---

Northern Ireland Bill

I have to confess that I am not one of the most optimistic people as regards what will happen after this Bill is enacted. There are still some very grave doubts about the sincerity of some of the politicians involved, particularly their attachment to the process of law and order, and their commitment to law and order in the Province. With that in mind, we must accept that there is at least a possibility that the legislation will not be successful in getting devolved government up and running again, therefore I have a great deal of sympathy with the amendment. It would set a precedent, not really for this interim period—frankly, I do not think that is worth doing; it is just muddying the waters—but if this collapses and we have to go back in the long term for direct government, we would have much better ideas about how to handle the procedures for it than at the moment. I hope that the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, replies, will express his sympathy, at the very least, for what is intended here: improving how these matters are handled during the period of direct rule, whether it be short or long.