Speeches by Hanna.

“Thank you.”

“Sir Declan, are you the person to take forward the recommendations in the Peter May report, given that you were in the leadership role during the period examined?”

“Perhaps my question was too broad; we are aware of some of the deficits in the legislation, but I want to focus on your understanding of which of the issues are a result of leadership and management.”

“Did you have access to everybody that you needed to and to all the information you required? Are you satisfied with that?”

“Thank you very much for your report and for coming before us today. Did the scope and objectives of the review enable you to go far enough in uncovering the challenges at ICRIR and therefore bring about the change needed to address them?”

“Was the timescale appropriate? Did you have enough time to get into the issues? You said that your recommendations have been deliberately kept to a minimum; is that just in terms of prioritisation?”

“I think you are characterising them as teething issues in terms of growth. I think we are all sympathetic to the deficits in the legislation, but we just want to get an analysis from each of you. Holly, would you mind answering the same question and talking about the issues related to leadership and management, rather …”

“Thinking of the issues that Peter May described in his report, can you outline which, in your view, are a result of the legislative framework you are operating in, and which are a result of leadership and management issues?”

“You referenced the Assembly and Executive Review Committee. Do you think that is a serious piece of work? Do you think all those around the table are seriously interested and determined to make progress and have this issue resolved in the lifetime of the current Assembly?”

“Had your party sought to reach a compromise proposal, for example, through amendment? Can you give examples of where the DUP has not sought to use its veto on an issue it disagrees with? I suppose there is a perception that the DUP will not allow anything to go forward that it does not approve.”

“On that point, I know the SDLP hosted a roundtable with civil society organisations, being clear that most of the asks they would bring to parties for their manifestos would likely not be delivered because of Stormont failures. We are ready for a process convened by the Governments, but if that does not happen, would y…”

“I suppose that the most high-profile use of a petition, which will resonate most with people, was on the issue of equal marriage for people from the LGBT community. Consensus was demonstrated, but it was not to the taste of the DUP, and it was repeatedly blocked. I think that is how people understand the use of that me…”

“On that point, I know the SDLP hosted a roundtable with civil society organisations, being clear that most of the asks they would bring to parties for their manifestos would likely not be delivered because of Stormont failures. We are ready for a process convened by the Governments, but if that does not happen, would y…”

“Sounds it. I can feel the warmth.”

“Your headline proposal is, if an eligible party refuses to nominate for First or Deputy First Minister, to move to the next largest party. I think we share an aspiration to get beyond designation and its salience in the institutions. Would that be to the next largest party in general, and what protections do you envisa…”

“Jon, this week you signed a petition of concern on the age of criminal responsibility. You and others are absolutely entitled to your opinion on that matter, but do you understand that such petitions feed the sense of opposition being expressed only ever as veto? Will you talk about how that interacts with your views o…”

“I know that we are not in normal politics, and Stormont is not a normal Parliament, but people will say that we disagree across this House all the time on issues. I do not know whether you tried any alternative amendments or tried to express your views and your party’s views in the form of an amendment, but do you unde…”

“Jon, this week you signed a petition of concern on the age of criminal responsibility. You and others are absolutely entitled to your opinion on that matter, but do you understand that such petitions feed the sense of opposition being expressed only ever as veto? Will you talk about how that interacts with your views o…”

“Gavin, you said that relationships and willingness were at the core of the dysfunction. How would you characterise those relationships? What do the DUP do to improve relationships and build trust and confidence?”

“I suppose that the most high-profile use of a petition, which will resonate most with people, was on the issue of equal marriage for people from the LGBT community. Consensus was demonstrated, but it was not to the taste of the DUP, and it was repeatedly blocked. I think that is how people understand the use of that me…”