Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill
10:30 am
Paul Goggins (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Northern Ireland Office; Wythenshawe and Sale East, Labour)
I beg to move,
That—
(1) the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 10.30 a.m. on Tuesday 16th January) meet—
(a) at 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday 16th January;
(b) at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 18th January;
(c) at 10.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. on Tuesday 23rd January;
(d) at 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. on Thursday 25th January;
(2) the proceedings shall be taken in the following order: Clauses 1 to 8; Schedule 1; Clause 9; Schedule 2; Clauses 10 to 23; Schedule 3; Clauses 24 to 37; Schedule 4; Clauses 38 to 45; Schedule 5; Clauses 46 and 47; Schedule 6; Clauses 48 to 51; new Clauses; new Schedules; remaining proceedings on the Bill;
(3) the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion at 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 25th January.
I shall not detain the Committee for long. We look forward to the prospect of hard work and comfort under your guidance in the Chair, Sir Nicholas. We certainly look forward to having you in the Chair for our deliberations.
I thank all the Opposition parties for our constructive discussions on the motion and the support that they have shown for it. As members of the Committee will see, we are scheduled to deliberate on the Bill over a period of four days. That will be ample time for us to deliberate in full on all that is before us. There are certainly no knives planned, which I know you will strongly approve of, Sir Nicholas.
The way that I have always approached deliberations in Committee is to listen carefully to all the arguments, to explain clearly the Government’s position as best as I can and, if there is merit in the arguments, to consider always whether there are things that we can do to improve the Bill. That is the correct spirit of deliberation, I think, and the way in which I shall proceed.
I want to make two further points. First, there is a starting point of consensus in the Committee about the fact that we are moving towards more normal times in Northern Ireland. Indeed, the fact that we are bringing this Bill before the Committee is an indication of the progress that is being made. It is also an indication that some risks remain in Northern Ireland, not least from dissident groups. That is why some of the proposals are necessary.
Secondly, we are having our deliberations in Committee at an extraordinarily important time for the people of Northern Ireland. As we have our discussions, other discussions will continue in Northern Ireland with a view to the restoration of devolution. Within a few days of the end of our deliberations, assuming that we accept the programme motion, the Assembly will be dissolved, we will move into an election period and there will be an election on 7 March. An Executive must be restored by 26 March. I believe that that timetable can work, but I reiterate what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said yesterday in a letter to all parties. The date of 26 March is not negotiable, and nothing will come before the House, in this Bill or any other legislation, to change that date.
It is an important time. The context is very real for Northern Ireland. I am sure that we will give proper consideration to such an important Bill.