British peers today looked set to back legislation aimed at paving the way for restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland (Monitoring Commission) Bill would establish under international law an independent commission with monitoring functions and amend rules about exclusion from ministerial office in the province.
The independent body would monitor commitments on paramilitary activity. The Bill would also change rules on "censure" resolutions in the Northern Ireland Assembly and make provision about reduction of remuneration of Assembly Members.
Lords Leader Lord Williams of Mostyn explained: "This purpose is quite straightforward: we want to meet our Hillsborough commitment to putting in place the IMC (Independent Monitoring Commission).
"We want to expand the range of measures available to the Assembly and the Secretary of State to respond to its recommendations.
"What we are looking for is the generation of the necessary prerequisite of trust and confidence for the early elections which I know we wall want to see."
Lord Mostyn said that since postponement of the May elections in Northern Ireland, much had been done to establish conditions for elections to "stable, devolved institutions" as soon as possible.
He told the Lords: "We with our colleagues in the Irish Government have pledged to continue the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, including those elements of the Hillsborough package which are not conditional on an end to paramilitary activity."
A key element of the proposals - establishing an independent body to monitor commitments given in respect of paramilitary activity and the stability of institutions - was the subject of this Bill, he added.
"We believe very firmly that there are compelling reasons to press on now with the establishment of the regime for monitoring and promoting compliance with commitments," Lord Williams said.
PA