House of Commons Amendments

Session 2013 - 14
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

7

House of Commons

Notices of Amendments

given on

Thursday 11 July 2013

For other Amendment(s) see the following page(s):

Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill Committee 1-2, 3-4 and 5

Public Bill Committee

Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

Mark Durkan

5

Clause  22,  page  16,  line  3,  at end insert—

‘(1A)
After subsection (2) of section 75 (Statutory duty on public authorities) of that

Act insert—

“(2A)
A public authority shall not interpret its obligations under subsection (2)

in a way that is incompatible with measures taken on the basis of

objective need.”.

(1B)
In subsection (5) of section 75 of that Act insert—

“good relations” shall be interpreted in line with international obligations

and, in particular, with regard to—

(a)
tackling prejudice, and

(b)
promoting understanding.”.’.

Reduction in voting age to be a reserved matter

Mark Durkan

NC5

To move the following Clause:—

‘In Schedule 3 (Reserved matters) to the Northern Ireland Act 1998, after

paragraph 7 insert—

“7A
The alteration to any age between 16 and 18 of the minimum voting

age for elections to the Assembly or local government elections in

Northern Ireland.”.’.

Notices of Amendments: 11 July 2013
8

Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, continued

Annual report on activity relating to Northern Ireland’s past

Mark Durkan

NC6

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
The Secretary of State shall lay a report before Parliament in respect of each year

as soon as possible after the end of the year to which it relates.

(2)
The Secretary of State may appoint a person or persons to produce the report

required under subsection (1).

(3)
A report laid under subsection (1) shall contain in relation to the year to which it

relates—

(a)
a summary of the work of the Historical Enquiries Team of the Northern

Ireland Police;

(b)
a summary of the work of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland

insofar as it relates to Northern Ireland’s past;

(c)
a summary of the work of other public bodies which, in the opinion of the

Secretary of State, relates to Northern Ireland’s past;

(d)
a summary of responses made by Her Majesty’s Government or any other

Government or body to any of the work covered by the report; and

(e)
a clear indication where the findings of any work summarised in the

report contradict remarks recorded in the Official Report of the House of

Commons or House of Lords, especially by a Minister of the Crown.

(4)
After a report under subsection (1) has been laid before Parliament the Secretary

of State shall provide a statement to Parliament which shall contain references

to—

(a)
the comparative standard of enquiries conducted by the Historical

Enquiries Team during that year;

(b)
the progress made during the year in dealing with Northern Ireland’s

past;

(c)
any apologies that have been given by any Government or public body in

relation to the work summarised in the report; and

(d)
any other relevant issues or concerns as they relate to Northern Ireland’s

past.

(5)
Any existing provision prohibiting publication of the material to be summarised

under subsection (2)(a) shall, subject to subsection (6) below, not apply for the

purposes of this section.

(6)
No personal information shall be included in the report as laid before Parliament

without the permission of the person concerned or, if they are dead, of their

relatives.’.

Petitions of concern

Mark Durkan

NC7

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
In section 42 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Petitions of concern), omit

subsection (3) and insert—

“(3)
When a petition of concern is lodged against a measure, proposal or a

decision by a Minister, Department or the Executive (“the matter”), the

Assembly shall appoint a special committee to examine and report on

Notices of Amendments: 11 July 2013
9

Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, continued

whether the matter is in conformity with equality and human rights

requirements, including the European Convention on Human Rights and

any Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.

(4)
A committee as provided for under subsection (3) may also be appointed

at the request of the Executive Committee, a Northern Ireland Minister or

relevant Assembly Committee.

(5)
The Assembly shall consider the report of any committee appointed

under this section and determine the matter in accordance with the

requirements for cross-community support.

(6)
Standing Orders shall provide for—

(a)
a committee appointed under this section to have the power to

call people and papers to assist in its consideration of the matter;

and

(b)
the size of such a committee and the timescale for a decision.

(7)
In relation to any specific petition of concern or request under subsection

(4), the Assembly may decide, with cross-community support, that the

procedure in subsections (3) and (5) shall not apply.”.’.



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