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Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows apologises for wearing AirPods in the NI Assembly chamber
Overview
Ulster Unionist Party leader Jon Burrows has apologised after admitting he wore an AirPod in the Northern Ireland Assembly chamber during no-confidence motions against four Sinn Féin ministers. Speaker Edwin Poots criticised the behaviour as disrespectful and unprofessional, subsequently writing to all MLAs to reiterate that wearing earbuds in the chamber is banned.
Key points
- Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows apologised for wearing a wireless headphone in the assembly chamber.
- Speaker Edwin Poots raised the issue without naming the politician initially, calling the conduct disrespectful and unprofessional.
- Burrows stated he used the AirPod to listen back to a missed debate and draft a social media post while working.
- Following the incident, the Speaker wrote to all MLAs reminding them that wearing earbuds is strictly banned in the chamber.
- Motions of no confidence in four Sinn Féin ministers failed to secure the necessary cross-community support during the same session.