Stormont’s leaders must demonstrate reform of the institutions is a priority or risk confirming their “intention to frustrate progress”.
The call comes ahead of a planned meeting between first and deputy first ministers and the assembly and executive review committee’s (AERC) chair and deputy chair to discuss proposals for reform.
At the committee’s last meeting in December, DUP, Sinn Féin and Ulster Unionist members voted against a proposal from Alliance’s Michelle Guy to examine the removal of the veto enabling the collapse of the devolved institutions.
They instead agreed to wait on what was described as a “report” from the Executive Office (TEO), which would include suggestions on where the committee’s work should focus.
The TEO paper, which was given to the committee little over an hour after its meeting had concluded, consisted of seven bullet points and amounted to 137 words.
As part of the committee’s “next steps in the selection and prioritisation” for its forward work programme, chair Jonathan Buckley and deputy chair Declan McAleer are planning to meet the first and deputy first ministers to discuss the executive’s reform proposals.
Ms Guy described the executive proposals, which include an examination of assembly questions and a review of all-party groups, as “low level and inconsequential”.
“I hope the outcome of the chair and deputy chair’s meeting with FM/DFM results in an acknowledgment that reform must be the first priority of the AERC and provides impetus to the committee to get on this work,” the Lagan Valley MLA said.
“Anything less will validate the concern there is an intention to frustrate progress on this by TEO and the other parties.”
