---

Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill

Moved by

Baroness O'Loan

23: After Clause 9, insert the following new Clause—

“Requirement for majority of MLAs to support regulations

(1) Before a statutory instrument can be laid in each House of Parliament under sections 8 and 9 of this Act, the conditions in subsections (2) and (3) must be met.

(2) The first condition is that the Secretary of State must—

(a) hold a public consultation on the proposals in each of the regulations;

(b) consult individually with members of the Northern Ireland Assembly on the proposals in each of the regulations; and

(c) lay a report before each House of Parliament on the outcome of the consultations held under this section, including the number of members of the Northern Ireland Assembly in favour of and against each of the regulations.

(3) The second condition is that—

(a) the relevant regulations under section 8 may only be laid before Parliament if a majority of the members of the Northern Ireland Assembly support the regulations as stated in the report laid before Parliament under subsection (2)(c); and

(b) the relevant regulations under section 9 may only be laid before Parliament if a majority of the members of the Northern Ireland Assembly support the regulations as stated in the report laid before Parliament under subsection (2)(c).”