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Proceeding contribution from Lord Eames (Crossbench) in the House of Lords on Monday, 8 February 2010. It occurred during Ministerial statement on Northern Ireland.


Northern Ireland

My Lords, I welcome the fact that the Statement begins with a reference to the decommissioning of the INLA. A few weeks ago, I was one of the two independent observers at the decommissioning of the weapons of the largest loyalist paramilitary organisation, the UDA. Does the Leader agree with me that one of the real tests now for the devolved Administration in Northern Ireland is to address the fact that, in the areas from which the UDA and other loyalist paramilitary organisations drew their strength, there is widespread alienation from the political process? I believe it is now incumbent on the devolved Administration in Northern Ireland to address that alienation and to find ways in which the vacuum, which has been welcomed but which was caused by the decommissioning to which I have referred, can be addressed. Does the Leader agree with me that that will be a priority for the devolved Administration?


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
717 c511 
Session
2009-10
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Administration of justice Decommissioning Devolution Northern Ireland Police Northern Ireland Assembly Public expenditure Northern Ireland government Parades Northern Ireland Executive Weapons Sinn Féin Democratic Unionist Party Irish National Liberation Army Hillsborough Castle Agreement
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk