The British government today set out its plan to introduce 22 bills at Westminster originally promised for Northern Ireland under devolution.
The bills, which have to be taken forward by Downing Street under direct rule following the suspension last month of the power-sharing Assembly and Executive at Stormont, will cover a range of issues.
They include the establishment of a Commissioner for Children and Young People and the setting up of a Strategic Investment Board to provide extra funding to improve infrastructure.
Northern Ireland Secretary Mr Paul Murphy said the British government wanted to ensure that the efforts of the North's politicians during devolution were not wasted.
"The 22 Bills have the potential to affect - for the better - the day-to-day lives of every man, woman and child in Northern Ireland across a very wide spectrum of issues," the Northern Ireland Secretary said.
"They are the very life blood of the Executive and the Assembly and demonstrate what can be achieved when politicians work together for the good of all the people. I do not want to see that effort wasted or those benefits delayed".Mr Murphy confirmed that next month his team of ministers would announce the final budget for the North following on from the draft budget agreed by the devolved ministers before suspension.
PA