Rural campaigners accuse John Blair MLA of...
Rural campaigners have accused John Blair MLA of potentially 'misleading' Stormont over alleged...
about this blogRead moreabout this blogJohn Blair's proposal for a private member’s bill is still in the preliminary stages of the legislative process. Based on the information we have, here are the next steps and potential timelines.
Blair should review and analyse the feedback from the public consultation that concluded on 20th January. This involves summarising the responses and demonstrating how the consultation has informed the development of his proposed bill. This analysis must be thorough to meet procedural requirements and would undoubtedly have to address criticisms regarding openness and accessibility.
The summary of responses will serve as a key document in the bill's progression. It must clearly show how the consultation shaped the proposal and incorporated public and stakeholder views and support for the bill.
Once the summary and final proposal is prepared, Blair will submit them to the Speaker for consideration. This stage ensures the proposal meets the requirements laid out for private members’ bills (PMBs).
With nine PMBs currently vying for limited legislative time, the Speaker will decide which bills progress based on criteria such as their readiness, public and political support, and legislative priorities but the Speaker has said PMBs will not be taken forward on a first come first serve basis.
If approved, the proposal moves to the drafting stage. Drafting legislation can be a complex process, requiring precision and sometimes multiple revisions to ensure legal clarity and alignment with policy goals. We must remember that Blair has done this previously with his last PMB.
Once the draft is ready, it must return to the Speaker’s Office for final approval before being scheduled for introduction.
The bill’s introduction date will be determined by Mr Blair and the Business Committee. The First Reading or First Stage is largely procedural and marks the bill’s formal introduction.
The timeline for these steps can vary. Mr Blair’s previous attempt at introducing a PMB took approximately six months, but the current process could be shorter or longer depending on how efficiently the steps are completed. Delays might arise if the Speaker requires further revisions, or if the consultation process is deemed deficient.
Countryside Alliance Ireland will continue monitoring the process closely and will provide more clarity about our next steps should the bill move forward.
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about this blogRead moreabout this blogNI Assembly Member, John Blair, has been accused of misleading the public over his proposed private...
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