The Alliance Party of Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland's cross-community party

 David Ford

Why did First Minister quiz Executive colleague on agreed statement?

2.47.25pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 10th Sep 2007

Portrait-yellow: FORD David (photography: Allan Leonard)

Alliance Leader David Ford MLA

At this morning's Assembly plenary, Alliance Leader David Ford asked why the First Minister was allowed to question the Agriculture Minister.

After raising the issue as a Point of Order during the Assembly Plenary, David Ford said: "This debacle illustrates the lack of cohesion in the Executive. The Agriculture Minister was supposed to speak for the whole Executive. Yet Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness decided to ask her questions, and the Speaker allowed this.

"This constitutional novelty would be hilarious if it wasn't for fact that factthat these people are running Northern Ireland. Not only did it make the proceedings a laughing stock, it also raised serious questions about the ability of the Executive at a time when we face many serious issues."

ENDS

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