Lords Committee announces inquiry on Northern Ireland’s voice in context of Windsor Framework
13 March 2025
Today, the new Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee launches its first inquiry on Strengthening Northern Ireland’s voice in the context of the Windsor Framework with the publication of a call for written evidence. This new inquiry will take full account of the published evidence taken by the former House of Lords European Affairs Sub-Committee on the Windsor Framework in May 2024. The Committee begins taking oral evidence from a panel of academic and legal experts next Wednesday.
- Call for written evidence
- Parliamentlive.tv - Watch the first oral evidence session on Wednesday 19 May, 10:45am with Roderick Crawford, George Peretz KC and Dr Clare Rice
- Inquiry: Strengthening Northern Ireland’s voice in the context of the Windsor Framework
- Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee
Chair’s comment
Lord Carlile of Berriew, Chair of the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee said:
“ I am delighted to announce this first inquiry by the Committee. It comes at a time of change in Europe and in the UK’s relationship with Europe. In this context it is crucial that Northern Ireland’s voice should be heard, and its best interests protected. The Committee will seek to bring fresh clarity to the complex legislation and arrangements of and surrounding the Windsor Framework.”
Key issues
The Committee is inviting interested individuals and organisations to submit written submissions addressing any of all of the following key issues by 5pm on Wednesday 30 April 2025:
- The various structures and mechanisms through which Northern Ireland politicians, officials and stakeholders can engage with the Windsor Framework.
- The extent to which these structures and mechanisms have been successful in promoting the voice of Northern Ireland at a UK and EU level.
- The extent to which the Windsor Framework’s engagement structures enable the relevant stakeholders in Northern Ireland to engage with EU legislation at an appropriate stage of the legislative process.
- The effectiveness of mechanisms such as the Stormont Brake and the applicability motion procedure, which are designed to allow the Northern Ireland Assembly to have oversight of EU law which applies in Northern Ireland under the Windsor Framework.
- The role of the Northern Ireland Executive Office and the Northern Ireland Assembly, including the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee.
- The opportunities available for Northern Ireland business and civil society stakeholders to engage with the UK and/or the EU under the Windsor Framework.
- The potential of the measures announced in ‘Safeguarding the Union’, such as Intertrade UK, the new working group with the NI Executive and the UK East-West Council to enhance Northern Ireland’s voice.
- Progress to date in establishing the new structures announced in ‘Safeguarding the Union’.