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Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Modification) Order 2006

I, too, thank the Minister for explaining the order. We have no option: we have to keep it going. However, I heard him say that this is the year. If we cannot resolve this, if we do not return to having a devolved Assembly and government, there will have to be some other way. That is music to my ears, as this situation cannot just go on and on. I think it is getting more difficult. For example, before too long we will be talking about secondary education. I speak as someone who has spent 30 years in local government arguing for comprehensive education. I had the great pleasure of having my three children educated in a genuine comprehensive school and am firmly committed to the system. Therefore, I know what is in the best interests of the majority of the children in Northern Ireland. I also know that that is not what the people of Northern Ireland desire, as was shown by an opinion poll in the Belfast Telegraph. Within the next month, we will be put in the awful dilemma of having to consider such issues, which I do not feel we should have to do. Yet we may have to. That is an example of how the situation is getting more and more difficult. Therefore, I hope that it will be resolved. Obviously, if the parties can get together and we get a devolved government, that is the best way. That is what is intended; that is what we believe this is supposed to be about. But if they cannot bring themselves to do it, there will have to be another way. For the time being, I support the order.