Contributions
1,346 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles BillThe Government had to do something about the previous Government’s failed legacy Act, which had no support in Northern Ireland. If one is seeking to help the people of Northern…07 Jan 2026HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: Belfast AgreementI agree that it could have very wide-ranging implications for Northern Ireland in particular, as well as for the rest of the country. I have not made such an assessment, because…07 Jan 2026HANSARDEuropean Convention on Human Rights: Belfast AgreementIt is for all those who wish to argue about the rights that they feel the ECHR and the Human Rights Act give them to do so. I simply say that, in bringing the Bill forward, I as…07 Jan 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles BillI have already given the House that assurance from this Dispatch Box. When we consider the Bill in Committee, we will have the opportunity to debate the Bill in its current form…07 Jan 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles BillAll the political parties in Northern Ireland that expressed their profound opposition to immunity have welcomed the fact that immunity will go under the legislation that we have…07 Jan 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles BillI do not agree with either of the characterisations that the hon. Gentleman just referred to. I am confident that the protections, which we have designed specifically for…07 Jan 2026HANSARD2025 BudgetThe public services transformation fund is a very important demonstration of the partnership between the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. As the hon. Member will…07 Jan 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI agree with the right hon. Gentleman that we have only to look at the figures to see that the prospect of any prosecution in any case is increasingly remote, because of the…17 Dec 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his question. This remedial order is a clear signal of the Government’s commitment to legislation that can command support across Northern…17 Dec 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for the point he has raised, but the argument he puts is not correct. The appeal was abandoned by the Government in July 2024—he says for…17 Dec 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationThere is the clearest distinction between the two groups of people that the hon. Member refers to, and I have made that clear from the Dispatch Box on a number of occasions. There…17 Dec 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationAs I have said to the House before, I will, of course, look carefully at all the amendments tabled when we come to debate the Bill in Committee and on Report. The test for…17 Dec 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI have the greatest respect for the hon. Gentleman. I think that he, I and, I hope, the whole House share the desire to enable answers for all those families who are living with…17 Dec 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationAs the hon. Gentleman will be well aware, there is a long-standing tradition that the Government do not reveal the legal advice they receive. All Governments receive legal advice,…17 Dec 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI have already made it clear to the House that as long as I am in this post I have no intention of appointing those who have engaged in paramilitary activity to any of the posts…17 Dec 2025HANSARDPaul Thompson: Supreme Court JudgmentI would like to make a statement to the House regarding the Supreme Court judgment today in the Thompson case. The Government welcome the unanimous judgment handed down by the…17 Dec 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI do agree with my hon. Friend. It seems that the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Alex Burghart) and the Conservative party remain wedded to immunity. [ Interruption. ] The…17 Dec 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationYes, it will be voted on in both Houses in the new year.17 Dec 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI have many meetings with Irish Ministers and discussions with the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach. My most recent meeting was with Helen McEntee, who has just taken over from Simon…17 Dec 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationIf I may, I will correct what I think is the interpretation that the right hon. Member has put on what I had said. I made it clear a moment ago that had the Joint Committee on…17 Dec 2025