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Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

I would be content to exchange not just the First Minister but our whole Assembly for the Scottish Parliament. Our First Minister in Northern Ireland spent about 80 per cent. of his time trying to keep his party together, never mind the country. I recognise that the option may be withdrawn, but I do not believe that any of these provisions will be sufficient to secure the devolution of policing and justice. Further legislation will undoubtedly be required, because there are weaknesses and gaps in the existing legislation. I assure the hon. Member for Foyle that no deals have been done with the Government or any other party in relation to my party’s participation in any Assembly, any Executive or any devolved institutions including policing and justice. No agreement has been made on those aspects. I greatly doubt that, in my lifetime, we shall ever see circumstances in which they could be devolved, although I should be happy if that were possible. One suggestion that I did make was that if there were a single Department with a single Minister and if it could be bid for under d’Hondt, my party, being the largest party, would secure that office. That would be a way forward for Northern Ireland, and if other parties are willing to consider it we shall be happy to oblige.