Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in the Northern Ireland Assembly have been given a dressing down by the Speaker.
On Tuesday, during a Stormont plenary session, Edwin Poots reminded them that the dress code was “smart”.
“Some of you have a very loose interpretation of smart and I would encourage members to dress smartly when it comes to the chamber,” he said.
“We’re not demanding that people, gentlemen, wear shirts and ties, but we’re asking [you] to dress smartly and to look up to doing the job.”
It comes a day after the inauguration of United Stated President Donald Trump, which saw US senator John Fetterman arrive in a hoodie, shorts and trainers.
Poots also told members off for bringing in coffee cups and cans saying: “I see everything up here. People might not realise it, but I have witnessed over the last number of weeks people bringing in coffee cups and cans and so forth.
“The only thing that you are allowed in this building is the glass of water that is provided for you.
“It’s not a committee meeting. It is a plenary session of Parliamentary Assembly. And all other receptacles are not to be in this part of the building.”
Mr Poots, who was sporting a tartan tie for Burns’ Night, also said some MLAs were not acknowledging him when they are leaving the chamber, adding “that’s not following the code”.
‘Business attire’
A 2022 leaflet given to MLAs called “Rules of behaviour and courtesies in the Chamber” warned them to demonstrate respect for the assembly and wear business attire.
However, the rules have since been relaxed meaning men no longer have to wear jackets and ties.
Following Tuesday’s sitting, an assembly spokesperson said: “Behaviour and standards in the Chamber are largely governed by conventions and rulings of the Speaker.
“Members are given guidance when they are elected, including in 2022, that while there is no exact dress code, the way in which members dress should demonstrate respect for the assembly and that Speakers have expected members to wear ‘business attire’.
“The current Speaker reminded members today that this means they should be smartly dressed.”
