Northern Ireland Act 1998

32 Extraordinary elections.U.K.

(1)If the Assembly passes a resolution that it should be dissolved the Secretary of State shall propose a date for the poll for the election of the next Assembly.

(2)A resolution under subsection (1) shall not be passed without the support of a number of members of the Assembly which equals or exceeds two thirds of the total number of seats in the Assembly.

(3)If the period mentioned in section 16(1) or (8) ends without a First Minister and a deputy First Minister having been elected, the Secretary of State shall propose a date for the poll for the election of the next Assembly.

(4)If the Secretary of State proposes a date under subsection (1) or (3), Her Majesty may by Order in Council—

(a)direct that the date of the poll for the election of the next Assembly shall, instead of being determined in accordance with section 31, be the date proposed; and

(b)provide for the Assembly to be dissolved on a date specified in the Order.