The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) tied up proceedings in the Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday and, according to party leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, "flabbergasted" the other parties by eventually not backing its own motion which called for a vote of no confidence in Lord Alderdice, the Assembly's Initial Presiding Officer.
DUP speakers dominated proceedings and frequently drifted from the central motion and voiced criticism of other parties in the Assembly. The debating was marred by constant interventions. The DUP members were accused yesterday of delivering speeches they had intended to make on January 18th before a guillotine vote ended proceedings. The vote enraged the party by bringing to an abrupt end the debate on the structure of government departments and North-South bodies.
However, Lord Alderdice retained his position as speaker last night, with the DUP acknowledging that it would not win a vote on the motion. The party's deputy leader, Mr Peter Robinson, attempted to withdraw the motion near the end of proceedings. However, the Acting Presiding Officer, Ms Jane Morrice, who chaired the debate, put the motion to a vote and it was passed overwhelmingly.
Speaking afterwards, Dr Paisley said that it was "a good day" and his party had "won what we set out to do". He said the DUP had successfully forced the other parties to attend and listen to yesterday's debate. "They talk of an ambush, but they were flabbergasted at the end of the debate," he added.
The tactics adopted by the DUP were condemned by Assembly members from the other parties. Mr Dermot Nesbitt of the Ulster Unionist Party said that the day's proceedings were "farcical and time-wasting". id Rodgers of the SDLP said that it was a "useless exercise".
The Sinn Fein chief whip, Mr Alex Maskey, said the DUP was engaged in "stunt politics". He said it suited his party to have the DUP "tomfoolery" and "antics" televised to the public. Mr Maskey added: "Everybody here knows that the proposers of this motion, the DUP, are using the motion of no confidence in the chair as part of their campaign to attack David Trimble and to wreck the Good Friday agreement".
The leader of the Northern Ireland Unionist Party, Mr Cedric Wilson, said the presiding officer had made an error of judgment and had "sullied" the name of the Assembly by using procedural matters to stifle debate.
The SDLP Assembly member for Mid Ulster, Mr Denis Haughey, said the motion tabled by the DUP was "wasteful, spiteful, frivolous, self-indulgent" and "characteristic of the corner from which it emanated". Mrs Monica McWilliams, of the Women's Coalition, told members that the language and behaviour used in the chamber was "discourteous and unparliamentary".
The Rev William McCrea of the DUP highlighted the fact that his party's motion may have assisted Lord Alderdice to solidify his position as presiding officer. He said the vote had forced parties that may not have wanted him to have the permanent position into voting for him yesterday and again in any future ballot.
Mr Ian Paisley jnr said that there had been "a series of nods and winks" before last month's guillotine vote was announced. He added that Lord Alderdice had abused his position and had connived with a party or parties. "We had a right and we were denied that right," he said. Mr Edwin Poots (DUP) said the presiding officer had attempted to keep in with the parties that could elect him permanent speaker.
Throughout the day DUP Assembly members attacked the reasons given for the ending of last month's debate, one of which was that the debate had become repetitious. "There is nothing wrong with repetition as long as it's not the same person," said Mr Robinson. Mrs Iris Robinson said that for there to be an absence of repetition in the chamber, Sinn Fein would have to speak only once a year.