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both Houses of Parliament at 11
o'clock this evening. First | 0:00:00 | 0:00:01 | |
questions for the Secretary of State
for Northern Ireland. | 0:00:01 | 0:00:12 | |
With permission, Mr Speaker, I will
answer questions one and two | 0:00:12 | 0:00:15 | |
together. I have regular
conversations with the Northern | 0:00:15 | 0:00:19 | |
Irish Government. We recognise the
important of the trade on the island | 0:00:19 | 0:00:24 | |
of Ireland which is worth £4 billion
to the Irish economy. We was not | 0:00:24 | 0:00:30 | |
affect the importance of markets
where sales are worth... We are | 0:00:30 | 0:00:35 | |
committed to protecting both the
vital markets. | 0:00:35 | 0:00:41 | |
Mr Speaker, Scottish Government
analysis has shown a note your | 0:00:41 | 0:00:44 | |
scenario could cost Scotland up to
8.5% of GDP. Government announces | 0:00:44 | 0:00:50 | |
suggests that Northern Ireland could
lose 12% of GDP. She believed any | 0:00:50 | 0:00:55 | |
analysis she has seen and is it too
high a price to pay for? | 0:00:55 | 0:01:05 | |
Mr Speaker, my friend back has... I
think it is important to say that | 0:01:05 | 0:01:16 | |
the UK Government wants to achieve a
good deal for the whole United | 0:01:16 | 0:01:20 | |
Kingdom that protects the economic
integrity of the UK. | 0:01:20 | 0:01:28 | |
If this Government is so determined
to take us out of the customs union, | 0:01:28 | 0:01:34 | |
how does it see us avoiding a hard
border on the island without having | 0:01:34 | 0:01:38 | |
a hard border in the Irish Sea?
The United Kingdom Government has | 0:01:38 | 0:01:43 | |
been clear we do not want to see a
hard border between Northern Ireland | 0:01:43 | 0:01:47 | |
and the republic. The Irish
Government has said the same, as has | 0:01:47 | 0:01:52 | |
the European Commission. We will
make it clear there is no hard | 0:01:52 | 0:01:54 | |
border.
Wales and Scotland's voice is being | 0:01:54 | 0:01:59 | |
heard loud and clear in the current
Brexit negotiations. But of Northern | 0:01:59 | 0:02:04 | |
Ireland is not because of stress. In
answers to two questions for Mac and | 0:02:04 | 0:02:11 | |
five, the secretary will no doubt
say... But if it the executive is | 0:02:11 | 0:02:14 | |
not restored, what will she make
sure that the voice of Northern | 0:02:14 | 0:02:17 | |
Ireland is heard?
And I thank my friend Mike. He will | 0:02:17 | 0:02:22 | |
note that I have been working hard
on talks. The important point is for | 0:02:22 | 0:02:35 | |
Northern Ireland's voice to be heard
in the way that the Scottish and | 0:02:35 | 0:02:38 | |
Welsh voices heard, and we need a
devolved Government in Stormont. Are | 0:02:38 | 0:02:41 | |
working for that.
I welcome the Secretary of State to | 0:02:41 | 0:02:46 | |
her place and in discussions with
the Irish Government. Can she | 0:02:46 | 0:02:51 | |
confirm whether in the discussions
she has reflected with the Irish | 0:02:51 | 0:02:54 | |
Government and what would happen to
cross-border trade if one part of | 0:02:54 | 0:02:57 | |
the islands joined the Schengen area
as the SNP keeps arguing fall. | 0:02:57 | 0:03:06 | |
We are clear that the economic and
constitutional unity of the UK is | 0:03:06 | 0:03:12 | |
absolutely fundamental to all we are
doing and we are determined that we | 0:03:12 | 0:03:17 | |
will ensure the UK single market,
the most important single market to | 0:03:17 | 0:03:22 | |
Scotland and Northern Ireland, is
retained. | 0:03:22 | 0:03:28 | |
Bearing in mind the UK is island's
trading partner with third set of | 0:03:28 | 0:03:36 | |
employment in Ireland is related to
UK exports, can it be outlined that | 0:03:36 | 0:03:42 | |
this mutually beneficial partnership
continues unhindered by petty | 0:03:42 | 0:03:49 | |
point-scoring, headline grabbing,
whims of EU leadership. | 0:03:49 | 0:03:55 | |
He puts his points more eloquently
than I could ever dream to. | 0:03:55 | 0:04:01 | |
Given that the Irish Republic would
lose out most if there is not a good | 0:04:01 | 0:04:07 | |
deal with the European Union, is the
Secretary of State making it clear | 0:04:07 | 0:04:12 | |
to the Irish ministers that they
have got a role to pay with the EU | 0:04:12 | 0:04:16 | |
and they should be standing up for
their countries attitudes and making | 0:04:16 | 0:04:22 | |
sure they get the good deal in their
benefit? | 0:04:22 | 0:04:25 | |
The reality is not just for Ireland
but for all of this EU 27 states | 0:04:25 | 0:04:32 | |
that a good dale is a win-win for
everybody and not having that is a | 0:04:32 | 0:04:37 | |
lose - lose. There was no one who
benefits from not having a good | 0:04:37 | 0:04:40 | |
deal.
The Prime Minister has been clear | 0:04:40 | 0:04:46 | |
power be no continuing customs union
between the UK and EU. Woody | 0:04:46 | 0:04:51 | |
Secretary of State agree that that
means a diverging sub regulations | 0:04:51 | 0:04:54 | |
between Ireland and Northern Ireland
and paragraph 49 of December's | 0:04:54 | 0:04:58 | |
agreement must now be activated?
Will she tell us specific solutions | 0:04:58 | 0:05:05 | |
to address the unique circumstances
of the island of Ireland she is | 0:05:05 | 0:05:09 | |
proposing?
The honourable lady makes the point | 0:05:09 | 0:05:14 | |
there are unique circumstances in
Northern Ireland, unique to anywhere | 0:05:14 | 0:05:17 | |
across the whole of Europe and those
unique circumstances have to be | 0:05:17 | 0:05:21 | |
reflected. The Government is Mac
intentions is weak resolve the | 0:05:21 | 0:05:26 | |
issues of North South trade through
the agreement. We are determined to | 0:05:26 | 0:05:31 | |
make sure that we respect the
integrity of the North- South border | 0:05:31 | 0:05:39 | |
and we respect the agreements that
were made in Belfast nearly 20 years | 0:05:39 | 0:05:42 | |
ago.
May I welcome the glistening new | 0:05:42 | 0:05:48 | |
team to the front bench and hope the
whole house would be saying how | 0:05:48 | 0:05:52 | |
pleased we are that the predecessor
is recovering so well from his | 0:05:52 | 0:05:56 | |
surgery. May I welcome the
honourable gentleman of Northwest | 0:05:56 | 0:06:02 | |
Cambridge. The eighth minister I
have had the privilege of shadowing. | 0:06:02 | 0:06:05 | |
I do not know if this is to do with
my personal behaviour or not, but I | 0:06:05 | 0:06:10 | |
plead not guilty. Now been new team
has had a chance to find themselves | 0:06:10 | 0:06:16 | |
around, particularly the border and
they have studied the issue of the | 0:06:16 | 0:06:20 | |
electronic border, do they believe
that such a frontier is feasible or | 0:06:20 | 0:06:23 | |
just a fantasy?
Can I thank the honourable gentleman | 0:06:23 | 0:06:29 | |
for his warm words and pay tribute
to my predecessor who I am pleased | 0:06:29 | 0:06:32 | |
to say it is recovering well at
home. I know we all wish him a | 0:06:32 | 0:06:37 | |
speedy recovery. The honourable
gentleman refers to the fact of the | 0:06:37 | 0:06:45 | |
border. We are determined there will
be no physical infrastructure that | 0:06:45 | 0:06:49 | |
and we will maintain things like the
Common travel area that has been in | 0:06:49 | 0:06:53 | |
existence well before the EU.
May I thank the honourable member | 0:06:53 | 0:07:04 | |
for his kind words of welcome. We
have worked together on a number of | 0:07:04 | 0:07:08 | |
issues and this is the first time we
will be across the dispatch box so I | 0:07:08 | 0:07:12 | |
look forward to constructive
engagement with him and his team. As | 0:07:12 | 0:07:16 | |
far as the comment by my honourable
friend of Lewis, I would say we are | 0:07:16 | 0:07:24 | |
emitted to the pledge of 3 million
French ships by 2020. To an | 0:07:24 | 0:07:29 | |
industrial strategy, we are
committed to helping young people | 0:07:29 | 0:07:32 | |
across the country to develop the
skills they need. It will be | 0:07:32 | 0:07:37 | |
appreciated that delivering
friendships in Northern Ireland is a | 0:07:37 | 0:07:41 | |
devolved matter and it is another
reason why we needed to see a | 0:07:41 | 0:07:45 | |
restored executive up and running.
Employers in Northern Ireland told | 0:07:45 | 0:07:52 | |
and affairs committee that while
there is no executive in place, they | 0:07:52 | 0:07:55 | |
are having to play the
apprenticeship levy but have no | 0:07:55 | 0:07:58 | |
access to funds. The apprenticeship
levy in Northern Ireland is turning | 0:07:58 | 0:08:06 | |
into a tax for businesses. Would
they agree this is another reason we | 0:08:06 | 0:08:10 | |
need an Northern Ireland executive
in place. | 0:08:10 | 0:08:15 | |
My honourable friend gives an
example of why it is so important to | 0:08:15 | 0:08:20 | |
have a devolved assembly up and
running again. It is important | 0:08:20 | 0:08:24 | |
decisions such as what she mentioned
that need to be taken and that is | 0:08:24 | 0:08:27 | |
why we need the assembly up and
running as soon as possible. | 0:08:27 | 0:08:34 | |
It is worrying that we hear of the
loss of apprenticeships and | 0:08:34 | 0:08:38 | |
yesterday there was an announcement
about Williams industrial services | 0:08:38 | 0:08:42 | |
in my constituency that went into
administration. I am asking what | 0:08:42 | 0:08:47 | |
help can you give us that we retain
manufacturing and the friendships | 0:08:47 | 0:08:51 | |
that add there?
I am sorry to a year about the | 0:08:51 | 0:08:59 | |
position in the company in his
constituency. I'm sure the employees | 0:08:59 | 0:09:05 | |
will be taking the way of
consultation that needs doing in far | 0:09:05 | 0:09:10 | |
of the employees are concerned. With
the promotion of more jobs, it is | 0:09:10 | 0:09:16 | |
important that the devolved assembly
is up and running because they have | 0:09:16 | 0:09:19 | |
a critical role to play in this. In
the absence of that, I can assure | 0:09:19 | 0:09:23 | |
but my honourable friend are doing
all we can. We recently met with | 0:09:23 | 0:09:31 | |
invest and I to see what is
happening and what we can do to | 0:09:31 | 0:09:36 | |
help.
One of the best apprenticeships | 0:09:36 | 0:09:39 | |
programmes in Northern Ireland is
run by Bombardier. Would it be in | 0:09:39 | 0:09:44 | |
agreement that it is fantastic news
for the apprentices that the | 0:09:44 | 0:09:49 | |
complaint against Bombardier has
been soundly rejected? | 0:09:49 | 0:09:53 | |
Can I thank my honourable friend for
the comment and say it is very much | 0:09:53 | 0:09:57 | |
welcome news that the international
Trade Commission unanimously agreed | 0:09:57 | 0:10:04 | |
with Bombardier and we look forward
to working with Bombardier who play | 0:10:04 | 0:10:09 | |
a critical role in the economy,
particularly in Northern Ireland. | 0:10:09 | 0:10:17 | |
Question four.
Mr Speaker, I will answer questions | 0:10:17 | 0:10:25 | |
together and I will ask for your
forbearance because I would like to | 0:10:25 | 0:10:29 | |
provide a short update on talks that
will be slightly longer than the | 0:10:29 | 0:10:33 | |
usual answer.
Over the past weeks, the political | 0:10:33 | 0:10:37 | |
parties, particular Sinn Fein and
DUP, have spoke on the key issues | 0:10:37 | 0:10:40 | |
that remain to be was oft. They have
done so with the continuous support | 0:10:40 | 0:10:45 | |
and in accordance with the three
stranded approach. They were built | 0:10:45 | 0:10:48 | |
on the progress made in previous
talks to choose gaps between them. | 0:10:48 | 0:10:53 | |
An accommodation between the parties
has not yet been reached but there | 0:10:53 | 0:10:56 | |
is no doubt as to the elective
commitments towards the restoration | 0:10:56 | 0:11:01 | |
of devolution. I'm sure a agreement
is achievable. | 0:11:01 | 0:11:10 | |
She shouldn't be making a statement
on this... Can I say to her, every | 0:11:10 | 0:11:17 | |
party in Northern Ireland say they
want a deal but significant gaps | 0:11:17 | 0:11:21 | |
remain. Can she outline to the House
what those gaps actually are and | 0:11:21 | 0:11:25 | |
what she is doing to bring people
together and resolve them? Can I say | 0:11:25 | 0:11:35 | |
to the honourable gentleman, greatly
distinguished in this area and knows | 0:11:35 | 0:11:38 | |
Northern Ireland politics, we are at
a sensitive stage of the | 0:11:38 | 0:11:43 | |
discussions, I have committed to
know running commentary on the talks | 0:11:43 | 0:11:46 | |
while ongoing. They have been very
intense, very detailed, the | 0:11:46 | 0:11:51 | |
discussions. We can reach it but I
will not jeopardise that. Will the | 0:11:51 | 0:11:58 | |
Secretary of State set a deadline
for the talks so the people of | 0:11:58 | 0:12:02 | |
Northern Ireland can know when they
will have some Government back in | 0:12:02 | 0:12:04 | |
Northern Ireland? I was clear at the
outset that the talks were going to | 0:12:04 | 0:12:11 | |
beat weeks not months. We have been
in intensive discussions for two | 0:12:11 | 0:12:17 | |
weeks now and I am hoping to see a
resolution to the matter as soon as | 0:12:17 | 0:12:21 | |
is possible. Does the Secretary of
State agree that in society a party | 0:12:21 | 0:12:30 | |
that wins an election, forms a
Government, don't win an election, | 0:12:30 | 0:12:36 | |
hold that Government to account, how
we know not reached a stage... After | 0:12:36 | 0:12:45 | |
over a 12 month without devolved
Government, we absolutely need to | 0:12:45 | 0:12:50 | |
have the institutions back up and
running in Stormont. The people | 0:12:50 | 0:12:55 | |
elected their politicians and it is
incumbent upon them they deliver. We | 0:12:55 | 0:13:00 | |
respect the fact this is a
cross-party, cross community | 0:13:00 | 0:13:05 | |
resolution as set out in the Belfast
Agreement. I am determined to do | 0:13:05 | 0:13:08 | |
everything I can to give this the
best chance of being successful and | 0:13:08 | 0:13:13 | |
having devolved Government back up
and running and I will not | 0:13:13 | 0:13:15 | |
jeopardise that. I welcome the
commitment to make sure devolved | 0:13:15 | 0:13:23 | |
Government is restored as soon as
possible. Will she agree that one of | 0:13:23 | 0:13:26 | |
the stumbling blocks is that certain
parties, namely Sinn Fein, keep | 0:13:26 | 0:13:30 | |
coming forward with new demands that
were not part of the original | 0:13:30 | 0:13:35 | |
forming of the executive? I
apologise, I would very much like to | 0:13:35 | 0:13:42 | |
get members much more explicit
detail and answers but it would not | 0:13:42 | 0:13:46 | |
be appropriate at this stage. I will
as I always have committed to | 0:13:46 | 0:13:51 | |
returning to this House as and when
I have something concrete to say on | 0:13:51 | 0:13:55 | |
the matter. Can I warmly welcome the
Secretary of State to her place and | 0:13:55 | 0:14:02 | |
parliamentary undersecretary of
state as well? I wish her well in | 0:14:02 | 0:14:07 | |
her continued efforts to facilitate
talks in Northern Ireland. She knows | 0:14:07 | 0:14:11 | |
we are not the stumbling block to
the restoration of the executive. In | 0:14:11 | 0:14:15 | |
the meantime, would she get a clear
commitment to the people of Northern | 0:14:15 | 0:14:18 | |
Ireland and of his House that the
Budget for Northern Ireland will be | 0:14:18 | 0:14:24 | |
set as soon as possible, given that
the head of the civil service said | 0:14:24 | 0:14:27 | |
we cannot go much beyond the
beginning of February without | 0:14:27 | 0:14:30 | |
clarity about how much departments
and public bodies will spend next | 0:14:30 | 0:14:34 | |
year. The lack of a Budget is
affecting services including Health | 0:14:34 | 0:14:38 | |
and Social Care. The position is
intolerable, we need a Budget and we | 0:14:38 | 0:14:43 | |
need it now. Can I thank the right
honourable gentleman for his | 0:14:43 | 0:14:48 | |
comments. We have had discussions
about this issue. People know my | 0:14:48 | 0:14:52 | |
predecessor took action in this
matter and I have obviously had | 0:14:52 | 0:14:57 | |
discussions with the civil service
in Northern Ireland and met | 0:14:57 | 0:14:59 | |
individuals working in very
dedicated public servants doing | 0:14:59 | 0:15:04 | |
their best to deliver. In the
absence of the devolved Government | 0:15:04 | 0:15:08 | |
this is becoming difficult, we need
devolved Government quickly and I | 0:15:08 | 0:15:13 | |
understand the point he makes. My
predecessor did take action on this | 0:15:13 | 0:15:16 | |
matter and I am sure he will be a
sure about that. I am grateful | 0:15:16 | 0:15:23 | |
insofar as that goes and I look
forward to bringing forward | 0:15:23 | 0:15:26 | |
proposals without... So we cannot
have a situation where departments, | 0:15:26 | 0:15:34 | |
people and services are suffering.
Which she agree the recent Sinn Fein | 0:15:34 | 0:15:39 | |
statement the other day about
Northern Ireland being a putrid | 0:15:39 | 0:15:43 | |
little place justifying IRA murder.
The hypocrisy of Sinn Fein | 0:15:43 | 0:15:54 | |
justifying murder, disrespecting the
state of Northern Ireland, preaching | 0:15:54 | 0:15:59 | |
murder. Would she agree that that
sort of attitude must stop? There | 0:15:59 | 0:16:05 | |
must be respect from Sinn Fein
towards Unionists and those who | 0:16:05 | 0:16:11 | |
believe in the union. We must all
think carefully about the words we | 0:16:11 | 0:16:19 | |
use in public and the way they may
be interpreted in public life. May I | 0:16:19 | 0:16:28 | |
also add my welcome to the
undersecretary of state and the | 0:16:28 | 0:16:31 | |
Secretary of state. And wishing your
predecessor a speedy recovery. We | 0:16:31 | 0:16:37 | |
understand the Secretary of State
will not want to give a running | 0:16:37 | 0:16:40 | |
commentary on the talks but there is
enormous frustration in Northern | 0:16:40 | 0:16:44 | |
Ireland after one year in limbo with
successive secretaries of state | 0:16:44 | 0:16:49 | |
telling us exactly the same thing.
Can she at least come from one of | 0:16:49 | 0:16:53 | |
the big sticking point in the talks
is right, not just language rights | 0:16:53 | 0:16:57 | |
but marriage equality rights. Can
she tell us whether she would | 0:16:57 | 0:17:02 | |
consider taking that issue of the
table from legislating for equal | 0:17:02 | 0:17:06 | |
marriage rights in Northern Ireland
as they enjoy in Staffordshire? I | 0:17:06 | 0:17:12 | |
thank him for his comments. I do not
wish to say anything at this stage | 0:17:12 | 0:17:20 | |
whilst it would be... It is
frustrating for all, I know, I am | 0:17:20 | 0:17:26 | |
frustrated, too. I will of course
come to this House and make a full | 0:17:26 | 0:17:29 | |
statement when I am able to. On the
matter of equal marriage, this is a | 0:17:29 | 0:17:35 | |
devolved issue and should be
legislated for in Stormont. That is | 0:17:35 | 0:17:39 | |
the right place for the legislation
to be enacted and I look forward to | 0:17:39 | 0:17:43 | |
a devolved Government being in place
that can do that. He will recall | 0:17:43 | 0:17:48 | |
when the matter was debated in this
Chamber for England and Wales, our | 0:17:48 | 0:17:53 | |
constituents, that these benches
were entitled to a free vote and | 0:17:53 | 0:17:57 | |
Members of Parliament voted in line
with a conscience. She will know in | 0:17:57 | 0:18:03 | |
Northern Ireland they did have a
vote in the assembly on November of | 0:18:03 | 0:18:08 | |
last year, voting in favour of
taking forward marriage equality for | 0:18:08 | 0:18:11 | |
Northern Ireland. She could show
leadership in this issue and respect | 0:18:11 | 0:18:15 | |
devolution and potentially bring
forward the prospect of devolution | 0:18:15 | 0:18:18 | |
being resolved. Can she also answer
a simple question? One which many | 0:18:18 | 0:18:25 | |
people in Northern Ireland I think
we'll want me to ask. What is she | 0:18:25 | 0:18:28 | |
going to do differently in the weeks
and months ahead to show leadership | 0:18:28 | 0:18:32 | |
and break the deadlock? The talks
have resumed. They are detailed, | 0:18:32 | 0:18:40 | |
intense, the parties are engaged and
are working late into the night most | 0:18:40 | 0:18:44 | |
nights to reach a resolution. I
think the politicians in Northern | 0:18:44 | 0:18:48 | |
Ireland understand the frustration
of the people of Northern Ireland, | 0:18:48 | 0:18:51 | |
they want to deliver for them but
there are differences which need to | 0:18:51 | 0:18:54 | |
be overcome and I am doing
everything I can to try and get a | 0:18:54 | 0:18:58 | |
resolution so that the accommodation
can be found and devolved Government | 0:18:58 | 0:19:01 | |
can be restored. I would like the
Secretary of State to take a few | 0:19:01 | 0:19:08 | |
moments to explain to the House and
the people of Northern Ireland about | 0:19:08 | 0:19:13 | |
the level of engagement with the
smaller parties in the Alliance, | 0:19:13 | 0:19:17 | |
Ulster Unionists. In the recently
resumed talks. I have had it | 0:19:17 | 0:19:24 | |
reported to me that they had a cup
of tea and a bit of a chat, said | 0:19:24 | 0:19:29 | |
thank you and goodbye, see you on
Thursday. I can't believe that was | 0:19:29 | 0:19:34 | |
all the level of engagement. With
the Secretary of State give some | 0:19:34 | 0:19:39 | |
reassurance about the level of
engagement with smaller parties? All | 0:19:39 | 0:19:44 | |
parties have been included within
the talks process since the 24th of | 0:19:44 | 0:19:48 | |
January. I have met all the main
party leaders on a number of | 0:19:48 | 0:19:52 | |
occasions, including the Round Table
on Monday and another later this | 0:19:52 | 0:19:57 | |
week. Unless the two big parties,
DUP and Sinn Fein, can reach an | 0:19:57 | 0:20:06 | |
agreement, we are not able to
achieve devolved Government and | 0:20:06 | 0:20:09 | |
therefore it is right that there is
detailed bilateral discussion | 0:20:09 | 0:20:12 | |
between the two parties. Yesterday,
I spoke met all of the party | 0:20:12 | 0:20:16 | |
leaders. -- spoke to are met. I will
answer question six and 11 to go. We | 0:20:16 | 0:20:26 | |
speak regularly with counterparts in
the Irish Government on a range of | 0:20:26 | 0:20:30 | |
issues. In a joint report from the
leader of the European Union in | 0:20:30 | 0:20:35 | |
December pass European Council, we
reached an agreement to maintain the | 0:20:35 | 0:20:38 | |
Common Travel Area. Also agree that
any future arrangements must be | 0:20:38 | 0:20:45 | |
compatible with the UK Government's
commitment to avoiding physical | 0:20:45 | 0:20:53 | |
infrastructure on the border. We
will work closely with the | 0:20:53 | 0:20:56 | |
Commission to complete legally
binding text for the commitments | 0:20:56 | 0:20:58 | |
made in December. If the Government
is committed to regulatory climate | 0:20:58 | 0:21:05 | |
on both sides of the Irish border,
can he tell the House whether he has | 0:21:05 | 0:21:10 | |
made it easier that the Prime
Minister... Customs union, | 0:21:10 | 0:21:19 | |
membership of the single market?
Let's be clear. We have said we will | 0:21:19 | 0:21:23 | |
be leaving the customs union and
leaving the single market as well. | 0:21:23 | 0:21:27 | |
What we had to do in phase two,
engage in negotiations to make sure | 0:21:27 | 0:21:33 | |
that we have the best possible trade
deal we possibly can have with the | 0:21:33 | 0:21:38 | |
EU. We are committed to having a
frictionless border. Will the | 0:21:38 | 0:21:43 | |
Minister agree that once the United
Kingdom leaves the European Union we | 0:21:43 | 0:21:47 | |
have a duty to protect the rights of
Irish citizens within UK law which | 0:21:47 | 0:21:53 | |
predates written's membership of the
EU with the Common Travel Area? An | 0:21:53 | 0:22:00 | |
excellent point. He is right to say
that the Common Travel Area | 0:22:00 | 0:22:05 | |
reciprocal rights we have between
the UK and Ireland predates | 0:22:05 | 0:22:10 | |
ownership of the EU by either
country and they can see him that | 0:22:10 | 0:22:14 | |
the joint report of December last
year -- I can pursue him that the | 0:22:14 | 0:22:23 | |
Common Travel Area arrangement will
remain. A recently published | 0:22:23 | 0:22:29 | |
European Parliament report has
indicated it is possible to have a | 0:22:29 | 0:22:33 | |
frictionless border after we leave
the EU. Does he not become concerned | 0:22:33 | 0:22:39 | |
about the friction in relationships
between the UK Government and the | 0:22:39 | 0:22:43 | |
Irish Republic, and what, has he got
to make about these threats issued | 0:22:43 | 0:22:47 | |
by the Foreign Minister yesterday
that he will block negotiations if | 0:22:47 | 0:22:52 | |
he does not get legislation reduced
to force the Northern Ireland | 0:22:52 | 0:22:56 | |
assembly to introduce EU
regulations? Of the parties involved | 0:22:56 | 0:23:01 | |
recognise that this is a difficult
negotiation, but we are all | 0:23:01 | 0:23:06 | |
committed to being flexible and to
come up with innovative solutions. | 0:23:06 | 0:23:10 | |
As far as the relationship with
Ireland's, it goes back centuries. | 0:23:10 | 0:23:18 | |
We have an excellent working
relationship and hope to continue | 0:23:18 | 0:23:22 | |
that relationship with the best
solution possible for the whole of | 0:23:22 | 0:23:25 | |
the issue as far as the border is
concerned between Ireland and | 0:23:25 | 0:23:29 | |
Northern Ireland. Order. Let's hear
Paul Masterton! Can the Minister | 0:23:29 | 0:23:36 | |
confirm that whatever arrangements
are needed to achieve a frictionless | 0:23:36 | 0:23:40 | |
border will apply to the UK as a
whole? I can pursue my honourable | 0:23:40 | 0:23:46 | |
friend we are committed to the
constitutional and economic | 0:23:46 | 0:23:50 | |
integrity of the United Kingdom.
That is going to stay as it is at | 0:23:50 | 0:23:55 | |
the moment. Chris Long! Question
number seven. | 0:23:55 | 0:24:02 | |
With permission, I will answer seven
and 14 together. My right honourable | 0:24:13 | 0:24:18 | |
friend the Secretary of State for
Northern Ireland has regular | 0:24:18 | 0:24:22 | |
conversations with colleagues on a
range of matters including | 0:24:22 | 0:24:27 | |
implementation period. We recognise
the importance of negotiating and | 0:24:27 | 0:24:31 | |
implementation period that benefits
the whole of the UK including | 0:24:31 | 0:24:34 | |
Northern Ireland. We welcome the
EU's agreement to negotiate... | 0:24:34 | 0:24:39 | |
Precise time should be made as soon
as possible to provide certainty to | 0:24:39 | 0:24:46 | |
businesses and citizens. It is
unfortunate that neither the | 0:24:46 | 0:24:50 | |
Minister's mellifluous tones nor the
answer can probably be heard as a | 0:24:50 | 0:24:57 | |
result of private conversation. He
deserves a more attentive audience. | 0:24:57 | 0:25:02 | |
I trust they were negotiation in
there. Can the Secretary of State | 0:25:02 | 0:25:06 | |
tell us if she has agreed a
concession in the negotiations with | 0:25:06 | 0:25:10 | |
the Brexit Secretary allowing
Northern Ireland to remain part of | 0:25:10 | 0:25:13 | |
the single market and Customs union
while the UK believes in order to | 0:25:13 | 0:25:20 | |
provide a hard border? Yes or no?
Can I just say to the honourable | 0:25:20 | 0:25:25 | |
gentleman again that the United
Kingdom is committed to leaving the | 0:25:25 | 0:25:29 | |
single market, leaving the customs
union and also the integrity of the | 0:25:29 | 0:25:34 | |
Constitution and our economy remains
as it is. It will not be... Tommy | 0:25:34 | 0:25:43 | |
Sheppard. I think we are all a
little confused as to how the | 0:25:43 | 0:25:48 | |
Government intends to have a hard
border. His colleagues are trying to | 0:25:48 | 0:25:59 | |
have maximum separation from the EU
and least possible realignment. As | 0:25:59 | 0:26:03 | |
he ruled out the idea of there being
separate arrangements with Northern | 0:26:03 | 0:26:07 | |
Ireland covering trade and commerce?
Again, the constitutional and | 0:26:07 | 0:26:17 | |
economic integrity of the United
Kingdom remains. I would say that we | 0:26:17 | 0:26:22 | |
are in phase two of the
negotiations. These are matters that | 0:26:22 | 0:26:26 | |
are currently being discussed. I am
sure that all the parties Ireland, | 0:26:26 | 0:26:30 | |
the UK and the EU recognise the
difficulty on the issue and will be | 0:26:30 | 0:26:37 | |
as flexible and innovative as
possible. Does the Minister agree it | 0:26:37 | 0:26:41 | |
is about time the Government
demonstrated that no surrender | 0:26:41 | 0:26:45 | |
attitude to the people who try to
bully us over air flight, stand up | 0:26:45 | 0:26:54 | |
for the man! Stand up to the EU and
let's get on with leaving! May I | 0:26:54 | 0:27:03 | |
just say that my right honourable
friend the Prime Minister will stand | 0:27:03 | 0:27:07 | |
up to anyone and everyone when it
comes to maintaining the best | 0:27:07 | 0:27:11 | |
interests of the United Kingdom.
Finally... Order! Far too much noise | 0:27:11 | 0:27:17 | |
in the Chamber. The Good Friday
Agreement was one of the greatest | 0:27:17 | 0:27:26 | |
legacies of the last Labour
Government. Is the Minister content | 0:27:26 | 0:27:30 | |
that messing up the border issue
could mean that destroying the Good | 0:27:30 | 0:27:34 | |
Friday Agreement could be one of
this Government's legacies? Can I | 0:27:34 | 0:27:41 | |
just assumed the honourable lady
that the joint report published in | 0:27:41 | 0:27:46 | |
December of this year between the EU
Commission and the UK makes it | 0:27:46 | 0:27:51 | |
absolutely clear that the Belfast | 0:27:51 | 0:27:54 |