My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. This short Bill extends the life of the provisions contained in Part VII of the Terrorism Act 2000 until 31 July 2007, with an option to extend the provisions for one year only thereafter. Without this Bill, the provisions...

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. This short Bill extends the life of the provisions contained in Part VII of the Terrorism Act 2000 until 31 July 2007, with an option to extend the provisions for one year only thereafter. Without this Bill, the provisions...

My Lords, I am grateful for the support—sometimes measured, sometimes almost unqualified, as the noble Lord just said—for the Bill. I shall do my best to answer some of the detailed points. We can address in Committee in the new year those that I do not cover. In one respect, we are continuing...

My Lords, I am grateful for the support—sometimes measured, sometimes almost unqualified, as the noble Lord just said—for the Bill. I shall do my best to answer some of the detailed points. We can address in Committee in the new year those that I do not cover. In one respect, we are continuing...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for bringing forward the Bill today. I want to open by expressing on behalf of my party our almost unqualified support for the Bill. It gives the House an opportunity to take stock of all that has been achieved in the progress towards a peaceful...

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for bringing forward the Bill today. I want to open by expressing on behalf of my party our almost unqualified support for the Bill. It gives the House an opportunity to take stock of all that has been achieved in the progress towards a peaceful...

My Lords, it is, of course, extremely disappointing that we are still here today debating the necessity for the Bill as it touches on terrorism matters in Northern Ireland. But, as we have heard, it is still important to ensure that terrorism is fought wherever it appears—and, sadly, Northern Ireland...

My Lords, it is, of course, extremely disappointing that we are still here today debating the necessity for the Bill as it touches on terrorism matters in Northern Ireland. But, as we have heard, it is still important to ensure that terrorism is fought wherever it appears—and, sadly, Northern Ireland...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his explanation of the Northern Ireland terrorism Bill. In the Province there are many like me who have difficulty coming to terms with the need for this Bill at a time when the ““war is over”” according to the Government. In a...

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for his explanation of the Northern Ireland terrorism Bill. In the Province there are many like me who have difficulty coming to terms with the need for this Bill at a time when the ““war is over”” according to the Government. In a...

: My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing the Bill so succintly. There is a somewhat surreal quality to the debate today in the light of the recent Stormontgate revelations, but that is for another time. During the progress of the Terrorism Act 2000 through Parliament, the Liberal Democrats welcomed the...

: My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing the Bill so succintly. There is a somewhat surreal quality to the debate today in the light of the recent Stormontgate revelations, but that is for another time. During the progress of the Terrorism Act 2000 through Parliament, the Liberal Democrats welcomed the...

My Lords, the Minister’s speech has already dealt with many of my concerns, but I shall nevertheless reiterate them. My chief concern with the Bill is to support the provisions which retain and strengthen the powers of the police and the status of the judicial system. I believe that the Diplock courts...

My Lords, the Minister’s speech has already dealt with many of my concerns, but I shall nevertheless reiterate them. My chief concern with the Bill is to support the provisions which retain and strengthen the powers of the police and the status of the judicial system. I believe that the Diplock courts...

My Lords, before the Minister sits down and my noble friends get settled, will he try to persuade his colleagues, the Secretary of State and No. 10 Downing Street, to improve the spin so that, when we read the press about Northern Ireland and the Government’s activities, we get more confident? We...

My Lords, before the Minister sits down and my noble friends get settled, will he try to persuade his colleagues, the Secretary of State and No. 10 Downing Street, to improve the spin so that, when we read the press about Northern Ireland and the Government’s activities, we get more confident? We...

My Lords, I will transmit that request. The Government do not run the press. The press in Northern Ireland is fairly new to me, but I have gone into it in detail in the past seven months, and it has to be seen to be believed. You have to see it—that is...

My Lords, I will transmit that request. The Government do not run the press. The press in Northern Ireland is fairly new to me, but I have gone into it in detail in the past seven months, and it has to be seen to be believed. You have to see it—that is...

Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Bill. Lords econd reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Grand Committee.

Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Bill. Lords econd reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Grand Committee.

I refer to the Carlile report and agree with the Secretary of State’s sentiments, but why are we having this discussion before that report has been published?

I refer to the Carlile report and agree with the Secretary of State’s sentiments, but why are we having this discussion before that report has been published?

I received Lord Carlile’s letter only this morning. Obviously, the debate on Second Reading has been scheduled for a while, but I want to place on record again the fact that he does invaluable work in advising the Government in this respect on Northern Ireland, and we are very grateful...

I received Lord Carlile’s letter only this morning. Obviously, the debate on Second Reading has been scheduled for a while, but I want to place on record again the fact that he does invaluable work in advising the Government in this respect on Northern Ireland, and we are very grateful...

Did Lord Carlile’s letter indicate the sources from which he anticipated that further acts of terror would come if the regulations were relaxed?

Did Lord Carlile’s letter indicate the sources from which he anticipated that further acts of terror would come if the regulations were relaxed?

No, the letter did not indicate that, but allow me to cite another of the important points in Lord Carlile’s letter that the hon. Gentleman and the House will want to hear. He said:"““In my view the duration of the powers proposed in the Bill is justified on the merits...

No, the letter did not indicate that, but allow me to cite another of the important points in Lord Carlile’s letter that the hon. Gentleman and the House will want to hear. He said:"““In my view the duration of the powers proposed in the Bill is justified on the merits...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. Before I turn to the Bill itself, I should like to draw the attention of the House to a statement issued last night in the name of the Loyalist Volunteer Force indicating that what they describe as...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time. Before I turn to the Bill itself, I should like to draw the attention of the House to a statement issued last night in the name of the Loyalist Volunteer Force indicating that what they describe as...

I welcome the Secretary of State’s opening remarks. Will the order-making power in clause 1(3) be subject to the negative procedure of the House or to its affirmative counterpart?

I welcome the Secretary of State’s opening remarks. Will the order-making power in clause 1(3) be subject to the negative procedure of the House or to its affirmative counterpart?

I am grateful, Mr. Speaker. I shall certainly make arrangements for photocopies to be made available to hon. Members who wish to have them. I am sorry that the circumstances were such that they did not receive them earlier.

I am grateful, Mr. Speaker. I shall certainly make arrangements for photocopies to be made available to hon. Members who wish to have them. I am sorry that the circumstances were such that they did not receive them earlier.

I understand the hon. Lady’s points, which she makes with her normal courtesy and force. However, it is clear that we are trying to progress the politics and ensure that we get a permanent end to violence—including that from the IRA, in relation to her point about allowances. At the...

I understand the hon. Lady’s points, which she makes with her normal courtesy and force. However, it is clear that we are trying to progress the politics and ensure that we get a permanent end to violence—including that from the IRA, in relation to her point about allowances. At the...

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for taking another intervention—it will be quick. He really needs to clarify the inconsistency of his approach in recent weeks. We are being asked to approve terrorism legislation that will extend part VII for at least two years, and perhaps another year...

I am grateful to the Secretary of State for taking another intervention—it will be quick. He really needs to clarify the inconsistency of his approach in recent weeks. We are being asked to approve terrorism legislation that will extend part VII for at least two years, and perhaps another year...

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I dealt with that matter last week when I gave evidence to his Committee and he questioned me closely on it. The on-the-runs legislation is of course entirely separate from the Bill.

As the hon. Gentleman knows, I dealt with that matter last week when I gave evidence to his Committee and he questioned me closely on it. The on-the-runs legislation is of course entirely separate from the Bill.