Northern Ireland Assembly

Reduction in size of Assembly to be reserved matter
6
1
The Northern Ireland Act 1998 is amended as follows.
2
In Schedule 3 (reserved matters), after paragraph 7 insert—
7A
The alteration of the number of members of the Assembly returned for each constituency.
This paragraph does not include—
a
the alteration of that number to a number lower than five or higher than six, or
b
the provision of different numbers for different constituencies.
3
After section 7 insert—

Cross-community support required for Bill altering size of Assembly
7A
1
The Assembly shall not pass a relevant Bill without cross-community support.
2
In this section—
- “pass”, in relation to a Bill, means pass at the stage in the Assembly’s proceedings at which the Bill falls finally to be passed or rejected;
- “relevant Bill” means a Bill containing a provision which deals with a matter falling within a description specified in paragraph 7A of Schedule 3 (size of Assembly).
4
In section 14 (submission by Secretary of State), after subsection (3) insert—
3A
The Secretary of State shall not submit a Bill for Royal Assent if the Assembly has passed the Bill in contravention of section 7A (cross-community support required for Bill altering size of Assembly).
5
In section 53(3)(b) (agreements etc by person participating in Councils), after “section” insert “7A,”.