Clause 3 - Judicial Appointments Commission
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill
5:30 pm
Mr Crispin Blunt (Reigate, Conservative)
I am surprised that the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire has come forward with the construction, because it runs against the principle of devolution of justice. If Parliament is to give power to the Secretary of State to devolve justice at a time of his choosing—I hope that that will be with the agreement of Parliament; we will discuss that under a later amendment—it must be a concern if the Liberal Democrats are not prepared to trust the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to run a devolved justice system and appoint the lay and judicial members of the Judicial Appointments Commission. For the time being—until he is appointed to the House of Lords—the Secretary of State is an elected politician, as are the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. On the basis of the principle that justice should be devolved, which is the position of the official Opposition—I do not think that it is an issue across the parties—I am unable to support the hon. Gentleman's amendments.