PEERS have backed a budget to ensure that public services can continue in Northern Ireland in the absence of a power-sharing government at Stormont.
But frustration and concern were again expressed in the House of Lords at decisions having to be taken at Westminster because of the continuing deadlock in Belfast.
The Northern Ireland Budget Bill, which had already been approved by the Commons, allows the north's civil service to access funding.
Opening the debate, Northern Ireland Minister Lord Duncan of Springbank said: "Sadly this bill is necessary.
"Although cross-party talks continue the United Kingdom Government must take forward certain essential legislation to maintain the provision of public services."
DUP peer Lord Morrow said: "We feel that the best way forward is for Northern Ireland Assembly to be making these decision, but alas there are no prospects the assembly will be sitting any time soon."
In the face of the continuing stalemate, he added: "There always seems to be some reason why Northern Ireland can't be governed like every other region of the United Kingdom."
Tory Lord Caine, a former special adviser to several secretaries of state, said: "One of the reasons why governments are reluctant to take on decision-making powers is the reaction of nationalist parties within Northern Ireland.
"Does he (Lord Morrow) share my assessment that if the government did take steps in this respect there would be a gigantic sense of relief across the whole community that decision were actually being taken at long last?"
Agreeing, Lord Morrow said: "If some decisions were made that are of importance to people in their everyday lives, there would be a sigh of relief right across the whole of Northern Ireland, irrespective of what community background they might come from."
Labour peer, former secretary of state Lord Murphy, said the opposition supported the bill "reluctantly".
"I regret that we have to do this... but without it there would be no money," he said.
With no power-sharing executive in Belfast, Lord Murphy said: "There were sorts of pleas today to have direct rule.
"It would be an answer but it would be an inadequate answer, because it's easy to get into direct rule but it is very difficult to get out of it.
"What we have got now is a sort of halfway house. A semi-direct rule by remote control from London. Not good enough and it can't carry on. It's the only part of our country which is inadequately governed."
