The DUP has failed to block moves by the committee tasked with exploring Stormont reform to look at removing the veto that enables the institutions’ collapse.
Provisional agreement on Tuesday by the assembly and executive reform committee (AERC), which was opposed by three its DUP members including chair Jonathan Buckley, reverses a decision taken before Christmas to stall examination of substantive reform.
At its last meeting in December, the committee’s DUP, Sinn Féin and Ulster Unionist members rejected a proposal to examine the removal of the veto that has seen the devolved institutions suspended twice in the past decade, including designations and the process for the appointment of the first and deputy first minister.
They argued that it was better to wait for what was described as a “report” from the Executive Office, which would include suggestions for the committee’s forward work programme.
The paper from the Executive Office, which was compiled after consultation with other executive ministers, consisted of seven bullet points and amounted to 137 words.
Its suggested areas for the committee to examine were assembly questions, an assessment of the effectiveness of the committee system, and a review of all-party groups but no proposal for exploring substantive reforms.
However, with support on Tuesday from newly-appointed Sinn Féin member Pat Sheehan and his party colleague Aíne Murphy, the committee agreed to broaden its forward work programme to include matters shelved at the previous meeting.
Alliance member Michelle Guy welcomed the commitment to move forward a what is effectively a joint proposal with the SDLP at the committee’s next scheduled meeting on March 11.
“I was pleased to see a commitment given to discuss Alliance’s proposal to reform our institutions and remove the Stormont veto at the next AERC meeting,” the Lagan Valley MLA said.
“It is another important step towards removing the ransom politics which constantly hang over our institutions, and I hope other executive parties support our suggestions once they are in front of the committee.”
SDLP member Matthew O’Toole said: “This welcome change of heart from some parties means that the assembly executive and review committee will take forward an SDLP Opposition proposal to examine ways of removing the collapse mechanism from our institutions.
“Not only have the public made clear they are fed up with the politics of veto and the cycle of collapse, this development shows the value of a constructive but robust Opposition putting reform at the top of the agenda at Stormont.”
