Results 1-20 of 4,558 for in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates' speaker:Lord Laird

Queen’s Speech — Debate (2nd Day) (9 May 2013)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I wish to speak on a topic that causes considerable interest and fear in Northern Ireland, which unfortunately was not dealt with in the gracious Speech. I refer to the inexplicable actions of the Northern Ireland Parades Commission, a body that is answerable to the Northern Ireland Office. Before doing so, I want to acknowledge that my native land of Ulster is considerably...

Queen's Speech — Debate (4th Day) (15 May 2012)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I have noted the gracious Speech and hope that in this parliamentary year things can be changed that should be. For example, I have become increasingly worried about a build-up of resentment over actual or perceived corruption among police forces the length of this country. I am aware that my good friend, the noble Lord, Lord Maginnis of Drumglass, is also particularly concerned...

Airports (Amendment) Bill [HL]: Second Reading (16 March 2012)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I would like to express support for the Bill which is before us today for Second Reading. In doing, so I acknowledge the exceptional work of my good friend, the noble Lord, Lord Empey, in having the wisdom and drive to introduce this proposed legislation. I do not intend to detain your Lordships' House very long this morning. The Bill is brief but makes a most important point for...

Airports (Amendment) Bill [HL]: Second Reading (16 March 2012)

Lord Laird: That is very kind. However, we have one further major asset when it comes to tourism, that being that it is the homeland of the Ulster Scots people, whose relations settled in America in the 18th century and mostly shaped the southern states. Today there are 22 million Ulster Scots-or as they call them, Scots Irish descendants-living in the US, in contrast with the Irish population in that...

Postal Services Bill: Committee (4th Day) (6 April 2011)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I thank the Minister and all noble Lords who took part in the debate. I was particularly interested in the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale. I will consider these matters carefully and may return to them on a different occasion but I propose to withdraw the amendment at this stage. Amendment 24P withdrawn Clause 34 agreed. Amendment 24PA not moved. Amendment 24PB Moved...

Postal Services Bill: Committee (4th Day) (6 April 2011)

Lord Laird: The post office network is part of the fabric of rural life. In Northern Ireland, as elsewhere, the local post office is so much more than a retail outlet. We all have access to big shopping centres to which we drive, sometimes for many miles, to do the weekly shopping. But the local post office plugs gaps and helps the wheels of the local economy to run smoothly. The two businesses, Post...

Postal Services Bill: Committee (4th Day) (6 April 2011)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I have two amendments in this grouping. I propose, with the permission of your Lordships, to refer first to Amendment 24L. The purpose of this amendment is simple; by delaying the ability of Ofcom to review the universal postal service, the current minimum requirements of the universal postal service will be protected for six years. It is not my intention to go over a lot of the...

Queen's Speech — Debate (3rd Day) (27 May 2010)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I rise in this debate on the gracious Speech aware of the new political time in which we now exist. We in Northern Ireland have put our political process through contortions in the past decade. Included in that is the requirement for people to sit beside those with whom they never expected to work. Devolution has meant that the issues which I can raise in your Lordships' House are...

Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (Renewal of Temporary Provisions) Order 2010: Motion to Approve (9 March 2010)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for her statement today and I should like to be identified with her remarks about the gallant members of both the RUC and the PSNI and the brave young policeman who died one year ago tonight. I have debated this issue in this House on quite a number of occasions and I think that my views are well known. I am totally opposed to this concept of...

Queen's Speech — Debate (3rd Day) (Continued) (23 November 2009)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I am conscious that since the devolution of power to the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2007, there have not been many opportunities to look at issues that concern the Province. However, it is only correct that noble Lords should be kept informed of some aspects of progress in Northern Ireland. The major problem is that the Executive is a mandatory coalition and individual Ministers...

Coroners and Justice Bill: Third Reading (5 November 2009)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her statement. Obviously, under the circumstances I shall withdraw my amendment and take the issue up in a different way.

Justice: Northern Ireland — Question (24 June 2009)

Lord Laird: My Lords, can the Minister tell us whether the security forces in Northern Ireland have examined in detail recent transcripts of a court case in Cork of a Mr Ted Cunningham in which he alleged that a Mr Philip Flynn, who at that time was chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland's Irish division and was the wealth management consultant to Sinn Fein/IRA, was involved in the raid on the Northern Bank?

Northern Ireland: Bill of Rights — Question (15 January 2009)

Lord Laird: My Lords, is the noble Baroness the Lord President aware that, in the 2001, the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission issued a similar report to the one that we are confronted with today? That was rejected at that time on behalf of the Government by Desmond Browne, then a Minister in the Northern Ireland Office, for being outside the commission's remit. Is that the Government's position today?

Queen's Speech — Debate (4th Day) (9 December 2008)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I note in the gracious Speech the reference to Northern Ireland, and I support that reference. Tomorrow, 10 December, is Human Rights Day. I am in favour of a UK Bill of rights and responsibilities and I am against the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission's anticipated radical wish list to be released in Belfast tomorrow. The 1998 Belfast agreement does not require a provincial...

Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2008 (25 June 2008)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I join other noble Lords in congratulating the noble Lord, Lord Tunnicliffe, not only on the way in which he presented the two instruments but on the fact that he has joined the Front-Bench team dealing with Northern Ireland; that will be of great benefit to us all. I offer him any advice, at any stage, that he may wish to seek. The group to which I belong also supports the two...

Electoral Administration Act 2006 (Regulation of Loans etc.: Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (12 May 2008)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I join other noble Lords in thanking the Minister for outlining this order. I do not wish to make heavy weather out of it, because there is no heavy weather to be made out of it. The Minister said that the order is necessary in the improving state of affairs in Northern Ireland. We look forward to a day when it will not be totally necessary, which may be after 2012. The order...

Electoral Administration Act 2006 (Regulation of Loans etc.: Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (12 May 2008)

Lord Laird: My Lords, does that discriminate against British citizens who live in the Irish republic and who are not voters in the UK, as opposed to their next-door neighbours who are Irish citizens and can donate money to parties in Northern Ireland?

Electoral Administration Act 2006 (Regulation of Loans etc.: Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (12 May 2008)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I draw the Minister's attention to the example of the 25,000 people along the borders with Northern Ireland who could consider themselves to be British and not Irish. They have been recognised under the Belfast agreement and get parity of esteem and total equality, but under this order they do not. The Orange Grand Lodge of Donegal cannot give money—it operates in the Irish...

Criminal Justice (Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (29 April 2008)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I join other noble Lords in thanking the Minister for his explanation of the orders and in giving the orders a broad welcome. It is good that that they will bring the legislation in Northern Ireland broadly into line with the rest of the United Kingdom. There has been considerable demand in Northern Ireland for a review of sentencing. Every time that someone has unfortunately been...

Debate on the Address (12 November 2007)

Lord Laird: My Lords, I am delighted to have this opportunity to discuss some actions that concern Northern Ireland. There can be no doubt that almost everything has changed in Northern Ireland over the past 15 years. Most of the change is for the betterment of the Province's people and I applaud those who have contributed to bringing about the massive improvement. However, dark clouds still remain not...