The Northern Ireland Bill was an emergency act designed to facilitate the full restoration of devolved government in Northern Ireland. The Act gives effect to a strategy outlined in a joint statement by the UK and Irish Governments of 6th April 2006. It provides for Assembly members to be brought together to participate in a process to select a Northern Ireland Executive by 24th November 2006. If the process is successful, full restoration of devolved government will take place . In this scenario the bill also provides for the Assembly election, scheduled to take place in May 2007, to be postponed for a year so that the Assembly can have a stable period of power-sharing. If however attempts to elect an Executive by 24th November are unsuccessful, the Secretary of State will cease payment of Assembly members' salaries and allowances on 25th November (under provisions of the Northern Ireland Act 2000). In this scenario, the Government also believes that there would be little point in proceeding to an election in May 2007 and the Act provides for this election to be postponed indefinitely.