The Petition of Concern system in the Northern Ireland Assembly, which was used in November by the DUP to void a majority vote in favour of marriage equality, should be legally challenged, according to the Workers’ Party.
In early November the Northern Ireland Assembly voted narrowly in favour of marriage equality. Four independent unionist assembly members joined Sinn Féin, the SDLP, the Alliance Party and Green Party to vote in favour, just one vote ahead of the DUP and Ulster Unionists who voted against.
However, using a Petition of Concern the DUP vetoed the motion. It was the fifth attempt in five years to legislate for equality of marriage in Northern Ireland. If a party issues a Petition of Concern, proposed legislation will only pass if supported by a weighted majority (60%) including at least 40% of each of the nationalist and unionist designations present and voting.
Effectively this means that, provided enough MLAs from a given community agree, that community can exercise a veto over the Assembly’s decisions.Workers’ Party spokesman Chris Bailie, said: “The overturning of this vote raises important questions, not only for the LGBT community, but for the democratic process. Northern Ireland remains the only place on these islands where marriage equality is denied.”
He added: “The narrow-minded and bigoted use of the Petition of Concern by the DUP has raised issues that should be of concern to all people in Northern Ireland.
“The Petition of Concern is the embodiment of the institutionalised sectarianism that continues to hold this society to ransom. It is now clear that only a legal challenge to the denial of marriage equality in Northern Ireland will bring about the necessary change.”
