Clause 3 - Certificates of eligibility
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill
10:30 am
David Hanson (Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office; Delyn, Labour)
As a Government, we can send out strong messages and undertake strong activity to ensure that individuals who wish to return can do so. We will certainly work very hard to achieve that objective. The hon. Gentleman needs to reflect on whether we should, as the amendments suggest, link the question of exiles to the return of individuals under this legislation. That is what he proposes. Although I know that he opposes the Government’s policy, I say to him that entry to the scheme in the Bill should be on terms similar to those of entry to the early release scheme under the Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1988. I shall do all I can, as will the Secretary of State, to ensure that exiled individuals have the opportunity to return.