Results 1-20 of 2,262 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Owen Paterson

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Paramilitary Activities (4 Nov 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: Further to the comments of my hon. Friend the Member for Bosworth (David Tredinnick), with Remembrance day approaching we should remember all those who were killed or injured serving the security forces, protecting our democracy and safeguarding our public. The latest IMC report published this morning contains some encouraging news, but also other deeply worrying information. The report...

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Paramilitary Activities (4 Nov 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: On the conclusion that the report endorses the devolution of policing, the Opposition have always taken a responsible approach. We support the devolution of policing and justice, and we supported the Bill in March. My right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition has confirmed our long-term commitment to the significant financial package proposed by the Government. We have always made clear...

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Paramilitary Activities (4 Nov 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: Does the Secretary of State agree that it is down to all four parties in the coalition on the Executive to work together to finalise the details and the timing?

[Mrs. Joan Humble in the Chair] — Health Care (Shropshire) (14 Jul 2009)

Owen Paterson: It is pleasure to serve under you, Mrs. Humble, and I will be as brief as I can. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Ludlow (Mr. Dunne) on securing the debate. As he said, this is the second such debate—there really is a sense of déjà vu and continuity. At the time of the previous debate, we went to see the then Secretary of State, the right hon. Member for...

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Crime Detection (8 Jul 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: The recent incident at Lisnaskea shows that, to improve crime detection rates, it is essential that republican and loyalist paramilitaries be put out of action for good. The recent loyalist decommissioning is highly significant and vindicates the position that we took on decommissioning legislation. However, a number of loyalist groups are still engaged in serious criminality. How does the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Crime Detection (8 Jul 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: The misery inflicted on the whole community by loyalist groups is wholly unacceptable. Does the Minister agree that, in order to cut crime and increase detection rates, he needs to maintain unrelenting pressure to force them to end all their illegal activities, disband their command and control structures and give their unconditional support to the PSNI?

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Presbyterian Mutual Society (3 Jun 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: It was the Government's guarantee to other banks and the failure of regulation that brought about the collapse of the Presbyterian Mutual. I met the former moderator and the general secretary on Monday, and I was shocked to learn that they had written to the Prime Minister three times since November, but he had sent only one holding reply. I was also surprised to find out that the Secretary...

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Presbyterian Mutual Society (3 Jun 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: Contrast that with the clarity of the right hon. Gentleman's successor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr. Cameron), who said at a public meeting in Ballymena two weeks ago: "I am not here to make spending promises. But what I can tell you is that if I was Prime Minister I would take a very good look at whether people are being treated fairly. So I think this is a real case for...

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Dissident Republican Groups (22 Apr 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: On behalf of Her Majesty's Opposition, I endorse the comments of my hon. Friend the Member for South Staffordshire (Sir Patrick Cormack) and the Secretary of State about Sir Hugh Orde, who is moving to another job. He did a remarkable job under difficult circumstances, and we should all be grateful for his work. We wish him the very best in his new endeavours. The most effective way in which...

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Dissident Republican Groups (22 Apr 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: Let me look at the issue from a slightly different angle. Following the Omagh bombings, the former Prime Minister passed legislation changing the rules on admissible evidence. However, it was so unworkable that it was repealed weeks after he left office. Is the Secretary of State considering legislating for new and usable powers to curb terrorist activity effectively?

Cafcass: Northern Ireland (9 Mar 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: I thank the Secretary of State for giving me advance sight of his statement and for his call yesterday. I also join him in sending our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of Sapper Patrick Azimkar and Sapper Mark Quinsey, and to those injured in this cowardly attack. The murdered men were about to travel to Afghanistan to serve their country and to support the Afghan people. The...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Northern Ireland Bill (4 Mar 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: I am grateful to the Secretary of State for outlining the main provisions in the Bill and the Government's rationale for bringing it before the House today. I also thank him for giving the Opposition early sight of the legislation, and for the helpful manner in which his officials have answered our questions. The last Conservative Government began the peace process, and their work was built...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Northern Ireland Bill (4 Mar 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: I entirely endorse the hon. Gentleman's comments; I am about to make similar comments myself. I particularly agree with him about the collaboration with the Garda, which I have noticed in the border areas. The year before last, two officers had lucky escapes in Londonderry and Dungannon. In more recent months, the attacks in Craigavon, the rocket attack in Lisnaskea and the bomb in Rosslea...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Northern Ireland Bill (4 Mar 2009)

Owen Paterson: I am sure that the Secretary of State will have noted those comments and will reply later. We think that there should be a limit to the process, so that we have a final full-stop. It would not be sensible to have a Department without a Minister for an indefinite period. I am aware that time is short and many other Members wish to speak, so let me summarise our position. We support the...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Northern Ireland Bill (Allocation of Time) (4 Mar 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: May I clarify the issue again? I am just being brutally practical. Sadly, the Government have control of Parliament; the Executive have the power to decide time. We have some important amendments that we want to introduce and we bitterly regret the position, but the fact is that we will not be able to explain the amendments in this democratically elected House if we do not have the time. I...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Northern Ireland Bill (Allocation of Time) (4 Mar 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: The hon. Lady may have missed my earlier comments. The original plan, which was appalling, was to publish the Bill last Monday and to have Second Reading on Wednesday. Through the usual channels, we got an extra week, but I have said that the situation is highly unsatisfactory. I am in total agreement with virtually every Member who has spoken, but because the Government have a...

Oral Answers to Questions — Prime Minister: Northern Ireland Bill (Allocation of Time) (4 Mar 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: I was first alerted to the imminence of the Bill when during the week before the recess, through the usual channels, I learnt that the Government intended to publish it on Monday 23 February, the day on which Parliament resumed. The House would be given one full day to read it, understand it and table amendments before proceeding to consider all stages on Wednesday 25 February. It has...

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Consultative Group on the Past (4 Mar 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: On 25 February, the Secretary of State said on the BBC online that "it is an interesting idea, but very clearly the time is not right for a recognition payment." Can he confirm that the time will never be right?

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Consultative Group on the Past (4 Mar 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: That was a very interesting reply. To pick up on the Secretary of State's answers to my hon. Friend and neighbour the Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard), we on the Conservative Benches welcome the Secretary of State's decision not to go ahead with the payments, which we consider to be repugnant. To put it simply, does he agree that there can be no moral equivalence between the two little...

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Paramilitary Decommissioning (21 Jan 2009) has video

Owen Paterson: Eleven years on from the agreement, it is unacceptable that there are armed gangs operating in any part of Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State has just mentioned new evidence that has convinced him that the amnesty should be extended. Will he give us some of that evidence now?