Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 03 Jul 2017
Northern Ireland: Political Situation
"We are pleased that the Secretary of State has told us that it will still be possible for the two sides in Northern Ireland to reach a deal within the next few days. He will know as well as I do that trust is imperative in the current talks. Will …..."Lord Coaker - View Speech
View all Lord Coaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland: Political Situation
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 28 Mar 2017
Northern Ireland: Political Developments
"How will the talks to come be different from the talks we have had so far? What fresh initiatives is the Secretary of State proposing, and will one of them be to get the Prime Minister to Belfast as soon as possible and to involve the Taoiseach as well?..."Lord Coaker - View Speech
View all Lord Coaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland: Political Developments
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 17 Jan 2017
Northern Ireland Assembly Election
"We all wish everyone in Northern Ireland well in trying to resolve these current difficulties. May I press the Secretary of State on what he is doing on working in partnership with the Irish Government? The British and Irish Governments are co-guarantors of the Good Friday agreement, so what plans …..."Lord Coaker - View Speech
View all Lord Coaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Assembly Election
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 10 Jan 2017
Northern Ireland: Political Developments
"If there were to be an election, how does the Secretary of State expect a Government to be formed afterwards? Can he confirm that it is the Government’s intention that under no circumstances will emergency legislation be introduced in this House to introduce or reintroduce direct rule?..."Lord Coaker - View Speech
View all Lord Coaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland: Political Developments
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 20 Jul 2016
Oral Answers to Questions
"I welcome the Secretary of State to his post. Does he agree that tackling cross-border crime involves tackling paramilitarism? Has he had a chance to look at the report published by Stormont yesterday with respect to action, in particular, to consider what may be done about decommissioning residual paramilitary weapons? …..."Lord Coaker - View Speech
View all Lord Coaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Monday 27th June 2016
Asked by:
Lord Coaker (Labour - Life peer)
Question
to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps she plans to take in response to the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland's statutory report into the murders at the Heights Bar, Loughinisland on 18 June 1994, published on 9 June 2016; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Theresa Villiers
What happened at Loughinisland in June 1994 was an act of unspeakable evil, for which there could be no possible justification. The whole House will want to pass on its heartfelt condolences and sympathies to those affected by this appalling atrocity.
The Government accepts the Police Ombudsman’s Report and the Chief Constable’s response. We take any allegations of police misconduct very seriously and where there is evidence of wrongdoing it must be pursued – everyone is subject to the rule of law.
The Report is also very clear, however, that those responsible for this despicable attack were the UVF terrorist gang who planned it and carried it out. Nor did the police have prior knowledge of the attack which could have enabled them to prevent it.
The Chief Constable made clear in his report; “The PSNI remains firmly committed to apprehending those responsible for these murders and appeal to the community for information to allow us to do so.”
On behalf of the Government I echo that commitment and that appeal.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 08 Jun 2016
Oral Answers to Questions
"During his discussions with the Northern Ireland parties, has the Minister said whether he thinks that it would help the police if we left the European Union, given that, before the introduction of the European arrest warrant, extradition took, on average, a year rather than the 48 days that it …..."Lord Coaker - View Speech
View all Lord Coaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 08 Jun 2016
Oral Answers to Questions
"I agree with what the Minister has said, even if his own Secretary of State does not.
Both the Chancellor and the Northern Ireland Office have spelt out the consequences for the border of leaving the EU. Moreover, I have a copy of a letter to the Newry Chamber of …..."Lord Coaker - View Speech
View all Lord Coaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 20 Apr 2016
Oral Answers to Questions
"Despite much progress in Northern Ireland, there remains a terrorist threat, as we saw with the shocking murder of prison officer Adrian Ismay, whose funeral the Secretary of State and I attended. I associate myself with the remarks of the Secretary of State and we send our sincere condolences to …..."Lord Coaker - View Speech
View all Lord Coaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 20 Apr 2016
Oral Answers to Questions
"I thank the Secretary of State for that reply. She will know that in recent days in Northern Ireland there have been two terrible shootings, one with fatal consequences—that of Michael McGibbon. I associate myself with the remarks made by the right hon. Member for Belfast North (Mr Dodds) and …..."Lord Coaker - View Speech
View all Lord Coaker (Lab - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions