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Proceeding contribution from Laurence Robertson (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 26 April 2006. It occurred during Debate on bill on Northern Ireland Bill.


Northern Ireland Bill

I do not disagree, but those people are not represented by a political party that will assume Government office in Northern Ireland. I am not trying to be negative, as I have a point to make. The report goes on to say that"““there are indications that some members, including some senior ones . . . are still involved in crime””." The report lists those crimes. It is unfair to expect law-abiding constitutional politicians from the Unionist community and from the SDLP to sit alongside people who are supposedly politicians by day, but are terrorists by night. A further point concerns me. About two years ago I had a discussion with Seamus Mallon, a respected former Member of this House and also a former Deputy First Minister. He said that in his area Sinn Fein had 200 paid activists. Where did that money come from? The Minister who is to respond to the debate has a respectable majority of just over 6,000, but how would he like it if there were 200 paid activists in his constituency trying to get rid of him? That is not fair politics, and it must be addressed, alongside the fact that Unionist and SDLP politicians are being asked to work with people who might be engaging in violence and terrorist activities at night. It is not fair. If that is not tackled, the Assembly will fail, and I do not want to see that happen.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
445 c671 
Session
2005-06
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Devolved matters Crimes of violence Decommissioning Devolution Belfast Agreement Elections Education IRA Local government Northern Ireland Powers Public appointments Northern Ireland Assembly Members Political parties Rates and rating Politics and government Ministers Northern Ireland Executive Water charges Reform Timetables Standing orders First Minister (NIE) Assembly Statutory instruments
Legislation
Northern Ireland Bill 2005-06
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk