Consideration Stage

Part of Executive Committee Business – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:45 pm on 10 November 2009.

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Photo of Stephen Farry Stephen Farry Alliance 3:45, 10 November 2009

The implication of supporting the Bill at Second Stage was that one supported the principle of the devolution of policing and justice and, in particular, the creation of a justice Department in Northern Ireland. It is in order for the SDLP to propose an amendment to change the mechanism in the Bill and go back to d’Hondt; that is a logical position for them to argue from if they wish. However, voting in favour of the Second Stage of the Bill would still have allowed them to do that and, at the same time, would have made clear their support for devolution, whereas voting against it sent out, at best, a very dangerous, mixed message.