This afternoon’s recall of the Assembly in a bid to oppose the coming into being of Westminster legislation on abortion and same sex marriage has been dismissed as “cynical”and a DUP ‘political stunt’ by both the SDLP and Sinn Fein respectively.
Northern Ireland’s legislation on the issue will change today unless devolution is completely restored. However, the preventative purpose of today’s gathering of MLA’s is a futile exercise because of the absence of a Northern Ireland Executive.
In July this year, the passing of the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019, included an article which stated that the Westminster changes to Northern Ireland law on same sex marriage would become reality here “unless an Executive in Northern Ireland is formed on or before 21 October, 2019).”
Preventing the changes to same sex marriage and abortion laws would also necessitate the election of a Stormont Speaker who has cross-community support. The attendance of more than one SDLP MLA may allow this to become a reality and allow the law changes to be at least debated.
The man currently still in that position since the collapse of the instutions over 1,000 days ago, Robin Newton, wrote to all 90 MLAs late last week to inform them that the required figure to conduct a special sitting had been reached.
But, one SDLP MLA has publicly said will attend the first sitting of the Assembly in almost three years, prompting party leader Colum Eastwood to say his party would decide on a larger presence over the past weekend.
Daniel McCrossan, SDLP MLA for West Tyrone indicated at the end of last week that he would be in attendance in the Stormont chamber this morning. The recall was triggered after 31 MLA’s signed a recall petition and thereby passed the necessary quorum of 30 for a sitting.
The proposal to recall the Assembly to debate the matters initially came from Baroness Nuala O’Loan who is steadfastly opposed to any change in Northern Ireland’s abortion laws. The idea was also then backed by Arlene Foster.
Support for the recall was garnered by campaign group Both Lives Matter who gathered signatures from 27 DUP MLAs and the recall petition was also signed by UUP leader Robin Swann his party colleagues Robbie Butler and Roy Beggs as well as TUV leader Jim Allister.
DUP leader Arlene Foster said that the Assembly meeting today would allow members to debate the issues, but as said, a debate can only take place if a Speaker is elected with cross-community backing.
The SDLP has declared itself to be a “pro-life party” but its representatives are free to take a conscience vote on the issue of abortion.
In a statement on the matter, Mr Eastwood labelled today’s meeting as “shallow choreography” and a “cynical attempt to recall the Assembly with no attempt to address the reasons for its collapse.”
The SDLP leader added: “If they (the DUP) or Sinn Fein, were serious about restoring government, they would take up our offer of a time-bound suspension of the Petition of Concern that would allow a reformed institution to put the difficult issues to a democratic vote. That was, and remains, a significant compromise on our part.
“We want a government back. But the cold reality is that the restoration of an inclusive Executive requires political agreement the DUP and Sinn Fein. We will not be able to secure a new government while they remain intractably divided.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Sinn Fein confirmed that the party would not be at Stormont today.
A statement said: “Arlene Foster’s ‘proposal’ to recall the Assembly is a pointless political stunt, which has literally no impact unless its business to appoint an Executive who does have the power to effect legal change.”
The meeting at the Assembly is scheduled to begin at noon today.
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