No role for Dublin in Northern Ireland's internal affairs say DUP - as NIO silent on Irish consultative role

DUP MP Carla Lockhart, who sits on the committee, said that any review of how Stormont works needs to rule out a role for the Irish government in Northern Ireland’s internal affairs – and “bring the governance of Northern Ireland fully into line with this”.

The report on the future of devolution in Northern Ireland recommended scrapping the title of deputy first minister and having two joint first ministers in the next assembly.

It also suggested getting rid of the current ‘veto’ over the institutions by allowing a two-thirds ‘supermajority’ of MLAs to elect both the speaker and first ministers.

The document emphasises its desire for a consultative role for the Irish government in relation to changes to the operation of Northern Ireland’s democratic institutions.

In its recommendation to change how the speaker and first ministers are elected, the report says the UK government should act “in close consultation with the government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland parties” to legislate “to amend the Northern Ireland Act 1998” on these issues.

The DUP tabled a ‘minority report’ on the paper – saying that while they are not opposed to reform it must contain protections for Strand One issues.

Ms Lockhart also said that the appropriate time for such a review is not now, but when the Stormont institutions are working.

The Upper Bann MP said: “In line with the three stranded principle at the heart of the various agreements, there can be no role for the Irish government in the internal affairs of Northern Ireland.

“Consequently, any review must recognise that there can be no role for the Irish government in determining the internal affairs of Northern Ireland and must seek to bring the governance of Northern Ireland fully into line with this.”

The MP also said the biggest democratic issue facing Northern Ireland is the Irish Sea border: “The most significant governance defect within the institutions at present has resulted from the democratic deficit created by the ceding of legislative powers in 300 areas of law to the EU under the protocol without the express or advance consent of the majority of people in Northern Ireland or any say for their elected representatives.

“How will any reform process address the need to protect the principle of consent and cross community consent?” she said.

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said his party has always called for “a factory reset to the settings of the Belfast Agreement, which received the support of over 71% of our population”.

The Upper Bann MLA added: “Any changes to the process of governing must be put before the people of Northern Ireland. The principle of consent needs to be at the heart of any change.”

The SDLP and Alliance Party welcomed the recommendations.

North Down MP Stephen Farry (Alliance) said: “It was always envisaged the Agreement would evolve to meet changing demographics and circumstances, whilst respecting and preserving its underlying principles. The past 25 years have demonstrated an underlying instability, unfairness and lack of effectiveness of the institutions. In particular, the institutions have only been operational for 60% of that time.”

The DUP also said that any review or reform of the Belfast Agreement in the medium term must incorporate a reassessment of the government’s support for the executive and for frontline services. The party also said the motivation for reform “must not be to simply reduce representation from unionism or nationalism in order to facilitate the electoral success of other traditions”.

A Sinn Fein spokesperson said: “This would enable the assembly and Executive Review Committee set up under the Good Friday Agreement to do its work. Sinn Fein is very much up for those discussions within that committee.”

The government said any changes would require broad support across the community.

The News Letter asked the NIO if it supported a consultative role for the Irish government in Strand One matters such as the election of a speaker and first ministers.

A spokesperson said: “The government is fully focused on getting the executive back up and running as soon as possible.”

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