NOTIFICATION UNDER SCHEDULE 6A
NORTHERN IRELAND ACT 1998
Details
Dear Edwin,
NOTIFICATION UNDER SCHEDULE 6A NORTHERN IRELAND ACT 1998
Under Schedule 6A of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, it is my duty
as Secretary of State to give notification of the start of the
democratic consent process, as referred to in paragraphs 3 and 4
of the declaration by His Majesty's Government concerning the
operation of the ‘Democratic consent in Northern Ireland'
provision of the Windsor Framework made on 17 October 2019.
This notification marks the day immediately before the start of
the final two months of the current continuation period. The
first day of the new continuation period will be 1 January 2025.
Before that date, this Government must notify the European
Commission of the outcome of the democratic consent process
established by Schedule 6A in relation to the continued
application of Articles 5 to 10 of the Framework during the new
continuation period.
I can confirm that for this upcoming democratic consent process,
the default democratic consent process will apply, as set out in
Part 3 of Schedule 6A.
Schedule 6A prescribes the text of the motion to be tabled, and
has remained unamended since December 2020 such that it refers to
the former Northern Ireland Protocol. As you will know, the
arrangements laying down the Windsor Framework at the UK/EU
Withdrawal Agreement Joint Committee included agreement that
references to the ‘the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland'
(such as that prescribed in the motion) will be read by the
Government to mean the Windsor Framework. I would be grateful if
this could be put to Assembly Members should there be doubt as to
the validity of a motion.
I am copying this letter to the First Minister and deputy First
Minister of Northern Ireland, & .
THE RT HON HILARY BENN MP
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND
