A new lobby division voting procedure was put into practice in the Northern Ireland Assembly yesterday for the first sitting of the administration.
Members also confirmed MLA (Members of the Legislative Assembly) as the designatory letters for elected representatives to the chamber. Sinn Fein members were granted permission to use Teachtai Dala or TD as the Irish language equivalent.
The presiding officer, Lord Alderdice, put a motion proposing the establishment of a committee on equality, human rights and community relations to a cross-community vote after opposition from anti-agreement unionists.
Four members verified the new procedure as their colleagues filed through doors on either side of the chamber. A computer photographic image confirmed the identity of members before their vote was recorded by a clerk. DUP members did not participate in the vote, which passed the motion by 68 votes to three.
Additional motions were passed establishing a standing committee on European affairs, and voted to instate full powers to the cross-party commission which will oversee the practical needs of the administration.
Mrs Eilen Bell (Alliancae), Mr Gregory Campbell (DUP), Rev Robert Coulter (UUP), Mr John Fee (SDLP) and Dr Dara O'Hagan (SF) took up their positions on the commission which will be chaired by Lord Alderdice.
Mr Patrick Roche of the Northern Ireland Unionist Party (NIUP) was ruled out of order when he claimed that the setting up of a human rights committee was incongruous with Sinn Fein now in government.