Executive Committee (Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020
| Act of the Northern Ireland Assembly | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to make provision about liquor licensing and the registration of clubs. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2020 c. 4 (N.I.) |
| Introduced by | Declan Kearney MLA, Junior Minister Assisting the Deputy First Minister |
| Territorial extent | Northern Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 25 August 2020 |
| Commencement | 26 August 2020 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Northern Ireland Act 1998 |
Status: Current legislation | |
| History of passage through Parliament | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Executive Committee (Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Executive Committee (Functions) Act (Northern Ireland) 2020 (c. 4 (N.I.)) is an act of the Northern Ireland Assembly, allows ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive to be able to make more decisions without recourse to the executive committee. The Department for Infrastructure or the Minister for Infrastructure on behalf of the department can specifically make more decisions on planning permission without having to refer them to the executive committee.
Background
[edit]Before the Act, certain infrastructure projects had been "stuck in the system" for very large periods of time.[1]
Provisions
[edit]The Act allows for decisions under the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (except those under section 1 of that act) and decisions under regulations made under that act to be made by the Minister without recourse to the executive committee.[2]
Examples of use
[edit]Provisions of the Act have been used by Ministers for Infrastructure to approve the redevelopment of Casement Park and also to approve the establishment of a gas cavern storage project in County Antrim.[3][4]
Further developments
[edit]After a court judgement regarding the gas storage project mentioned earlier, Decisions that impact "more than incidentally" on other Departments' portfolios must still be referred to the executive committee.[5] This is because the Minister must still comply with the Ministerial Code.[6]
Criticisms
[edit]The Act has been criticised as "sleepwalking" into "profound constitutional change," by a former DUP special adviser.[7] The UUP described the Act as "badly thought out" legislation.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ Devenport, Mark (29 July 2020). "Infrastructure department says 'planning decisions can be made with Stormont bill'". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ McKay, Stephen; Murray, Michael (12 September 2022). Planning Law and Practice in Northern Ireland (2 ed.). London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003218319. ISBN 978-1-003-21831-9.
- ^ Andrews, Chris (17 June 2021). "Q&A: How does the Northern Ireland Executive work?". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ "Islandmagee gas cavern storage decision 'correct,' Belfast High Court judge rules". UTV. ITV Consumer Limited. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ Blackwood, Dean; Brennan, Ciara; Doran, Peter; Orr, James; Neal, Laura (2020). "The cross-cutting nature of a public inquiry into illegal waste disposal in Northern Ireland: A briefing for the Northern Ireland Executive" (PDF). Environmental Justice Network Ireland.
- ^ Erwin, Alan (17 June 2024). "Campaigners against Larne Lough gas storage caverns 'ecstatic' after Court of Appeal victory". Northern Ireland World. National World Publishing Ltd.
- ^ Gordon, Gareth (28 July 2020). "Bill to give ministers more power to become law". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corportion. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
- ^ McHugh, Michael (28 July 2020). "Bill giving ministers more powers fast-tracked through NI Assembly". Belfast Telegraph. Mediahuis. Retrieved 20 October 2024.