Relationships between Ministers in the Executive

Speech by David Ford raises point of order over questions to a Minister on Tue 11th Sep 2007

Monday 10 September 2007

Mr Ford: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Standing Order 18(1) states:

"A Member of the Executive Committee shall make statements to the Assembly on matters for which the Executive Committee is responsible."

One must, therefore, logically presume that members of the Executive Committee act collectively on behalf of that Committee, as, for example, when Mr Murphy addressed the House about the flooding in east Belfast. This morning, the Speaker allowed two members of the Executive Committee - the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister - to ask questions of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development on a statement made - presumably - on behalf of them as members of the Executive. Can you explain this constitutional novelty to the House, or can you pass on a message to the Speaker to allow him to do so at an appropriate time?

Mr Deputy Speaker: The First Minister is also the leader of his party and can raise a point in that capacity, which he did this morning. We will move on to -

Mr Ford: Further to that point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. The Speaker called Dr Paisley as the First Minister and Mr McGuinness as the Deputy First Minister. The subsequent round of questions started - quite properly - with Dr McCrea as Chairperson of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development and Mr Boylan representing the second-largest party in the Assembly. Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness were given not only an additional status but recognition as Ministers. Therefore, I repeat my request that you discuss the matter with the Speaker.

Mr Deputy Speaker: I take your further point of order, Mr Ford. I was not in the Chair at that time. I will refer the matter to the Speaker, and the Speaker will respond appropriately.

Tuesday 11 September

Mr Speaker: I want to say something about the statement that the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development made yesterday. Mr Ford raised a point of order, asking why two members of the Executive were called to ask questions of an Executive colleague. The Deputy Speaker Mr McClarty was in the Chair at the time, and he undertook to raise the matter with me. I have given it some consideration.

Members will be aware that Standing Orders do not preclude Ministers from asking questions of other Ministers. However, page 36 of the 'Northern Ireland Assembly Companion' - I am sure that everyone has a copy with them - shows that such questions were not the usual practice in the previous Assembly. However, I believe that Ministerial statements offer Members an important opportunity to hold the Executive to account. In future, therefore, I intend to call members of the Executive to ask questions following a statement from a ministerial colleague only in special circumstances. I may still call them as private Members, referring to them by name rather than by their ministerial office.

I hope that that clears up that matter. It was a very good point of order, and I must say that points of order of that nature are scarce in the House.