Clause 51 - Duties of commission
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill
4:00 pm
The purpose of the amendments is to try to ensure that the programmes of work of the Law Reform Commission will be subject to, and have the approval of, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister acting jointly, as well as being subject to the Secretary of State.
It is highly likely that much, if not all, of the work of the Law Reform Commission will relate to legislation in areas for which responsibility has been devolved to the Assembly. The provisions in the Bill according to which the Secretary of State alone will be responsible for approving its programme are not fully appropriate, as decisions will impinge on devolved functions. It is insufficient for the Secretary of State to consult only the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, and it is important that the latter should have powers equal to those of the Secretary of State in making decisions.
I know that the issue has some difficult implications. I am also aware that there could be a three-tier stage before devolution. The Minister confirmed yesterday that some of the Bill's provisions would apply before devolution, so there will be a staged approach. It will be a quantum leap for the political process in the north of Ireland to take control of these issues again, but I want to try to ensure that the procedures have the input and standing that they should have. The amendments not only place responsibility on the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, but involve them in decisions in a way that could help devolution—if and when it happens.
I make my final point in a political, rather than a disparaging spirit. The more we get away from Secretaries of State and Lord Chancellors, the more we shall be able to take on the responsibilities that come our way and which, I believe, we shall successfully carry out. That is why I tabled the amendments, and I await the Minister's reply with interest.