Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ASSEMBLY BAN AFTER ALLISTER OUTBURSTS
3-day sanction over remarks
JIM Allister has been barred from speaking in the Assembly chamber for three days for making “ill-tempered” remarks.
It follows the North Antrim MLA calling Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon a “little Irelander” for opposing a bridge to Scotland.
The speaker said he has been concerned about Mr Allister’s conduct on recent occasions but Monday was a “clear example of unacceptable behaviour which cannot be ignored”.
When Mr Allister sought to speak following the sanction, Alex Maskey responded: “I have determined a three-day suspension. I can add to that. Don’t tempt me.”
On Monday, the TUV leader had criticised the Assembly Commission for not approving a proposal from unionist parties for a stone marking Northern Ireland’s centenary.
Ms Mallon later said Mr Allister had used “lazy, divisive language”, while the minister’s party colleague Mark H Durkan called for an apology, describing Mr Allister’s remarks as “insulting and inflammatory”. Yesterday the speaker said: “I have been concerned about Mr Allister’s behaviour on a number of recent occasions.
“He has made ill-tempered remarks including to the Infrastructure Minister yesterday and has been aggressive in commenting from a seated position while other members are speaking.”
Mr Maskey also referred to a previous debate in which Mr Allister interrupted Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw “to the point that she had to draw attention to it, and Mr Allister then did apologise”.
The speaker said it had been some time since an MLA has been barred from speaking in the chamber. He added: “However, yesterday was a clear example of unacceptable behaviour which cannot be ignored and I intend to uphold the authority of the Speaker’s Office regardless of who is in the chair at a given time.
“Therefore, Mr Allister will not be called to speak for three sitting days starting from this morning.
“This includes all items of business including questions and interventions.”
Mr Maskey said he would continue to review language used by MLAS during the course of debates in the Assembly.
In a statement, Mr Allister said he regrets his constituents will be denied a voice over the course of his sanction. He added: “On behalf of my constituents I seek to make my points with vigour and clarity.
“While the speaker’s ruling is mandatory, I regret that my constituents are to be punished in this way but assure them that while I might be silenced for three days in the chamber, their voice and opinions will be heard.”