Part 4Devolution of policing and justice etc.
16Conditions for devolving policing and justice matters
1
Amend section 4 of the 1998 Act (transferred, excepted and reserved matters) as follows.
2
In subsection (2), for “subsection (3)” substitute “subsections (2A) and (3)”.
3
After subsection (2) insert—
2A
The Secretary of State shall not lay before Parliament under subsection (2) the draft of an Order amending Schedule 3 so that a devolved policing and justice matter ceases to be a reserved matter unless—
a
a motion for a resolution praying that the matter should cease to be a reserved matter is tabled by the First Minister and the deputy First Minister acting jointly; and
b
the resolution is passed by the Assembly with the support of a majority of the members voting on the motion, a majority of the designated Nationalists voting and a majority of the designated Unionists voting.
4
In subsection (3), for “the draft of an Order before Parliament under subsection (2)” substitute “before Parliament under subsection (2) the draft of any other Order”.
5
After subsection (5) insert—
6
In this section “devolved policing and justice matter” means a matter falling within a description specified in—12
a
any of paragraphs 9 to 12, 14A to 15A and 17 of Schedule 3; or
b
any other provision of that Schedule designated for this purpose by an order made by the Secretary of State.
6
In this Part “the 1998 Act” means the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (c. 47).