Acting First Minister’s First Question

A couple of short clips of events in the Northern Ireland Assembly today, via BBC NI’s Stormont Live. Below the fold Speaker Will Hay informs the Assembly that DETI Minister Arlene Foster is to act-up as the interim NI First Minister. And here is the acting NI First Minister, the DUP’s Arlene Foster, making her first short statement and answering her first question in the role – there a slight glitch in the recording at the end, but listen out for the insufficiently independent departmental solicitor’s opinion. Adds Hansard record here

Earlier in the NI Assembly

Adds From the Hansard record

The Acting First Minister: I thank the Member for her question. First of all, the Departmental Solicitor’s Office has already considered the allegations made in the ‘Spotlight’ programme and advised Peter Robinson that he was not in breach of the ministerial code, the Pledge of Office, the ministerial code of conduct or the seven principles of public life. It is important to say that first of all. As well as that, Peter Robinson has now written to the Chairpersons of the Committees on Standards and Privileges in both Westminster and the Assembly to ask them to conduct a full investigation into the allegation made by the BBC ‘Spotlight’ programme. It needs to be made very clear that the process that the First Minister has asked to be initiated involving senior counsel is not intended to be an alternative to other processes that may, and undoubtedly will, be carried out.

Pete Baker