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Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

The parties who were present in the negotiation, Sir Alan. I can advise the hon. Gentleman that the hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr. Donaldson)—his own party colleague now—was prominently involved in the precise decision that in no way should we have arrangements that would allow other parties to vet or veto anybody else’s choice of Minister. We took that decision because to create such powers would force parties to use the power to vet or veto other people’s choice of Minister. The hon. Gentleman was clear on that and I remember being directly involved in negotiations in that context with him. I remember it clearly, although I am sure that he tries to forget it.