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836 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsThis is exactly why it is important that we are clear about our intentions to ensure that we are delivering for the people of Northern Ireland. As I say, I am sure that the EU…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsI think I did outline earlier that, as a Minister, my focus is on ensuring that we are delivering for the people of the United Kingdom and, within that, the people of Northern…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy right hon. Friend, as often, is absolutely right; these provisions will be in the Bill to take effect if other things do not come through. I think that with both parties acting…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsAs I said earlier, I absolutely recognise the importance of following international laws and the rule of law. We have a unique situation with this treaty. Listening to what some…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy hon. Friend is right on that. Those negotiations are ongoing—they are ongoing today, in fact. As I say, I am confident that our negotiating teams and the EU negotiating teams…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsThe purpose of the clauses we will be putting into the UK internal market Bill is to ensure that we continue to have good, free-flowing trade across the whole of the United…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy right hon. Friend is absolutely right. The clauses we will put into the Bill are very clear about ensuring Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom customs territory…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsI suggest the hon. Gentleman waits until he has seen the detail of the text tomorrow so that he can support us, as this is about delivering on ensuring that people in Northern…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy right hon. Friend makes an interesting point. He is right in the sense that Northern Ireland is and has been an integral part of the United Kingdom for almost 100 years—as we…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsYes, and I suggest to the hon. Lady that paragraph 19 states: “The Protocol is clear that nothing in it prevents Northern Ireland business enjoying unfettered access to the rest…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. As I said in my opening remarks, we are still determined to deliver on the withdrawal agreement and the protocol. We hope the negotiations come…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsOur determination and desire is to be able to deliver that certainty through the free trade agreement negotiations and the Joint Committee work. What we will be outlining tomorrow…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. We are doing this in order to ensure that we can always deliver the wider objective of the protocol, which is to protect peace in Northern…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsIf the hon. Gentleman looks at what we have been doing on the protocol, such as the dedicated mechanism, the settled status scheme and the live animals and agrifoods work that we…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsI would say to my hon. Friend that yes, this does break international law in a very specific and limited way. We are taking the power to disapply the EU law concept of direct…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsAs I have said several times today, obviously our focus is on ensuring that none of these clauses is required because we are able to secure a free trade agreement through the…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsAbsolutely. That was very clear in the votes in 2016 and the past two general elections, arguably in 2017, as well as the overwhelming mandate in 2019, bearing in mind that…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsI appreciate that the nationalist party in Scotland wishes to put a border between Scotland and England. The reality is that what we are looking to do is to take powers back from…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsMy hon. Friend, as ever, makes a really powerful point. The best way forward—this is what we are all focused on, and I am sure our partners and friends in the EU are, in good…08 Sept 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol: UK Legal ObligationsThe hon. Gentleman may wish to look back in Hansard at what my hon. Friends and other hon. Members have said this afternoon and previously. Our desire, as I have outlined, is to…08 Sept 2020