Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Republic of Ireland has implemented enhanced employment equality legislation as provided for by paragraph 9 of the chapter on rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity in the Belfast Agreement 1998.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
These questions are a matter for the Irish Government.
However, it is my understanding that: 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; that the Republic of Ireland ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities in 1999; that the Republic of Ireland gave further effect to provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in domestic legislation through the European Convention of Human Rights Act 2003, and that since 1998 a number of pieces of legislation have been introduced in the Republic of Ireland including the Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004.
The UK Government remains committed to reforming our domestic human rights framework. We will consider further the Bill of Rights once we know the arrangements for our EU exit and consult fully on our proposals in the full knowledge of the new constitutional landscape that will create. The UK has a proud tradition of respect for human rights which long pre-dates the Human Rights Act 1998.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Republic of Ireland has ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities as provided for by paragraph 9 of the chapter on rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity in the Belfast Agreement 1998.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
These questions are a matter for the Irish Government.
However, it is my understanding that: 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; that the Republic of Ireland ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities in 1999; that the Republic of Ireland gave further effect to provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in domestic legislation through the European Convention of Human Rights Act 2003, and that since 1998 a number of pieces of legislation have been introduced in the Republic of Ireland including the Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004.
The UK Government remains committed to reforming our domestic human rights framework. We will consider further the Bill of Rights once we know the arrangements for our EU exit and consult fully on our proposals in the full knowledge of the new constitutional landscape that will create. The UK has a proud tradition of respect for human rights which long pre-dates the Human Rights Act 1998.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Republic of Ireland has established a Human Rights Commission with a mandate and remit equivalent to that within Northern Ireland as provided for by paragraph 9 of the chapter on rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity in the Belfast Agreement 1998.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
These questions are a matter for the Irish Government.
However, it is my understanding that: 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; that the Republic of Ireland ratified the Council of Europe Framework Convention on National Minorities in 1999; that the Republic of Ireland gave further effect to provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms in domestic legislation through the European Convention of Human Rights Act 2003, and that since 1998 a number of pieces of legislation have been introduced in the Republic of Ireland including the Employment Equality Acts 1998 and 2004.
The UK Government remains committed to reforming our domestic human rights framework. We will consider further the Bill of Rights once we know the arrangements for our EU exit and consult fully on our proposals in the full knowledge of the new constitutional landscape that will create. The UK has a proud tradition of respect for human rights which long pre-dates the Human Rights Act 1998.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the commitments in the Belfast Agreement 1998, what representations they have received from the Irish government about the continuing status of Northern Ireland as part of the UK.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
The Government has regular discussions with the Irish Government on a range of issues in accordance with the well-established three stranded approach laid out in the Belfast Agreement. As one of the negotiators of that Agreement, the Noble Lord is aware that Northern Ireland’s constitutional position is based on the principle of consent, which is fully supported by both the United Kingdom and Irish Governments.
The Belfast Agreement stated that “the present wish of a majority of the people of Northern Ireland, freely exercised and legitimate, is to maintain the Union and, accordingly, that Northern Ireland’s status as part of the United Kingdom reflects and relies upon that wish”. The Government has no reason to believe that there has been any change in this position.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 1 December (HL3644), which UK members and UK associate members attended the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly in Cheltenham on 16 and 17 November.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
The Northern Ireland Office is not responsible for the administration of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.
However, I am advised by the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly secretariat that the following full members of the UK delegation to the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly took part in the Assembly’s plenary session held in Cheltenham from 15 to 17 November 2015:
David Anderson MP
Lord Bew
Baroness Blood
Andrew Bridgen MP
Deidre Brock MP
Oliver Colvile MP
Lord Dubs
Mark Durkan MP
Paul Farrelly MP
Lord Glentoran
Helen Jones MP
Danny Kinahan MP
Rt Hon Lord Mawhinney
Conor McGinn MP
Nigel Mills MP
Laurence Robertson MP
Andrew Rosindell MP
Lord Skelmersdale
Robin Walker MP.
In addition, a number of full and associate members who had initially committed to attend the plenary session withdrew at short notice.
Asked by: Lord Kilclooney (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government who are the UK members of the British–Irish Parliamentary Assembly; and to which political group each member belongs.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
Responsibility for appointing the United Kingdom delegation to the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly lies with the Lords Speaker and the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The current members of the United Kingdom delegation and the political party to which they belong are set out below:
MEMBERS | |
Lord (Paul) Bew | Cross-Bench |
Baroness (May) Blood MBE | Labour |
Mr Andrew Bridgen MP | Conservative |
Ms Deirdre Brock MP | SNP |
Mr Oliver Colvile MP | Conservative |
Miss Rosie Cooper MP | Labour |
Rt Hon Baroness (Jean) Corston | Labour |
Rt Hon Mr Jeffrey Donaldson MP | DUP |
Lord (Alf) Dubs | Labour |
Mr Mark Durkan MP | SDLP |
Mr Nigel Evans MP | Conservative |
Mr Paul Farrelly MP | Labour |
Lord (Robin) Glentoran | Conservative |
Ms Helen Jones MP | Labour |
Mr Danny Kinahan MP | UUP |
Mr Jack Lopresti MP | Conservative |
Rt Hon Lord (Brian) Mawhinney | Conservative |
Mr Conor McGinn MP | Labour |
Mr Nigel Mills MP | Conservative |
Lord (Roger) Skelmersdale | Conservative |
Mr Robin Walker MP | Conservative |
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS | |
Ms Caroline Ansell MP | Conservative |
Ms Victoria Atkins MP | Conservative |
Mr Tom Blenkinsop MP | Labour |
Viscount (Robin) Bridgeman | Conservative |
Mr Glyn Davies MP | Conservative |
Lord (Bernard) Donoughue | Labour |
Lord (Reg) Empey | UUP |
Mrs Margaret Ferrier MP | SNP |
Lord (James) Gordon of Strathblane | Labour |
Rt Hon David Hanson MP | Labour |
Mr Stephen Hepburn MP | Labour |
Lord (John) Kilclooney | Cross-Bench |
Ms Siobhain McDonagh MP | Labour |
Sir Alan Meale MP | Labour |
Lord (Christopher) Tugendhat | Conservative |
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 United Kingdom delegation to the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly; and to which political party each member is affiliated.
Answered by Lord Dunlop
Responsibility for appointing the United Kingdom delegation to the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly lies with the Lords Speaker and the Speaker of the House of Commons.
The Government’s understanding is that the United Kingdom delegation has not yet been appointed following the General Election.