Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Lauren Sullivan Excerpts
Wednesday 21st May 2025

(1 day, 19 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Hilary Benn Portrait Hilary Benn
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I share with the hon. Member and the whole House a wish to see lasting peace in the middle east, and what is happening at the moment is appalling and intolerable. However, I think the most important lesson from the Good Friday agreement was the courageous political leadership shown by the parties to the conflict—people such as John Hume and David Trimble—and I have to say that, tragically, that same courageous political leadership is absent in the middle east.

Lauren Sullivan Portrait Dr Lauren Sullivan (Gravesham) (Lab)
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6. What steps he is taking to support the Northern Ireland Executive in tackling violence against women and girls.

Fleur Anderson Portrait The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Fleur Anderson)
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Rates of violence against women and girls are higher in Northern Ireland than anywhere else in the UK. This Government are committed to working with the Executive to tackle this emergency, and I have met and supported many politicians and organisations across Northern Ireland that are doing just that. The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department, my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham Yardley (Jess Phillips), and I recently met the Northern Ireland TEO—The Executive Office—and Justice Ministers in Belfast to discuss working closely together, including on online safety and support for frontline organisations.

Lauren Sullivan Portrait Dr Sullivan
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The strategy for tackling violence against women and girls must challenge the attitudes that enable it. What recent discussions has the Minister had with stakeholders across Northern Ireland to support these campaign efforts?