Contributions
107 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol BillWe are in political negotiations. Here is our problem; I have already explained it. When I tried to persuade the noble Lord, Lord Dodds, I said, “Just believe the British…25 Oct 2022HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol BillMy Lords, I would like first to take up my noble friend Lord Pannick’s point about the Government being responsible for this situation. I will give a simple example of why that is…25 Oct 2022HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol BillBoth the EU and the UK Government said at a number of points—three at least—that this agreement is designed to protect the Good Friday agreement in all its dimensions. Bluntly, it…25 Oct 2022HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol BillWe are in a situation now where in Dublin it is accepted by those involved in the negotiation that they achieved a one-sided appropriation of this agreement. This then flows into…25 Oct 2022HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol BillThe negotiation with the European Union is proceeding apace anyway. This is of no relevance —I keep saying this—and nobody in the Irish Government even bothered to talk about the…25 Oct 2022HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol BillThis is a little simpler than our discussion, which has reached a rather convoluted shape. The Government were clear when they launched the Bill that its function is to fix it,…25 Oct 2022HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol BillMy Lords, I shall comment briefly on the important remarks by my noble and learned friend Lord Judge. I referred earlier to the fact that the opinion of international lawyers is…25 Oct 2022HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol BillMy Lords, we know for a fact that that is not so, as the Irish Foreign Minister has told us—maybe I am the only person who reads the Irish Times —that this Bill will not torpedo…25 Oct 2022HANSARDNorthern Ireland Protocol BillMy Lords, I support the Bill. I speak as a remain voter, a strong supporter of the Good Friday agreement—I supported it when it was not quite so fashionable as it seems to have…11 Oct 2022HANSARDIdentity and Language (Northern Ireland) Bill [HL]My Lords, I support the Bill and I thank the noble Lord, Lord Caine, for his excellent introduction. I felt his pain when he recalled the many hours and days he had spent working…07 Jun 2022HANSARDGreat Britain and Northern IrelandMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Lexden, who not only is responsible for this debate but has loved the Province for so long. It is not always the easiest place to love so I…07 Apr 2022HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) BillMy Lords, I sympathise with what the noble Lord, Lord Empey, has said, and with the important words of the noble Baroness, Lady Ritchie. However, the fate of Amendment 4 shows…19 Jan 2022HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) BillI have great respect for the gritty texture of the speech of the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey—initially, what is important to understand is why we have got to this point. She is…19 Jan 2022HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) BillMy Lords, I rise to support the Bill and to welcome the noble Lord, Lord Caine, to his position. It is wonderful to have in this House somebody with so much expertise on this…29 Nov 2021HANSARDRepublic of Ireland: General Election ResultsMy Lords, given that it is clear that Sinn Féin—whether in or out of government—will have enormously increased influence inside the Irish Parliament, is it time for the British…12 Mar 2020HANSARDDirect Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) BillMy Lords, I support the Bill and thank the Minister for his kind words from the Dispatch Box concerning the independent review of policy for Defra that I led, which drew on all…29 Jan 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019: Section 3(5)My Lords, I thank the Minister for presenting this report, and I add my support to those who have spoken against the continuation of direct rule. The noble Lord, Lord Alderdice,…28 Oct 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019: Section 3(5)I absolutely accept the wisdom of that point. Indeed, this is an important subject for conversation and dialogue in the lead-up to the talks. We cannot have a repeat of what has…28 Oct 2019HANSARDWaste and Environmental Protection (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing this instrument, and I am very grateful to her for confirming that there will be no diminution of environmental standards, and that…23 Oct 2019HANSARDReport Pursuant to Sections 3(1), 3(6), 3(7), 3(8), 3(9) and 3(10) the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019My Lords, I will focus my remarks solely on the issues of legacy, which have already been touched on, as well as on the issue of the proper treatment of the victims of the…09 Sept 2019