---

Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill

The hon. Gentleman needs to make a better attempt at answering the very reasonable question asked by the hon. Member for North Down (Lady Hermon). He said that the IRA stated that the war is over, but he knows as well as the rest of us that the elected Sinn Fein Members do not take their seats in this House because they do not recognise the legitimacy of this Parliament. Similarly, they do not recognise the legitimacy of the police in Northern Ireland. Surely it is reasonable to expect someone who takes office and takes charge of the police to recognise their legitimacy. That is what my amendment seeks to ensure.