The North's Minister for Health, Ms Bairbre de Brun, faced strong criticism in the Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday for her recent decision on regional maternity services in Belfast. A DUP motion endorsing the decision of the Assembly's health scrutiny committee to locate the regional maternity service at the City Hospital in south Belfast, rather than at the Minister's choice of the Royal Maternity in west Belfast, was passed by 53 votes to 37.
Ms Iris Robinson (DUP, Strangford), who proposed the motion, called on Ms de Brun to reverse her decision and adopt the conclusion of the committee. According to Ms Robinson, the Minister's decision called her integrity and professionalism into question because she had failed to use the proper channels to inform Assembly members of her decision.
Ms Robinson also criticised the chair of the health committee, Dr Joe Hendron (SDLP, West Belfast), who she claimed had undermined the committee by supporting the Minister's decision to "advance his personal partisan position".
The Minister said she had "nothing but the highest respect" for the Assembly and the mandate of its members. She added that she had consulted Dr Hendron before issuing a press statement last Wednesday.
Dr Hendron apologised to the health committee members for publicly stating his own position, and stressed that he respected their decision, but he had to remain true to his own beliefs. He acknowledged there had been a breakdown in communication over the decision. An amendment tabled by Dr Esmond Birnie (UUP, South Belfast), which was later defeated, criticised Ms de Brun for not consulting her ministerial colleagues, the scrutiny committee or the Assembly before taking the decision. Her actions had set a dangerous precedent on how decisions would be taken, he added.
Answering questions yesterday, Ms de Brun dealt with acute hospital services and other issues. The Speaker, Lord Alderdice, advised members before questions began that the Minister was feeling unwell. He told the DUP leader, the Rev Ian Paisley, who had criticised her performance as "nothing but confusion", that Ms de Brun had been trying to do her best. Mr Ian Paisley jnr (DUP, North Antrim) questioned the Minister about her alleged refusal to work with RUC officers on a drugs task force. Ms de Brun said the issue had yet to be agreed at Executive level. Mr Paisley said the answer was inadequate.
Mr Roy Beggs (UUP, East Antrim) demanded assurances that Ms de Brun was carrying out her full ministerial responsibilities. The DUP Minister of Regional Development, Mr Peter Robinson, said Ms de Brun had been trying to "use up our time".
The DUP member for Strangford, Mr Jim Shannon, questioned the Minister about her refusal to fly the Union flag from departmental buildings. She confirmed that the practice of flying that flag alone had been suspended until the Executive had ruled on the matter.
Also answering questions, the Minister for Education, Mr Martin McGuinness, confirmed to Mr Peter Weir (UUP, North Down) that he had once withdrawn his son from school when the RUC had visited to give road safety advice to students.
"I did so because the RUC has been involved in killing school children with plastic bullets and are the most discredited police force in western Europe," Mr McGuinness said.