Contributions
1,346 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)I beg to move, That if, at the conclusion of this Session of Parliament, proceedings on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill have not been completed, they shall be resumed in the…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)I am grateful to my hon. Friend, who chairs the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee with such distinction, and I will come directly to addressing the two questions she has just…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)I would simply say that I think the whole House acknowledges the brave service of our veterans in many, many difficult circumstances, and that is one reason that this carry-over…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)I ask the hon. Gentleman to bear with me. Whatever its intentions, the legacy Act did not work. Its central provision—immunity—had no backing in Northern Ireland, has been found…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)I hope that our armed forces personnel will listen to what I am about to say and see both the protections that are currently in the Bill and the commitment the Government have…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)The protections that are contained in the Bill currently will apply to RUC personnel and others who served the state, and the hon. Gentleman will see the further amendments that…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)The best way to ensure that the hon. Gentleman and the whole House see the amendments is to pass the carry-over motion tonight.27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)That is self-evidently the case, because the protections that I just read out, which the Government have put in this legislation, would not exist. That is a powerful argument why…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)I hope the hon. and learned Gentleman will forgive me; many Members want to speak. I will turn briefly to some of the arguments that will be made against carrying over the Bill,…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)I will conclude my remarks, because many Members want to contribute. I am acutely aware of the stress that many have described in going through legacy processes, which is…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)I will do my best to respond to as many of the points that have been raised in the debate as possible. I listened very carefully to the speech from the hon. Member for Brentwood…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)It is a matter of public record that there has been no early release of any prisoners at all, and there have been no negotiations. I have said it in the House before, and I will…27 Apr 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles Bill (Carry-over)It is no good him shaking his head. The provision was never commenced by the last Government, and it has been found to be incompatible with our legal obligations. In conclusion,…27 Apr 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles BillI wish to update the House on the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and the Government’s commitment to put in place legislation to address the legacy of that terrible period in our…22 Apr 2026HANSARDIndependent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery ReviewThe Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery commenced its work in May 2024 under the last Government’s Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and…15 Apr 2026HANSARDIndependent Reviewer for National Security Arrangements: Report 2025The role of the independent reviewer of national security arrangements in Northern Ireland is to monitor compliance with annex E of the St Andrews Agreement 2006, reviewing the…14 Apr 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI join you, Mr Speaker, in your tribute to Liam Laurence Smyth, and I wish the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) a very happy birthday. The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill…25 Mar 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI thank the hon. Gentleman for his service in Northern Ireland. The dates for Committee stage and for the next stage of the remedial order will be announced in the normal way.…25 Mar 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationFirst, there is no such thing as a vexatious prosecution, because for that argument to be advanced, as others have done in the House, one is saying that independent prosecutors…25 Mar 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI join my hon. Friend in what she says about the recent conviction for the brutal murder of Natalie McNally, and the deaths of Amy Doherty and Ellie Flanagan. It is a source of…25 Mar 2026