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Policing (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 2007

I do not welcome this draft order, and I need further clarification from the Minister.I have two particular problems: the first is in Regulation 10 on the recruitment of experienced constables with the required skills from other forces; and the second is in Regulation 11, to which the noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, referred, on the role of the Police Ombudsman. Regarding the provision in Regulation 10 on experienced constables from other forces, is that restricted to other forces within the United Kingdom, or does it refer to forces outside the United Kingdom—within the European Union, for example—or does it refer, indeed, to the Garda Siochana in the Republic of Ireland? If it involves the latter, has the Minister read the oath that recruits take when they join the Garda Siochana? Does she think that people who have taken that oath will be welcomed by most people in Northern Ireland? I think that there is a grave problem there that needs to be addressed. I want an answer from the Minister about whether she has read the oath and whether she thinks it is consistent with the views of most people in Northern Ireland. Regulation 11 on the Police Ombudsman contains many problems. As the Minister may know, the role of the Police Ombudsman is tainted and has little or no credibility in Northern Ireland. That is the reality on the ground. The Police Ombudsman is tainted because she is married to an SDLP councillor who only yesterday declared that he wants the break-up of the United Kingdom and a united Ireland. He is a candidate in the SDLP, and it stated that yesterday at its press conference. It may be said that the wife of a pro-Irish politician is not responsible for his politics. That is theoretically correct, but the perception of people on the ground is that the Police Ombudsman is tainted and biased, and she therefore has little credibility. The order refers to the reinvestigation of police officers. What period will that cover? Will it be the period since the Belfast agreement, or the period before the Belfast agreement? If it refers to the period before the Belfast agreement, will it apply to civilians who have previously been accused of terrorism? Now that new evidence has become available, will they also be subject to further reinvestigation? That needs tobe clarified because there should not be double standards with one standard for the police and an easier standard for civilians in Northern Ireland. Then there is the question of the extension of the ombudsman’s powers. Has she the power to apply herself to matters relating to national security within the United Kingdom? If so, is that widely understood within the United Kingdom, especially by the Minister answering today? There are serious implications here as we have international terrorism. If the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland will slowly but surely get involved in the national security of the United Kingdom she could reveal things that apply to attacks against the United Kingdom by international terrorists. The order extends the ombudsman’s powers, yet the explanatory document states that that will not cost any more money. Can that be explained? How can the ombudsman have an extension of powers without costing any more money? Is it not correct that the ombudsman herself has said that she wants her budget increased? Please tell us the truth.