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Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2006

rose to move, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2006 [20th Report from the Joint Committee]. The noble Lord said: The main purpose of this order is to extend the power to legislate on Northern Ireland matters by Order in Council for a further six months. The Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive were suspended in 2002, and the provisions of the schedule to the Northern Ireland Act 2000 were invoked whereby the Government had power to legislate for Northern Ireland by Order in Council. That power was initially limited to the first six months of suspension, but has been extended on six previous occasions for further periods of six months. The sixth period of six months expires on 14 April this year. This seventh modification order provides for an extension for a further period of six months which will expire at the end of 14 October 2006, or earlier if devolved government is restored before then. We are all in agreement that the Order in Council procedures as set out in the Northern Ireland Act 2000 are unsatisfactory. The Government stand firm in their belief in the principle of devolution, as do the Northern Ireland parties, but they are divided over how to achieve it. Therefore, we must continue to work together towards those goals. We cannot allow the current impasse to continue. As my right honourable friend the Secretary of State has said, 2006 will be a decisive year and I sincerely hope that I will not have to bring this order before the House again. In the meantime, however, it is a regrettable necessity. This order may cause noble Lords logistical difficulties and we remain open to exploring any suggestions for improving processes and increasing local accountability under direct rule. I regret that we have made no progress since I spoke on the previous order in July, but it is a matter that is being discussed by Ministers. But we must remain focused on the objective. While it would be nice to make Orders in Council work better and to have better scrutiny, that is not the key objective. That objective is the restoration of the Assembly on a stable and lasting basis, so that these issues can be dealt with by local people in Northern Ireland. We hope that we can very, very soon make progress towards that aim. But as no progress has been made so far, it is necessary at this time to renew the power to legislate by order and I beg to move. Moved, That the Grand Committee do report to the House that it has considered the Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2006 [20th Report from the Joint Committee].—(Lord Rooker.)