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Written Question
Northern Ireland: Domestic Visits
Monday 19th December 2022

Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many times the Minister of State for Northern Ireland has stayed overnight in Northern Ireland since his appointment.

Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)

Since his appointment by the Prime Minister in October, the Minister of State has undertaken six official overnight visits to Northern Ireland. My Noble Friend will be pleased to note that the Minister travels frequently on official business.

Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 23 Nov 2022
Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill

"My Lords, I start by remembering the thousands of innocent victims of terrorism who died or were injured in the decades of the Troubles in Northern Ireland and elsewhere—ordinary people going about their everyday lives who were cut down by terrible violence—the families and loved ones left behind to grieve …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 02 Nov 2022
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

"My Lords, I rise to speak to Amendment 35A in my name on VAT and excise. I do not wish to prolong the debate at this hour. Very briefly, noble Lords will remember back in March when the then Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced measures in the fiscal event—mini-budget, estimate, whatever …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 02 Nov 2022
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

"I shall just intervene briefly in this interesting debate on the amendment proposed by the noble Baroness, Lady Ritchie. Just to follow on on what the noble Baroness, Lady Suttie, has said about which form of the protocol will be voted on, I do not mean this in a trite …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 02 Nov 2022
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

"With respect, I will answer the noble Lord’s question first. We had a UK-wide referendum. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, as provided for under the Belfast agreement. The United Kingdom is the sovereign Government. Therefore, it is not that Northern Ireland is some kind of hybrid or …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 02 Nov 2022
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

"The 44% who voted to come out was a much higher figure than people had expected—but I accept what the noble Baroness says. But we are part of the United Kingdom and, just as Scotland and London and other parts of England voted in a certain way, we had to …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 02 Nov 2022
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

"Well, there are a lot of “ifs” there. If I understand the noble Lord, he is asking, “If there’s an agreement, what should the Government do in terms of getting an endorsement of it?” I presume they would come to both Houses of Parliament and consult with the parties in …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Wed 02 Nov 2022
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

"My Lords, as the noble Lord, Lord Purvis, said, I hope we are speeding up a little. I will speak very briefly to Amendments 27 and 28 in this group, in his name and that of the noble Baroness, Lady Ludford.

In relation to consultation with various organisations —not statutory …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Speech in Lords Chamber - Mon 31 Oct 2022
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill

"My Lords, these amendments relate to Article 2 of the protocol. However, it is clear that Articles 1 and 2 subject that protocol to the prior treaty, the Belfast agreement. That is the fundamental point that must not be overlooked. There is merit in examining in detail what, for instance, …..."
Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech

View all Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP - Life peer) contributions to the debate on: Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Written Question
Proscribed Organisations: Northern Ireland
Monday 31st October 2022

Asked by: Lord Dodds of Duncairn (Democratic Unionist Party - Life peer)

Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) paramilitary activity in Northern Ireland, and (2) the relationship between the IRA Army Council and Sinn Féin.

Answered by Lord Caine - Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland)

An Assessment of Paramilitary Groups in Northern Ireland was commissioned in 2015 by the UK Government in order to provide a factual assessment from the UK security agencies and the PSNI on the structure, role and purpose of paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland.

The Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) was established to report on progress towards ending paramilitary activity connected with Northern Ireland, and to report on and inform the implementation of the NI Executive’s Action Plan for Tackling Paramilitary Activity, Criminality and Organised Crime. The Fourth Report of the IRC is available here:

https://www.ircommission.org/sites/irc/files/media-files/IRC%20Fourth%20Report%20web%20accessible_0.pdf

It is a matter of public record that the structures of a number of paramilitary groups still exist in Northern Ireland - that includes the Provisional IRA.

The IRA, including the Provisional IRA, remains a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000. Where any criminality exists, I am clear that it should be dealt with fully by the police.