Under the provisions of the Bill introduced in the House of Commons yesterday providing for the suspension of institutions under the Belfast Agreement, executive responsibility for Northern Ireland will revert to the Northern Ireland Secretary, Mr Peter Mandelson. The legislative power of the Assembly will be exercised by Order in Council at Westminster.
The Bill will be debated early next week.
Mr Mandelson indicated on Thursday that unless the IRA provides "clarity and "certainty" on when it will decommission its weapons, the start of the parliamentary process leading to suspension means direct rule will be reimposed in Northern Ireland at the end of next week.
Mr Mandelson can end the period of suspension by making a restoration order, but before doing so he must take into account the outcome of a review.
The Northern Ireland Bill provides for "the suspension of devolved government in Northern Ireland" and empowers the Northern Ireland Secretary to assume the functions of office of the First Minister, Mr David Trimble, and the Deputy First Minister, Mr Seamus Mallon.
Ministers in the Northern Ireland Office will assume responsibility for and control of relevant departments during the period of suspension, under Mr Mandelson's direction.
Ministers, chairs and deputy chairs of committees will be reinstated automatically after a restoration order returning executive and legislative powers is introduced, provided they remain eligible to hold office. If any reappointment of ministers, chairs or deputy chairs is required, the d'Hondt formula will be used.
If such a position is vacant after suspension is lifted, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister must be re-elected on a joint unionist-nationalist ticket.
If the Bill becomes law, the functions of the six cross-Border implementation bodies will be transferred to the relevant Northern Ireland departments in line with agreements made with Dublin. The work of the North-South Ministerial Council and the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference will cease.
The Bill contains technical provisions enabling Mr Mandelson and Northern Ireland ministers to deal with any business which needs to be put to the Assembly during suspension.
Mr Mandelson may also assume responsibility for salaries, pensions and other payments due to the 108 members of the Assembly.
The Bill will come into force on a day appointed by Mr Mandelson.
It was confirmed last night that the Government will introduce legislation to take account of the British government's Bill.
It would amend the British-Irish Agreement Act, 1999, which came into force on December 2nd, 1999, and return the powers devolved by the Government to the North-South Ministerial Council, the British-Irish Council and the cross-Border implementation bodies.
The British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference would not be affected by any suspension, enabling the two governments to liaise on all issues relating to the North.
Discussions will continue over the weekend between senior Government officials and the parties in the North.
Such meetings are unlikely to be arranged should the officials report the possibility of achieving clarity from the IRA on decommissioning.
A Government source said the main focus of discussion over the weekend would be with the leadership of Sinn Fein.
The Taoiseach said yesterday that while he could not be confident of overcoming the current impasse, he would not give up trying to resolve the difficulties over decommissioning.
He said in Limerick that "clarity" was required from the paramilitary organisations so that the International Commission on Decommissioning, which is headed by Gen John de Chastelain, could report progress.