Northern Ireland (Executive Formation and Exercise of Functions) Bill (Business of the House)

The point is that we should do things properly. It is an established principle in this House, and in this Parliament, that we normally have three Readings, including at Committee stage, on Report and with gaps in between, so that people can consider matters properly. The only time that we suspend that is for emergency legislation. In all honesty, I do not see why this is emergency legislation. By definition, it is only emergency legislation normally when there is no controversy; there is clearly substantial controversy here, which is why we should have a proper Business of the House motion to allow us to consider amendments that have not been tabled by Ministers.