A remark by Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie accusing rivals of screaming and whining “like a girl” fell well short of the standards expected in the Assembly, Stormont’s Speaker has said.
Alex Maskey said if the legislature was operating on a normal basis he would have considered imposing a sanction on Mr Beattie for the comment during Wednesday’s recall sitting at Parliament Buildings.
During his speech, the UUP leader told DUP members: “I know that you think you can scream and whine like a girl from the sidelines. That’s up to you.”“I’m a big enough man to say when I get something wrong. I got it wrong and I will apologise because I got it wrong, because I used a terminology,” he said.
Mr Maskey said general standards of debate expected in the Assembly chamber should involve “courtesy, good temper, moderation and respect”.“Having had to address similar issues in the Assembly on a previous occasion, it is disappointing that a party leader, who should be expected to know better, made remarks of this nature in the chamber,” he said.
“However, the Assembly should demonstrate leadership and its debates should seek to set an example, and a higher standard, to the wider community. Much has been done to seek to increase the representation of women in the Assembly in recent years. While progress has been made, we still have much further to go.
“Members cannot be discriminated against on the basis of the language they choose to speak. It is not in order for members to ask which language will be used when considering whether or not to accept an intervention.” “This matter has been taken seriously by every Speaker, including me, as the authority of the Chair is important to maintaining order and the smooth operation of Assembly business.
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