Clause 3 — Timing of canvass

Part of Orders of the Day — Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 19 April 2006.

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Photo of Patrick Cormack Patrick Cormack Chair, Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, Chair, Northern Ireland Affairs Committee 2:30, 19 April 2006

As there is such disquiet in all parts of the Committee—all the Northern Ireland parties that participate in the House have made the point—why cannot we fix the 2010 date instead of making it an option? That would help to engender confidence in what the Government are seeking to do. If we can fix on 2010, we can obviously still look at the matter again before 2010. If it seems desirable to go to 2020—that is very unlikely—then fair enough, but let us fix on 2010 and not make it an option.