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Proceeding contribution from Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 4 March 2009. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee of the Whole House (HC) on Northern Ireland Bill.

Northern Ireland Bill (Allocation of Time)

I put that question back to the hon. Gentleman. I have spoken to number of Members of the Legislative Assembly concerning the position of the hon. Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson) and his comments on climate change. [Interruption.] He may not have lost the confidence of his own party, but I do not detect a great deal of confidence among the other parties. There is also the position of Catriona Ruane. I do not think, all things being equal, those Ministers could truly be said to maintain the full confidence of the Assembly. It is a consequence of the way in which the Executive is constituted that these issues are never properly tested, because everybody knows that the Ministers are impregnable. If those Ministers are impregnable, the Justice Minister should be put on exactly the same footing. It is highly unlikely that an Alliance Minister would take the job on in these circumstances. If the Secretary of State devolves criminal justice in such a way that an Alliance Minister will not take it on, what is the point of doing it at all?

Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
488 c931 
Session
2008-09
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Conditions of employment Codes of practice Devolved matters Crime Administration of justice Devolution Finance Inquiries Judiciary Government departments Functions Fuels Judges Ministerial powers Northern Ireland Police Powers Public appointments Northern Ireland Assembly Political parties Public expenditure Parliamentary scrutiny Politics and government Ministers Political impartiality Northern Ireland Executive Police Service of Northern Ireland Standards Terrorism Security Reserve forces Termination of employment Smuggling Royal Ulster Constabulary Commission for Judicial Appointments (Northern Ireland) Attorney General for Northern Ireland Northern Ireland Department of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Legislation
Northern Ireland Bill 2008-09
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk