March date for assembly election

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Northern Ireland voters will go to the polls on 7 March to elect a new assembly, the BBC understands.

It is thought the move will be revealed in emergency legislation due to be unveiled by the government on Thursday.

It is believed the government opted for an election rather than a referendum to endorse the St Andrews Agreement.

Negotiations between the government, DUP and Sinn Fein are focussing on issues such as the ministerial pledge of office and assembly rules.

The law is expected to go before parliament on 21 November and ministers are due to be nominated on 24 November.

It will change the way in which a future first and deputy first minister can be chosen.

However, some sources indicate it may not specify that the DUP and Sinn Fein must formally designate their choices for the two top jobs by 24 November.

It is understood there will be a reference to the need for devolved ministers to report back to the secretary of state within a year on what progress has been made in devolving policing and justice powers.

The emergency law will also delay any ban on academic selection until March next year and set out a new code of office for devolved ministers.

Sir Reg Empey said it was clear some issues were not nailed down

Meanwhile, Sir Reg Empey has said he is angry at the abrupt cancellation of a government briefing on the new legislation.

The Ulster Unionist leader said the governments, Sinn Fein and the DUP, were trying to resolve problems "not properly nailed down" in Scotland.

The outstanding issues have been the mechanics of nominating a first and deputy first minister designate, the wording of the pledge of office and the rules of the power-sharing executive.

There are also difficulties surrounding policing, including MI5's proposed role in intelligence gathering.

Sir Reg said: "It is clear that representatives from Sinn Fein, the DUP and both governments are furiously working behind the scenes to find a solution to the pledge of office, academic selection and other matters.

"This is proof, if proof were needed of the UUP's contention that these matters were not properly nailed down in St Andrews.

"It appears that today we have attempts to negotiate a St Andrews Agreement mark 2 to compensate for the failures of St Andrews mark 1."

The legislation will create a new transitional assembly operating between 24 November - the day when DUP leader Ian Paisley and Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness are due to be appointed shadow first and deputy first minister - and the restoration date of a new executive.

Diplock courts

Under British and Irish government proposals, 26 March has been set as the target date for restoring a fully functional power-sharing executive.

Meanwhile, non-jury Diplock trials in which judges heard terrorism cases on their own are to be scrapped, the government confirmed in the Queen's speech.

It said the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill was being introduced to reflect the more normalised security environment.

No-jury trials will still be allowed if the Director of Public Prosecutions believes jurors could be threatened.

Powers for the police, armed forces and Northern Ireland Secretary will also be reviewed.

This is also intended to reflect the changed security climate.

The Bill will extend the remit of the Security Industry Authority to Northern Ireland following moves to increase the regulation of private security firms.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission chief Monica McWilliams and her staff will also receive extra powers, enabling them to take test cases under the European Convention of Human Rights.