New Clause 4
Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill
4:15 pm
Sammy Wilson (East Antrim, DUP)
Some of us have listened to the rhetoric of the SDLP for a very long time about the need for confidence, cross-community support and inclusiveness—arguments that it has used time and time again to ensure that Sinn Fein is included in every decision in Northern Ireland. The explanation given by the hon. Member for Foyle for the new clause was staggering. He has shown clearly that inclusiveness as defined by him and his party must include only the people with whom he agrees or is associated, but certainly not those opposed to his point of view. That, of course, is what the new clause is all about.
The reason why parallel consent was required in the 2006 Act was simple: the devolution of policing and justice is of such importance that it can only take place when there is absolute confidence within the community that the right conditions have been met. That means that the views of whichever parties happen to represent the majority of unionists and nationalists cannot be ignored. To talk of inclusiveness, without recognising that the support of the majority grouping on either side is required, is plain daft.
The hon. Member for Foyle has hit on the problem that is caused. Sufficient confidence needs to be generated on both sides of the community. It might well be that nationalists are happy: indeed the SDLP indicated in the Committee on the Preparation for Government last summer that it wished to see the devolution of policing and justice on the day of devolution. It is one thing to say that nationalists are happy about the devolution of policing and justice and that it should therefore happen, but that ignores the confidence that is required on the Unionist side.
Parallel consent was an attempt to ensure that the devolution of policing and justice would and could only happen in circumstances in which it could work. That is important. The devolution of policing and justice in the absence of parallel consent—a move away from parallel consent—would create difficulties in a newly formed Assembly, and difficulties for confidence in devolved policing and justice.
The DUP wishes to see the devolution of policing and justice in Northern Ireland, just as it wishes to see the devolution of all other functions. That has been put on the record of the House on a number of occasions and on the record of the discussions at Stormont, at which some SDLP Members were present. The hon. Member for Foyle may have been present at some of the meetings in which I was involved. However, devolution can only be done in circumstances where there is confidence. We hope that that will happen sooner rather than later. Generating confidence is not solely within the remit of Unionists generally or the DUP in particular. The lack of confidence is a result of the attitude of Sinn Fein, which will be one of the major parties to deal with policing in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The job of working towards a position that generates confidence is for Sinn Fein.
This form of words on devolution was used in the comprehensive agreement, in discussions in the summer at Stormont and by the leader of the DUP in the House. We wish devolution to happen as soon as is possible, but it cannot happen unless there is confidence on both sides of the community that it can work and unless those who will be involved in policing and justice matters are genuinely supportive of the police. For that reason, parallel consent is important. It is the one way of ensuring that the decision is inclusive and cross-community, and that it will work in the long term.