Northern Ireland

New Assembly Commission to be appointed early next week

Parliament Buildings in the Stormont Estate
The Assembly Commission is the corporate body that oversees the workings of the assembly (Liam McBurney/PA)
By Staff Reporter

Members of the corporate body that oversees the workings of the assembly are expected to be appointed on Monday.

Chaired by speaker Edwin Poots, the Assembly Commission includes appointees from Stormont’s five main parties.

It is responsible for ensuring the assembly is provided with the property, staff and services to carry out its work.

The commission also takes potentially controversial decisions around the display of flags and emblems at Parliament Buildings.

Two Union flags fly over Parliament Buildings at Stormont
Two Union flags fly over Parliament Buildings at Stormont

Up until last week it was chaired by Alex Maskey and until October included former SDLP MLA Dolores Kelly, who lost her seat in the May 2022 election.

The new members of the commission are expected to be Trevor Clarke (DUP); Robbie Butler (UUP); Sinéad Ennis (Sinn Féin); Nuala McAllister (Alliance); and Colin McGrath (SDLP).