The British government has added a so-called "sunset clause" to its bill currently before parliament time-limiting the initial legislation suspending elections to a new Northern Ireland Assembly, writes London Editor Frank Millar.
In answer to cross-party complaints that the government should not enjoy unlimited power of decision over an election date, ministers have agreed that the power to call an election will fall if it is not exercised before December 31st.
In that event, the Northern Ireland Secretary would be required to move an order, for approval by the Commons and the Lords, further extending the period for decision for up to six months.
The Leader of the Lords, Lord Williams of Mostyn, signalled this change yesterday as peers began their consideration of the Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections and Periods of Suspension) Bill, which postpones the elections originally scheduled for May 29th.
The bill completed all its Commons' stages on Monday, and will complete its passage through the Lords tonight.
The government introduced the amendment under pressure from Conservative leaders in the Lords. However, it falls short of the demand made in the Commons by the Conservative shadow Northern Ireland secretary, Mr Quentin Davies, for a specific date for the poll to be held in the autumn.
Tory spokesman Lord Glentoran yesterday accused the Blair government of "total discourtesy" by steam-rollering its legislation through parliament.
Meanwhile former Tory minister Lord (Norman) Lamont called for a judicial inquiry into the revelations in the report of Sir John Stevens of collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries.
Lord Lamont said: "If this had happened in some far away South American country it would have caused the government to have a fit of moral outrage."