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Yes vote would kick plan into overdrive

February 15, 2011

By Staff Reporter

By Andrew Bushe

DUBLIN – If the peace agreement is given the go-ahead in Friday’s historic referenda, when more than 3.8 million are eligible to go to the polls North and South, the Yes vote would trigger an intense period of political activity. Indeed, the Belfast Agreement’s acceptance would spawn a host of new bodies, laws, reviews and commissions.

First, against the backdrop of the run-up to the volatile marching season in Northern Ireland, the campaigning for the election to the new assembly on June 25 will get under way. The new 108-seat body would be elected using proportional representation in the 18 constituencies, each of which would have six seats.

Meanwhile, the existing Independent International Commission on Decommissioning would begin meeting to decide how to go about removing paramilitary arsenals, which are believed to include thousands of guns and tons of ammunition and explosives. The relevant blueprint would come into force by the end of June.

There would be concentrated work on preparing the new institutions set up by the accord, establishing a range of commissions and review groups North and South and the drafting of legislation in the British and Irish parliaments to lock in with the agreed timetable.

“There is an awful lot of work to be done, but much is the kind of work governments are good at doing: making detailed arrangements,” a spokesman said in Dublin.

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“What needs to be done is clearly laid out and, if the political vision is in place, much of it should fall into place quite handily. The fundamental thing is to get the resounding ‘yes’ we are looking for.

“The agreement comes into force when the two governments exchange letters of ratification. It is not yet clear when that will be, but it will probably be in the second half of the year or early next year.”

Power to the assembly

The Westminster parliament would enact legislation to transfer powers from London under the current direct-rule system to the proposed Belfast assembly.

It would also update legislation on the North and change constitutional provisions, which Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has said would supersede everything since the 1800 Act of Union.

The Dail would have to bring forward legislation ceding powers to the proposed North-South Council bodies in agreed areas of cooperation, which could include matters like health, education, tourism, the environment, transport and arts and culture.

The changes to Articles Two and Three of the Republic’s 1937 Constitution would remain in abeyance until the agreement is fully operational.

The first symbolic meeting of the assembly would likely take place in early July, probably before the July 12 Orange bank holiday. The members would have to make declarations of identity: Nationalist, Unionist or other. This is because votes would have to be passed by a 60-weighted majority of members present and voting, including at least 40 percent of each of the Nationalist and Unionist designations.

The UUP’s David Trimble is expected to be first minister of the ruling executive, or cabinet, and the SDLP’s John Hume his deputy.

A mathematical electoral formula called the d’Hondt system would sort out the other six positions. It should be clear from the election results what “ministerial” portfolios other party leaders, including Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams, will be entitled to.

During the transitional period between the election and the transfer of power to the assembly, it would operate in “shadow mode.” At least 12 areas of cooperation would be looked at in consultation with the British and Irish governments with a view to agreement by Oct. 31.

Commissions, old and new

Six areas will involve cooperation between existing bodies North and South, and six areas will come under implemented bodies on a cross-border or all-Ireland basis.

A standing joint secretariat of civil servants from North and South would be set up to support the North-South council.

A British-Irish Council would be set up, initially comprising politicians from the Dail, Westminster and the assembly. Eventually, politicians from the proposed Scottish and Welsh devolved assemblies would also be given membership. It would meet on a “summit” basis twice a year and in specific sectoral formats on a regular basis.

Also, a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference would be established to take over the functions of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Council and the Intergovernmental Conference established under the 1985 Hillsborough Agreement.

It would meet as required as summits between Blair and Ahern or at ministerial level. Relevant members of the assembly executive in Belfast would be involved in the meetings to discuss non-devolved issues.

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