Northern Ireland Protocol: Stormont recalled as DUP is urged to back speaker

Stormont parties will again urge the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to back the election of a new speaker when the assembly is recalled at noon on Monday.

Sinn Féin proposed a recall last week, supported by Alliance and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).

But a new speaker and the first and deputy first ministers cannot be installed without the DUP's support.

It said it wants "action" first on the Northern Ireland Protocol and dismissed Sinn Féin's move as a "stunt".

This was rejected by Sinn Féin's John O'Dowd, who is Northern Ireland's infrastructure minister.

He said the recall of the assembly was about "giving visibility to the democratic will of the electorate as expressed in the ballot box".

"We have a choice, we can sit back and do nothing and allow the DUP to hold our entire community to ransom, or we can continue to place a focus on the fact that the vast majority of people who voted three weeks ago want to see a functioning executive," he told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster.

"I think it is only right and proper that MLAs come together."

SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said his party will again nominate Patsy McGlone to be elected speaker and called for the DUP to back the move.

"The DUP need to do the right thing. Their decision to stop the assembly from sitting has left us powerless to get support to people dealing with the cost-of-living crisis," he said.

Without a speaker, the power of MLAs is curtailed, meaning they cannot hold debates, form committees and hold ministers to account in the assembly.

DUP MLA Gordon Lyons said the recall was a "distraction from the real problem" of the protocol.

Unionist politicians have protested against the protocol, a part of the UK-EU Brexit deal which keeps Northern Ireland aligned with the EU's single market for goods.

This was designed to ensure free trade could continue across the Irish land border post-Brexit, but it has resulted in additional checks being placed on some goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

"We don't want to be in this position, but we have made more progress in two weeks than we made in the previous two years," Mr Lyons explained.

"It's unfortunate that it has taken this step to bring the matter to a head."

The economy minister added that no elected unionist representative supported the protocol and accused Sinn Féin of not attempting to "deal with the problem".

Under assembly rules, no business can take place after an election until a new speaker is elected.

There are concerns that without a functioning government in Northern Ireland, the cost-of-living crisis cannot be addressed by politicians.

Monday's proceedings at Stormont will be chaired by an acting speaker, which under the rules must be the oldest MLA - currently Alan Chambers of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).

A Sinn Féin motion has also been proposed calling for "immediate action to be taken by an incoming executive to address issues... including the cost-of-living crisis and challenges in our health service".

However, this cannot be debated unless a new speaker and first and deputy first minister are elected first.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has previously described the protocol as undermining Northern Ireland's position in the UK and has insisted his party will not re-enter power-sharing until the issue is dealt with.