AMBITIOUS plans to “normalise” political structures in Northern Ireland have been put forward by the DUP.
Outlining his party’s submission to the committee reviewing how the main business of the assembly functions, Simon Hamilton said the DUP had been articulating the need for change since 1998.
Among the issues addressed in the ‘Making Stormont Work Better’ document are: all-party commissions to tackle difficult issues; more unanimous decisions in the executive; a reduction in the number of Stormont departments and a maximum of 80 MLAs by 2015.
The Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC) has requested submissions from each political party on what they see as the priorities for change.
Mr Hamilton said other issues the DUP would like to see progressed include: the ability to move a motion of no confidence in a minister; the abolition of the civic forum; a move to 65 per cent weighted majority votes and the removal of community designation.
The Strangford MLA, who sits on the AERC, said: “We want normal political structures in Northern Ireland. Ultimately the willingness of political parties to operate government will have as much to do with the success of devolution as the precise nature of the structures themselves.
“We recognise that change to the way in which devolution operates in Northern Ireland will only come about by agreement.”
Mr Hamilton also highlighted the need for widespread agreement to normalise politics at Stormont and said no single party should set out to veto progress.
“Since 1998 we have tabled proposals for how the devolution processes could be improved. Many of these were addressed through the St Andrews Agreement while others will be considered over this assembly mandate.
“However, the mechanism to appoint the first minister and deputy first minister, as agreed at St Andrews, was not faithfully implemented in the ensuing legislation. Pending more fundamental changes to the operation of OFMDFM we will continue to press to have the agreed arrangements implemented as per the St Andrews Agreement, namely that the nominee of the largest party from the largest designation should become first minister,” he said.
“In the long-term, the best means of governing Northern Ireland would involve a voluntary coalition executive and weighted majority voting of around 65 per cent in the assembly, resulting in an end to community designation. This would be consistent with normal democratic institutions while respecting the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland,” added Mr Hamilton.