Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will have discussions with the Irish Government on the potential implications of the provisions in the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill on UK citizens living in Northern Ireland.

The Irish Criminal Justice Bill is still going through the legislative process in the normal manner. Irish and UK Government officials engage regularly on a range of issues. My understanding of the current drafting is that there are no specific implications for UK citizens in Northern Ireland nor indeed anywhere else in the United Kingdom.