Part 1Preparations for restoration of devolved government
2Compliance or non-compliance with St Andrews Agreement timetable
1
If at any time before 25 March 2007 the Secretary of State considers that (were Schedule 2 to come into force) there would be no reasonable prospect that each of the Ministerial offices would be filled in accordance with paragraph 2 of that Schedule, he may make an order bringing Schedule 3 into force on the day following the day on which the order is made.
2
If the Secretary of State does not make an order under subsection (1) before 25 March 2007—
a
he must on that date make a restoration order providing for section 1 of the 2000 Act to cease to have effect on 26 March 2007, and
b
Schedule 2 shall come into force on 26 March 2007.
3
Subsection (4) applies if—
a
the Secretary of State makes a restoration order by virtue of subsection (2), but
b
it appears to him that one or more of the Ministerial offices has not been filled in accordance with paragraph 2 of Schedule 2 by the end of 26 March 2007.
4
Where this subsection applies—
a
the Secretary of State must on 27 March 2007 make an order under the 2000 Act revoking the restoration order,
b
that order must state that it is made by virtue of subsection (3) and must come into force on 28 March 2007, and
c
Schedule 3 shall come into force on 28 March 2007.
5
If the Secretary of State—
a
makes a restoration order by virtue of subsection (2), and
b
does not make an order by virtue of subsection (3) revoking the restoration order,
Schedule 4 shall come into force on 28 March 2007.
6
An order under subsection (1) must be made by statutory instrument.
7
Section 7(4) to (7) of the 2000 Act (affirmative resolution etc procedure) does not apply in relation to an order made by virtue of subsection (2) or (3).
8
In this section “the Ministerial offices” means—
a
the offices of First Minister and deputy First Minister, and
b
the Ministerial offices to be held by Northern Ireland Ministers.