Former Social Democratic and Labour Party MP for South Down
What recent discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the national security protocols to be used after the devolution of policing and justice matters.
I thank the Secretary of State for his reply. The intelligence services withheld information from the investigation into the tragedy of the Omagh bombing, and allegations have recently been made about the intelligence services' role in the death of Kieran Doherty in Derry. What further discussions will he have with the Northern Ireland Executive to prevent such things from happening and to...
What assessment he has made of the outcomes of the recent talks at Hillsborough between the Northern Ireland political parties; and if he will make a statement.
I thank the Secretary of State for his response. May I place on record the thanks of the people of Northern Ireland to the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs for the extraordinary patience and diligence that they have applied throughout these talks? Does the Secretary of State share the frustration and anger of the people of Northern...
What recent assessment he has made of progress on decommissioning of weapons by loyalist paramilitary organisations.
I thank the Secretary of State for his reply. Will he tell the House what approaches have been made to the Northern Ireland Office by, or on behalf of, the Ulster Defence Association for funding in anticipation of decommissioning? Is he aware of loyalist paramilitaries making similar approaches to the Irish Government for multi-million pound funding?
At this time of year, the Northern Ireland fishing industry faces the Christmas season with dread and almost despair because of the growing inability to earn a living at sea. I do not intend to address the broader issues, because they have been, and will be, so eloquently addressed by other hon. Members. I will discuss the more parochial aspects of the issue that I would like the Minister to...
I thank the Minister for that confirmation. Since 1999, the European Commission has cut the cod quota by 84 per cent., the whiting quota by 95 per cent. and the plaice quota by 96 per cent., with further reductions proposed of 25 per cent. for cod and plaice and 30 per cent. for prawns. We must ask ourselves, "How can we protect our fishing industry?" It is not just a question of the income,...
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to seek to improve the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if she will review her Department's policy of excluding councillors' allowances from earnings in the calculation of child maintenance liabilities; and if she will make a statement.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the safety of Christians living in the City of Jerusalem.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the rights of Christians in the Palestinian territories with regard to (a) travel, (b) housing, (c) residency and (d) equal taxation.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what mechanisms there are to ensure his Department complies with equal pay legislation.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with (a) loyalist groups and (b) the Irish Government on decommissioning of arms; and if he will make a statement.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received recent representations on the foreclosure by Ulster Bank on (a) building contractors and (b) small businesses.
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent estimate is of the cost under each budget heading of implementing his Department's proposals for devolution of policing and justice powers in Northern Ireland.
