Contents
FOREWORD 4
Donations and Loans for Political Purposes 6
Dual Mandates 6
Northern Ireland Justice Minister 7
Electoral Registration and Administration 8
Miscellaneous Provisions 8
Measures still under consideration for potential inclusion in the Bill 9
Size of the Northern Ireland Assembly 9
Length of Assembly Terms and Future Election Dates 9
Length of Current Assembly Term 10
Length of Future Terms 10
Government and Opposition 10
Devolution of responsibilities relating to Arms-Length Bodies 11
Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill (Draft) 12
Donations and loans etc for political purposes 13
1. Donations 13
2. Loans etc 15
Dual mandates etc 16
3. MPs to be disqualified for membership of Assembly 16
4. Statements by prospective members of Assembly 16
Justice Minister 18
5. Appointment of Justice Minister 18
6. Reappointment of other Northern Ireland Ministers in certain cases 19
Electoral registration and administration 20
7. Registration as an elector: abolition of 3 month residence requirement 20
8. Registration as an overseas elector: declaration of nationality 20
9. Absent voting 22
10. Electoral identity cards 22
Miscellaneous 23
11. Equality duties 23
12. Rules of court 23
13. Regulation of biometric data 24
Final provisions 24
14. Amendments that could have been made under existing powers 24
15. Extent 24
16. Commencement 24
17. Short title 25
NORTHERN IRELAND (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL 26
INTRODUCTION 26
SUMMARY 26
COMMENTARY ON CLAUSES 26
CLAUSES 1 AND 2: DONATIONS AND LOANS ETC FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES 26
Clause 1: Donations 28
Clause 2: Loans 28
CLAUSES 3 AND 4: DUAL MANDATES 29
Clause 3 - MPs to be disqualified for membership of the Assembly 30
CLAUSES 5 AND 6: JUSTICE MINISTER 33
Existing law 34
Clause 5: Appointment of Justice Minister 34
Clause 6 - Reappointment of other Northern Ireland Ministers in certain cases 35
CLAUSES 7-10: ELECTORAL REGISTRATION AND ADMINISTRATION 36
Clause 7 - Abolition of the 3-month residence requirement 36
Clause 8 - Registration as an overseas elector: declaration of nationality 37
Clause 9 - Absent Voting 38
Clause 10 - Electoral Identity Cards 39
CLAUSES 11-13: MISCELLANEOUS 39
Clause 11 - Equality Duties 40
Clause 12 - Rules of Court 40
Clause 13 - Regulation of Biometric Data 41
PART 6 - FINAL PROVISIONS 42
Amendments by existing powers 42
Territorial Extent 42
Commencement 42