Letter from the Speaker to all Members on the Democratic Consent Process
Download this letter as a PDF (1 page, 153KB)
Download Notification of 31 October 2024 from the Secretary of State (PDF, 2 pages 98KB)
31 October 2024
Dear Members,
Notification of the start of the democratic consent process
The Windsor Framework provides for a democratic consent process, under which the Assembly may vote on whether Articles 5 to 10 of the Windsor Framework should continue to apply to Northern Ireland.
I have today received from the Secretary of State notification of the start of the democratic consent process.
In line with paragraph 7 of Schedule 6A of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I am bringing the Secretary of State’s notification to your attention by enclosing it with this letter.
Further to this notification, the First Minister and deputy First Minister acting jointly may table a motion for a consent resolution. If they do so, they must also provide Members with relevant explanatory material in order to assist them when deciding the question.
No other Member may table notice of a motion for a consent resolution during November 2024. However, if First Minister and deputy First Minister do not table such a motion during this period, any Member may do so during the period 1 to 6 December 2024 inclusive. Should this happen, 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.
The Business Committee will schedule any motion for a consent resolution. If a motion for consent has been tabled by either the First Minister and deputy First Minister, or a Member, but has not been decided before Tuesday 17 December 2024, the Assembly must sit on Tuesday 17 December 2024 to decide the motion. However, I would prefer that any such motion is debated at a scheduled sitting before this date.
I am copying this letter to the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
Yours Sincerely
EDWIN POOTS MLA
SPEAKER
[Notification of 31 October 2024 from the Secretary of State]
