§ 29. Mrs. FyfeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what conditions he would recommend that the Northern Ireland Assembly should have its suspension lifted. [117444]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe decision to suspend the operation of the Northern Ireland Assembly and therefore preserve the institution from collapse was taken because the cross-community confidence necessary to make it work had begun to ebb. We are continuing to work in close co-operation with the Irish Government and in consultation with the political parties in Northern Ireland to try to achieve an understanding which gives both sides the necessary confidence to enable an early restoration of the Assembly to occur.