My Lords, this has been a very powerful debate, with powerful contributions from all sides of your Lordships’ House. What is clear from everyone who has spoken is the recognition that all terrorism, from whatever side it comes, is wrong. It is not a question of pitting one atrocity against another or of identifying terrorism with one community. I remember that, during the Troubles, some of the most powerful voices against republican terrorism were in the nationalist community. There were people such as John Hume, who spoke out against terrorism relentlessly. Sadly, what is happening today in Northern Ireland is that that history is being rewritten and there is a revision of the past.
7 pm
Now the main party representing nationalists and republicans in Northern Ireland goes out of its way to eulogise terrorism. That is why this issue is so important
and why, when we put provisions into legislation, we must get them right. We must not allow that warped, perverse narrative to gain ground for the sake of future generations: so that they do not believe that somehow this activity resulted in progress, when it held Northern Ireland back in a terrible way, at the cost of thousands of lives, and heartbreak, for so many years.
I have listened to what the Minister said about the purpose of his amendments. We will obviously closely monitor this in the months and years ahead. I trust that what he says will come to fruition. Clearly, if it does not, we will have to return to these matters. With that, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.