Petition of concern - outdated and undemocratic

The use of a petition of concern by the DUP during the Assembly debate on the fallout from the Spotlight programme is a clear example of why the current arrangements at Stormont are outdated and in need of change.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Aug 2013, 09:00 BST

Whatever the rationale for the complex voting arrangements at the Stormont Assembly agreed during the Good Friday Agreement negotiations, they are now past their sell by date.

It is a clear example of how the democratic wishes of the assembly are blocked by the petition of concern. Neither is this the first time this has happened.

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If we are to move to a new political dispensation free of sectarian division then it is time to get rid of arrangements like the petition of concern, designating as unionist or nationalist, parallel majority voting and the D’Hont mechanism for forming an Executive.

Until that is done we will still have a sectarian carve up, a block to democratic politics and, more importantly, accountability taking place.

The power to hold the Housing Minister accountable was today trumped by these outdated arrangements.

John Lowry

Workers Party

Related topics:PetitionDUPSPOTLIGHT