Railways (Interoperability in Northern Ireland) (Convention on International Carriage by Rail) (Amendment) Regulations 2026

Lord Hay of Ballyore Excerpts

Wednesday 28th October 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Hay of Ballyore (DUP)]

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, for bringing forward this regret amendment. The regulations before the House concern railway interworking in Northern Ireland and arise from arrangements linked to international and post-Brexit obligations.

Members may differ on the merits of the regulations themselves. I want to focus on an issue that should concern this House as well as elected representatives in Northern Ireland. Decisions affecting Northern Ireland continue to be made with insufficient consultation and very little accountability, in not only this issue but others. Consultation is not a perceived nicety; it is a fundamental part of good government. Decisions which affect the people, business and infrastructure of Northern Ireland should not be presented simply as, “Take it or leave it”. Those who will be affected by such changes should have a meaningful opportunity to express their views before decisions are taken, not merely after they have been announced.

Too often Northern Ireland finds itself in the position of being informed rather than consulted. That approach risks creating a sense of detachment and frustration among those who are expected to live with the consequences. There is also the question of accountability. One of the strengths of our constitutional arrangements is that Ministers can be questioned, challenged and held to account by Parliament. Yet where regulations flow from external obligations or complex arrangements there can be a growing perspective that responsibility becomes very diluted.

Those in Northern Ireland have a right to expect that decisions affecting their transport, infrastructure, economy and daily lives will not simply be handed down to them. Whether one supports or opposes these regulations, surely, we can all agree that people should have a meaningful opportunity to influence decisions before they are made, not after. Whatever view we take on the merits of these regulations, we should insist that Northern Ireland’s voice be heard and that decision-makers remain answerable for the consequences of their decisions.

This House has frequently emphasised the importance of engagement, transparency and public confidence in decision-making. These principles should apply no less to Northern Ireland than to any other part of this United Kingdom. For these reasons, the regret amendment in the name of the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, performs an important service: it reminds all of us in this House that good government depends not only on what decisions are made but how they are made. I am fairly supportive of the regret amendment.