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Local Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2005

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2005. The noble Lord said: This order was laid before the House on 16 June. First, I shall provide some background to this simple order. The UK-wide Civil Partnership Act 2004, from where this order derives, enables same-sex couples to obtain legal recognition by forming a civil partnership. They may do so by registering as civil partners of each other. The Act also sets out the legal consequences of forming a civil partnership, including the rights and responsibilities of civil partners. The order simply brings existing Northern Ireland local election legislation into line with the provisions of the Civil Partnership Act 2004. It amends Northern Ireland local election legislation in the light of the provisions made by the Act. The amendments made by this order give civil partners the   same status as a spouse in matters connected with the conduct of local elections in Northern Ireland. It also amends the definition of ““relative”” in the context of local elections to include civil partners. Article 2 amends the local election rules in the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962, and Article 3 amends the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. In each case, the words ““civil partner”” have been added. The order is compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights, and it has been made by the powers confirmed by the Northern Ireland Act 1998. It is a simple order. Before anyone asks the question, ““Why does it not apply to parliamentary elections?””, it may help if I say that the order does not need to because the original Civil Partnership Act covered all other elections, so the Assembly and all other elections are covered. It is just that this aspect was not covered by the original legislation. I beg to move. Moved, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Local Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Order 2005.—(Lord Rooker.)