Contributions
1,346 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationSince it is my friend the hon. Member, I will give way one last time.21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI will continue. I have tried to cover the point that some have argued, particularly in the other place, that we should delay the remedial order until the Supreme Court ruling in…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationIt does not rule it out under section 10 for this reason: there are two parts to the court’s ruling in relation to immunity. The first part was that the court found immunity to be…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationWhat I am saying is that the Government do not agree with the conditional immunity contained in the legacy Act. The word “conditional” is always used as if it does not necessarily…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI will make some progress. We cannot and should not allow the victims of the troubles to be denied redress through the courts. That is our view of principle, although I recognise…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI am going to make some progress because I am trying to respond to the many points raised in the debate. The second reason we are doing this is that we want those who are still…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationNo.21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationIt is not unusual for higher courts to take a different view on a matter to that taken by lower courts—that is the way the law works. I would give the same answer to the right…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationAs I am sure the right hon. Gentleman is well aware, in that case Mr Downey was issued with a letter of comfort wrongly. The letter said, “We’re not seeking you for anything,”…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationWell, how could I resist?21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationIf we are going to get on to the facts, the early release scheme was part of the Good Friday agreement, and the people of Northern Ireland voted for that agreement knowing what it…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI am of the view that I listen. I quoted what David Crabbe said earlier, and he was opposed to immunity. The Government have listened to what the veterans commissioners and many…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationWith great respect, I disagree. In answer to the hon. and learned Gentleman’s first intervention, I tried to explain that he is right in what he reads out in relation to article…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationWe are all subject to the decisions of the Court. The right hon. Gentleman asks a hypothetical question, and, like answers to all hypotheticals, I would say that we will cross…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationThe right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right when he describes the provisions of the 1998 legislation, but as he knows, that policy, along with the rest of the Good Friday…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationThe basis of the Republic of Ireland’s inter-state case, which is a matter for the Republic of Ireland— [ Interruption. ] Just let me answer the question; I will do my best to…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationThat is indeed a wholly accurate description of the sequence of events, because this Government do not agree with immunity as a matter of principle—I will go on to advance the…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for raising that point. If he will bear with me, I will come very directly to precisely that point a little later in my speech. It is the…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI am grateful to my hon. Friend for that intervention. Those 800 cases were untouched and the Act allowed them to carry on—that is a very important point, given some very…21 Jan 2026HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles: Legacy and ReconciliationI am not going to give way because I want to respond to the other points raised. What the commission set out is what is known as a protected disclosure—a protected disclosure that…21 Jan 2026