Select committee: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee
Recommendation 27
First Report - The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement
Published 4 Dec 2023
Paragraph 156
Addressed to Northern Ireland Executive; Northern Ireland Office
Northern Ireland Affairs Committee The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
Given the limited further evidence we received on the specific issue of ascribing legal and democratic legitimacy to any substantive reforms made to the institutions, we recommend that expert consultation on this issue should also form part of the Review. We also emphasise that the prospect of review and reform should not include any possibility of reversion to a time before the Agreement. With overwhelming legal and democratic legitimacy, it remains the only viable basis for government in Northern Ireland. The question at hand is when, and by what means, its necessary and foreseen evolution should be instituted.
From: Northern Ireland Affairs Committee, First Report - The effectiveness of the institutions of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement (HC 45), paragraph 156, 4 December 2023
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 22 February 2024 (deadline 4 February 2024).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The government says that, given the recent restoration of the Executive, a review of the Agreement or amendment of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 "is not being considered at this time", while recognising the report's concerns about stability.
- On supermajority election of the Speaker and "Joint First Ministers", it says this would be "a significant departure" from the Agreement's original cross-community protections and would require "significant consultation and consideration".
- On the proposed review, it agrees that significant reform "would require widespread consent" and prefers that discussion is led by the people of Northern Ireland and their representatives.
- On the North/South Ministerial Council and implementation bodies, it says any review of Strand Two working practices "should be led by ministers in Northern Ireland and Ireland".
- On a Citizens' Assembly, it notes calls for more civic engagement and says it is "for the restored Executive to deliver" on the parties' New Decade New Approach commitment. It is "committed to continuing to listen to community views".