Statement on the settlement package for the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) personnel.

Statement on the settlement package for the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service) personnel.

I echo other Members in paying tribute to the Home Service battalions and to the Ulster Defence Regiment. They did a difficult job very bravely in tough circumstances. I shall ask the Defence Minister a defence-related question. Given the pressure on the regular and Territorial Army and the problems of...

I echo other Members in paying tribute to the Home Service battalions and to the Ulster Defence Regiment. They did a difficult job very bravely in tough circumstances. I shall ask the Defence Minister a defence-related question. Given the pressure on the regular and Territorial Army and the problems of...

I well understand the hon. Lady’s concern. I mentioned the after-care package in the statement and I am considering the precise elements of the various funds that exist to support those who served in the RUC and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. As the hon. Lady knows better than...

I well understand the hon. Lady’s concern. I mentioned the after-care package in the statement and I am considering the precise elements of the various funds that exist to support those who served in the RUC and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. As the hon. Lady knows better than...

While I welcome the financial settlements that will enable the courageous men and women of the home battalions of the RIR to leave with dignity, I was bitterly disappointed that the statement made no mention of a fund equivalent to the police fund, which rightly supports the widows and families...

While I welcome the financial settlements that will enable the courageous men and women of the home battalions of the RIR to leave with dignity, I was bitterly disappointed that the statement made no mention of a fund equivalent to the police fund, which rightly supports the widows and families...

Well, we could have an embarrassment of riches if that happened. I would like to see that happen, but realistically it will not be the case. Given the shortages in the Army, there will be sufficient vacancies, but it is not only a case of people wishing to take the...

Well, we could have an embarrassment of riches if that happened. I would like to see that happen, but realistically it will not be the case. Given the shortages in the Army, there will be sufficient vacancies, but it is not only a case of people wishing to take the...

Can the Minister assure the House that everyone who wishes to take the £10,000 will be able to do so?

Can the Minister assure the House that everyone who wishes to take the £10,000 will be able to do so?

I thank my hon. Friend for his welcome for the announcement, and he makes some very valid points. He asked about the transportation of key personnel into what could be deemed to be some of the more sensitive areas of Northern Ireland. It rests with the Chief Constable to come...

I thank my hon. Friend for his welcome for the announcement, and he makes some very valid points. He asked about the transportation of key personnel into what could be deemed to be some of the more sensitive areas of Northern Ireland. It rests with the Chief Constable to come...

I apologise to my right hon. Friend the Minister for not hearing the beginning of his statement, but I welcome what he has announced. I visited the Royal Irish with the armed forces parliamentary scheme only seven weeks ago, when we were all immensely impressed by the regiment’s long history...

I apologise to my right hon. Friend the Minister for not hearing the beginning of his statement, but I welcome what he has announced. I visited the Royal Irish with the armed forces parliamentary scheme only seven weeks ago, when we were all immensely impressed by the regiment’s long history...

I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his new role as the Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson, and no doubt we will cross swords over some of the issues to which he referred tangentially in his remarks. I appreciate that this is the first day in the job for the hon. Gentleman...

I welcome the hon. Gentleman to his new role as the Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson, and no doubt we will cross swords over some of the issues to which he referred tangentially in his remarks. I appreciate that this is the first day in the job for the hon. Gentleman...

I thank the Minister for his statement, and for the notice of it that I was given. I echo the words of tribute that have been paid to the very dedicated and decent people who have done such a demanding job in very difficult circumstances. It is right that they...

I thank the Minister for his statement, and for the notice of it that I was given. I echo the words of tribute that have been paid to the very dedicated and decent people who have done such a demanding job in very difficult circumstances. It is right that they...

On the final question, I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place my reply in the Library of the House. I thank him for his comments on the role of the Royal Irish (Home Service), and am sure that they are shared across the House. The hon. Gentleman asked...

On the final question, I shall write to the hon. Gentleman and place my reply in the Library of the House. I thank him for his comments on the role of the Royal Irish (Home Service), and am sure that they are shared across the House. The hon. Gentleman asked...

I wish to place on record my salute to members of the Royal Irish Regiment, formerly the Ulster Defence Regiment, whom I served alongside in Northern Ireland for a number of years. They were some of the bravest members of the security forces and, unlike many regulars, they went home...

I wish to place on record my salute to members of the Royal Irish Regiment, formerly the Ulster Defence Regiment, whom I served alongside in Northern Ireland for a number of years. They were some of the bravest members of the security forces and, unlike many regulars, they went home...

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I want today to announce the settlement package for the Royal Irish (Home Service) personnel being discharged as a result of the Northern Ireland normalisation process. I want also to mention that we have completed work on a related issue—the reduction in the number of Royal Armoured...

Mr. Deputy Speaker, I want today to announce the settlement package for the Royal Irish (Home Service) personnel being discharged as a result of the Northern Ireland normalisation process. I want also to mention that we have completed work on a related issue—the reduction in the number of Royal Armoured...

It does make sense, but before I retort in my usual way to some of the issues to which the hon. Gentleman pointedly referred, I thank him for his earlier comments. There was a request and issues were raised about the possibility of retaining incremental companies. The Army looked at...

It does make sense, but before I retort in my usual way to some of the issues to which the hon. Gentleman pointedly referred, I thank him for his earlier comments. There was a request and issues were raised about the possibility of retaining incremental companies. The Army looked at...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his service in the armed forces and the role that he played as an individual soldier in getting us to this position of normalisation. We are not strapped for cash. We have had a very significant settlement. The demands are unquestionably great and can...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his service in the armed forces and the role that he played as an individual soldier in getting us to this position of normalisation. We are not strapped for cash. We have had a very significant settlement. The demands are unquestionably great and can...

I join the Minister in praising the contribution of the Royal Irish regiment down the years, and especially those components that form the Ulster Defence Regiment. The Opposition recognise the immense sacrifices that they made during their lengthy period of active operations when Northern Ireland was a focus of terrorist...

I join the Minister in praising the contribution of the Royal Irish regiment down the years, and especially those components that form the Ulster Defence Regiment. The Opposition recognise the immense sacrifices that they made during their lengthy period of active operations when Northern Ireland was a focus of terrorist...

I apologise for being a few minutes late due to circumstances over which I had no control. This is a day of shadows for Northern Ireland, because any lessening of the link with the United Kingdom is always looked on with suspicion by Unionists, who are as determined as ever...

I apologise for being a few minutes late due to circumstances over which I had no control. This is a day of shadows for Northern Ireland, because any lessening of the link with the United Kingdom is always looked on with suspicion by Unionists, who are as determined as ever...

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his thanks for the way in which we have approached this issue. He is right to say that he and his colleagues made representations, as did the hon. Member for North Down (Lady Hermon). The views that were expressed helped us to reach...

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his thanks for the way in which we have approached this issue. He is right to say that he and his colleagues made representations, as did the hon. Member for North Down (Lady Hermon). The views that were expressed helped us to reach...

I echo the words of my right hon. Friend the Member for North Antrim (Rev. Ian Paisley). Having served in the UDR alongside some of my hon. Friends, it is with great pride that I reflect on the contribution that it has made to securing progress in Northern Ireland and...

I echo the words of my right hon. Friend the Member for North Antrim (Rev. Ian Paisley). Having served in the UDR alongside some of my hon. Friends, it is with great pride that I reflect on the contribution that it has made to securing progress in Northern Ireland and...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for the service he gave as a member of the UDR. He made strong and trenchant points about the role of the UDR and the Royal Irish (Home Service); there is no one better placed to do that. The hon. Gentleman raised issues about the...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for the service he gave as a member of the UDR. He made strong and trenchant points about the role of the UDR and the Royal Irish (Home Service); there is no one better placed to do that. The hon. Gentleman raised issues about the...