Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill
10:30 am
Laurence Robertson (Shadow Minister, Northern Ireland; Tewkesbury, Conservative)
I welcome you to the Chair, Sir Nicholas. Having served under your chairmanship before, I know exactly what delights await us.
As the Minister said, four days should be ample time to consider the Bill. I certainly hope so, although one can never be certain with Northern Ireland legislation. Although the Opposition officially oppose such guillotine motions, I believe that on this occasion we should have enough time.
Like the Minister, I hope that the Assembly will be up and running shortly, not because important issues have to be dealt with in Bills such as the one before us, but because, as all hon. Members know, much Northern Ireland legislation is enacted through the many statutory instruments that come before Committee. Indeed, one was debated last week, one is being debated tomorrow, and I believe that there are two next week. It is a most unsatisfactory way to govern a part of the United Kingdom. I hope that the parties in Northern Ireland can find their way forward.
The Minister says that the deadline of 26 March is not negotiable. I remind him that that was said about 24 November, but given the Prime Minister’s shortening tenure of office, I think that 26 March will be a definite date on this occasion.
I look forward to debating the Bill. In general, we do not have a problem with it, although we shall want to explore one or two issues and to seek the Minister’s guidance on one or two matters. In general, however, I am sure that our debates will be constructive. I am heartened by the fact that the Minister said that he will take on board what is said in Committee. It is typical of him to listen to the debate, as do all Northern Ireland Ministers, and their officials are accommodating to the Opposition. That usually leads to a high standard of debate.