A court ruling cannot be the basis for removing essential legal constraints on ministers in an abnormal system of mandatory coalition
The reform has caused concern given that Sinn Fein, which sometimes uses destabilising tactics, could make ministerial decisions with major ramifications that Stormont as a whole cannot stop.
One way this reform might be justified was if it was possible for a decision of one minister to be ‘called in’ to the executive, if three other ministers thought that necessary.
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Hide AdArlene Foster said that call-in was possible but Richard Bullick, her former advisor, wrote an essay in Friday’s News Letter explaining his view that it was not (see link below).
This newspaper said that if he was wrong on the three ministers, the DUP should explain why. Yesterday it did not do so. Therefore the Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie’s amendment to the legislation on Monday needs unionist support.
As Jim Wells says of Mr Bullick (see link to news story below), he is not only respected, he has been loyal to his former DUP colleagues. For him to break ranks confirms that this is a grave development.
The DUP says it has to pass this reform after a court over-turned an incinerator planning approval. That judgement caused alarm in some political and legal circles.
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Hide AdIn any event, the UK government says it does not want judges making law. The case did not go to the Supreme Court.
The ruling cannot be the foundation for such a significant dilution of constraints on ministers.
Read More:
• News story: Arlene Foster still backs ‘dangerous’ law – but offers no rebuttal of ex-aide’s warning
• Richard Bullick: The DUP won key safeguards for unionism, yet seems to be sleepwalking into removing them
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