Wednesday Volume 623 15 March 2017 No. 125 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Wednesday 15 March 2017 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2017 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 375 15 MARCH 2017 376 those on the run—a scheme operated by Labour and House of Commons Conservative Governments—was utterly deplorable, completely immoral and wrong. Will the Minister confirm Wednesday 15 March 2017 for the record that no such scheme, or anything akin to an amnesty, is on the table for negotiation with Sinn Féin in dealing with legacy issues? That would be very The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock helpful. Kris Hopkins: Yes. PRAYERS Power-sharing Agreement [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] 2. Maria Caulfield (Lewes) (Con): What progress has BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS been made on a power-sharing agreement following the recent elections in Northern Ireland. [909172] MIDDLE LEVEL BILL The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (James Second Reading opposed and deferred until Wednesday Brokenshire): The Government are committed to the 22 March (Standing Order No. 20). resumption of devolved government in Northern Ireland, and I believe that the parties and the Irish Government share this commitment. Later today, I will return to Belfast to continue intensive discussions to establish a Oral Answers to Questions partnership Executive within the short timeframe available. Progress has been made but it needs to continue, with urgency, if we are to achieve a positive outcome. NORTHERN IRELAND Maria Caulfield: As a nurse, I am acutely aware of the need for the Northern Ireland Executive to set a The Secretary of State was asked— budget to ensure that public services, particularly health services, are adequately funded. Without an Executive Judiciary in place, that is almost impossible. Does the Secretary of State share my fear that the failure to restore the 1. Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP): If he will make Executive is putting Northern Ireland at severe financial an assessment of the implications for his policies of risk? recent statements by Gerry McGeough on the judiciary. [909171] James Brokenshire: My hon. Friend highlights some of the issues surrounding setting a budget for Northern The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which is a key priority. She highlights the Ireland (Kris Hopkins): I condemn the irresponsible and health service, and I pay tribute to all those who work in disgraceful comments made by Gerry McGeough. I the health service in Northern Ireland. They do an strongly support the work of the judiciary in Northern incredible job. There is a sense of the real potential and Ireland. Any attack on it is unacceptable. opportunity that a new Executive can take forward, and we must equally reflect on the £120 million identified in Jim Shannon: I thank the Minister for his response, last week’s Budget that an Executive could invest, through but I call on him to contact the Public Prosecution to 2021, to really take Northern Ireland forward. Service to find out why a man who was convicted of the attempted murder of my colleague Councillor Sammy Mr Nigel Dodds (Belfast North) (DUP): May I, on Brush and released on licence following his conviction, behalf of my colleagues, express my condolences and and who is known to have a lengthy history of violence, sympathy to the families of the crew of the Irish Coast is not being pursued by the Police Service of Northern Guard helicopter that has crashed? I am certain that Ireland and the PPS for his recent threat against Catholic everyone in Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic members of the judiciary, whom he named as traitors. will be deeply sympathetic to the families at this time. I What will the Minister do to ensure that action is taken? also extend my sympathy to the family of George Gilmore, who was murdered in Carrickfergus in recent Kris Hopkins: I reiterate our condemnation of the days. It appears that this appalling and terrible crime comments made by Gerry McGeough. Our responsibility, was carried out by loyalist paramilitaries.Will the Secretary if we are given the relevant information, is to consider of State reiterate the determination of all of us to move whether we can suspend the licence. It is up to the forward on the Stormont House agreement in relation independent commissioners to discuss that. It would be to the provisions to tackle paramilitarism, both republican wrong for us to seek to fix the system further down. I and loyalist? trust our police service and the PPS to make the right decision. James Brokenshire: I join the right hon. Gentleman in his comments and thoughts about the crew of the Irish Lady Hermon (North Down) (Ind): The Minister will helicopter. That is a terrible tragedy and I know that the know that Mr McGeough did not receive a comfort whole House will share that view. I also join him in letter, apparently because of an internal feud within condemning the appalling murder that has taken place. Sinn Féin. The scheme for issuing comfort letters to I spoke to the PSNI about the case this morning, and I 377 Oral Answers 15 MARCH 2017 Oral Answers 378 know that it is actively pursuing lines of inquiry. He Hard-working people in Northern Ireland will be also highlights the issue of paramilitarism, and I stand staunchly behind the Secretary of State in his efforts to absolutely four-square behind our continuing work to re-establish a new Administration following the elections. confront that scourge. There is no justification for it at However,in order to concentrate minds, if local politicians all. Weare also providing funding to the tune of £25 million are unwise enough not to form an Administration, will in support of that important work. he consider taking measures to cease paying salaries and expenses to those who have been elected? Mr Dodds: Further to that, the Secretary of State will be aware that the DUP is absolutely and totally committed James Brokenshire: My right hon. Friend highlights a in the current talks to getting devolution back up and report that was published on that issue over the past running in Northern Ireland. We did not tear down the week or so. My focus is on getting the parties together institutions or create the present crisis; others walked to reach an agreement within the three weeks. As I said, away. We are determined to restore the Executive as I think that that is doable with urgency and a sense of quickly as possible. What the Prime Minister said yesterday good will. That is what we need to focus on. about ruling out a border poll was good, but will the Secretary of State confirm that the Irish Republic’s involvement in the strand 1, 2 and 3 talks is limited to Stephen Pound (Ealing North) (Lab): Today is a strands 2 and 3 on the relationships between Northern rather sombre day in that it marks the Ides of March, Ireland and the Republic, and that the Republic also but this Friday we will have the opportunity to hail has a role to play in answering questions about legacy glorious St Patrick. If you will allow me, Mr Speaker, I issues? will wish you and the House the happiest St Patrick’s day in advance. James Brokenshire: I can certainly confirm that that Like many Members, I cannot remember a more is the approach that is being taken, which is consistent serious time since the Good Friday agreement was with the Belfast agreement. The contribution that the signed, and I say on behalf of my Opposition colleagues Irish Government are making in that context is positive, that normal hostilities are suspended. We will be offering and we all feel a responsibility to see devolved Government unequivocal support to the Secretary of State, the Minister back in place, delivering for Northern Ireland. I know and the Government. The time for internecine dispute that all the parties recognise that and are working hard in this place is over; the time for constructive engagement to achieve it. and working together is here and now. In that tone, and with reference to the talks the Secretary of State mentioned 11. [909181] Sir Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con): earlier, has there been a roundtable plenary involving Having been a Member of Parliament for many years any or all of the parties? prior to devolution, I am acutely aware of the total inadequacy of direct rule. Will my right hon. Friend James Brokenshire: I thank the hon. Gentleman for assure the House that he is undertaking the negotiations his support. I think we share a cross-party approach on with the utmost urgency and intensity to get a deal on the serious issue of ensuring that we get an Executive devolved government? back in place, delivering for Northern Ireland and following through on commitments and, indeed, the James Brokenshire: I can confirm to my hon. Friend expectations of the public. I hope he will understand that devolved government is the only thing that I am that I will not provide a running narrative on the talks, working towards. That is what the people of Northern but I can say that I believe progress is being made. Some Ireland voted for and that is what they want to see significant issues still need to be resolved, but we are delivering change for Northern Ireland and having a none the less approaching this with good will. positive impact on people’s lives.