Blocks New Attempt To Elect Speaker At Stormont"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The DUP refused to back the bid, maintaining its position that it wants to see action from the UK government over the Northern Ireland Protocol (PA Images)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Northern Ireland Assembly has failed for the second time to elect a new speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DUP refused to back the bid, maintaining its position that it wants to see action from the UK government over the Northern Ireland Protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two nominations for the role, the Ulster Unionists\u2019 Mike Nesbitt and the SDLP\u2019s Patsy McGlone, failed to secure the necessary cross-community support from MLAs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plenary session of the Assembly was then suspended as business cannot be carried out without a speaker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MLAs were in the chamber on Monday following a recall petition brought by Sinn F\u00e9in to elect a speaker, deputy speakers and to appoint a first minister and deputy first minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier, Sinn F\u00e9in vice president Michelle O\u2019Neill said people in Northern Ireland want action, not protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ms O\u2019Neill told the chamber: \u201cThe people have spoken and they want action, not protest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey want the parties and every single MLA elected to this democratic institution to get their sleeves rolled up and to get down to business.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added: \u201cThe DUP\u2019s stand-off is with the public and not with the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs I stand here today I am ready to work with others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, DUP MLA Paul Givan described the recall as not a \u201cserious attempt\u201d to restore power-sharing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told MLAs: \u201cToday\u2019s recall is another attempt at majority rule and has no credibility when it comes forward from the party that kept these institutions down for three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe public will see the hypocrisy for what it is from Sinn F\u00e9in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t a serious attempt to restore the principles of power-sharing and these institutions. It is a stunt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alliance Party MLA Nuala McAllister said a restored Assembly at Stormont could begin to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She told MLAs: \u201cThere is much that can be done by an Executive to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt the heart of this cost-of-living crisis is our government\u2019s failure to act and that is something that we all take responsibility for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut we are ready to take decisions to alleviate those stresses and give people who have been voiceless for so long hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThose of us who want to get on with the job are more than desperate to do so.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ulster Unionist MLA Robbie Butler said his party wanted all-party talks to begin on a program for government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He told the recalled Assembly: \u201cThe UUP have written today to the head of the civil service to convene all-party talks to establish a program for government and the minister for finance to reopen the public consultation on the budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese are measures which should be done now to restore the confidence of the people of Northern Ireland that we all purport to serve.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SDLP MLA Matthew O\u2019Toole said that the number of MLAs who support the Northern Ireland Protocol had increased in the recent Assembly election.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He asked MLAs: \u201cWhy is the DUP holding the people of Northern Ireland to hostage?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey say it is all about the protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe protocol is an international treaty signed between the UK and the European Union.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe number of MLAs who support the protocol went up in the last election.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson\u2019s party has so far blocked the election of a speaker and the formation of an Executive following the Northern Ireland Assembly elections

buy cheap kamagra online<\/a><\/p> , as part of its protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The DUP also faced criticism last week, after concerns were raised that the absence of an Executive will prevent a UK-wide \u00a3400 discount on energy bills going to Northern Irish households.<\/p>\n

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