Devolution and democracy in Northern Ireland – dealing with the deficit Contents

Contents

Timeline

Summary

The democratic deficit

Northern Ireland’s voice on Brexit

Levels of intervention

Specific policy interventions

Policing

Scrutiny by committees

The Belfast/Good Friday Agreement

Conclusion

1 Introduction

Our inquiry

The collapse of the Executive

Attempts to reach agreement

Current status

2 Temporary increased intervention

Previous collapses of the Executive

Process of talks

Calling an election

Budgets (2017–2019)

Finances for 2017–

Finances in 2018–

Salary of Members of the Legislative Assembly

Levels of intervention by Westminster

Limited intervention

Specific policy interventions

Draft Programme for Government

The Bengoa Report

The Hart Inquiry

3 Scrutiny of increased intervention

The need for scrutiny

Role of Secretary of State and Northern Ireland Office

Committees

Northern Ireland Affairs Committee

Stormont’s Committees

The Northern Ireland Assembly

British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC)

Grass roots accountability

Local Government

Citizens’ Assembly

4 Avoiding future problems

Individual reforms

Civil Service

Northern Ireland Policing Board

Petition of Concern

Structural reform under the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement

The Option of Review

Will of the parties

Conclusion

Conclusions and recommendations

Annex 1: Impact of an absent Executive

Annex 2: Situation report framework

Formal minutes

Witnesses

Published written evidence

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament




Published: 22 May 2018