Clause 62 - Cases that may be retried
Criminal Justice Bill
2:30 pm
Mr Hilary Benn (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office; Leeds Central, Labour)
May I deal first with the question of Northern Ireland? I apologise to the Committee for having inadvertently misled hon. Members this morning on the means by which the process would be applied in Northern Ireland. I confirm what I said this morning, which is that Northern Ireland Ministers intend that the Bill should apply to Northern Ireland, but incorrectly informed the Committee that it would be done by order. In fact, we intend to do so in the Bill, and will table amendments on Report to that effect. That deals with the point raised this morning about the process. I hope that that assures the Committee; I realise, however, that it will not reassure the hon. Member for North Down (Lady Hermon), who is opposed in principle to that happening.