Contributions
680 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLeaving the EU: Talks on Restoring DevolutionI do not comment on leaked briefings.03 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland CentenaryI agree wholeheartedly with the hon. Gentleman. He is absolutely right in the way he describes how the 2021 anniversary should be marked. I reflect on the work by the right hon.…03 Jul 2019HANSARDBeing Part of the UK: BenefitsMay I address the invitation I have just received, Mr Speaker? Of course I enjoy a sweet sherry, but I am afraid I will be on my way to Belfast by that point.03 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland CentenaryThat is a matter for my colleagues in the Cabinet Office, who will have heard my hon. Friend’s question. He will know that we are changing the date of the early May bank holiday…03 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland CentenaryI absolutely agree with the hon. Lady. We should all reflect on the words that she quoted. She will be pleased to know that, at the last meeting of the British-Irish…03 Jul 2019HANSARDDevolved Government: RestorationThere has been significant engagement over the past nine weeks with the political parties in Northern Ireland, considering a range of important and difficult issues. Progress has…03 Jul 2019HANSARDDevolved Government: RestorationMy focus is on getting the devolved Administration back together and getting all the institutions that were agreed in the Belfast/Good Friday agreement working—in particular, the…03 Jul 2019HANSARDDevolved Government: RestorationMay I start by congratulating my hon. Friend on his appointment to the role of Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee? I have not had an opportunity to do so in the…03 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland CentenaryI hope, Mr Speaker, you will allow me a slight indulgence at the beginning of proceedings to wish the hon. Member for Ealing North (Stephen Pound) a very happy birthday. Today is,…03 Jul 2019HANSARDDevolved Government: RestorationAs the right hon. Gentleman knows, he was the last direct rule Minister in Northern Ireland, and I very much hope that he continues to be. He will understand the constitutional…03 Jul 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Talks on Restoring DevolutionThe Northern Ireland parties have made it clear that they want to use the limited window ahead of us to make a success of the current talks process. I agree with them that…03 Jul 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Talks on Restoring DevolutionI reject that entirely. The institutions collapsed well before the confidence and supply arrangements between the Democratic Unionist party and my party and, as the Northern…03 Jul 2019HANSARDDevolved Government: RestorationI do not accept the right hon. Gentleman’s comment that the Government are sitting on their hands; the Government are absolutely determined to see these matters addressed and the…03 Jul 2019HANSARDDevolved Government: RestorationThe right hon. Gentleman refers to a number of issues, and he is right to do so. He refers to dealing with the legacy of the past. He will know that we have consulted on the…03 Jul 2019HANSARDDevolved Government: RestorationMy role is to help the parties but, clearly, if they are able to reach an agreement, I am sure that they will want things from the UK Government, and I will consider those when we…03 Jul 2019HANSARDDevolved Government: RestorationI am trying to get the institutions restored. It is vital for the people of Northern Ireland that the politicians they elected make decisions on their behalf, so I am doing…03 Jul 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Talks on Restoring DevolutionThe people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union and we will leave the European Union as one United Kingdom, but I agree with the hon. Gentleman that we need to…03 Jul 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Talks on Restoring DevolutionI agree, and we will have a better chance of doing that if we have the devolved institutions restored. That is what we are working to do.03 Jul 2019HANSARDDevolved Government: RestorationWe have, of course, ensured that all parties are in the room. These have been talks with the five main parties in Northern Ireland—those that are eligible to form an Executive and…03 Jul 2019HANSARDLeaving the EU: Talks on Restoring DevolutionThe matter of transparency is very important. It has been a matter for one of our working groups, which has been working and making good progress on how we improve transparency…03 Jul 2019