Letter from the Speaker to all Members on Democratic Consent Motion

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To: All Assembly Members

2 December 2024

Dear Members,

Democratic Consent Motion

I wrote to Members on 31 October 2024 to bring to their attention the notification from the Secretary of State of the start of the democratic consent process under the Windsor Framework.

I explained that the First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly may table a motion for a consent resolution during November but that if they did not do so then any Member may do this during the period 1 to 6 December 2024 inclusive.

I can confirm that the First Minister and deputy First Minister did not table such a motion and that following this, on 1 December, notice of a motion for a consent resolution was subsequently tabled by a number of private Members.

It will now be for the Business Committee to determine the arrangements for a debate on that motion. Last Tuesday, the Business Committee provisionally agreed that time be set aside at the plenary sitting on Tuesday 10th December should the motion be tabled. The Business Committee will confirm arrangements at its meeting tomorrow.

I had also previously explained that, if a Member of the Assembly was to table such notice, the Secretary of State must take reasonable steps to provide Members with such explanatory materials as it is reasonable to provide in order to assist them when deciding the question.

I can confirm that the Secretary of State wrote to me this morning and provided me with these materials. The Secretary of State has asked if the materials supplied could be distributed to Members of the Assembly as I see fit. I have therefore forwarded a copy of these materials to all Members.

Yours Sincerely

EDWIN POOTS MLA
SPEAKER