Paisley to address Commons over paid Sri Lanka holidays

Democratic Unionist MP Ian Paisley is due to address the House of Commons today in relation to his failure to register two family holidays, paid for by the Sri Lankan government.

According to RTE website the  House of Commons standards watchdog has recommended that the North Antrim MP be suspended for 30 days, beginning in September.

The sanction could see Mr Paisley face a by-election.

Members who are suspended from the Commons for more than ten days are open to a recall petition.

A by-election would be triggered if 10% of the electorate in Mr Paisley's North Antrim constituency sign that petition.

If rubber-stamped by parliament, the suspension would also mean Prime Minister Theresa May will lose one of the ten DUP MPs propping up her minority government.

Politicians from across the political divide in Northern Ireland have called on the high-profile MP to stand down.

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald said Mr Paisley should do the "honourable thing" and quit.

"I think the charges made against him and findings against him are very serious," she said.

"I would imagine his constituents in North Antrim, and certainly public opinion across Ireland, would expect that having been sanctioned in the way he's been sanctioned then he should do the honourable thing and step down."

The SDLP said Mr Paisley's position was "untenable".

Party Assembly member Colin McGrath said a 30-day suspension was not enough.

"The SDLP will be seeking a recall petition to dismiss Paisley from Westminster, and should this trigger a by-election in North Antrim, Mr Paisley should not challenge the seat again," he said.

Alliance Assembly member Paula Bradshaw also urged Mr Paisley to consider his position.

"Mr Paisley has let both himself and his constituents down, calling into question his personal integrity and the ability of voters to trust him," she said.