Clause 4 - Appointment of Lord Chief Justice
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield, Conservative)
I did fully appreciate that that was the reality. I was quite sure that the right hon. Gentleman would have told me if he had been party to that particular discussion. I inferred that the hon. Member for South Down was left with such an impression as a result of the discussions. All I can say is that his impression, if it is correct—I have no reason to doubt his good faith in saying that that was the impression he got—is at variance with the strict wording of the clause. The right hon. Member for Upper Bann may say that it would be much better to leave things as they are, and I have some sympathy with that.
If the Government are determined to go down this road, it would make much more logical sense for two names to go forward with a clarification that beyond that point the Prime Minister does not have a power to rig the process, rather than leave a situation where there is a danger of people saying that they were duped into understanding that the process would be carried out in a particular way. I cannot see how that is helpful to any aspect of achieving devolved government or the peace process in Northern Ireland. That is my personal view, but I do not think that the hon. Member for South Down disagrees with me, and I am not sure whether the right hon. Member for Upper Bann would disagree with me.
I understand the right hon. Gentleman's point that he would prefer the existing system to remain. We made it clear in the Lords that we would prefer that, too. As I am trying to help the Government, I hope that the Minister will accept my ideas within the constructive framework in which they have been
introduced. To help him along the way, I would like to put amendment No. 17 to the vote, but first I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Amendment proposed: No. 17, in
clause 4, page 3, line 21, at end insert—
'(7) Any recommendation made to the Prime Minister under this section shall contain no fewer than 2 names.'.—[Mr. Grieve.]
Question put, That the amendment be made:—
The Committee divided: Ayes 5, Noes 11.