Robbie Butler

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has dismissed a meeting of The Assembly to elect a new Speaker as a " stunt".

Sinn Féin, supported by Alliance and The Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP).

But a new Speaker and The First and deputy first ministers cannot be installed without the DUP's support.

Sinn Fein 's deputy leader Michelle O'Neill said voters wanted " action, not protest".

Speaking in The Assembly , She Said : " The DUP stand-off is with The Public , not the European Union .

" The stand-off is with Those People crippled in pain waiting for treatment and surgery on the NHS and who voted for us to tackle The Waiting lists by investing an extra £1bn in health. "

But the DUP's Paul Givan said The Recall of The Assembly was " another attempt at majority rule" and that The Public would see it as " hypocrisy" on the part of Sinn Féin.

The SDLP nominated Patsy Mcglone to be Speaker, while the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) nominated Mike Nesbitt .

Alliance Party assembly member (Mla ) Nula McAllister said The Move by the DUP to block the election of a Speaker " stinks of egotism".

She Said her party would support either candidate for The Post .

" There is much talk today about the protocol for the unionist community, about Issues for the unionist community but actually the hardships right across Northern Ireland now are not just affecting just one section of our community, they are affecting everyone, " She Said .

" We Are content to support either Patsy Mcglone or Mike Nesbitt - for us the importance isn't about who fills The Chair , but that we get someone to fill The Chair . "

Robbie Butler of the UUP said his party had written to The Head of the Civil Service urging all-party talks to draw up a programme for government.

" I have referred to this sitting today as potentially artificial because we will know in a short matter of time whether we can convince The Party To My right [the DUP] whether they might make a move today but whilst I've said it's kind of artificial, it's absolutely within The Rules to do this, " He Said .

Earlier, SDLP leader Colum Eastwood called for the DUP to " do The Right thing".

" Their decision to stop The Assembly from sitting has left us powerless to get support to people dealing with the cost-of-living crisis, " He Said .

Unionist politicians have protested against the protocol, a part of the UK-EU Brexit deal which keeps Northern Ireland aligned with the EU's single market for goods.

This Was designed to ensure free trade could continue across the Irish land border post-Brexit, but it has resulted in additional checks being placed on some goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland .

Speaking before The Debate in The Assembly , DUP Mla Gordon Lyons said The Recall was a " distraction from The Real problem" of the protocol.

" We don't want to be in this position, but we have made more progress in Two Weeks than we made in the previous two years, " Mr Lyons said.

" It's unfortunate that it has taken this step to bring The Matter to a head. "

The economy minister added that no elected unionist representative supported the protocol and accused Sinn Féin of not attempting to " deal with The Problem ".

Under assembly rules, no business can take place after an election until a new Speaker is elected.

A bid to do so on 13 May failed because.

There are concerns that without a functioning government in Northern Ireland , the cost-of-living crisis cannot be addressed by politicians.

Last week, Finance Minister Conor Murphy said there was this autumn, without an executive in place to distribute funding.

Monday's proceedings at Stormont are being chaired by an acting Speaker, which under The Rules must be the oldest Mla - currently Alan Chambers of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP).

A Sinn Féin motion has also been proposed calling for " Immediate Action to be taken by an incoming executive to address Issues . . including the cost-of-living crisis and challenges in our health service".

However, this cannot be debated unless a new speaker and first and deputy First Minister are elected first.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has previously described the protocol as undermining Northern Ireland 's position in the UK and has insisted his party will not re-enter power-sharing until the issue is dealt with.

Source of news: bbc.com