12 January 2026
SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole has said confusion around the application of petitions of concern underlines the farce at Stormont.
The New Decade, New Approach agreement included reforms to the petition of concern process, introduced through the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Act 2022.
Principal Deputy Speaker Carál Ní Chuilín confirmed in the Assembly on Monday the relevant standing orders had yet to be introduced.
The reforms were made to ensure that Petitions of Concern would only be used as a last-resort safeguard, and would not apply to motions with "no legal or procedural effect".
The SDLP Opposition has written to the Speaker and the Stormont Procedures Committee seeking clarity after a petition of concern was allowed to a non-binding Private Members’ motion on EU Observer Status.
South Belfast MLA Matthew O’Toole said:
“The ongoing confusion around how petitions of concern operate underlines the dysfunction that continues to define Stormont. Reforms to stop the abuse of POCs were agreed years ago, written into law in 2022 and yet, nearly four years on, the Assembly still does not have the standing orders needed to implement them.
“As a result, we are now in the absurd position where any motion, whether it has legal effect or not, may be subjected to a petition of concern. That suits the DUP and Sinn Féin, who are content to use POCs as part of an ongoing culture war while the Executive fails to deliver for people.
“The motion on EU Observer Status was non-binding and had no legal basis. It was totally inappropriate for this to be subjected to a POC. This is an abuse of power and a waste of precious Assembly time.
“This runs directly contrary to the intent of New Decade, New Approach, which was meant to end precisely this kind of misuse. There are serious questions for the Alliance-chaired Procedures Committee about why these standing orders are not operational, nearly two years after Stormont's return.
“The SDLP Opposition will continue to demand better for the public and reform of the institutions to stop this approach to government with an Executive asleep at the wheel.”