Today, the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill will move
through all stages in the House of Commons.
The Bill will extend the period for Executive formation by a year
to 18 January 2024, while retaining the power to name an election
date any time during the period. This additional time for the NI
Parties to focus attention on restoring devolved institutions in
Northern Ireland also provides space for the continued UK-EU
dialogue to find solutions to the problems the NI Protocol is
causing.
Following amendments tabled to the Bill in the House of Commons,
the Bill will also allow regulations to be made regarding the
rules for organ donation, in the absence of devolved government.
Following cross-party support for the plight of six-year-old
Belfast boy Daithí MacGabhann who is waiting for a heart
transplant, the UK Government has taken the exceptional step to
bring forward an amendment to the Bill to progress legislation
for Daithi’s Law to implement an ‘opt-out’ organ donation system,
bringing NI in line with the rest of the UK. It follows
cross-party and unanimous support from NI parties during its
initial stages in the NI Assembly.
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, the Rt Hon said:
“The people of Northern Ireland deserve to have a fully
functioning devolved Government working on the important issues
impacting them, and achieving this remains my top priority.
“This Bill creates the time and space needed to focus attention
on restoring Stormont and for UK-EU negotiations to reach a
solution on the NI Protocol that meets the needs of people across
Northern Ireland.
“The Bill will also see the installation of an ‘opt-out’ organ
donation system. While this exceptional intervention by the
Government is welcome and important, I am disappointed the
decision was not taken by locally-elected decision-makers
in the NI Assembly.
“I will continue to do everything I can to support the parties to
come together as soon as possible in the interests of those who
elected them.”
