The final sitting of the Assembly last week saw a raft of private member’s bills complete their final stage, including the Period Products (Free Provision) Bill, the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill, the Hospital Parking Charges Bill, the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Bill, the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill and the Preservation of Documents (Historical Institutions) Bill.

Alan Chambers, the UUP MLA who introduced the last of those bills, told colleagues: “The public would have a better image of the House if they could see the spirit of goodwill that we have seen demonstrated over the last few weeks as we passed a lot of sound and good legislation that will help the people of Northern Ireland. I hope that that spirit of goodwill carries through into the new mandate.”

At the end of the session, Speaker Alex Maskey added: “In the spirit of goodwill, as referred to by Mr Chambers, I want to offer my best wishes to all those members who are seeking re-election. I can only say, ‘go forth and multiply’. You will do very well.

“I want to thank you all, as representatives of this society, for your very kind remarks, tremendous support and cooperation, hard work and dedication over the past couple of years during which I have known you in this role. I have known a number of you for quite a few years longer than that. I still hold everybody here in the best regard.

“Thank you all very much for your kind remarks and, in particular, for your support and for your dedication to this role over the last number of years. Mr Chambers made the point that our community would be well served if people saw the goodwill that operates in here, with multi-party support for a whole raft of legislation that has been passed by the House in recent weeks and months.”