Northern Ireland Debate

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Department: Wales Office
Tuesday 16th July 2013

(10 years, 10 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Tebbit Portrait Lord Tebbit
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My Lords—

Baroness Stowell of Beeston Portrait Baroness Stowell of Beeston
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Perhaps we can hear from my noble friend Lord Tebbit first.

Lord Tebbit Portrait Lord Tebbit
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Is it not the case that violence begets violence? The Parades Commission gave in to the violence of the republican community against these parades. Now, of course, they are faced with the violence of the unionist community against the surrender to the republicans’ violence. How do you break out of that?

Baroness Randerson Portrait Baroness Randerson
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The Parades Commission makes its decisions based on the evidence before it and according to the protocols it follows. As I have said, the Parades Commission is independent, it is at arm’s length from Government and it is the duly constituted authority undertaking an extraordinarily difficult, problematic task. It has to deal with that to the best of its understanding. I hope that noble Lords will accept that the work of the Parades Commission is very difficult indeed. I thank the noble Lord for his question.