My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. The Bill is set in the context of huge progress in Northern Ireland. The Sinn Fein ard fheis secured support for policing and justice; that certainly was a momentous moment. Support for policing is now...

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. The Bill is set in the context of huge progress in Northern Ireland. The Sinn Fein ard fheis secured support for policing and justice; that certainly was a momentous moment. Support for policing is now...

My Lords, I begin by apologising deeply to the House, and particularly to the Minister, for being late. I welcome his speech, particularly his last sentence. However, it is a sad pity that whatever games Ministers have played in their youth, poker was not one of them. Sinn Fein/IRA on...

My Lords, I begin by apologising deeply to the House, and particularly to the Minister, for being late. I welcome his speech, particularly his last sentence. However, it is a sad pity that whatever games Ministers have played in their youth, poker was not one of them. Sinn Fein/IRA on...

My Lords, as the Minister said at the outset, enormous changes have taken place in Northern Ireland in the past few years. That is reflected in the region’s vibrant economy. I well remember first visiting, 10 or more years ago, with the Police Negotiating Board. To show how much things...

My Lords, as the Minister said at the outset, enormous changes have taken place in Northern Ireland in the past few years. That is reflected in the region’s vibrant economy. I well remember first visiting, 10 or more years ago, with the Police Negotiating Board. To show how much things...

My Lords, it occurs to me that I am what the Good Friday agreement referred to as a cross-border body; because it is30 years or so since Merlyn-Rees appointed me as special adviser to the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights in Northern Ireland. Since then, I have had the...

My Lords, it occurs to me that I am what the Good Friday agreement referred to as a cross-border body; because it is30 years or so since Merlyn-Rees appointed me as special adviser to the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights in Northern Ireland. Since then, I have had the...

My Lords, this has been a valuable debate. We lack one set of opinions, to which the noble Lord, Lord Trimble, drew attention, due to the absence of our DUP colleagues. I hope that this is because they are away electioneering rather than because they want to keep their cards...

My Lords, this has been a valuable debate. We lack one set of opinions, to which the noble Lord, Lord Trimble, drew attention, due to the absence of our DUP colleagues. I hope that this is because they are away electioneering rather than because they want to keep their cards...

My Lords, in introducing the Bill the Minister reflected on recent and anticipated developments in Northern Ireland. He reflected first on the moves that republicans have made to support the police and then said that the Government fully expected a resumption of the power-sharing Executive on 26 March. The language...

My Lords, in introducing the Bill the Minister reflected on recent and anticipated developments in Northern Ireland. He reflected first on the moves that republicans have made to support the police and then said that the Government fully expected a resumption of the power-sharing Executive on 26 March. The language...

My Lords, I agree with the Minister that the changes in Northern Ireland over the past number of years have been enormous, and I am privileged to follow my noble friend Lord Trimble, who has take a lot of the credit for the changes we have seen. I want to...

My Lords, I agree with the Minister that the changes in Northern Ireland over the past number of years have been enormous, and I am privileged to follow my noble friend Lord Trimble, who has take a lot of the credit for the changes we have seen. I want to...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that appropriate intervention, and I withdraw my remarks concerning colleagues from the DUP. The Opposition sincerely hope that the 26 March date will be achieved, but we have made it clear, along with others in Northern Ireland, that for devolution to work...

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that appropriate intervention, and I withdraw my remarks concerning colleagues from the DUP. The Opposition sincerely hope that the 26 March date will be achieved, but we have made it clear, along with others in Northern Ireland, that for devolution to work...

My Lords, before the noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, sits down, I want him to reconsider whether it is appropriate for him to withdraw his remarks regarding the DUP Members of your Lordships’ House. Does the House find it acceptable that an excuse can be offered to the Minister, who finds...

My Lords, before the noble Lord, Lord Glentoran, sits down, I want him to reconsider whether it is appropriate for him to withdraw his remarks regarding the DUP Members of your Lordships’ House. Does the House find it acceptable that an excuse can be offered to the Minister, who finds...

My Lords, first, I apologise to your Lordships and the Minister for being a few seconds late in my place at the beginning of the debate. I was watching the monitor, which was rather slow out of the blocks—not for the first time today. I noted a similar problem at...

My Lords, first, I apologise to your Lordships and the Minister for being a few seconds late in my place at the beginning of the debate. I was watching the monitor, which was rather slow out of the blocks—not for the first time today. I noted a similar problem at...

My Lords, I was not party to the reason; perhaps I should not have been. On this occasion I trust the judgment of the noble Baroness, Lady Farrington, and the Minister.

My Lords, I was not party to the reason; perhaps I should not have been. On this occasion I trust the judgment of the noble Baroness, Lady Farrington, and the Minister.

My Lords, I will get this point out of the way before I start: I have no intention of participating in the elections in Northern Ireland. Nobody spoke to me about it; I just happen to have been told yesterday that the DUP were launching their manifesto in Belfast today,...

My Lords, I will get this point out of the way before I start: I have no intention of participating in the elections in Northern Ireland. Nobody spoke to me about it; I just happen to have been told yesterday that the DUP were launching their manifesto in Belfast today,...

My Lords, I interrupt only to be helpful. I would be grateful if the Minister would consider the following point: if he can give either on judicial review, on the basis of what was said in Shuker, or involve the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, either of those solutions...

My Lords, I interrupt only to be helpful. I would be grateful if the Minister would consider the following point: if he can give either on judicial review, on the basis of what was said in Shuker, or involve the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, either of those solutions...

My Lords, I accept that; clearly I shall have to come before the Grand Committee briefed to deal with it. This is not a question for decision at Second Reading. These are issues of concern to the Joint Committee and they must be treated seriously. I am being reminded by...

My Lords, I accept that; clearly I shall have to come before the Grand Committee briefed to deal with it. This is not a question for decision at Second Reading. These are issues of concern to the Joint Committee and they must be treated seriously. I am being reminded by...

Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill. Lords second reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Grand Committee.

Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill. Lords second reading debate. Agreed to on question and committed to a Grand Committee.

The Minister said loudly and clearly to the House today that it is the Government’s intention to ““stick to the terms”” of the St. Andrews agreement. He will know that that agreement states that it is"““for the Assembly to request the devolution of criminal justice and policing from the British...

The Minister said loudly and clearly to the House today that it is the Government’s intention to ““stick to the terms”” of the St. Andrews agreement. He will know that that agreement states that it is"““for the Assembly to request the devolution of criminal justice and policing from the British...

In the St. Andrews agreement the Government expressed their wish to see the devolution of policing and criminal justice matters by May 2008. We want to have discussions with the Assembly, and the Assembly must reach a conclusion on those matters, but there is a period of 12 months—from now,...

In the St. Andrews agreement the Government expressed their wish to see the devolution of policing and criminal justice matters by May 2008. We want to have discussions with the Assembly, and the Assembly must reach a conclusion on those matters, but there is a period of 12 months—from now,...

I join the Minister in welcoming progress when progress is made. However, I am sure that he agrees that there is yet more to do and that it is not appropriate for Mr. Adams to indicate that he supports some functions of policing, yet to hold back on giving support...

I join the Minister in welcoming progress when progress is made. However, I am sure that he agrees that there is yet more to do and that it is not appropriate for Mr. Adams to indicate that he supports some functions of policing, yet to hold back on giving support...

I recognise the hon. Gentleman’s concerns. From my perspective, the statements and the work undertaken by Sinn Fein in getting to the situation where, a week last Sunday, the ard fheis confirmed support for policing, are a welcome engagement with the criminal justice system and policing. The Under-Secretary of State...

I recognise the hon. Gentleman’s concerns. From my perspective, the statements and the work undertaken by Sinn Fein in getting to the situation where, a week last Sunday, the ard fheis confirmed support for policing, are a welcome engagement with the criminal justice system and policing. The Under-Secretary of State...