Source · Select Committees · Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Rejected
Paragraph: 93
Incorporate evaluation of Executive formation reform into Review to increase coalition cohesiveness.
Recommendation
We note with interest various proposals for reforming the broader system of Executive formation. We believe that there is scope for a system which will allow The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement 77 for greater cohesiveness within a coalition but are acutely aware of the potential drawbacks of departing from ‘mandatory’ coalition as we currently see under d’Hondt. While mandatory coalitions can be unwieldy and impede the development and implementation of an Executive’s agenda, we consider it more important to Northern Ireland’s political stability in the short term to at least have an Executive in place in the first instance—hence our previous recommendation to broaden the criteria through which First Ministers can be appointed, without whom no further ministerial portfolios can be allocated. As such, we recommend that the Government incorporates into the Review a full evaluation of how the present system of Executive formation might be reformed to increase coalition cohesiveness while maintaining cross-community representation.
Government Response Summary
The government rejected the recommendation to incorporate an evaluation of Executive formation reform into a review, stating that a review of the Agreement or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at this time. It emphasized that any reforms require widespread cross-community consent.
Paragraph Reference:
93
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
Rejected for now. Given the recent restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive, a review of the Agreement, or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is not being considered at this time. 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 and command the support of the whole community in Northern Ireland. The Agreement has been vital, and it should continue to be a living document. Any significant reform requires widespread consent, led by the people of Northern Ireland and their representatives. Voices from the UK or Irish Governments should not be at the forefront of calls for reform. Matters relating to Strand One institutions remain a matter for the UK Government along with the NI parties. The Committee’s recommendation for the review to include the institutions’ ability to provide effective and stable government with broad cross-community inclusion is noted; cross-community protections are vital, and any movement away from the current system requires whole community support. Regarding Strand Three (PM attendance at BIIGC/BIC), these bodies already meet regularly, and the Prime Minister attended in 2022; the Government is committed to utilising Strand Three to its full potential. For Strand Two (NSMC/implementation bodies), we are committed to upholding all strands, but any review of Strand Two should be led by ministers in Northern Ireland and Ireland. The Government recognises the interest in a Citizen’s Assembly and civic engagement, and has listened to community views. It notes that the Northern Ireland Assembly and local councils are democratically chosen representative bodies. The Government welcomes the Committee’s recognition of the success of the 38th summit of the British-Irish Council in November 2022.