Lord Dunlop: My Lords, the purpose of the Fatal Accidents and Sudden Deaths etc. (Scotland) Act 2016 is to modernise the system of fatal accident inquiries—often referred to as FAIs—in Scotland. The Act is in line with the recommendations of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Cullen of Whitekirk, following his independent review of FAI legislation in 2009. The Act received Royal Assent on 14 January...
Lord Dunlop: Helicopters from the Republic of Ireland have been tasked to Northern Ireland 31 times from 1 November 2015 to 31 October 2016. These taskings included assistance for both maritime and inland incidents.
Lord Dunlop: The Fresh Start Agreement makes clear that the UK Government will provide an additional £25m, over five years, to tackle continuing paramilitary activity. Her Majesty’s Government has received no requests for access to this funding. Discussions are ongoing with the Northern Ireland Executive on the action plan and funding arrangements.
Lord Dunlop: This Government understands the concept of parity of esteem, as set out in the 1998 Belfast Agreement, as relating to and placing a general obligation on the UK Government to treat people of different traditions or communities in Northern Ireland fairly and with equal respect.
Lord Dunlop: The Parades Commission for Northern Ireland is required to comply with the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998, which is compliant with international treaty obligations on human rights. As a public authority the Commission also has general obligations under public law. The Commission is ultimately responsible to the courts for the discharge of its operations. There is no one body or individual...
Lord Dunlop: As my noble friend will know, the Secretary of State has to persuade the Treasury to release funds. The House will know that the Treasury requires sight of detailed and measurable plans, and that is what is at issue here. I cannot give him a precise timetable tonight, but if there is further information that can be usefully shared, I am happy to write to him on that. The key point is that the...
Lord Dunlop: I thank noble Lords for their contributions to this short debate and for their support for these regulations. In particular, I welcome the noble Baroness, Lady Suttie, to her new role and echo her warm words for the noble Lord, Lord Alderdice, who was part of the independent panel that made 43 recommendations on how we take dealing with paramilitary activity forward. As I said earlier, this...
Lord Dunlop: My Lords, this statutory instrument makes provision for the exercise of functions of the new Independent Reporting Commission. The commission is being established under the fresh start agreement to report on progress towards ending paramilitary activity connected with Northern Ireland. Your Lordships will recall that the fresh start agreement included a range of measures agreed by political...
Lord Dunlop: Staffing levels in the Police Service of Northern Ireland are a matter for the Chief Constable and PSNI’s budget is provided by the Department of Justice. However, we will always give our fullest possible backing to the men and women of the PSNI who do such a superb job. That is partly why this Government has provided specific Additional Security Funding totalling £230million in the last...
Lord Dunlop: This Government understands the concept of parity of esteem, as set out in the 1998 Belfast Agreement, as placing a general obligation on the UK Government to govern in the interests of the whole community and to treat people of different traditions fairly and with equal respect. In the Agreement it is clearly expressed and defined in relation to people living in Northern Ireland. As a...
Lord Dunlop: There is no one body or individual that is specifically responsible for ensuring the Parades Commission complies with international treaty obligations, including on human rights. Further to my written answer of 17 October, the Commission operates independently of the Government, in line with the provisions contained in the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998. That Act is compliant with...
Lord Dunlop: No revisions have been made to the procedural rules or the guidelines issued by the Parades Commission in the last five years. In line with the provisions of the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998, the procedural rules and the guidelines are required to be kept under review by the Commission; it is a matter for the Commission whether it proposes any revisions to the relevant instruments.
Lord Dunlop: The Government is committed to working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive as we prepare for negotiations, recognising the particular circumstances that affect Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has regular meetings with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive. In her first two weeks as Prime Minister, Theresa May visited Northern Ireland, promising...
Lord Dunlop: The Government is committed to working closely with the Northern Ireland Executive as we prepare for negotiations, recognising the particular circumstances that affect Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has regular meetings with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive. In her first two weeks as Prime Minister, Theresa May visited Northern Ireland, promising...
Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2016 – Lord Dunlop.
Bankruptcy (Scotland) Act 2016 (Consequential Provisions and Modifications) Order 2016 – Lord Dunlop.
Lord Dunlop: The Public Processions (NI) Act 1998 requires the Parades Commission to keep the procedural rules and guidelines it issues under that Act under review and empowers it to, from time to time, revise the whole or any part of the procedural rules and guidelines and issue the revised versions. The rules and guidelines are reviewed on an annual basis; the timing of such reviews is a matter for...
Lord Dunlop: The Parades Commission operates independently of Government in line with the provisions contained in the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998. The Commission is accountable to the courts for its operational decisions. The Commission is accountable to the Northern Ireland Office for the management of its resources.
