William Hay.
Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader and Northern Ireland First Minister, Peter Robinson, has paid tribute to Derry MLA William Hay who is to retire as Speaker of the Stormont Assembly.
Mr Hay announced to he was also to leave his post as a Foyle MLA due to ill health on Monday next in a letter read to the Assembly yesterday.
Stating her had known Mr Hay for more than 40 years, Mr Robinson said the Foyle MLA’s “tireless devotion” to his native city and surrounding communities had “always shone through.”
Mr Robinson added: “William has a long and happy association with the DUP: his mother Anna was one of our first councillors and he and I have worked alongside each other for more years than either of us would care to remember.”
Mr Robinson said the “whole party” was “delighted” when Mr Hay became the first DUP Mayor of Derry in 1992.
He said Mr Hay’s “qualities of hard work and devotion” to his constituents had been reflected in “election after election” – whether it be to Derry Council or the Northern Ireland Assembly – people in the Foyle constituency rewarded him with their votes.
Mr Robinson added: “As he ends his career in electoral politics, William can take pride in the fact that he made the city and the surrounding area a better place by the work he undertook on behalf of his constituents.
“As Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, William has shown absolute impartiality and fairness in the chair.
“He always defended the rights of Assembly members to full and fair participation in debates and at all times sought to ensure the tone of debate was measured and respectful: sometimes not an easy task in Stormont.”
Mr Robinson concluded: Whilst William steps down as Speaker of the Assembly, I have no doubt that he will continue to make a valuable contribution to our democracy.”
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