The Northern Ireland Assembly, as it is currently constituted, is in urgent need of reform and rejuvenation. There are very few who would disagree that, at present, Stormont is dysfunctional, bloated and top heavy.
When it was first conceived, the Assembly was expected to be a parliament for all; one in which all political views were represented. It’s original 108 seat composition was designed to give small parties, especially those who were pivotal to the “Peace Process”, such as the PUP and Ulster Democratic Party, a reasonable chance to have representation.
Gary McMichael (UDP) & David Ervine (PUP)
Such was the naivety of the time. Although the PUP did garner sufficient votes to have 2 MLAs elected in the early years of the Assembly, the Ulster Democratic Party did not, and thus a party which had been right at the very heart of the Peace Process and the drafting of the Good Friday Agreement was excluded from one of the very institutions that they had helped to create.
When it was first conceived, the Assembly was expected to be a parliament for all; one in which all political views were represented. It’s original 108 seat composition was designed to give small parties, especially those who were pivotal to the “Peace Process”, such as the PUP and Ulster Democratic Party, a reasonable chance to have representation.
Gary McMichael (UDP) & David Ervine (PUP)
Such was the naivety of the time. Although the PUP did garner sufficient votes to have 2 MLAs elected in the early years of the Assembly, the Ulster Democratic Party did not, and thus a party which had been right at the very heart of the Peace Process and the drafting of the Good Friday Agreement was excluded from one of the very institutions that they had helped to create.
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