Move to cut questions is slammed
THE First and Deputy First Ministers have been accused of trying to "hollow out" accountability in government after revealing they want to reduce the amount of time they spend answering questions in the Assembly.
Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness hope to cut their twice-monthly appearances to once a month.
A letter was sent to the Assembly's Procedures Committee outlining the proposed changes.
At present the ministers take turns fielding members' questions.
The other departmental ministers only appear once a month and the First and Deputy First Ministers are proposing that since they represent a single department they should be treated the same.
SDLP leader Mark Durkan said: "It is another step in the hollowing out of the Assembly's role as a chamber of accountability."
He claimed the earlier decision not to hold a full budget process was part of a pattern undermining the Assembly's part.
"The Assembly's role as the budget authority is being bypassed. It is part of a trend here," he added.
"We are seeing the OFMDFM showing some disdain for the Assembly chamber and that is a matter of profound regret."
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Monday 13 February 2012
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