My Lords, I want to take this opportunity to speak on Northern Ireland matters because, over the last few years, I have been so frustrated by the lack of action in the Northern Ireland Assembly. It does not appear to have achieved anything positive recently. The Stormont House agreement was,...

My Lords, I want to take this opportunity to speak on Northern Ireland matters because, over the last few years, I have been so frustrated by the lack of action in the Northern Ireland Assembly. It does not appear to have achieved anything positive recently. The Stormont House agreement was,...

I have two points to make, First, I had a private meeting with Martin McGuinness soon after the Prime Minister’s apology to find out how the apology had gone down in Londonderry. He assured me that it had been very welcome and had been accepted. Secondly, Bloody Sunday—I was living...

I have two points to make, First, I had a private meeting with Martin McGuinness soon after the Prime Minister’s apology to find out how the apology had gone down in Londonderry. He assured me that it had been very welcome and had been accepted. Secondly, Bloody Sunday—I was living...

My Lords—

My Lords—

To some extent I considerably disagree with the noble Lord’s proposition. I understand where he is coming from but I feel that psychologically to impose a permanent trial system without judges, a Diplock court system, is admitting defeat. I am still an optimist, even now. I still think that we...

To some extent I considerably disagree with the noble Lord’s proposition. I understand where he is coming from but I feel that psychologically to impose a permanent trial system without judges, a Diplock court system, is admitting defeat. I am still an optimist, even now. I still think that we...

My Lords, I did not intend to come into this debate, but the noble Lord, Lord Maginnis, said two things that worry me. He suggested that the PSNI is getting complacent. I do not believe that to be true. It is under threat continuously. He and I have met widows...

My Lords, I did not intend to come into this debate, but the noble Lord, Lord Maginnis, said two things that worry me. He suggested that the PSNI is getting complacent. I do not believe that to be true. It is under threat continuously. He and I have met widows...

I accept what the noble Baroness says, but will attempt to correct it after a nod in this House. The reason why I am little unhappy about the report has not been mentioned. It is that a certain lawyer who was representing the Army claimed that the noble and learned...

I accept what the noble Baroness says, but will attempt to correct it after a nod in this House. The reason why I am little unhappy about the report has not been mentioned. It is that a certain lawyer who was representing the Army claimed that the noble and learned...

My Lords, in 1971, 496 people died in Northern Ireland, which was the highest casualty rate in any year of the Troubles. I am not as confident as everybody would appear to be about the Saville report. Throughout the 12 years that it has been going on, I sat on...

My Lords, in 1971, 496 people died in Northern Ireland, which was the highest casualty rate in any year of the Troubles. I am not as confident as everybody would appear to be about the Saville report. Throughout the 12 years that it has been going on, I sat on...

I thank the Leader of the House for once again laying out and explaining these statutory instruments so clearly. I have absolutely no objection to the canvass because it is a very sensible thing to do; and 2016 seems a sensible backstop, so I support that too. However, I consider...

I thank the Leader of the House for once again laying out and explaining these statutory instruments so clearly. I have absolutely no objection to the canvass because it is a very sensible thing to do; and 2016 seems a sensible backstop, so I support that too. However, I consider...

I will make just one comment. The noble Baroness and I have debated Northern Ireland matters across the Floor for quite some time. As Leader of the House, she has a huge workload, and I thank her—because this might be the last time we face each other across the table—for...

I will make just one comment. The noble Baroness and I have debated Northern Ireland matters across the Floor for quite some time. As Leader of the House, she has a huge workload, and I thank her—because this might be the last time we face each other across the table—for...

Draft European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2010. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Debated with draft Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (Amendment) Order 2010, and draft Representation of the People (Timing of the Canvass) (Northern Ireland) Order 2010. Grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft European Parliamentary Elections (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2010. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. Debated with draft Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962 (Amendment) Order 2010, and draft Representation of the People (Timing of the Canvass) (Northern Ireland) Order 2010. Grand Committee held in...

My Lords, I thank the Leader of the House for a brilliant speech, brilliantly crafted and laid out on such a difficult, complex and wide subject. It was very clear and easy to understand and I thank her very much for that. As she made clear, these orders give effect...

My Lords, I thank the Leader of the House for a brilliant speech, brilliantly crafted and laid out on such a difficult, complex and wide subject. It was very clear and easy to understand and I thank her very much for that. As she made clear, these orders give effect...

Draft Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010. Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question. Debated with draft Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Amendment of Schedule 3) Order 2010, and draft Northern Ireland Court Service (Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern Ireland) 2010.

Draft Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Devolution of Policing and Justice Functions) Order 2010. Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question. Debated with draft Northern Ireland Act 1998 (Amendment of Schedule 3) Order 2010, and draft Northern Ireland Court Service (Abolition and Transfer of Functions) Order (Northern...

My Lords, I thank the Leader of the House for what she has said. She has significantly broadened this debate, as I had hoped. This might not happen tonight, but she has opened the doors on several fronts. First, I associate myself with her comments on the anniversary of the...

My Lords, I thank the Leader of the House for what she has said. She has significantly broadened this debate, as I had hoped. This might not happen tonight, but she has opened the doors on several fronts. First, I associate myself with her comments on the anniversary of the...

Draft Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (Renewal of Temporary Provisions) Order 2010. Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question.

Draft Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (Renewal of Temporary Provisions) Order 2010. Lords debate on a motion to approve. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness and everyone else who has taken part in the very constructive debates we have had over the various Readings. I should also mention Mr Goggins, in another place, with whom I have had a number of conversations in trying to reach agreement on...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness and everyone else who has taken part in the very constructive debates we have had over the various Readings. I should also mention Mr Goggins, in another place, with whom I have had a number of conversations in trying to reach agreement on...

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Kilclooney, has got it slightly wrong. The Bill does not stop people being elected: it only ensures that they cannot take three salaries.

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Kilclooney, has got it slightly wrong. The Bill does not stop people being elected: it only ensures that they cannot take three salaries.

Northern Ireland Assembly Members Bill (HL). Lords third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Bill passed and sent to the Commons.

Northern Ireland Assembly Members Bill (HL). Lords third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Bill passed and sent to the Commons.

That is exactly the message that I was hoping the noble Baroness would pass on.

That is exactly the message that I was hoping the noble Baroness would pass on.

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that brief introduction to the Government’s amendments. She indicated in Grand Committee that she was listening to the mood of the House. The mood then, and before that at Second Reading, was clear. The issue of double mandates—or double-jobbing as it is...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that brief introduction to the Government’s amendments. She indicated in Grand Committee that she was listening to the mood of the House. The mood then, and before that at Second Reading, was clear. The issue of double mandates—or double-jobbing as it is...

I should like to make that point clearer and support the noble Lord, Lord Kilclooney. Ireland is the 26 counties and Northern Ireland is the six counties.

I should like to make that point clearer and support the noble Lord, Lord Kilclooney. Ireland is the 26 counties and Northern Ireland is the six counties.