Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 6
6
Acknowledged
Reform of Strand One institutions remains possible but often piecemeal and inconsistently implemented.
Conclusion
In the 25 years since their inception, numerous attempts have been made at strengthening the viability and stability of the Strand One institutions in complex and challenging political circumstances. The successor agreements—and subsequent legislative alterations to the institutions—serve to illustrate the delicate context in which the institutions operate and the near-constant effort required from the Northern Ireland parties and the British and Irish governments to facilitate their continued existence. We recognise that they have not had all-party consensus or involvement and remain the subject of continued criticism. It is also apparent that it is difficult for the institutions to reform themselves without the input of the British and Irish governments. Nonetheless, the very existence of successor agreements and the changes they have instituted illustrates that reform of the Agreement’s institutions is possible, even if such reform is piecemeal and sometimes lacking in implementation. (Paragraph 40) Strand One - an evaluation
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the challenges and the committee's observations, reiterating its long-standing approach of working with local parties on the basis of cross-community consent for changes and noting that any future reform discussions must be carefully considered with community support.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government recognises the challenges the report highlights in balancing cross- community governance with institutional stability in Northern Ireland. The Government’s long-standing approach is to work with the locally elected parties in Northern Ireland, on the basis of cross-community consent, to make necessary changes to the governance arrangements in Northern Ireland to enable the more effective operation of the institutions. The New Decade New Approach deal of 2020 included measures to strengthen transparency and accountability. The Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Act 2022 delivered on commitments made under New Decade New Approach and addressed concerns about the operation of the Petition of Concern mechanism to reduce its use and to return it to its intended purpose as set out under the Agreement. This safeguard is intended to ensure that all communities can participate and work together successfully in the operation of the Northern Ireland institutions and are protected when the Assembly legislates, and to prevent one party from blocking measures or business. It is important that consideration of Northern Ireland’s governance arrangements continues to engage the voices that represent communities across Northern Ireland. While the Government’s focus has been firmly on the immediate restoration of the devolved institutions, we do recognise the challenges the report identifies concerning the stability of the institutions. Any discussion of reforms, including on the subject of timing, should be carefully considered in this context, and should command the support of the whole community in Northern Ireland.