Clause 2 - Certification commissioner
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill
9:00 am
Lady Hermon (North Down, UUP)
Sir Nicholas, it is delightful to be in Committee under your chairmanship. No matter how dark it is outside, you brighten the Room—as does the hon. Member for Foyle. There is never a dull moment when he is present.
The hon. Gentleman began his introduction to the amendments by pointing out the obnoxious nature of the Bill. We cannot get away from that fact. Given that it is so obnoxious to the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland, how can he believe that the Secretary of State could find just one commissioner—let alone three—who commands enough widespread acceptance throughout the community in Northern Ireland to give get-out-of-jail-free cards to anyone?