Northern Ireland

Two bids tabled to recall defunct assembly

Michelle O'Neill has been critical of times to recall the assembly. Picture by Hugh Russell.
Michelle O'Neill has been critical of times to recall the assembly. Picture by Hugh Russell. Michelle O'Neill has been critical of times to recall the assembly. Picture by Hugh Russell.

A bid to recall the defunct Stormont Assembly for a second day next week has been launched.

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie lodged a recall petition with the Assembly authorities on Friday, calling for a sitting on Tuesday.

His move comes after a session was already scheduled for Monday, on the back of a successful petition signed by anti-abortion MLAs who wish to demonstrate their opposition to the imminent decriminalisation of terminations in the region.

The unusual political manoeuvres are set to be largely symbolic, as the Assembly cannot fulfil its legislative functions without a powersharing executive being in place.

A ministerial executive will only be formed once the DUP and Sinn Fein resolve their long-standing differences and agree to enter into a coalition again.

While the purpose of Monday's sitting is to voice objections to the abortion law change, Mr Beattie's bid is designed to focus attention on a host of outstanding issues resulting from the two-and-a-half-year powersharing impasse.

Mr Beattie tweeted an image of the recall petition he had lodged and encouraged colleagues to sign it.

"If we can be in the chamber for a debate on Monday, we can be there on Tuesday too," he wrote.

"Over 1,000 days without devolution and plenty to discuss.

"I have lodged this recall petition in the business office and invite MLAs to add their signature to mine."

As a result of a law passed by MPs at Westminster in the summer, abortion will be decriminalised in Northern Ireland at midnight on Monday.

The Executive Formation Act will also pave the way for the introduction of same-sex marriage in the region next year.

Anti-abortion activists had urged like-minded MLAs to sign the recall petition to hold a sitting on Monday.

The 30-signature threshold was reached with the backing of DUP, UUP and the Assembly's sole Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) member.

Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill branded Monday's planned Assembly sitting as a "circus".

"Anyone that turns up on Monday to Arlene Foster's circus is merely a clown in that circus, they are being a patsy to the DUP,” she said.

“We all know this is not real, this is not genuine, this is not about resolving an issue, this is about playing to a gallery."

The Sinn Féin vice-president was also critical of Mr Beattie’s petition, describing it as "another stunt".

East Antrim MLA and DUP Assembly Chief Whip Gordon Lyons said: “Monday’s Assembly sitting is not a DUP initiative. It was a campaign taken forward by Baroness Nuala O’Loan and the Both Lives Matter campaign. Michelle O’Neill’s arrogant dismissal of that demonstrates a disregard for devolution and for the people of Northern Ireland.

"Fresh from banging bin lids on the border, for Sinn Fein to describe a meeting of elected representatives as a stunt and a circus is beyond belief."

A spokesman for the SDLP last night said: “The only way an assembly can be restored on Monday is if the DUP and Sinn Féin form an executive.

“They are in control now. The SDLP will be honest with the public and, as one team, respond to their action or inaction.”

Alliance leader Naomi Long was scathing of both attempts to recall the assembly.

"You wait for over 1,000 days and then two stunts come along at once," she tweeted.

"We don't need a pointless talking shop.

"Get back into talks, get the issues resolved and get an Executive formed so ministers can take decisions and the Assembly Committees can function."