Formal tributes to be paid to retiring Speaker

Londonderry DUP MLA and Speaker of the Assembly, William Hay, is to stand down.
William Hay, who will be going to the House of Lords.William Hay, who will be going to the House of Lords.
William Hay, who will be going to the House of Lords.

The local representative, who has suffered from ill-health recently, wrote to the Principal Deputy Speaker and fellow citizen Mitchel McLaughlin to advise him of the move.

Mr McLaughlin told the Assembly on Monday: “He expresses his appreciation for the good wishes that have been sent to him from across the House and beyond but has decided that his focus needs to be on his return to health and that it is unrealistic that he will be able to return to exercise the functions of Speaker in the immediate future.

“The Speaker is disappointed that he is not in a position to come to the House to announce this himself, but he has informed me in writing that he has decided to proceed with his intention to retire.

“He will resign as a Member with effect from 12noon on Monday, October 13, 2014. In accordance with section 39(2)(b) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, he will cease to be the Speaker at that time.

“A copy of the Speaker’s letter will be placed in the Library. Following receipt of the letter on Friday, I visited the Speaker and passed on the best wishes of Members.”

Mr McLaughlin added: “While we are all sorry about the circumstances of today’s announcement, I know that I speak on behalf of the Deputy Speakers and the whole House in wishing the Speaker well in future and thanking him for the dedication and service that he has given the Assembly in the role of Speaker over the last seven years.

“I will therefore encourage Whips to consider arrangements for how formally to pay tribute to the Speaker so that the Business Committee can consider those tomorrow for the Order Paper of next week. Let us move on.”

DUP MLA Peter Weir said: “Further to that, I appreciate that arrangements will then be made for a more formal occasion, but I think it appropriate simply to place on record, on behalf of my party and as someone who has served with the Speaker on the Business Committee and the Assembly Commission, my thanks to him for the role that he has performed.

“It is also appropriate that the House acknowledges its desire to see the Speaker - the soon to be former Speaker - recover and be in the most robust health as swiftly as possible.”