The Five Demands

“L’attuale codice di condotta è silente in materia di espressione di opinioni da parte di membri dell’Assembly, su questioni morali e sociali”, ha asserito il portavoce dell’Assembly stessa.
Con questa affemazione si è concluso il ‘caso’ Iris Robinson che mesi fa si era lasciat andare a commenti deprorevoli nei confronti della comunità gay (omosessualità = abominio), durante la trasmissione radiofonica di Stephen Nolan per la BBC.
Il portavoce dell’Assembly, ricordando che il diritto di libertà di espressione è un principio fondamentale di ogni democrazia, ha aggiunto: “Non sarebbe pertanto opportuno cercare di prevenire o limitare qualsiasi opinione politica espressa legalmente. Tuttavia,  i membri devono sì avere il diritto di esprimere le proprie opinioni, ma come rappresentanti della comunità, essi hanno una particolare responsabilità per il modo in cui essi esprimono tali credenze e opinioni”.

No action over Iris gay comments (BBC News Northern Ireland)
Comments made by Iris Robinson about homosexuality do not warrant disciplinary action, the Assembly Ombudsman has ruled. The DUP MLA made the comments on BBC Radio Ulster’s Stephen Nolan. Mrs Robinson said that homosexuality “was an abomination”. The Strangford representative also said with help, gay people could be “turned around”. “The existing code of conduct is silent in respect of the expression of views by members on moral and social matters,” said an Assembly Ombudsman spokesman. “The case does not warrant any further action within the terms of the code. “On one hand elected representatives must be free, within the law, to express any political opinion that they may hold. This includes opinions on moral and social issues.” The spokesman said that such freedom of expression was an essential aspect of any democracy. ‘Prevent or limit’ “It would therefore not be appropriate for the Assembly to seek to prevent or limit any political opinion being expressed legally,” he continued. “However, it is also the case that while members must be entitled to express their opinions, as public representatives they nonetheless have a particular responsibility for the manner in which they express such beliefs and views. “It is essential that in acting in the interests of the community as a whole, members are conscious of the risk of some groups in society using the articulation of those sincerely held beliefs as a reason to physically attack members of any community who also have the right to live their lives without fear of attack or hostility from others.”