---

Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2003 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2007

My Lords, I, too, thank the Minister for introducing the order, and I place on record my thanks to the officials of the Northern Ireland Office who briefed me very carefully on the previous order. I was not able to have a briefing on this order, but I much appreciated that very full and excellent briefing. We did not raise any concerns in relation to Sections 15, 16 and 19 of the 2003 Act when it was passing through Parliament, or indeed to Schedule 9 to the 2006 Act. We supported the provisions when they were introduced in 2003 and 2006 but I would just like to say a word about the district policing partnerships and echo the remarks of the Minister and the noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, on the membership of those partnerships, which are now a reality all over Northern Ireland. I, too, pay tribute to the extraordinary bravery and fortitude that members of those partnerships have shown throughout very difficult, stressful and often dangerous times. They are to be warmly congratulated and the success of the partnerships can now be seen all over Northern Ireland. I, too, support and commend this order.