Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill completes passage through Parliament
25 May 2023
Members of the Lords completed their detailed check (committee stage) and all other stages of the Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill on Tuesday 23 May. Following agreement by both Houses on the text of the bill it received Royal Assent on Wednesday 24 May and is now an Act of Parliament (law).
The Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill seeks to extend the period in which senior civil servants in nine Northern Ireland departments can take some decisions, as well as conferring certain powers on the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the continuing absence of a fully functioning Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive.
Line by line examination
Committee stage is the first chance to check the bill in detail and make changes.
Proposed changes
Lord Morrow put forward an amendment (change) to the bill on public spending in Northern Ireland but this was withdrawn after a debate.
Other stages completed
Following the completion of committee stage, report stage and third reading also took place.
As both Houses have agreed on the text of the bill, it received Royal Assent and become an Act of Parliament (law) on Thursday 24 May.
Catch up
- Watch on Parliament TV
- Read the Lords Hansard transcript
Explore further information
Read background on the bill in the House of Lords Library Northern Ireland (Interim Arrangements) Bill briefing.
What's happened so far?
Second reading: Thursday 18 May
During second reading, members discussed the main issues in the bill. Topics covered during the debate included funding for Northern Ireland and impact of the Northern Ireland Protocol and Windsor Framework.
Members Speaking
Lord Caine (Conservative), the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office, opened the debate and responded on behalf of the government.
Members speaking in the debate included:
- Lord Bew (Crossbench), Professor of Irish Politics, Queen's University Belfast
- Lord Morrow (Democratic Unionist Party), former member of the Northern Ireland Forum for Political Dialogue
- Lord Murphy of Torfaen (Labour), former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
- Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party), former Chair of the Ulster Unionist Party
- Baroness Suttie (Liberal Democrat), Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson for Northern Ireland.
Watch and read the debate
Find out more about the issues discussed: catch up on Parliament TV or read the Lords Hansard transcript.
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