On the first day of the new Stormont session TUV leader Jim Allister has tabled the following three motions:-
1. That this Assembly, noting the endless deadlock within the Executive and the resulting failure to provide good and effective government, recognises that the current governmental arrangements are hopelessly flawed and in consequence calls on HMG to legislate to remove the blight of mandatory coalition and provide instead for voluntary coalition and the operation of an Opposition.
2. That this Assembly, noting the disastrous deadlock over welfare reform, endorses the earlier call by the First Minister for the repatriation of welfare powers to Westminster.
3. That this Assembly, being aware of the obligation on ministers under the Ministerial Code to deal with the public in “a responsible way”, and having regard to the irresponsible manner in which the Social Development minister wrongly accused four named contractors of overcharging NIHE by £18million, has no confidence in the minister and calls on him to resign.
Commenting Mr Allister said:
“The crisis over welfare illustrates that Stormont is built on sand and mandatory coalition has failed. The obvious solution is for Westminster to take back welfare powers as co-First Minister Robinson suggested back in April.
“However, that does not address the core issue as similar problems will arise down the line due to the fundamentally flawed system of government we are lumbered with. Therefore there is a need for legislation to remove the blight of mandatory coalition and provide instead for voluntary coalition and the operation of an Opposition. This would bring Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the democratic world.
“I have also tabled a motion calling for the DSD Minister to resign in light of him wrongly accusing four named contractors of overcharging NIHE by £18million.
“These motions cut to the heart of the key issues facing Stormont at the moment. Time will tell if the Assembly has the courage to face them.”