Speaker Poots lays down the law at Stormont as TUV and UUP MLAs forced to apologise or face speaking ban
Edwin Poots has slammed interventions by TUV and Ulster Unionist MLAs in a debate on Monday, in which they challenged a decision by the principal deputy speaker Carál Ní Chuilín – saying Timothy Gaston’s contribution “cannot be tolerated”.
The TUV had complained to Stormont's speaker after Ms Ni Chuilin shut down Timothy Gaston when he attempted to raise use of public money to fund party press officers – but allowed another MLA to discuss Israel during the same debate.
Ulster Unionist MLA Steve Aiken also questioned the decision by the Sinn Fein MLA – saying that rulings need to be equal, and questioned how the decision was “equitable”.
Mr Aiken and Mr Gaston apologised – after facing a two week ban on speaking ahead of a landmark vote on the Irish Sea border arrangements.
The Speaker also criticised Mr Gaston for sharing a letter of complaint with the media, saying it was “not in keeping with parliamentary courtesies”. He said that during Monday’s debate, the TUV MLA had not raised the issues about Michael McMonagle’s pay “in a way that was within the scope of the debate”.
Mr Poots said that when the principal deputy speaker “gave Mr. Gaston the opportunity to adapt his remarks to bring them into scope”, but he had gone on a “further tangent” taking with the chair. He backed Carál Ní Chuilín’s actions and said MLAs “should accept in good faith that the rulings from the chair are based on the procedures of the house”.
The TUV MLA for North Antrim had written to Assembly Speaker Edwin Poots about Ms Ni Chuilin’s handling of the debate – which was on the Assembly Commission budget. That’s the body that staffs and runs the Assembly and MLAs’ offices – as well as the work of political parties at Stormont.
Principal Deputy Speaker Ms Ni Chuilin interrupted the TUV MLA three times when he raised issues about the employment of former Sinn Fein press officer Michael McMonagle, who had been employed by a number of Sinn Fein politicians at various points, using Assembly funds. Caral Ni Chuilin instructed Mr Gaston to return to the “substance of the debate”- to which Mr Gaston responded that when he tried to raise issues they “always seem to be shut down”.