The Consociational Model and Question Time in the Northern Ireland Assembly: Policy Issues, Procedural Reforms and Executive Accountability, 2007–2011

Abstract

Little is known about comparative innovations in question time procedure in Northern Ireland. This research provides an exploratory analysis of 1,999 oral questions to the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, and 31,664 questions posed to other ministers in the four legislative sessions from 2007 to 2011. The theoretical framework focuses on how the practice of parliamentary questions reflects the consociational model of governance taking shape in the Stormont Assembly. The study accentuates a decline in the number of questions posed to the dual executive and other ministers over time – a dynamic that represents a purposeful effort on the part of the Assembly to decrease the number of questions through procedural reform, with the objective of obtaining more substantive answers. The findings also show that parliamentary questions on economic issues increased, but community issues remained a dominant policy concern across time. Finally, the analysis shows substantive responses were the norm among both the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. Responses by ministers with portfolio were more variable.

Keywords:

• Northern Ireland Assembly
• question time
• consociationalism
• parliamentary questions

Notes

Data for previous sessions are unavailable apart from the transitional Assembly (2006–2007).

Written questions must be submitted 2 weeks in advance.

Personal communication with Mr Robin Swann, MLA (UUP, Ballymena), 21 December 2011.

As of July 2011 modifications to Standing Order 27(e) allow the Tánaiste to respond to questions on Thursdays.

These data represent 1 per cent of the total number of questions in the data set.

Personal communication with Mr John Fullerton, Policy Officer to Ms Jo-Ann Dobson (UUP), 5 January 2012.