Contributions
180 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDChristians: PersecutionMy Lords, I thank all those who have put down their names to speak tonight on this important but unfortunately largely ignored issue of the global persecution of Christians. I…25 Mar 2024HANSARDChristians: PersecutionTo ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support persecuted Christians around the world.25 Mar 2024HANSARDUnited Kingdom: UnionMy Lords, it is a great pleasure to follow the noble Baroness, Lady Goldie, particularly since she mentioned “Strictly Come Dancing”—I thank her for that. I declare my registered…14 Mar 2024HANSARDMedia BillMy Lords, I draw your Lordships’ attention to my register of interests, particularly my work with broadcasters. It is always a privilege and a pleasure to follow the noble…28 Feb 2024HANSARDNetwork NorthMy Lords, I was pleased to see, towards the end of the Network North report, mention of the A75 and the A77 in Scotland. Those are very important roads for Northern Ireland…14 Feb 2024HANSARDAI: “Nudify” AppsMy Lords, during the last Assembly election in Northern Ireland, two female candidates from either side of the community in Northern Ireland were targeted with deepfake porn,…13 Feb 2024HANSARDWindsor Framework (Constitutional Status of Northern Ireland) Regulations 2024My Lords, I hope to change tack a little and bring a bit positivity to the debate. I say to the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, that I hope that Mr Foster has gone to somewhere other…13 Feb 2024HANSARDConversion Therapy Prohibition (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) Bill [HL]My Lords, I commend the discussion that has taken place thus far and the wide range of views that have been put forward. I am concerned about the ambiguity in this Bill and its…09 Feb 2024HANSARDGender EqualityMy Lords, one of the most important ways to ensure that we move to equality internationally is to enable more females to become involved in public life. Will the Minister outline…24 Jan 2024HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillI thank noble Lords who have already spoken. I shall kick off where the noble Lord, Lord Empey, finished. I think all of us from Northern Ireland involved in public life are…24 Jan 2024HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Industrial ActionMy Lords, it is said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. This is not the first time that His Majesty’s…17 Jan 2024HANSARDNatWest: Account Terminations and Branch ClosuresMy Lords, the Minister may recall that, towards the end of last year, I asked about the establishment of a banking hub for my home town, Lisnaskea, after the Ulster Bank, which is…10 Jan 2024HANSARDBanking HubsMy Lords, I commend the establishment of banking hubs across the United Kingdom as an alternative to the closure of mainstream banks. Can the Minister set out the criteria for…11 Dec 2023HANSARDWindsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme: Public Health, Marketing and Organic Product Standards and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2023I entirely agree with what the noble Lord has to say about this construct of an island economy, which came about during the time that the Assembly was not sitting for three years…04 Dec 2023HANSARDWindsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme: Public Health, Marketing and Organic Product Standards and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2023I acknowledge what the noble Lord has to say, but he will know that the people of Northern Ireland will decide. That is why it is so important that people recognise that the…04 Dec 2023HANSARDViolence Against Women and GirlsMy Lords, I commend my noble friend Lord Pannick on his question, and I commend the Minister’s answer. I will bring us back to the domestic: Christmas is a time when many of us…04 Dec 2023HANSARDWindsor Framework (Retail Movement Scheme: Public Health, Marketing and Organic Product Standards and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2023My Lords, I will speak about the technical aspects of this SI. In particular, I will look at what the Joint Committee had to say in relation to it. Before I do, I want to respond…04 Dec 2023HANSARDIranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard CorpsMy Lords, the IRGC has a violent and deep hatred of Jews, Israel, Christianity and the West. On that alone, it should be proscribed. However, proscription is not where it stops.…29 Nov 2023HANSARDIsrael and GazaMy Lords, terrorism can never be contextualised and unfortunately I know that first hand. Under the Terrorism Act 2000, Hamas is a proscribed organisation and it is an offence to…16 Oct 2023HANSARDProtocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland: Follow-up Report (European Affairs Committee)My Lords, I, too, thank all members of the committee under the chairmanship of the noble Lord, Lord Jay, for the many hours of work which have brought us not just the initial…11 Sept 2023