Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Bill
10:31 am
Shaun Woodward (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Northern Ireland Office; St Helens South, Labour)
I beg to move
That—
(1)during proceedings on the Terrorism (Northern Ireland) Bill the Standing Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday 8th November) meet—
(a)at 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday 8th November;
(b)at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 10th November;
(2)the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 10th November.
Good morning, Lady Winterton, and I welcome you to the Chair. I am sure that all Committee members will welcome your expert guidance. I have removed my jacket; I have not done so because of a hot flush, but we shall see what happens during our proceedings.
It is good to see that we have started the Committee in a co-operative and constructive spirit, and I hope that that will prevail. We managed to agree the process through the usual channels, and the programme motion does not contain knives, so it is not intended to curtail what I am sure will be a very important, constructive debate.
This is obviously an extremely important Bill for the people of Northern Ireland. It is important that we have a constructive debate, and the Government want to listen to the arguments made by all sides regarding the content of the Bill, with the aim of ensuring that the legislation we put on the statute book serves the people of Northern Ireland as best as it possibly can. In that spirit of constructive engagement and in welcoming all members of the Committee, I support the motion.