Assembly suspension threat for DUP man

A DUP Assembly member was threatened with suspension from the Assembly today after he addressed Education Minister Martin McGuinness as ‘‘the Commander’’.

Deputy Speaker Sir John Gorman (UUP, North Down) ruled Sammy Wilson (DUP, East Belfast) out of order after he used the term and repeatedly ignored his orders to sit down.

The row broke out during Ministerial Questions when Mr Wilson asked a question about anomalies in capital spending between the controlled sector and the Catholic maintained sector.

The DUP member’s comments followed an admission by Mr McGuinness earlier this month that he had been second in command of the IRA at the time of Bloody Sunday.

Mr McGuinness (Sinn Fein, Mid Ulster) said he would answer the question when Mr Wilson addressed him by his proper title.

As Mr Wilson stood on his feet to raise an objection, Mr Gorman called on the next speaker.

Refusing to give way, Mr Wilson said: ‘‘The Minister has been asked a question. The Minister has also admitted he was a commander. Therefore Minister/Commander, IRA/Sinn Fein, I thought it would have made little difference.’’

The Deputy Speaker said: ‘‘Mr Wilson you are out of order. You behaved improperly in the manner in which you addressed the Minister. I am not surprised that he has used his position and authority not to answer you.’’

As Mr Gorman again ordered him to sit down, Mr Wilson refused, claiming it was a disgrace that as Deputy Speaker and a unionist, he found it more in keeping to defend someone who has admitted being a member of the IRA.

When the education questions were finished, Mr Wilson again rose to his feet to raise a point of order.

He called on Mr Gorman to point out where in the Standing Orders it stated that a member must address ministers by their proper title.

Mr Gorman said that under Section One of the Standing Orders the Speaker’s ruling was final.

‘‘I asked you to address the Minister by his proper title and I have no reason to change my ruling on that.’’

Eddie McGrady (SDLP, South Down) interjected, calling on the Speaker’s office to investigate whether Mr Wilson had breached the rules by behaving with ‘‘wilful disregard of the authority of the Speaker’’.

Mr Gorman said that he would not be taking any more points of order from Mr Wilson and if he persisted in his objections he would order his removal.

‘‘Mr Wilson you are totally out of order as I have told you on a number of occasions. I am going to rather humanely allow you to continue to sit here on the basis that you conduct yourself properly,’’ he added.