Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (Amendment) Order 2009

The noble Baroness has been kind enough to refer to 1984. In fact, it was during my six summers in Northern Ireland that I became aware that one particular area may have more than just one newspaper. I mentioned County Fermanagh because when one—it might have been me or perhaps my noble friend Lord King—was putting out news in a communiqué from the Department of Agriculture to the Fermanagh Herald, which covered one particular but widely spread section of the community, and the Impartial Reporter, one had to transpose the photographs. Different communiqués over matters such as pigs, cattle or calves would have to be given to different newspapers covering one county. I am sure that the Minister and the department will take good care of that. She has been very kind to lay to rest my worry that people would not be totally aware at a local level of what might be relevant. Indeed, the noble Lord, Lord Smith, put it beautifully when he said that, when something is broadcast on screen, via Ulster Television, for example—or indeed on Downtown Radio—it might be just here and there, whereas when it is in a newspaper you know that it is all there. However, the Minister has reassured me fully and I thank her very much. Motion agreed.