Hain under fire after ‘overruling’ committee
By Noel McAdam
28 November 2006
Assembly members were on a collision course with Secretary of State Peter Hain last night over who runs Stormont.
The growing row came as the Belfast Telegraph learned Mr Hain ruled that Sinn Fein senior negotiator Martin McGuinness should have been allowed to address the Assembly on designation day last Friday.
His direction overturned a decision by the Assembly’s business committee, which has been promised more independence in the transitional set-up.
The all-party committee had agreed that neither Mr McGuinness or DUP leader Ian Paisley should address the Assembly after their expected nominations.
But Mr Hain’s instruction was sent directly to speaker Eileen Bell and will be raised when the business committee meets at Stormont later today.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Sir Reg Empey said he had concerns over how the business committee was being allowed to conduct its affairs, after several months of confrontation under what has become known as the ‘Hain Assembly’.
Mr Hain turned down a number of requests from the business committee for debates including the controversial review of public administration and attacks on health service workers.
Mrs Bell said yesterday she did not have time to contact MLAs after receiving Mr Hain’s instruction, following the meeting of the business committee on Friday.
She said the transitional Assembly would not have the autonomy or independence which a fully-restored legislature would enjoy.
Sir Reg has also raised questions over the extent to which the DUP, Sinn Fein and the governments knew what DUP leader Ian Paisley was going to say last Friday.
'So venceremos, beidh bua againn eigin lá eigin. Sealadaigh abú.'
--Bobby Sands