Jon Burrows sorry for wearing AirPods in assembly chamber

Ulster Unionist leader Jon Burrows has apologised for wearing wireless headphones in the assembly chamber during Monday’s no-confidence motions in four Sinn Féin ministers.

Following the debate, Speaker Edwin Poots said it had come to his attention that an MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) had been wearing AirPods and said he would be writing to them as a reminder of what is acceptable conduct in the chamber.

Poots did not name the politician, but on Tuesday, Burrows told the assembly he was the MLA in question.

“As I came into the chamber, the debate was winding up and I did slip an AirPod on to listen back to a debate I missed. I then drafted a social media post,” he said.

“I know the speaker addressed it, I apologise. I was working but I’ll do that in future outside the chamber,” he added.

The votes of no confidence in Michelle O’Neill, John O’Dowd, Caoimhe Archibald and Liz Kimmins failed to secure enough support in Stormont.

The Northern Ireland Assembly debated the no-confidence motions over the ministers’ handling of the Drumcree dispute.

However, the attempt to oust them failed as it required cross-community support from a majority of both unionists and nationalists in the assembly.

Poots has previously had to warn MLAs over their language in the chamber and their dress code.