Contributions
102 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDivorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill [HL]My Lords, the social science evidence is very clear that divorce has a negative—sometimes profoundly negative—impact on child development. Of course, there are occasions when…17 Mar 2020HANSARDDivorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill [HL]My Lords, I am pleased to support Amendment 21 in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Farmer, which focuses on marriage support services. It requires the Secretary of State to make…03 Mar 2020HANSARDDivorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill [HL]My Lords, I am pleased to support Amendments 2 and 14 in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Howe. I note with interest that these amendments were tabled in the last Session in…03 Mar 2020HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019: Section 3(5)My Lords, as we start a new decade, the 2020s must be about restoring stable devolution in Northern Ireland, where the Executive are committed to building a successful Northern…07 Jan 2020HANSARDShared Rural NetworkMy Lords, in the absence of an Economy Minister in Northern Ireland, can the Minister confirm that the additional £155 million allocated by the Government to improve broadband in…28 Oct 2019HANSARDHistorical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill [HL]My Lords, I welcome the Bill before your Lordships’ House and congratulate the Minister and officials on their efforts in preparing this legislation and moving forward quickly…28 Oct 2019HANSARDIrish Border: Checks and Customs ArrangementsMy Lords, will the Minister confirm that it is still the Government’s policy that no new border checks will take place in the Irish Sea as a consequence of any deal being reached…01 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 welcome the maiden speech by the noble Lord, Lord Caine. I am sure that your Lordships’ House will benefit greatly from his wisdom and expertise. Because of the time…09 Sept 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillMy Lords, I support the amendment of my noble friend Lord Morrow. As a former Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly, I do not believe it can be said enough in this place that,…15 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillMy Lords, I firmly believe that there should be full openness and transparency regarding donations and loans to all the political parties in Northern Ireland, just as there is in…15 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillI thank the noble Lord for his intervention, but I understand that that was on a very narrow case of fatal foetal abnormality. I will address that matter shortly, which should…15 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillMy Lords, I fully support all that has been said about the problem of gambling in Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland has the highest proportion of problem gamblers. I know of one…15 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillMy Lords, I support Amendment 17, to which I have added my name. Once again, we should be discussing a simple administrative Bill, but instead we find ourselves considering one…15 Jul 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Executive Formation) BillMy Lords, it is interesting to note that the consternation felt in Northern Ireland is given some support by the Select Committee on the Constitution, which has today issued a…10 Jul 2019HANSARDTrade in Animals and Related Products (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019My Lords, I thank the Minister for all the additional work he has had to undertake with regard to Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, this has come about because, as we know, there…13 May 2019HANSARDFlags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019My Lords, my remarks shall be rather brief. I welcome this having been a serious debate on the flying of flags in Northern Ireland and I am pleased that it is taking place in…03 Apr 2019HANSARDFlags (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019My Lords, Northern Ireland is the only part of the United Kingdom where under the current legislation there are 18 designated days for flying the flag on government buildings.…25 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillMy Lords, I said at Second Reading that this legislation is controversial and far-reaching. We all know it is regrettable that there is a lack of scrutiny. The legislation is…19 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland (Regional Rates and Energy) (No. 2) BillMy Lords, I start by thanking the Minister for bringing forward these essential Bills today. They ensure that public services continue to be provided in Northern Ireland and give…12 Mar 2019HANSARDNorthern Ireland: DevolutionMy Lords, no Assembly or Executive has been in place for more than two years, but there is a real desire in both communities to restore them so that vital services such as…14 Feb 2019