Daithí McKay: Difference between revisions

Daithí McKay
Daithí McKay
	McKay in 2015
Chairperson of Finance and Personnel Committee
	In office; 2012–2016
Preceded by	Conor Murphy
Succeeded by	Emma Pengelly
Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
	In office; 2007–2011
Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly; for North Antrim
	In office; 7 March 2007 – 18 August 2016
Preceded by	Philip McGuigan
Succeeded by	Philip McGuigan
Member of Ballymoney Borough Council
	In office; 5 May 2005 – 2010
Preceded by	Joe Gaston
Succeeded by	Cathal McLaughlin
Constituency	Bann Valley
Personal details
Born	2 March 1982 (age 42); Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Nationality	Irish
Political party	Sinn Féin
Alma mater	St Louis' Grammar School, Ballymena
Website	Daithí McKay

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Daithí Gerard McKay (born 1982, Ballymena, County Antrim, Northern Ireland) is an Irish newspaper columnist and former Sinn Fein politician. He was the Chair of the Finance Committee in the Northern Ireland Assembly from 2012 to 2016, and a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) for North Antrim from 2007 to 2016. He brought forward legislation that led to the introduction of a Carrier Bag Levy in Northern Ireland and the abolishment of rates for Community Amateur Sport Clubs.

In 2016, he began serving as a political columnist and commentator. He is the current Chairperson of the Climate Coalition NI^[1] and was involved^[2] in the development of Northern Ireland's first Climate Change Act in 2022.

Background

McKay was born in Ballymena in 1982 and raised in Rasharkin, County Antrim. ^[3]

Prior to being elected he was involved in aid work ^[4] in the Palestinian West Bank where he worked with the International Solidarity Movement.

Elected office

He was elected to Ballymoney Council in 2005 becoming the youngest ever member of Ballymoney Borough Council.^[5]

In 2007, McKay contested the North Antrim seat in the Northern Ireland legislature.^[6] He went on to claim his seat after the first count, coming second behind Ian Paisley of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP).

McKay was the youngest Member elected to the 2007 Assembly and he became one of the first Sinn Féin members to sit on the Policing Board along with Martina Anderson and Alex Maskey.

In September 2007 McKay used parliamentary privilege to name private developer Seymour Sweeney as a member of the DUP. The DUP Environment Minister, Arlene Foster, had said that she was 'minded' to approve an application from Sweeney for a private visitor centre at the Giant's Causeway, even though her Planning Service officials had recommended that it be refused.^[7]

Foster threatened to take McKay to court over the matter but in January 2008 she decided to refuse the private application.^[8]

Carrier Bag Levy

In 2011 McKay introduced the "Single Use Plastic Bag Bill" which was passed by the Assembly as the "Single Use Carrier Bag Act 2011". He had raised the matter through a Private Members Debate previously and is believed to be responsible for Sinn Féin ensuring that the levy was included in the Executive's Budget in 2010.^[9] The Act amended part of the Climate Change Act 2008.

The 5 pence levy was introduced in 2013^[10] and his bill also ensured that the proceeds went towards environmental and community projects.^[11]

It has resulted in the reduction in usage of carrier bags in Northern Ireland by millions annually.^[12]

The SpAd Bill

In 2013 McKay opposed the Special Advisers Bill brought forward by TUV leader Jim Allister. The Bill aimed to dis-bar ex-prisoners from being Special Advisors to Ministers in the Executive. During the closing debate in which Allister's Bill was ultimately passed McKay made a "marathon 2-hour speech" in opposition. This remains the longest speech ever made by an MLA in the Assembly.^[13]

Campaign to abolish rates for Sport Clubs

In 2013 McKay started a campaign to abolish rates for sport clubs. In his legislation he proposed that CASCs (Community Amateur Sport Clubs) should have 100% rate relief on their grounds and facilities. He secured the support of the majority of MLAs but the DUP blocked the bill using the Petition of Concern.^[14]

The campaign still proved successful with the Department of Finance committing to grant 100% rate relief for clubs as long as they did not have licensed bars.^[15] A proposal put by McKay to the Assembly was passed that ensured that the Department had to have regulations in place by the end of September 2016.^[16]

On 26 October 2016 full relief for CASCs without bars was introduced by the Finance Minister.^[17]

Resignation

On 13 July 2016 McKay called on the Parades Commission to bar Dervock Young Defenders band from partaking in parades in sensitive areas following an incident in Ballycastle.^[18]

After McKay made a presentation to the commission with members of the Rasharkin Residents Association the band were barred from participating in the Ballymaconnelly parade.^[19]

It was alleged that after this parade decision was made the loyalist blogger Jamie Bryson leaked details of messages he exchanged with McKay in which McKay allegedly refers Bryson to a third party whilst he chaired the NAMA Enquiry in the Assembly.^[19]

The First Minister Peter Robinson resigned less than 2 months after Bryson made allegations at the Finance Committee and McKay was accused of helping to 'take out' the First Minister that was in office with his party colleague Martin McGuinness at the time.^[20]

McKay resigned as an MLA on 18 August 2016.^[21]

Columnist and writer

McKay began writing for the Belfast Telegraph in December 2016. He also began working as a commentator on BBC and ITV.

In his first article he called on mainly nationalist councils to introduce the flying of the tricolour from government buildings in the north for the first time by adopting a flags policy of equality rather than neutrality.^[22]

McKay believes that the mandatory coalition system that puts parties in power automatically is flawed. He has called for Assembly reform.^[23] A suggestion he has put forward for discussion is that a hybrid model of a weighted majority system retaining some cross-community safeguards would help address political 'gridlock'.^[24]

In 2022 he said that the Secretary of State had a responsibility to outline publicly how an Irish unity referendum "might be triggered" given rising levels of support for a border poll. ^[25]

He currently has a weekly column in the Belfast Telegraph.

References

^ "CCNI". NIEL.
^ "CCNI". NIEL.
^ "Daithi McKay became Sinn Fein MLA at 25-years after meteoric rise". Belfast Newsletter. 18 August 2016.
^ "Councillor welcomes release of aid worker". Irish Independent. 2 January 2006.
^ "The Irish Politics Website". Politics.ie. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
^ "UK | Northern Ireland | NI Assembly election candidates". BBC News. 13 February 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
^ "Developer 'never gave DUP money'". BBC. 11 September 2007.
^ "Minister considers action against MLA". IrishTimes. 19 November 2007.
^ "AS IT HAPPENED: MLAs debate NI draft budget". BBC. 15 December 2010.
^ Shankleman, Jessica (8 April 2013). "Northern Ireland launches 5p plastic bag charge". The Guardian.
^ "DAERA NIEA Challenge Fund 2016/17". Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
^ "Northern Ireland carrier bag levy annual statistics 2015/16 released". Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. 25 August 2016.
^ "Special Advisers Bill: Stormont Assembly passes Spad bill". Belfasttelegraph. 4 June 2013.
^ "Rates (Relief for Community Amateur Sports Clubs) Bill: Second Stage". TheyWorkForYou. 20 October 2015.
^ "Storey moves on rate relief for sports clubs". Department of Finance. 19 January 2016.
^ "Rates (Amendment) Bill: Further Consideration Stage". TheyWorkForYou. 1 February 2016.
^ "NISF Chairperson welcomes rates relief extension for Sports Clubs". NI Sports Forum. 31 October 2016.
^ "McKay calls for Dervock Young Defenders band to be banned from future parades". Causeway Coast Community News. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
^ ^a ^b "McKay welcomes decision to ban Dervock band from Rasharkin". Sinn Féin. 15 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
^ "Sinn Féin accused of "taking out" Peter Robinson after explosive Nama claims". The Journal. 18 August 2016.
^ Kilpatrick, Chris (18 August 2016). "Sinn Fein's Daithi McKay resigns as MLA amid explosive Nama inquiry claims". BelfastLive.
^ McKay, Daithi (2 December 2016). "Daithi McKay: GAA flag debate is timely, but unionists must learn to respect tricolour, too". Belfast Telegraph.
^ "DUP now drinking in the last chance saloon as high noon beckons". Belfasttelegraph. 23 December 2016.
^ McKay, Daithi (3 January 2017). "What would the Assembly look like if weighted majority voting had been introduced?". Slugger O'Toole.
^ McKay, Daithi (2 July 2022). "Daithi McKay: Brandon Lewis failing 'test' by keeping border poll criteria a secret". The Belfast Telegraph.

Northern Ireland Assembly
Preceded by Philip McGuigan	MLA for North Antrim 2007–2016	Succeeded by Philip McGuigan

[1] "CCNI". NIEL.

[2] "CCNI". NIEL.

[3] "Daithi McKay became Sinn Fein MLA at 25-years after meteoric rise". Belfast Newsletter. 18 August 2016.

[4] "Councillor welcomes release of aid worker". Irish Independent. 2 January 2006.

[5] "The Irish Politics Website". Politics.ie. Archived from the original on 21 February 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2011.

[6] "UK | Northern Ireland | NI Assembly election candidates". BBC News. 13 February 2007. Retrieved 3 February 2011.

[7] "Developer 'never gave DUP money'". BBC. 11 September 2007.

[8] "Minister considers action against MLA". IrishTimes. 19 November 2007.

[9] "AS IT HAPPENED: MLAs debate NI draft budget". BBC. 15 December 2010.

[10] Shankleman, Jessica (8 April 2013). "Northern Ireland launches 5p plastic bag charge". The Guardian.

[11] "DAERA NIEA Challenge Fund 2016/17". Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.

[12] "Northern Ireland carrier bag levy annual statistics 2015/16 released". Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. 25 August 2016.

[13] "Special Advisers Bill: Stormont Assembly passes Spad bill". Belfasttelegraph. 4 June 2013.

[14] "Rates (Relief for Community Amateur Sports Clubs) Bill: Second Stage". TheyWorkForYou. 20 October 2015.

[15] "Storey moves on rate relief for sports clubs". Department of Finance. 19 January 2016.

[16] "Rates (Amendment) Bill: Further Consideration Stage". TheyWorkForYou. 1 February 2016.

[17] "NISF Chairperson welcomes rates relief extension for Sports Clubs". NI Sports Forum. 31 October 2016.

[18] "McKay calls for Dervock Young Defenders band to be banned from future parades". Causeway Coast Community News. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 26 March 2018. Retrieved 26 March 2018.

[sinn-19] "McKay welcomes decision to ban Dervock band from Rasharkin". Sinn Féin. 15 August 2016. Archived from the original on 2 January 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2016.

[20] "Sinn Féin accused of "taking out" Peter Robinson after explosive Nama claims". The Journal. 18 August 2016.

[21] Kilpatrick, Chris (18 August 2016). "Sinn Fein's Daithi McKay resigns as MLA amid explosive Nama inquiry claims". BelfastLive.

[22] McKay, Daithi (2 December 2016). "Daithi McKay: GAA flag debate is timely, but unionists must learn to respect tricolour, too". Belfast Telegraph.

[23] "DUP now drinking in the last chance saloon as high noon beckons". Belfasttelegraph. 23 December 2016.

[24] McKay, Daithi (3 January 2017). "What would the Assembly look like if weighted majority voting had been introduced?". Slugger O'Toole.

[25] McKay, Daithi (2 July 2022). "Daithi McKay: Brandon Lewis failing 'test' by keeping border poll criteria a secret". The Belfast Telegraph.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Short description|Irish politician (born 1982)}}
-{{Cleanup rewrite|date=December 2023}}
 {{EngvarB|date=November 2018}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
@@ Line 8: / Line 5: @@
 | honorific-prefix    =
 | name                = Daithí McKay
+| image               = Daithí McKay, MLA 2015.jpg
+| caption             = McKay in 2015
 | honorific-suffix    =
+| office             = [[Committee for Finance|Chairperson of Finance and Personnel Committee]]
-| image               = Daithimckay.png
-| imagesize           =
+| term               = 2012–2016
-| alt                 =
+| predecessor        = [[Conor Murphy]]
-| caption             = Speaking at the 2011 Sinn Féin Ard Fheis
+| successor          = [[Emma Pengelly]]
+| constituency_AM3     = [[North Antrim (Assembly constituency)|North Antrim]]
-| office2             = [[Committee for Finance|Chairperson of Finance and Personnel Committee]]
-| term2               = 2012–2016
+| assembly3            = Northern Ireland
-| predecessor2        = [[Conor Murphy]]
+| majority3            =
-| successor2          = [[Emma Pengelly]]
+| term_start3          = 7 March 2007
+| term_end3            = 18 August 2016
-| constituency_AM     = [[North Antrim (Assembly constituency)|North Antrim]]
-| assembly            = Northern Ireland
+| predecessor3         = [[Philip McGuigan]]
-| majority            =
+| successor3           = Philip McGuigan
+| office2             = [[Northern Ireland Policing Board|Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board]]
-| term_start          = 7 March 2007
-| term_end            = 18 August 2016
+| term2               = 2007–2011
-| predecessor         = [[Philip McGuigan]]
-| successor           = Philip McGuigan
-| office3             = [[Northern Ireland Policing Board|Member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board]]
-| term3               = 2007–2011
 | office4             = Member of [[Ballymoney Borough Council]]
 | term_start4         = 5 May 2005
@@ Line 45: / Line 40: @@
 '''Daithí Gerard McKay''' (born 1982, [[Ballymena]], [[County Antrim]], [[Northern Ireland]]) is an Irish newspaper columnist and former [[Sinn Fein]] politician. He was the Chair of the Finance Committee in the [[Northern Ireland Assembly]] from 2012 to 2016, and a [[Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly]] (MLA) for [[North Antrim (Assembly constituency)|North Antrim]] from [[2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2007]] to 2016. He brought forward legislation that led to the introduction of a Carrier Bag Levy in Northern Ireland and the abolishment of rates for Community Amateur Sport Clubs.
-In 2016, he began serving as a political columnist and commentator. He is the current Chairperson of the Climate Coalition NI.<ref>{{cite web|title=CCNI|url=https://www.nienvironmentlink.org/working-groups/climate-coalition-ni/|website=NIEL}}</ref>
+In 2016, he began serving as a political columnist and commentator. He is the current Chairperson of the Climate Coalition NI<ref>{{cite web|title=CCNI|url=https://www.nienvironmentlink.org/working-groups/climate-coalition-ni/|website=NIEL}}</ref> and was involved<ref>{{cite web|title=CCNI|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbDe--hz1rE|website=NIEL}}</ref> in the development of Northern Ireland's first Climate Change Act in 2022.
 ==Background==
-[[File:Ism tulkalm.jpg|thumb|right|McKay pictured with ISM group operating in Tulkarm, West Bank in August 2004]]
 McKay was born in [[Ballymena]] in 1982 and raised in [[Rasharkin]], [[County Antrim]]. <ref>{{cite web|title=Daithi McKay became Sinn Fein MLA at 25-years after meteoric rise|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/daithi-mckay-became-sinn-fein-mla-at-25-years-after-meteoric-rise-1209525|website=Belfast Newsletter|date=18 August 2016}}</ref>
@@ Line 54: / Line 49: @@
 ==Elected office==
-He was elected to Ballymoney Council in 2005 becoming the first nationalist councillor from Rasharkin ever to be elected and the youngest ever member of Ballymoney Borough Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politics.ie/wiki/index.php?title=Daith%C3%AD_McKay|title=The Irish Politics Website|publisher=Politics.ie|accessdate=3 February 2011|archive-date=21 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221000503/http://www.politics.ie/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi?title=Daith%C3%AD_McKay|url-status=dead}}</ref><!-- McKay was the youngest MLA in the Assembly between 2007 and 2011. STILL?? -->
+He was elected to Ballymoney Council in 2005 becoming the youngest ever member of Ballymoney Borough Council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politics.ie/wiki/index.php?title=Daith%C3%AD_McKay|title=The Irish Politics Website|publisher=Politics.ie|accessdate=3 February 2011|archive-date=21 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221000503/http://www.politics.ie/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi?title=Daith%C3%AD_McKay|url-status=dead}}</ref><!-- McKay was the youngest MLA in the Assembly between 2007 and 2011. STILL?? -->
-In [[2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2007]], McKay contested the [[North Antrim (Assembly constituency)|North Antrim]] seat in the Northern Ireland legislature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6359215.stm|title=UK &#124; Northern Ireland &#124; NI Assembly election candidates|publisher=BBC News|date=13 February 2007|accessdate=3 February 2011}}</ref> He went on to claim his seat after the first count, coming second behind [[Ian Paisley]] of the [[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP). McKay received 7,065 votes to Paisley's 7,716. Paisley's son, [[Ian Paisley Jr.]] came in third.<ref>{{cite web|title=North Antrim 2007|url=http://www.ark.ac.uk/elections/07na.htm|website=ARK}}</ref>
+In [[2007 Northern Ireland Assembly election|2007]], McKay contested the [[North Antrim (Assembly constituency)|North Antrim]] seat in the Northern Ireland legislature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6359215.stm|title=UK &#124; Northern Ireland &#124; NI Assembly election candidates|publisher=BBC News|date=13 February 2007|accessdate=3 February 2011}}</ref> He went on to claim his seat after the first count, coming second behind [[Ian Paisley]] of the [[Democratic Unionist Party]] (DUP).
 McKay was the youngest Member elected to the 2007 Assembly and he became one of the first Sinn Féin members to sit on the Policing Board along with [[Martina Anderson]] and [[Alex Maskey]].
-In September 2007 McKay sparked off a political scandal in the Assembly when he used parliamentary privilege to name private developer Seymour Sweeney as a member of the DUP. The DUP Environment Minister, [[Arlene Foster]], had said that she was 'minded' to approve an application from Sweeney for a private visitor centre at the [[Giant's Causeway]], even though her Planning Service officials had recommended that it be refused.<ref>{{cite web|title=Developer 'never gave DUP money'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6988961.stm|website=BBC|date=11 September 2007}}</ref>
+In September 2007 McKay used parliamentary privilege to name private developer Seymour Sweeney as a member of the DUP. The DUP Environment Minister, [[Arlene Foster]], had said that she was 'minded' to approve an application from Sweeney for a private visitor centre at the [[Giant's Causeway]], even though her Planning Service officials had recommended that it be refused.<ref>{{cite web|title=Developer 'never gave DUP money'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/6988961.stm|website=BBC|date=11 September 2007}}</ref>
 Foster threatened to take McKay to court over the matter but in January 2008 she decided to refuse the private application.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minister considers action against MLA|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/minister-considers-action-against-mla-1.815008|website=IrishTimes|date=19 November 2007}}</ref>
-==Attacks and threats==
-In June 2003 McKay was one of a group of Sinn Féin members, including [[Martin McGuinness]] and [[Philip McGuigan]], attacked by a loyalist mob in Ballymoney. McGuinness said that "some of them tried to break the windows of the car with their fists, and it was quite a dangerous situation. I think if they had gained access into the car, it could have been quite a nasty situation."<ref>{{cite web|title=McGuinness car 'attacked by mob'|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3017862.stm|website=BBC|date=24 June 2003}}</ref>
-In June 2008, he was one of four Sinn Féin councillors in north Antrim who reportedly received death threats.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bomb threat against Daithí McKay and North Antrim Sinn Féin activists condemned|url=http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/13099|website=Sinn Féin|date=27 June 2008|access-date=24 October 2016|archive-date=24 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024221153/http://www.sinnfein.ie/contents/13099|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-In July 2008, McKay and  Cllr Padraig McShane sustained minor injuries in a dispute with local youths in Ballymena. The dispute arose because of the youths' opposition to the removal of a bonfire to commemorate internment ([[Operation Demetrius]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6432399.stm|title=BBC coverage of physical confrontation in Ballymena|publisher=BBC News|date=31 July 2008|accessdate=3 February 2011}}</ref> McKay said they were in the area ''"in opposition to criminal and antisocial elements who are using this bonfire as a cover for other activities"''. The incident was captured by a [[BBC]] camera crew.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2008/0801/1217368811608.html|title=Irish Times' coverage of physical confrontation in Ballymena|newspaper=The Irish Times|date=8 August 2008|accessdate=3 February 2011}}</ref>
-In May 2009 there were a series of attacks on property in Rasharkin, including an attack on McKay's house and a cafe in the village. The North Antrim MLA blamed anti-social elements and said that these people would not deter him from his work.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sinn Fein man's home is attacked|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics/8020425.stm|website=BBC|date=27 April 2009}}</ref>
-A bomb threat was phoned through to McKay's Sinn Féin office in 2015. The caller claimed that a bomb had been left outside McKay's home but police later declared this a hoax after searches took place at his property.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sweeney|first1=Joanne|title=Daithi McKay bomb threat: 'I will not be deflected from duties'|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/daithi-mckay-bomb-threat-i-will-not-be-deflected-from-duties-30945656.html|website=Belfast Telegraph|date=28 January 2015}}</ref>
-==Rasharkin parades==
-McKay was involved in protests against the Ballymaconnelly parade through the mainly nationalist village of [[Rasharkin]] since they began in 2004.<ref>[http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/rasharkin-residents-could-take-legal-action-over-parade-14920766.html Rasharkin residents could take legal action over parade]''[[Belfast Telegraph]]''</ref><ref>[http://www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk/news/100-protest-at-Rasharkin-parade.4435768.jp 100 Protest At Rasharkin Parade]{{Dead link|date=January 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}''Ballymoney Times''</ref>
-In 2010 the parade was restricted and for the first time was only allowed to march the Main Street on the outward parade but not return.<ref>{{cite web|title=SF meet PSNI after Rasharkin re-route|url=https://www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk/news/sf-meet-psni-after-rasharkin-re-route-1-1837929|website=Ballymoney Times|date=30 August 2010|access-date=26 March 2018|archive-date=26 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326203223/https://www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk/news/sf-meet-psni-after-rasharkin-re-route-1-1837929|url-status=dead}}</ref>
-In 2012 two men were fined by a court after McKay reported them for posting sectarian messages on Facebook relating to the village.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McHugh|first1=Michael|title=Pair fined after posting sectarian comments on Facebook|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/pair-fined-after-posting-sectarian-comments-on-facebook-28737726.html|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph|date=13 April 2012}}</ref>
-In 2012 representation from McKay and others in the Rasharkin Residents Association helped secure a determination from the Parades Commission that the parade be reduced from 44 to 25 bands.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kilpatrick|first1=Chris|title=Fury as parades body cuts band numbers permitted for parade|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/fury-as-parades-body-cuts-band-numbers-permitted-for-parade-28782161.html|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph|date=17 August 2012}}</ref>
-He highlighted UVF and UDA paramilitary displays at the parade and, in 2015, the Parades Commission introduced a flags ban on the parade.<ref>{{cite web|title=McKay welcomes loyalist flags ban for Ballymaconnelly parade|url=https://news.causewaycoastcommunity.co.uk/entertainment/mckay-welcomes-loyalist-flags-ban-for-ballymaconnelly-parade/|website=Causeway Coast Community News|date=14 August 2015|access-date=14 November 2016|archive-date=14 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114234737/https://news.causewaycoastcommunity.co.uk/entertainment/mckay-welcomes-loyalist-flags-ban-for-ballymaconnelly-parade/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 ==Carrier Bag Levy==
@@ Line 94: / Line 65: @@
 It has resulted in the reduction in usage of carrier bags in Northern Ireland by millions annually.<ref>{{cite web|title=Northern Ireland carrier bag levy annual statistics 2015/16 released|url=https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/northern-ireland-carrier-bag-levy-annual-statistics-201516-released|website=Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs|date=25 August 2016}}</ref>
-He remains only one of two Sinn Féin MLAs to have passed a Private Members Bill in the Assembly since 1998.
 ==The SpAd Bill==
-In 2013 McKay led the opposition to the Special Advisers Bill brought forward by TUV leader Jim Allister.  The Bill aimed to dis-bar ex-prisoners from being Special Advisors to Ministers in the Executive. During the closing debate in which Allister's Bill was ultimately passed McKay made a "marathon 2-hour speech" in opposition. This remains the longest speech ever made by an MLA in the Assembly.<ref>{{cite news|title=Special Advisers Bill: Stormont Assembly passes Spad bill|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/special-advisers-bill-stormont-assembly-passes-spad-bill-29316948.html|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph|date=4 June 2013}}</ref>
+In 2013 McKay opposed the Special Advisers Bill brought forward by TUV leader Jim Allister.  The Bill aimed to dis-bar ex-prisoners from being Special Advisors to Ministers in the Executive. During the closing debate in which Allister's Bill was ultimately passed McKay made a "marathon 2-hour speech" in opposition. This remains the longest speech ever made by an MLA in the Assembly.<ref>{{cite news|title=Special Advisers Bill: Stormont Assembly passes Spad bill|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/special-advisers-bill-stormont-assembly-passes-spad-bill-29316948.html|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph|date=4 June 2013}}</ref>
 ==Campaign to abolish rates for Sport Clubs==
-In 2013 Daithí McKay started a campaign to abolish rates for sport clubs. In his second piece of legislation he proposed that CASCs (Community Amateur Sport Clubs) should have 100% rate relief on their grounds and facilities. In the Bill consultation he received over 1,000 responses, one of the most successful consultations for an Assembly Bill to date. He secured the support of the majority of MLAs but the DUP blocked the bill controversially using the Petition of Concern.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rates (Relief for Community Amateur Sports Clubs) Bill: Second Stage|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/?id=2015-10-20.5.1|website=TheyWorkForYou|date=20 October 2015}}</ref>
+In 2013 McKay started a campaign to abolish rates for sport clubs. In his legislation he proposed that CASCs (Community Amateur Sport Clubs) should have 100% rate relief on their grounds and facilities. He secured the support of the majority of MLAs but the DUP blocked the bill using the Petition of Concern.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rates (Relief for Community Amateur Sports Clubs) Bill: Second Stage|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/?id=2015-10-20.5.1|website=TheyWorkForYou|date=20 October 2015}}</ref>
-The campaign still proved successful with the Department of Finance subsequently committing to grant 100% rate relief for clubs as long as they did not have licensed bars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Storey moves on rate relief for sports clubs|url=https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/news/storey-moves-rate-relief-sports-clubs|website=Department of Finance|date=19 January 2016}}</ref> A proposal put by McKay to the Assembly was also passed that ensured that the Department had to have regulations in place by the end of September 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rates (Amendment) Bill: Further Consideration Stage|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/?id=2016-02-01.3.11|website=TheyWorkForYou|date=1 February 2016}}</ref>
+The campaign still proved successful with the Department of Finance committing to grant 100% rate relief for clubs as long as they did not have licensed bars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Storey moves on rate relief for sports clubs|url=https://www.finance-ni.gov.uk/news/storey-moves-rate-relief-sports-clubs|website=Department of Finance|date=19 January 2016}}</ref> A proposal put by McKay to the Assembly was passed that ensured that the Department had to have regulations in place by the end of September 2016.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rates (Amendment) Bill: Further Consideration Stage|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/ni/?id=2016-02-01.3.11|website=TheyWorkForYou|date=1 February 2016}}</ref>
 On 26 October 2016 full relief for CASCs without bars was introduced by the Finance Minister.<ref>{{cite web|title=NISF Chairperson welcomes rates relief extension for Sports Clubs|url=http://www.nisf.net/latest-news/2899/|website=NI Sports Forum|date=31 October 2016}}</ref>
-==Campaign for equal marriage==
-McKay was a strong supporter of LGBT rights in the Assembly. He spoke in debates to extend marriage to same sex couples between 2012 and 2016<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Report (Hansard)|url=http://www.niassembly.gov.uk/globalassets/documents/official-reports/plenary/2012-13/plenary-01-10-12.pdf|date=1 October 2012}}</ref> and jointly tabled a number of the motions put to the Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|title=Official Report: Monday 27 April 2015|url=http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/officialreport/report.aspx?&eveDate=2015/04/27&docID=231884#1343214|website=Northern Ireland Assembly|date=27 April 2015}}</ref>
-He was one of 3 Sinn Féin MLAs to table a motion calling for equal marriage to be introduced in April 2015 and it was defeated by 49 votes to 47.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gay marriage: NI Assembly rejects motion for fourth time|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2015-northern-ireland-32488247|website=BBC|date=27 April 2015}}</ref>
-In November 2015 he again was one of 6 MLAs that tabled a motion calling on the Executive "to table legislation to allow for same sex marriage."<ref>{{cite web|title=Motion Marriage Equality|url=http://aims.niassembly.gov.uk/plenary/details.aspx?&aff=11743&per=269&sel=3&ind=9&prv=1&doc=242152&pn=3&tab=0&sid=ms&cid&cn|website=Northern Ireland Assembly}}</ref> 53 MLAs supported the motion and 52 opposed. It was the first time that a majority of Assembly members had expressed support for marriage to be extended to same sex couples.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McDonald|first1=Henry|title=Northern Ireland assembly votes to legalise same-sex marriage|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/nov/02/northern-ireland-assembly-votes-to-legalise-same-sex-marriage|website=The Guardian|date=3 November 2015}}</ref>
-He has remained a vocal supporter of LGBTI rights since he left the Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|title=Equal marriage debate back to the politicians after landmark court rulings - but can deal be done?|url=https://audioboom.com/posts/6216671-equal-marriage-debate-back-to-the-politicians-after-landmark-court-rulings-but-can-deal-be-done|website=Audioboom|date=18 August 2017}}</ref>
 ==Resignation==
@@ Line 136: / Line 95: @@
 McKay believes that the mandatory coalition system that puts parties in power automatically is flawed. He has called for Assembly reform.<ref>{{cite news|title=DUP now drinking in the last chance saloon as high noon beckons|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/news-analysis/dup-now-drinking-in-the-last-chance-saloon-as-high-noon-beckons-35315350.html|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph|date=23 December 2016}}</ref> A suggestion he has put forward for discussion is that a hybrid model of a weighted majority system retaining some cross-community safeguards would help address political 'gridlock'.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McKay|first1=Daithi|title=What would the Assembly look like if weighted majority voting had been introduced?|url=https://sluggerotoole.com/2017/01/03/what-would-the-assembly-look-like-if-weighted-majority-voting-had-been-introduced/|website=Slugger O'Toole|date=3 January 2017}}</ref>
-After the Assembly collapsed over the [[Renewable Heat Incentive scandal]] in early 2017 McKay said that the Irish Language Act, unimplemented since the St Andrew's Agreement, should be agreed before the institutions are restored.<ref>{{cite news|last1=McKay|first1=Daithi|title=Unionists can't cherry-pick bits of an accord they find easiest to swallow|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/unionists-cant-cherrypick-bits-of-an-accord-they-find-easiest-to-swallow-35376196.html|newspaper=Belfasttelegraph|date=18 January 2017}}</ref>
-In July 2017 he described the [[Eleventh night]] as similar to the film ''[[The Purge]]'', where all laws are suspended for one night a year and people allowed to do whatever they want, with no consequences.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Morris|first1=Allison|title=Allison Morris: Unionists need to stop encouraging fake cultural war|url=http://www.irishnews.com/paywall/tsb/irishnews/irishnews/irishnews//opinion/columnists/2017/07/13/news/allison-morris-unionists-need-to-stop-encouraging-fake-cultural-war-1081641/content.html|website=The Irish News|date=13 July 2017}}</ref>
-In August 2017 he criticised the [[Democratic Unionist Party|DUP]] MLA [[Jim Wells (politician)|Jim Wells]] after the [[County Down|South Down]] man resigned from the [[National Trust]] due to their participation in Belfast [[Pride parade]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=McKay|first1=Daithi|title=Jim Wells - Pride and Prejudice|url=https://www.facebook.com/McKayDaithi/photos/a.1774965979398037.1073741829.1774932956068006/2039110492983583/?type=3&theater&notif_t=feedback_reaction_generic&notif_id=1501971432504492|website=Facebook|date=5 August 2017}}</ref>
 In 2022 he said that the Secretary of State had a responsibility to outline publicly how an Irish unity referendum "might be triggered" given rising levels of support for a border poll. <ref>{{cite web|last1=McKay|first1=Daithi|title=Daithi McKay: Brandon Lewis failing 'test' by keeping border poll criteria a secret|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/comment/brandon-lewis-failing-test-by-keeping-border-poll-criteria-a-secret-41808243.html|website=The Belfast Telegraph|date=2 July 2022}}</ref>
-McKay has written on a number of occasions about the need to decriminalise drug usage and believes that substances such as psilocybin could be used to help address the high rates of depression and anxiety.<ref>{{cite web|last1=McKay|first1=Daithi|title=Daithi McKay: Aussie stance on psychedelics shows we need a fresh drugs debate|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/comment/aussie-stance-on-psychedelics-shows-we-need-a-fresh-drugs-debate/a639473567.html|website=The Belfast Telegraph|date=26 July 2023}}</ref>
 He currently has a weekly column in the Belfast Telegraph.
-==Committees==
-*Health 2015–2016
-*Finance 2010–2011 and 2012–2016 (Chairperson from 2012 to 2016)
-*Education 2011–2012
-*Enterprise, Trade & Investment (Deputy Chairperson from 2010 to 2012)
-*Environment 2007–2010
-*Public Accounts Committee 2012–2015
-*Chair and Founder of the Assembly All-Party Working Group on Climate Change 2008–2011
-*Member of All Party group on Cycling 2014–2016
 ==References==