New Assembly Member: Ms Órlaithí Flynn

Assembly Business – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 10:30 am on 19 December 2016.

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Photo of Robin Newton Robin Newton Speaker 10:30, 19 December 2016

I also wish to advise the House that I have been informed by the Chief Electoral Officer that Ms Órlaithí Flynn has been returned as a Member of the Assembly for the West Belfast constituency to fill the vacancy resulting from Ms McCann's resignation. Ms Flynn signed the undertaking and Roll of Membership and entered her designation in the presence of the Speaker and the Chief Executive on 7 December 2016. The Member has taken her seat. I welcome the Member to the House and wish her success.

Photo of Jim Allister Jim Allister Traditional Unionist Voice

Mr Speaker, before this turns into a total farce, I implore you to take a point of order on the probity of what is about to happen, in that this could not be a ministerial statement in that it does not have the consent of the joint office on whose behalf it purports to be made. There is no power in Standing Orders or in legislation to recall the House —

Photo of Robin Newton Robin Newton Speaker

I ask you to take your seat.

Photo of Jim Allister Jim Allister Traditional Unionist Voice

— for the purpose of a personal statement, and that is what this is.

Photo of Robin Newton Robin Newton Speaker

Mr Allister, I ask you to take your seat.

I have received notice from the First Minister that she wishes to make a statement.

[Interruption.]

As the statement was made available to Members within only the last 15 minutes, I intend to suspend the sitting for 30 minutes to allow Members to read the statement. The sitting is suspended until 11.00 am.

The sitting was suspended at 10.36 am and resumed at 11.03 am.