RESTORATION OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

That this House notes the positive progress that has been made by the political parties in Northern Ireland and the British and Irish governments towards restoration of devolution in Northern Ireland; further notes the outcomes of the elections to the Assembly on 7th March and the endorsement to restoration given by the people of Northern Ireland in these elections; welcomes the prospect of a return to devolved government on 26th March; reconfirms its firm commitment to the date for restoration of 26th March as agreed by Parliament and set out in the provisions of the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006; calls on all parties to fulfil their responsibilities to Parliament and the people of Northern Ireland by seizing the opportunity of restoration on 26th March; and agrees that the alternative to devolution will be dissolution, probably for a considerable period.