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Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill

If the Committee is particularly keen to hear from me, I pose this question: if we do not close this loophole in the law as my noble friend proposes, for how long will our allies give us any credibility whatever? How will our police constabularies, whether in London, the West Midlands or wherever, get the better of criminality and terrorism if the intelligence—it is intelligence that they need—is withheld because somebody who totally misunderstands their duty pries into every piece of information available and, as so often happens, puts a totally wrong construction on it? I am hopeful because the noble Baroness, Lady Scotland, said to me last Friday, when I spoke on much the same matter at somewhat less length, that I had raised an interesting point and assured me that it would be given attention. This matter needs to be given attention. We have seen the worst side of inept police ombudsman activity in Northern Ireland. If that spreads throughout the United Kingdom and if the repercussions of it spread across the Atlantic and to European agencies, we are doomed. We shall not have a leg to stand on whether it be a resurgence of Irish republicanism—which I hope will not be the case—al-Qaeda or organised crime. All that will be in huge danger of occurring unless my noble friend’s amendment is accepted. I am happy to say that the Minister and I appear to be on the same side today so I hope that he will listen to what I have said.