Paragraph 6

United Kingdom

(1)

The Transitional Assembly shall have—

(a)

a presiding officer, and

(b)

no more than three deputy presiding officers.

(2)

The person who is the presiding officer of the Assembly (see sub-paragraph (8)) immediately before the time at which this Schedule comes into force shall become the presiding officer of the Transitional Assembly at that time.

(3)

Each person who is a deputy presiding officer of the Assembly immediately before that time shall become a deputy presiding officer of the Transitional Assembly at that time.

(4)

Subject to sub-paragraphs (5) to (7), the Transitional Assembly may elect a person—

(a)

to fill any vacancy in the office of presiding officer or deputy presiding officer, or

(b)

to replace a presiding officer or deputy presiding officer who appears to members of the Transitional Assembly to be unable, unfit or unwilling to perform his functions (whether because of illness or otherwise).

(5)

A person shall not be elected under sub-paragraph (4) without cross-community support.

(6)

If it appears to the Secretary of State that—

(a)

a vacancy has arisen in the office of presiding officer or deputy presiding officer of the Transitional Assembly, and

(b)

the vacancy has not been filled within a period of two weeks beginning with the day on which the vacancy arose,

the Secretary of State may appoint a person to fill the vacancy.

(7)

If it appears to the Secretary of State that—

(a)

a presiding officer or deputy presiding officer of the Transitional Assembly has become unable, unfit or unwilling to perform his functions (whether because of illness or otherwise), and

(b)

the officer has not been replaced within a period of two weeks beginning with the day on which the officer became unable, unfit or unwilling to perform his functions,

the Secretary of State may appoint a person to replace the officer.

(8)

In this paragraph “the Assembly” means the Assembly established under paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the 2006 Act.

Notes on Schedule 1

Textual amendments

F1: Sch. 1 repealed (8.5.2007) by Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006 (c. 53), s. 2(2), Sch. 2 para. 7(b) (as amended by 2007 c. 4, s. 1); S.I. 2007/1397, art. 2