Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill

Will the Secretary of State give way?

The right hon. Gentleman really does have to be pithier than he was in his last intervention. By ...

I thank the Secretary of State for that clear answer, but could he just with a couple of sentence...

I will turn to elements of this later in my speech, but I referred earlier to the importance of t...

The Secretary of State will be aware that it was back in April 2017 that the then Defence Committ...

There is obviously no statute of limitations. The Bill has moved on and, as I said, I would like ...

We recently held the memorial concert for the Deal marine musicians who were murdered by the IRA ...

In answer to my hon. Friend’s first question, I confirm the geographical jurisdiction. On her sec...

The Secretary of State mentioned the issue of all the victims. The justice that many victims want...

It is contained within the Bill and within the independence of the commission, which will be able...

Fifty-one years ago, my cousin Kenneth Smyth was murdered—[Interruption.] Kenneth Smyth was murde...

First, I completely recognise the emotion with which the hon. Gentleman has expressed his views. ...

Sinn Féin has always argued that, because in the early years of the troubles fatal shootings by a...

No.

Turning now to the role of victims and families—

Sorry, does the Minister want to explain that?

I will happily explain a bit later, when I have finished what I am saying.

Turning now to t...

The Secretary of State has made an important point about the R v. Adams case and the disregarding...

Well, perhaps it is a case of better late than never. These are Government amendments, but I am t...

Does the Secretary of State recognise the huge concern felt by families who do not think it is pr...

Our amendment provides until 1 May 2024 for inquests to conclude. Since the Bill’s introduction, ...

The Secretary of State is very kind and generous to give way. Before he concludes, would he care ...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. There have been a number of quite forthright convers...

I have been waiting patiently for the Secretary of State to answer the question that I asked him ...

I think my hon. Friend will remember that I gave him a direct answer and he wanted something that...

It does not answer my question.

Order.

The ICRIR has always, as a public body, needed to comply with all its duties under the Human Righ...

No they have not.

There you go; we beg to differ.

Finally, through these amendments the term “the relevant da...

The Bill has managed to unite all Northern Ireland parties in opposition to it. The word “reconci...

I was intrigued to hear the Leader of the Opposition publicly state last week that, if he were to...

Labour believes in a more consensual way forward. We believe that, in the past, there has been ag...

Officer B.

Dennis Hutchings.

Okay. I will move on.

The Secretary of State has clearly been trying to do his best with a ...

Will the Minister give way?

Shadow Minister, for the time being.

I was going to make that clear in my comments. I thank the shadow Secretary of State for what he ...

The right hon. Member makes his point passionately, with great erudition and personal experience ...

I thank the shadow Secretary of State for emphasising that point, because it highlights the folly...

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. These are very difficult issues and of ...

I do not intend to spend long on my feet, as I have made all the points that I would seek to make...

We have seven Members who wish to speak. I will impose a seven-minute time limit to make sure tha...

I appreciate the brevity with which the hon. Member for Gordon (Richard Thomson) spoke, and the f...

Unlike some of the people who have been involved in this debate more recently, who have left the ...

To support the hon. Member’s point about the work of Jon Boutcher and his team in Op Kenova, he w...

The right hon. Member is absolutely right. The families involved—we do have to be careful—in thos...

It is a pleasure to follow my hon. Friend the Member for Foyle (Colum Eastwood). I want to speak ...

The Secretary of State said that immunity will be blocked if there is an ongoing process. Of cour...

Can I ask the hon. Gentleman to be very careful in his language? The last time that solicitors we...

I thank the hon. Member for that, but he should be very clear that I did not actually mention sol...

I will start by putting on the record my appreciation for the efforts of the Government, in parti...

I rise to oppose this legislation in the strongest possible terms and to speak on behalf of the m...

Does my hon. Friend also think that we are talking not just about the legacy of the past and the ...

My right hon. Friend makes such a valid point on the impact the Bill will have on young people an...

I am pleased to speak in this debate and to put forward the desires of the people of Strangford i...

Order. I invite the hon. Gentleman to have a glass of water and compose himself. When you are rea...

Kenneth took us shooting when we were small. I remember him well; he instilled a love of the coun...

My hon. Friend has just highlighted a number of individuals who potentially will never see justic...

When I think of my cousin Kenneth Smyth, I think of Daniel McCormick, a Roman Catholic. They were...

With the leave of the House, I would like to answer a few of the points that have been raised.