Speaker Defends MLAs' Council Record

Assembly Speaker William Hay (pictured) has defended the poor attendance record of some local councillors who also sit as MLAs.

Mr Hay said it is possible to be an effective councillor without attending all council meetings.

Concerns were raised after Derry City Council revealed a number of its elected representatives - who are also MLAs - failed to attend regular meetings of the local representative body as well as Stormont.

Mr Hay, himself a DUP councillor and Assembly member, was present at just five meetings out of 58.

He claimed politicians who take both seats have a heavy workload.

"I would like to attend more but unfortunately my other work commitments do not allow me to," he said.

"I'm also saying very clearly that I would like to get out of local government sooner rather than later but at this point it isn't possible."

The SDLP councillor and MLA Pat Ramsey attended only nine out of 58 council meetings, while his party colleague Mary Bradley attended 19 out of 72.

DUP MP, Executive Minister, MLA and councillor Gregory Campbell faired best out of all Derry's representatives by managing to sit in on 30 out of 61 council meetings.

(PR/BMcC)