Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 13 March (HL5767), what issues of human rights in the Irish Republic they have discussed with the government of the Republic of Ireland since 1998, and what was the outcome of those discussions.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
The Government has regular meetings with Ministers from the Irish Government.
These discussions cover a wide range of issues which are relevant to the situation in Northern Ireland including on human rights.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which the government of the Republic of Ireland ensures an equivalent level of protection for human rights in Ireland to that established in Northern Ireland by the Belfast Agreement 1998; and if not, what actions they propose.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
The Belfast Agreement commits the Irish Government to ensuring an equivalent level of protection for human rights in Ireland to that established in Northern Ireland by the Agreement.
As a result of this commitment, the Irish Government established the Irish Human Rights Commission, which in November 2014 merged with the Equality Authority to form the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, like the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, is a UN ‘A status’ accredited National Human Rights Institution, structured and operated in accordance with the Paris Principles.
The commitment to ensure an equivalent level of protection for human rights in Ireland to that established in Northern Ireland is a matter for the Irish Government.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the parity of esteem under the 1998 Belfast Agreement, whether any change of status for the Irish language would also be granted to the Ulster Scots language.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
Although the recent talks have not yet delivered a devolved power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland, the Government’s priority is to see a functioning Executive in place at Stormont.
Under the devolution settlement, the majority of responsibility for language issues rests with the Northern Ireland Executive, including policy relating to the promotion of minority languages.
As the Government has previously made clear it is committed to affording due respect and parity of esteem to the cultural traditions in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have given, as part of the current discussions concerning the Northern Ireland Executive, an undertaking to the government of the Republic of Ireland that they would not impose direct rule from Westminster; and if so, who agreed to this, on what date, and why.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
Political stability in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the UK Government. The Government remains focused on securing the resumption of devolved government and the formation of an Executive within the statutory timeframe of 27 March. It is not speculating on any other outcome.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 13 March (HL5767) concerning the government of Ireland's approach to human rights, what discussions they have had with the government of Ireland concerning (1) property in the Republic of Ireland being available for sale only to those with a qualification in the Irish language; (2) official and semi-official jobs being available only to those with a qualification in the Irish language; and (3) welfare allowances for certain types of clothing being available only to those of the Roman Catholic faith.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
The issues around the provision of property for sale, jobs and welfare allowances in Ireland are matters for the Irish Government. The UK and Irish governments meet regularly both at ministerial and official level to discuss issues of mutual interest and concerns including matters relating to human rights in Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the Northern Ireland Executive about extending the amnesty against prosecution accorded to members of the IRA to include British Service personnel charged with offences in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
There is no amnesty, immunity, or exemption from prosecution. This Government is clear that the rule of law applies to everyone equally and where there is evidence of wrongdoing this should be pursued. The UK Government remains committed to the establishment of the new bodies proposed in the Stormont House Agreement, which will address the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland in ways that are fair, balanced and proportionate.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they have taken to obtain assurances from the government of Ireland that it has brought forward measures to ensure an equivalent level of protection of human rights in the Republic of Ireland as in Northern Ireland in accordance with the Belfast Agreement 1998.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
The Belfast Agreement commits the Irish Government to ensuring an equivalent level of protection for human rights in Ireland to that established in Northern Ireland by the Agreement. As a result of this commitment, the Irish Government established the Irish Human Rights Commission, which in November 2014 merged with the Equality Authority to form the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, like the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, is a UN ‘A status’ accredited National Human Rights Institution, structured and operated in accordance with the Paris Principles.
The UK and Irish Governments meet regularly both at ministerial and official level to discuss issues of mutual interest and concerns including matters relating to the implementation of the Belfast Agreement in each jurisdiction. These include matters relating to human rights in Northern Ireland and Ireland.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the concept of parity of esteem as outlined in the Belfast Agreement 1998 applies to those members of the security forces who live in Great Britain and are currently facing investigation of incidents that took place in the civil unrest in Northern Ireland.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
First, I would like to make clear my admiration for the dedication, professionalism and courage shown by soldiers and police officers in Northern Ireland throughout the Troubles. As we made clear in our 2015 Northern Ireland manifesto, this Government will never forget the debt of gratitude we owe them and will never accept any form of equivalence between those who upheld democracy and the rule of law, and those who engaged in terrorism or other forms of paramilitary activity.
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 general obligation there is no definition of particular circumstances in which it does or does not apply.
The vast majority of the more than 250,000 men and women who served in the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Armed Forces in Northern Ireland during the Troubles carried out their duties with exemplary professionalism. However, everyone is equal under the law and, where there is evidence of wrongdoing, this should be investigated.
The current mechanisms for investigating the past do not reflect that 90 per cent of deaths in the Troubles were caused by terrorists and are disproportionately focussed on the actions of soldiers and police. That is why this Government supports the full and faithful implementation of the Stormont House Agreement to bring a new, balanced, proportionate and fair approach to dealing with Northern Ireland’s past.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 31 October (HL2454), whether the Parades Commission for Northern Ireland has the ability to make reference to human rights instruments such as the European Convention on Human Rights when making decisions.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
As a public authority, the Parades Commission has general obligations under public law; the discharge of those obligations is an operational matter for the Parades Commission, acting independently of Government.
The Parades Commission determinations make regular reference to the European Convention on Human Rights. Details of all determinations are published on the Commission’s website at www.paradescommission.org.
Asked by: Lord Laird (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 15 November (HL2983), whether parity of esteem applies only to individuals, and not to communities.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
As I have previously explained to the Noble Lord, 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. The Belfast Agreement makes no distinction between communities and individuals.