Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Justice – in the Northern Ireland Assembly am 2:30 pm ar 17 Mehefin 2024.
Given that, in a fortnight's time, you are standing for election to leave the job, Minister, you may not be the one who makes that decision. I know that your diary is filled with visits to funfairs and other matters, but it is important that we deal with these things seriously.
Political stability is another issue. You and I agree that neither the First Minister nor the deputy First Minister should have the power to resign their office and throw the Executive into instability. If you are elected as MP for East Belfast, your replacement will have to be elected specifically and uniquely by the Chamber. If that happens, is there a political agreement that an Alliance Party representative will replace you, and, if not, will you commit that your party will not throw the institutions into instability by leaving the Executive, should the next Justice Minister, if you are successful in the general election, not be an Alliance representative?