Mitchel McLaughlin MLA Elected Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly

The Northern Ireland Assembly elected Mitchel McLaughlin, MLA as Speaker.

A full transcript is available on our website: http://nia1.me/2e7

The Acting Speaker (Mr Gardiner): Before we commence, I remind Members that the election of the Speaker will be conducted using the procedures set out in Standing Order 4. In accordance with Standing Order 4(2), I have taken the Chair as Acting Speaker and will preside over the election.

I will begin by asking for nominations. Any Member may rise to propose that another Member is elected as Speaker. I will then ask for the proposal to be seconded by another Member, as required by Standing Order 14. If that occurs, I will then verify that the Member so nominated is willing to accept the nomination. There will not be an opportunity for speeches at this stage. I will then ask for further proposals and follow the same procedure for each. When it appears that there are no further proposals, I will make it clear that the time for proposals has passed.

If Members indicate that they wish to speak, a debate relevant to the election may then take place in which no Member may speak more than once. At the conclusion of the debate, or the conclusion of the nominations if there are no requests to speak, I will put the Question that the Member first proposed shall be Speaker of the Assembly. The vote can only be carried on a cross-community basis. If the proposal is not carried, I will put the Question in relation to the next nominee and so on until all nominations are exhausted. If that is clear, we will proceed.

Do I have any proposals for the office of Speaker of the Assembly?

Mr M McGuinness: Go raibh maith agat. Acting Speaker, I am honoured to nominate my friend and colleague Mitchel McLaughlin for the position of Speaker.

Find out more: http://nia1.me/2e7