Contributions
617 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNorth Belfast: Violent AttackMy Lords, the barbaric attack in north Belfast on Monday evening was truly sickening and our thoughts are with the victim. Will the Minister join me in commending the bravery of…10 Jun 2026HANSARDSupreme Court Dillon JudgmentMy Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for making herself available today to take this Statement and answer questions on the important Supreme Court judgment; I appreciate that…19 May 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland After Brexit (Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee Report)My Lords, it is a great pleasure, on behalf of the Official Opposition, to congratulate the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee, so ably chaired by the noble Lord, Lord Carlile of…25 Mar 2026HANSARDNorthern Ireland Troubles: Operation KenovaMy Lords, a 164-page report really should have been accompanied by an Oral Statement by the Government in Parliament. The report contains much uncomfortable reading, and our…10 Dec 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictMy Lords, as part of the small team that helped my noble friend Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton draft his apology for Bloody Sunday, I stand by every word in that Statement. But…05 Nov 2025HANSARDNorthern Ireland TroublesMy Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for repeating the Secretary of State’s Statement. At the outset, it is right that in approaching this issue, first and foremost in our…20 Oct 2025HANSARDRepublic of Ireland: Defence Co-operationMy Lords, given the relative military and defensive weakness of Ireland on our western flank and the enhanced nature of the threats that we currently face, does the highly…03 Sept 2025HANSARDCasement Park: Spending ReviewMy Lords, having attended a GAA match at Celtic Park in the Bogside in Londonderry last April, I am fully aware of the importance of Gaelic games for large numbers in the…23 Jul 2025HANSARDRutland LieutenancyMy Lords, it is over 50 years since one of the most unloved reforms of local government in our history. Given the changes that are now taking place, has the time not now come to…15 Jul 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, I rise to give strong support to the amendment moved so ably by my noble friend. Like other noble Lords, I do so on the basis of some experience. In November 2021, I was…09 Jul 2025HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2025My Lords, before I turn to the instrument before the Committee, as this is a Northern Ireland debate and it is 1 July, I want to take a moment to reflect that today marks the…01 Jul 2025HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2025I do not wish to detain the Committee for much longer. The noble Baroness rightly said that the criminal justice system is devolved in Northern Ireland, but these are cases that…01 Jul 2025HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2025Your officials are brilliant.01 Jul 2025HANSARDJustice and Security (Northern Ireland) Act 2007 (Extension of Duration of Non-jury Trial Provisions) Order 2025I am grateful to the Minister, and I appreciate that she cannot give a time commitment on the introduction of legislation, but can she confirm whether the Government intend to set…01 Jul 2025HANSARDIndependent Schools: Tax ChangesMy Lords, yesterday the oldest independent prep school in my home city of Leeds, Moorlands, announced its closure after 127 years. Twelve days ago, the renowned Queen Margaret’s…25 Jun 2025HANSARDDisorder in BallymenaTo ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the disorder in Ballymena.11 Jun 2025HANSARDDisorder in BallymenaMy Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Baroness. We too condemn unreservedly the appalling acts of racist thuggery in Ballymena, for which there can be not a single shred of…11 Jun 2025HANSARDIndependent Commission for Reconciliation and Information RecoveryMy Lords, dealing with the here and now, can the Minister confirm that the Government’s decision to reopen legacy inquests, alongside the new legacy commission, inevitably risks…21 May 2025HANSARDFrozen Libyan Assets: Compensation for Victims of IRA TerrorismMy Lords, I begin by thanking the noble Lord, Lord Bew, for his kind comments about the public history. He will know that it was certainly my intention that the historians…01 May 2025HANSARDHeadingley IncidentMy Lords, as somebody who lives in Leeds—I was in Headingley on Friday evening— I add my own support and thanks to the police and emergency services for their very swift…30 Apr 2025