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Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Bill

It is a matter for Sinn Fein; but of course, it is important that Sinn Fein makes its position clear. This legislation provides the mechanism to go forward. The twin pillars of power sharing and the rule of law are enshrined in the pledge of office that all Ministers must take on 26 March, to take office. The pledge of office requires all Ministers to"““promote the interests of the whole community represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly towards the goal of a shared future””." Politicians everywhere, particularly those who aspire to govern, are there not just to represent and work for those who voted for them and loaned them their mandate but for those who did not. In a society that has been as bitterly divided as Northern Ireland, politicians who have been entrusted with a mandate that will give them access to power have an even greater obligation to govern for all and not just for their own. The pledge requires all Ministers to"““participate fully in the Executive Committee, the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Council””." If devolution is to deliver good government, all the institutions of government must function effectively. Anything less than a full commitment to that will sell everyone in Northern Ireland short. The pledge of office also requires Ministers to"““observe the joint nature of the offices of First Minister and deputy First Minister””." Those are fundamental tenets of power sharing, which go well beyond the symbolism—important as that is—of two different political traditions working together in equality without sacrificing either principle or integrity. On support for the rule of law, the pledge of office, as enshrined in the Bill, could not be clearer. All Ministers will"““uphold the rule of law based as it is on the fundamental principles of fairness, impartiality and democratic accountability, including support for policing and the courts as set out in paragraph 6 of the St. Andrews Agreement””." Let me remind the House what paragraph 6, and clause 7(2) of the Bill, says about support for law and order:"““We believe that the essential elements of support for law and order include endorsing fully the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the criminal justice system, actively encouraging everyone in the community to co-operate fully with the PSNI in tackling crime in all areas and actively supporting all the policing and criminal justice institutions, including the Policing Board””." I recognise that the issue of policing has been contentious ever since Northern Ireland came into being, and still more so during the conflict, but we are in a very different and much better place now.