THE Act setting up next month's Northern Ireland elections yesterday became law, less than two weeks after it started its passage through Parliament.
The package was rushed through the House of Commons in three days and cleared all stages last Thursday, just hours after the British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, warned Sinn Fein following the discovery of the Hammersmith bomb that it must denounce violence or face exclusion from talks on the North's future.
The Northern Ireland (Entry to Negotiations) Act provides for elections under a form of proportional representation in which five members will be elected from each of 18 constituencies to a forum. A further 20 seats will be awarded to the 10 parties registering most votes in the North as a whole.
The forum will be limited to promoting dialogue and understanding within the North, but peace talks participants may be drawn from it. It will exist initially for one year, but will cease if talks end or are suspended. The Act also provides for referendums to be held on any matter relating to Northern Ireland.
The election is scheduled for May 30th, with talks starting on June 10th.