Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill provides for (1) salaries, (2) secretarial expenses, and (3) travelling expenses, to be credited to Members of the Legislative Assembly during the proposed 24 week extension period for filling Ministerial offices.
Answered by Lord Caine - Lord in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Northern Ireland (Ministers, Elections and Petitions of Concern) Bill does not make any provision in respect of the salaries, secretarial expenses and travelling expenses of Members of the Legislative Assembly during the proposed 24-week extension period for filling Ministerial offices
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the Belfast Agreement, (2) the involvement of the Republic of Ireland in the internal affairs of Northern Ireland, (3) Northern Ireland’s status as part of the UK, and (4) human rights in (a) Northern Ireland, and (b) the Republic of Ireland.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
This Government remains steadfastly committed to the Belfast Agreement, including the political institutions it seeks to establish and the rights that it guarantees. The Agreement, along with its successors, has been the bedrock of the significant progress that has been made in Northern Ireland over the last 22 years. Any involvement of the Irish Government in the internal affairs of Northern Ireland remains consistent with the well-established three-stranded approach to Northern Ireland affairs in the 1998 Belfast Agreement.
The Agreement confirmed that whether Northern Ireland remains part of the UK depends on the consent of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland. Section 1 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, reaffirms that Northern Ireland is part of the UK and shall not cease to be so without the consent of its people.
While this Government’s clear preference is for Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom it has always made clear that, in accordance with the 1998 Agreement, it is for the people of Northern Ireland to decide. It remains the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland's view that a majority of the people of Northern Ireland continue to support Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom and that this is unlikely to change for the foreseeable future.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government who are the members of the Northern Ireland Centenary Historical Advisory Panel; and which organisations these members represent.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The establishment of the Centenary Historical Advisory Panel was announced by the Prime Minister in August. This Panel will provide advice to the Centenary Forum, and to the Government, on the historical facts of the centenary, and its work will be guided by the Principles for Remembering. The composition of the Centenary Historical Advisory Panel was confirmed in a press notice published on 9 October:
The composition of the Panel is shown below:
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government who are the members of the Northern Ireland Centenary Forum; and which organisations these members represent.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The establishment of the Centenary Forum was announced by the Prime Minister in August. It is composed of a wide range of perspectives and interests, ensuring diverse voices are heard as we mark this important national anniversary. The composition of the Centenary Forum and the Centenary Historical Advisory Panel was confirmed in a press notice published on 9 October:
Its composition is as follows:
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last visited County Cork in the Republic of Ireland; and, on that visit, whether she was accompanied by staff from the Northern Ireland Office.
Answered by Lord Duncan of Springbank
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last visited County Cork in the Republic of Ireland on Monday 11 June 2018 and was accompanied by staff from the Northern Ireland Office.