Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Acknowledged
Cross-community safeguards inadequately accommodate Northern Ireland's growing non-designated population.
Conclusion
Cross-community safeguards were a fundamental aspect of the Strand One institutions’ design. They recognised and accommodated the politics of a deeply divided, post-conflict society and were undoubtedly fundamental to securing agreement between Unionist and Nationalist parties in 1998. With an understanding drawn from that time, the institutions have facilitated successfully cross-community government and we recognise the continued importance of Unionist/Nationalist representation to the legitimacy of government in Northern Ireland and the wider stability of the region. However, there is an emerging sense that “cross-community” should take account of the growing section of Northern Ireland society which does not identify as either Unionist or Nationalist. In this sense, it is difficult to maintain that the institutions truly deliver cross-community governance when a significant—and growing—number of elected representatives do not enjoy the same powers within the institutions as their Unionist/Nationalist-designating colleagues. (Paragraph 48) The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 75
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the challenges of balancing cross-community governance and institutional stability, stating that any significant change to cross-community protections would require the support of the whole community.
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 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. The proposal to nominate the Speaker (Presiding Officer) of the Assembly and to nominate “Joint First Ministers” on a supermajority basis would, on the basis of the current sizes of the political parties, stop any single party in the Assembly from preventing these nominations going forward. However, this would also represent a significant departure from the original cross-community protections of the Agreement, which the Government believes would require significant consultation and consideration. The Committee recommends that the review includes consideration of “the institutions’ ability to provide effective and stable government in Northern Ireland, with broad cross- community inclusion”. The Agreement has brought people together while recognising and respecting the differences in their beliefs and identity. The cross- community protections are a vital part of this. The inclusiveness of the Executive is a strength of the Strand One arrangements, and has been key to public support of the Agreement. The cross- community voting mechanisms are designed not to exclude voices, but to ensure that concerns are heard. Whilst the Committee identifies that reform to these cross-community protections may enable greater stability, it is important that any movement away from the current system of cross-community consent commands the support of the whole community.