"Q Thank you, Mr Holder. Professor Tonge, I will come to you next. The briefing accompanying the Bill says that Ministers in the caretaker Executive would be operating within well-defined limits, but those limits are not outlined. Is that a concern? Are there examples of how those limits could …..." Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
"Q Do you think that the Bill should set out how the code of conduct should be enforced?
Professor Tonge: Therein lies a much bigger area: how the code of conduct will actually be enforced, what will happen and whether we will simply see the traditional divide on party …..." Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
outlining the date for a poll, even if the conditions for cross-community representation are not met. Do you think that that is a mistake? Is there a risk of undermining the …..." Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
"Q A final question, Professor Tonge. At the moment, the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister must be drawn from the two traditions: Unionist and nationalist. Do you believe that this integral feature of the Good Friday agreement is at risk of becoming outdated if a party representing …..." Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
"Q Lilah, from your experience of the negotiations, was it envisaged that there would be ambiguity on what constituted sufficient cross-community representation in a caretaker Executive?
Lilah Howson-Smith: I understand that perhaps there is not total clarity about what that means. I think the point was that it …..." Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
"Q Are you concerned that the scope of powers is not clearly defined, allowing for an Executive, for example, to limp on without broad cross-community support but still be able to make significant decisions?
Howson-Smith: The intention was never that they would be able to make—yes, it depends how …..." Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
"Q Is there anything, from your experience, that did not make the cut in NDNA that you think would have been valuable in terms of the sustainability of the Executive?
Howson-Smith: In terms of the petition of concern, I do have some worries that perhaps we did …..." Alex Davies-Jones - View Speech
"Q Finally, as I also want to give other Members the opportunity to ask questions, what statutory provisions currently exist to prevent the misuse of powers available to caretaker Ministers?