Assembly Business – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 12:00 pm on 1 February 2016.
I want to return to the point of order raised by Mr McCarthy after last Tuesday's Question Time. Standing Order 20(8A) is very clear that answers to questions may be no longer than two minutes. For a Minister to continue to exceed that time in the face of repeated reminders is discourteous to the House and unacceptable. Ministers may, from time to time, need more time to provide answers on complex issues, and the Deputy Speakers and I will regularly accept requests for additional time in those circumstances. However, filibustering or waffling is not in order, and, if we find that Ministers persistently slip beyond their time, we will intervene and move on to the next question. I hope that that is clear.