Northern Ireland Bill

House of Commons

Session 2005 - 06
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Northern Ireland Bill

Northern Ireland Bill
Schedule 3 — No selection of Ministers
8

Schedule 3
Section 2(5)

No selection of Ministers
Introduction
1
This Schedule has effect in accordance with section 2(5).
Postponement of next Northern Ireland Assembly election
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2     (1)
In section 31 of the 1998 Act (Northern Ireland Assembly: dates of elections
and dissolutions), for subsection (2) substitute—
“(2)
The date of the poll for the election of the Assembly next following
the Assembly elected at the poll on 26th November 2003 shall be a
date to be specified in an order made by the Secretary of State.
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(2A)
An order under subsection (2) may not specify a date falling on or
before the date on which the poll would (apart from that subsection)
fall to be held under subsection (1).
(2B)
An order under subsection (2) may include provision making such
modifications of—
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(a)
any enactment (other than one contained in this Act), or
(b)
any provision of subordinate legislation,

as appear to the Secretary of State to be necessary or expedient for the
purposes of, or in consequence of or in connection with, the order.
(2C)
An order under subsection (2) may, in particular, make provision
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modifying any duty of the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern
Ireland whereby (apart from the order) he must perform any
function or discharge any duty on or by reference to a particular
date.
(2D)
An order under subsection (2) may also make such supplementary,
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incidental or consequential provision as the Secretary of State
considers necessary or expedient.”
      (2)
In subsection (1) of that section, for “subsection (2)” substitute “subsections
(2) to (3)”.
      (3)
The amendments made by this paragraph shall have effect on and after 25th
30
November 2006.
Power to bring forward date of dissolution of current Northern Ireland Assembly
3     (1)
In section 31 of the 1998 Act, after subsection (2D) insert—
“(2E)
The Assembly elected at the poll on 26th November 2003 shall be
dissolved on whichever of the following dates is the earlier—
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(a)
3rd May 2007; or
(b)
such date as may be specified in an order made by the
Secretary of State.”
      (2)
In section 96 of the 1998 Act, in subsection (1), for “31(3)” substitute “31(2E),
(3)”.
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Northern Ireland Bill
Schedule 3 — No selection of Ministers
9

      (3)
The amendments made by this paragraph shall have effect on and after 25th
November 2006.
Repeal of section 1(1) and (2) and Schedules 1 and 2
4
The following provisions of this Act shall be repealed on 25th November
2006—
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(a)
section 1(1) and (2),
(b)
Schedule 1, and
(c)
Schedule 2.