Ministerial Code

Oral Answers to Questions — The Executive Office – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:30 pm on 15 November 2021.

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Photo of John O'Dowd John O'Dowd Sinn Féin 2:30, 15 November 2021

T4. Mr O'Dowd asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister on what other planet, other than on the DUP planet, would it be acceptable for a Minister to refuse to carry out his lawful duties under the ministerial code, and to state whether the joint First Minister agrees that he should now come forward and say that he, as joint First Minister, will act in accordance with his ministerial code, albeit, on listening to him carefully throughout Question Time, it is clear that he has studiously avoided using the word boycott in relation to the North/South Ministerial Council. (AQT 1774/17-22)

Photo of Paul Givan Paul Givan DUP

I politely remind Mr O'Dowd that, in 2008, Sinn Féin boycotted Executive meetings. It was not that long ago when Sinn Féin pulled down these institutions and deprived the Assembly from sitting, British-Irish Council meetings from taking place and, indeed, North/South bodies from being able to operate in any shape or form. When it comes to thwarting the activities of the institutions created by the Belfast Agreement, Sinn Féin has been the master of that.

Photo of John O'Dowd John O'Dowd Sinn Féin

I note that you avoid the question again, Minister. The reality is that you are acting unlawfully. You cannot blame your diary secretary for not arranging meetings. If I was acting on a point of principle, I would say, "I'm standing up for what I believe in, and I am boycotting a, b or c". Instead, you are blaming a diary secretary for not arranging meetings. When will you act lawfully and send a message out to those people on the streets who are acting unlawfully in the hijacking and burning of buses and other activities, and ensure that you are living up to your legal obligations under the ministerial code?

Photo of Paul Givan Paul Givan DUP

The Member knows full well that there is an active case in the courts in respect of these issues. It would be inappropriate for me to use the Chamber to make points that ought to be made in the courts. This is a case that is under active judicial proceedings, and information is being provided to the courts.

I wish that I was able to have legal representation to reflect what I and my colleague Gary Middleton have been doing, but that has been denied on not one but two occasions in terms of the legal representation that should be coming from the Executive Office, and that blockage has not come from my side of the office.