Ways In Which MLA’s Can Represent Their Constituency Flashcards
Questioning Ministers
*including the First and Deputy First Minister
*mondays and Tuesdays during plenary sessions
*written, oral and topical (urgent).
-oral-has to be answered or they could be fined
-written- 10 working days to respond (more detailed than oral)
-urgent written- 2-5 days to respond
*raising issues that concern their constituents.
*seek information or press the Minister for action on a particular issue.
Eg Jim Allister questioning Michelle O’Neill on attendance of Bobby Storey funeral during Covid
Private Member Bills
*give MLAs the opportunity to try to introduce and pass legislation which may benefit their constituents.
*they may be lobbied by an individual or organisation
*require cross-community and cross-party support
*rick Wilford argued that MLA’s have sought, through PMB’s to successfully take up slack created by slow emergence of bills in the assembly
Eg Pam Cameron’s Autism Bill and Pat Catneys Period Products Bill
Joining committees
*statutory committees provide main way of scrutinising the government
-examining Bills in detail (line by line)
-proposing amendments to improve legislation
76% of committee amendments passed between 2011-2015
-conducting inquiries into issues
Inquiry into RHI scandal
-calling for ‘persons and papers’ (provide evidence usually high level of expertise)
-writing committee reports
-monitoring and asking Questions about the decisions and actions of Ministers and Departments eg how they are spending their budget
All Party Groups (APGs)
*look at issues relevant to their constituents.
*these are not formally part of the Assembly, and so do not play a formal role in policy development.
*MLAs will join voluntarily with outside organisations who share an interest in a particular issue that concerns their constituents.
*there are currently 35 APGs.
Eg APG for Lung Health
