Northern Ireland

MLAs warned of 'severe pressure' on Assembly time

Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey. Picture by Michael Cooper.
Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey. Picture by Michael Cooper. Assembly Speaker Alex Maskey. Picture by Michael Cooper.

The assembly speaker has warned MLAs that Stormont is facing "severe pressure" due to the number of impending pieces of legislation.

Alex Maskey said the formation of the current assembly in January 2020, quickly followed by the pandemic helped create "very specific challenges" for Stormont.

He has written to all MLAs to warn the current "record amount" of Private Members' Bills awaiting scrutiny "will add to the normal challenges of processing legislation towards the end of an assembly mandate.".

It is estimated that a minimum of 99 Bill stages will result from up to 30 pieces of legislation, including Executive Bills and Private Members' Bills, before next spring.

"This will create severe pressure on assembly time and committee time," Mr Maskey wrote.

"It therefore appears highly unlikely that all of the bills which are currently in front of the assembly, or might be submitted, will be able to complete their passage by the end of the mandate."