Commentary on provisions of Act Section 1: Extension of period for Executive formation
This section extends the statutory time limit for the appointment of Northern Ireland Ministers for a limited and prescribed period, during which time an Executive may be formed at any point without the requirement for further legislation. This will have the effect of setting aside the current legal requirement to propose a date for a further election. Section 1(1) amends section 16A(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 which says:
	"(3) Within a period of 14 days beginning with the first meeting of the Assembly-
(a) the offices of First Minister and deputy First Minister shall be filled by applying subsections (4) to (7); and
(b) the Ministerial offices to be held by Northern Ireland Ministers shall be filled by applying section 18(2) to (6)."
	Section 1 has the effect of substituting 26 March 2019 date for the "period of 14 days".
	Section 1(2) provides that change is treated as having been the case since 2 March 2017, being the date of the last election to the Assembly. Section 1(4) removes the previous legal provision in the MARRA to extend the period to 29 June 2017.
	Section 1(3) allows the Secretary of State to propose a date for an election earlier than the date on which these provisions expire.