THE British government is to bring forward legislation to make the Stormont institutions more resilient in the face of a political crisis.
Among the measures, many of which were agreed in last year's New Decade, New Approach deal, is one designed to avoid a collapse of the assembly and executive similar to that triggered by Martin McGuinness's resignation as deputy first minister in 2017.
The Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill, which was flagged in the Queen's Speech on Tuesday, will also seek to deliver greater transparency, improve governance and reform the assembly's Petition of Concern.
Papers published yesterday, following a written ministerial statement by Secretary of State Brandon Lewis, said the legislation will ensure the institutions are "more sustainable, resilient and able to continue to function throughout periods of political difficulty".
The time allowed for the appointment of executive ministers following an assembly election, or the resignation of the first or deputy first ministers before an election is triggered, will be extended. Ministers to will also be allowed to remain in post longer.
After the March 2017 election that followed the collapse of the institutions at the height of the public outcry over RHI, Sinn Féin refused to re-enter government.
However, rather than calling a second election, the British government let the period of dormancy drag on until last January when the New Decade, New Approach deal restored the institutions.
The bill will reform the Petition of Concern mechanism, returning it "to its intended purpose" and preventing one party from blocking measures or business.
The ministerial code of conduct will be tightened and include provisions around the treatment of civil servants and strengthening the rules relating to public appointments.
