:00:25. > :00:29.My lords I will repeat a statement made by my honourable friend the
:00:30. > :00:36.Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in the other place. The
:00:37. > :00:40.statement is as follows. Since the Northern Ireland Assembly election
:00:41. > :00:47.on 2nd mar, I have been encouraged in talks with the political parties
:00:48. > :00:50.and the Irish Government. In line with the well-established
:00:51. > :00:57.three-stranded approach. There has been one clear purpose - to
:00:58. > :01:02.re-establish an inclusive, devolved administration at Stormont in
:01:03. > :01:09.accordance with the 1998 Belfast agreement. Progress has been made on
:01:10. > :01:14.a number of issues, these include on a budget, a programme for
:01:15. > :01:19.government, and ways of improving transparency and accountability. We
:01:20. > :01:27.have seen further steps forward on agreeing a way to implement the
:01:28. > :01:31.Stormont House legacy bodies to provide better outcomes for victims
:01:32. > :01:35.and survivors of the Troubles. In addition, progress was made about
:01:36. > :01:39.around the parties may come together to represent Northern Ireland in our
:01:40. > :01:44.negotiations to leave the EU, which is so important in the context of
:01:45. > :01:51.Article 50 being triggered tomorrow. That said, it is also clear that
:01:52. > :01:56.significant gaps remain between the parties, particularly over issues
:01:57. > :02:00.surrounding culture and identity. Throughout this process the
:02:01. > :02:04.Government has been active in making positive proposals to try and bridge
:02:05. > :02:10.the gaps and help the parties to move forward. In law, the period
:02:11. > :02:15.allowed to form an executive from the date of first sitting of the
:02:16. > :02:23.Assembly after an election is 14 days. That 14 day period expired
:02:24. > :02:29.yesterday. With no agreement. And therefore no Executive. This is a
:02:30. > :02:32.source of deep disappointment and regret to me and I know there is
:02:33. > :02:40.widespread dismay across the country. From all my engagement
:02:41. > :02:45.across Northern Ireland, with business, civil society, and members
:02:46. > :02:48.of public, I am in no doubt inclusive devolved government what
:02:49. > :02:54.is the majority of the people want to see. Working for them, delivering
:02:55. > :02:57.on their priorities, and continues the positive progress we have seen
:02:58. > :03:05.in Northern Ireland over recent years. Devolved institutionings up
:03:06. > :03:09.and running and -- institutions up and running and serving the
:03:10. > :03:12.community. But following the passing of the legal deadline, Northern
:03:13. > :03:17.Ireland has no devolved administration. This means that
:03:18. > :03:22.other elements of Belfast agreement, including the North/South bodies,
:03:23. > :03:28.cannot operate properly. The consequences of all this are
:03:29. > :03:32.potentially serious and we are approaching the point at which
:03:33. > :03:38.Northern Ireland will not have an agreed budget. From tomorrow, a
:03:39. > :03:43.civil servant, the department of finance permanent Secretary, will
:03:44. > :03:47.exercise powers to allocate xash cash to Northern Ireland
:03:48. > :03:51.departments. This is an interim measure to ensure services are
:03:52. > :03:56.maintained until such time as a budget is agreed. We are keeping in
:03:57. > :03:59.contact with the head of the Northern Ireland civil service and
:04:00. > :04:06.understand the department of finance will be setting out more details
:04:07. > :04:10.today. But let me be very clear, this situation is not sustainable
:04:11. > :04:15.and beyond a short period of time will have an impact on public
:04:16. > :04:21.services. What we are talking about here is the health service, schools,
:04:22. > :04:27.voluntary groups and services for the most vulnerable in society. This
:04:28. > :04:34.is not what people voted for on 2nd March. During the course of the past
:04:35. > :04:37.24 hours, I have spoke on the the leaders of five main Northern
:04:38. > :04:42.Ireland parties and the Irish Government. I'm encouraged that
:04:43. > :04:47.there remains a strong willingness to continue engaging in dialogue
:04:48. > :04:53.with a view to resolving outstanding issues and forming an Executive. But
:04:54. > :04:58.the window of opportunity is short. It is essential therefore that the
:04:59. > :05:04.intensity of discussions is stepped up, with renewed intent and focus.
:05:05. > :05:08.To that end I will continue over coming days to work with the
:05:09. > :05:13.Northern Ireland parties and the Irish government as appropriate. I
:05:14. > :05:18.will need to keep the situation under review. But if these talks are
:05:19. > :05:28.successful, it would be my intention quickly to bring forward legislate
:05:29. > :05:34.what issing after the Easter recess -- after the Easter recess to avoid
:05:35. > :05:39.a second election. I am also determined to take forward the
:05:40. > :05:45.legacy bodies in the Stormont House agreement. I will be involving a
:05:46. > :05:49.range of interested parties, including the victims' commissioner.
:05:50. > :05:54.But in the absence of devolved government, it is for the United
:05:55. > :05:58.Kingdom Government to provide for political stability and good
:05:59. > :06:05.governance. We do not want to see a return to direct rule. As our
:06:06. > :06:12.manifesto stated, local policies and local services should be determined
:06:13. > :06:16.by locally elected politicians through locally accountable
:06:17. > :06:21.institutions. But should the talks fail, the Government will have to
:06:22. > :06:26.consider all options. I therefore want to give the House note that is
:06:27. > :06:31.following the Easter recess as a minimum it would be my intention to
:06:32. > :06:34.bring forward legislation to set a regional rate to enable local
:06:35. > :06:37.councils to carry out that you are functions. And to provide further
:06:38. > :06:46.assurance around the budget for Northern Ireland. It is vital that
:06:47. > :06:48.devolved government and all the institutions under successive
:06:49. > :06:55.agreements is returned to Northern Ireland as soon as possible. And the
:06:56. > :07:00.Government's unrelating focus is on achieving that objective. Northern
:07:01. > :07:05.Ireland needs strong devolved government to deliver for teachers,
:07:06. > :07:10.doctors, nurses, businesses, industry and the community. To
:07:11. > :07:14.ensure that it plays a full role in the affairs of our United Kingdom,
:07:15. > :07:20.while retaining its strong relationship with Ireland. And to
:07:21. > :07:25.continue the work of the past two decades to build stronger peaceful
:07:26. > :07:30.and prosperous future for all. That needs to be the focus of everyone as
:07:31. > :07:40.we approach the crucial next few days and I sxhend -- commend this
:07:41. > :07:44.statement to the House. My I thank the minister for repeating this
:07:45. > :07:47.statement. In keeping with tradition, and practice w the
:07:48. > :07:52.consensus between all the parties, regarding Northern Ireland, he and I
:07:53. > :08:00.have a strong relationship, which I think is valued and valuable in the
:08:01. > :08:04.situation. Bearing in mind that relationship it will be a
:08:05. > :08:11.disappointment to him that he must stand here to inform us that the
:08:12. > :08:18.talks to re-establish a devolved administration have not been
:08:19. > :08:26.success:. . The people of Northern Ireland voted for a devolved
:08:27. > :08:31.Assembly. If anyone has any doubt of his expectations of the people of
:08:32. > :08:37.Northern Ireland, all the people of Northern Ireland, they can only find
:08:38. > :08:42.it useful to speak to Baroness Blood who is well tuned into opinion and
:08:43. > :08:45.the Lords in this House, specially those from Northern Ireland who can
:08:46. > :08:57.testify to that need of the whole community.
:08:58. > :09:02.It is communities and the public services of Northern Ireland that
:09:03. > :09:08.are suffering the day-to-day reality of this. The minister mentioned the
:09:09. > :09:13.health service, service struggling with waiting lists whilst waiting
:09:14. > :09:19.for political leadership to be back in place. We thank the Minister for
:09:20. > :09:23.notice of the interim measures in place to allocate resources to
:09:24. > :09:28.Northern Ireland. We agree with his own statement that this is not
:09:29. > :09:32.sustainable. I would like to ask the Minister about the talks moving
:09:33. > :09:37.forward. Can I ask what fresh initiatives will be employed to
:09:38. > :09:40.ensure the next round of talks are dynamic and make progress? We must
:09:41. > :09:49.ask what will be different about these talks. Can we encourage, in
:09:50. > :09:52.the strongest possible terms, the importance of prime ministerial
:09:53. > :09:57.involvement in this process moving forward? History shows us how
:09:58. > :10:02.important this can be. I am aware of that answer the Secretary of State
:10:03. > :10:07.made to my honourable friend and the member in the other place, that the
:10:08. > :10:09.Prime Minister is involved and is conducting business through the
:10:10. > :10:14.Secretary of State, and there is absolutely no reflection on the
:10:15. > :10:17.hard-working attitude of the Secretary of State in asking the
:10:18. > :10:24.Minister, would he agree with me that we need greater readership to
:10:25. > :10:28.be shown in the weeks ahead? Is he able to tell us what plans the
:10:29. > :10:32.Government has the ensure the Prime Minister is even more actively
:10:33. > :10:35.engaged in the process? We must also ensure high level of direct
:10:36. > :10:39.engagement from the Irish government, and their role as a
:10:40. > :10:44.guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. Can the Minister update
:10:45. > :10:47.the House on the continuing intervention the Irish government
:10:48. > :10:53.has had and will have in the process? May I ask what options the
:10:54. > :11:00.Government has looked at in dealing with the specific issue of the
:11:01. > :11:03.renewable heat incentive scheme? Has the Secretary of State looked at the
:11:04. > :11:07.financial burdens placed on the people of Northern Ireland? Are
:11:08. > :11:12.there any options for how this may be more appropriately dealt with? My
:11:13. > :11:16.Lords, we in this House are under no illusion that this is easy but that
:11:17. > :11:19.does not stop us, and more importantly the people of Northern
:11:20. > :11:24.Ireland, having high expectations about what must be achieved. We need
:11:25. > :11:29.all engaged parties, the UK Government and Irish government, to
:11:30. > :11:36.ask not what do we want, but what can we give to this process moving
:11:37. > :11:43.forward? My Lords, I also would like to start by thanking the Minister
:11:44. > :11:46.for repeating the statement to your lordships' House this afternoon. I
:11:47. > :11:50.also say it is with a very deep sense of regret, despite the very
:11:51. > :11:55.genuine effort by some, that they have reached this impasse. Let us be
:11:56. > :11:59.clear of the consequences for Northern Ireland from the failure of
:12:00. > :12:01.the political parties to reach an agreement to establish an executive,
:12:02. > :12:06.they are very serious. We are days away from the end of the financial
:12:07. > :12:10.year, and as has been said already there is yet no budget. There has
:12:11. > :12:15.been no vote to set next year's regional rates. There is no
:12:16. > :12:17.programme for governance. This will lead to increased uncertainty for
:12:18. > :12:21.key public services in Northern Ireland such as health and
:12:22. > :12:26.education, and in the voluntary and community sector. It is particularly
:12:27. > :12:30.to be regretted, my Lords, that ordinary people of Northern Ireland
:12:31. > :12:34.find themselves a voice through an executive at Stormont at such a
:12:35. > :12:39.critical time, with the triggering of Article 50 tomorrow, the very
:12:40. > :12:43.time when the particular needs of Northern Ireland deserve to be
:12:44. > :12:47.clearly heard. There are very real and as yet unresolved concerns for
:12:48. > :12:51.Northern Ireland, not least about how to maintain the open border in
:12:52. > :12:55.the context of the UK's leading the customs union. Can the Minister say
:12:56. > :13:00.what mechanisms they intend to put in place to ensure the views of all
:13:01. > :13:05.political parties in Northern Ireland are heard during the Brexit
:13:06. > :13:08.negotiations? Does he agree that the joint ministerial committee will
:13:09. > :13:16.have a greater role to play in the context of Brexit? Does he agree
:13:17. > :13:19.that a more balanced representation of MLAs is needed to reflect the
:13:20. > :13:22.views of Northern Ireland? Does you further agree that in view of the
:13:23. > :13:26.current and past continuing a mechanism needs to be found to keep
:13:27. > :13:30.Assembly members in place and to engage them and their party leaders
:13:31. > :13:35.in discussions on Brexit and other issues's can he confirm any such
:13:36. > :13:40.mechanism would require primary legislation? Giving, my Lords, that
:13:41. > :13:43.the scandal was one of the immediate causes of this current crisis, can
:13:44. > :13:48.the Minister confirm that it is his understanding that the inquiry
:13:49. > :13:52.cheered by the judge could take as long as six months to complete? --
:13:53. > :13:58.cheered by the judge. Is confident the judge has the necessary
:13:59. > :14:04.resources to enable rapid conclusion to the inquiry? It is clear there
:14:05. > :14:06.are deeper problems surrounding the issue and it will therefore be
:14:07. > :14:11.necessary to do things differently to secure a deal and move forward.
:14:12. > :14:16.On these benches, we believe there is no alternative to devolution, but
:14:17. > :14:19.to achieve this requires a renewed commitment on the part of all
:14:20. > :14:24.participants to the talks. We believe all parties now need to take
:14:25. > :14:27.stock of their positions and come back to the negotiating table in the
:14:28. > :14:33.frame of mind to reach an agreement. Does the Minister agree it is
:14:34. > :14:36.necessary to have a renewed sense of momentum, with clear leadership, and
:14:37. > :14:41.full engagement by all political parties? What concrete action is the
:14:42. > :14:45.Government taking to provide the necessary readership of the highest
:14:46. > :14:50.level at this time? My Lords, as President Bill Clinton said last
:14:51. > :14:55.week, making piecework is an endless process -- making peace work. It
:14:56. > :15:00.requires compromise, cool head, leadership and the desire to put the
:15:01. > :15:03.best interests all the people of Northern Ireland ahead of narrow
:15:04. > :15:08.political advantage. We sincerely hope such an attitude will be
:15:09. > :15:13.forthcoming in the next few weeks. First of all, can I thank the noble
:15:14. > :15:19.Lord and Baroness for their comments, and I agree with much of
:15:20. > :15:23.the sentiments expressed. I think the whole House will agree that the
:15:24. > :15:27.people we should have in the forefront of our minds today are the
:15:28. > :15:33.people of Northern Ireland. In the recent Assembly elections, they
:15:34. > :15:37.voted overwhelmingly for strong stable and inclusive, devolved
:15:38. > :15:40.government, and it will I know be a matter of much disappointment to
:15:41. > :15:45.them, as it is to the Government, that the parties have been unable to
:15:46. > :15:52.reach agreement within the statutory period enabling an executive to be
:15:53. > :15:56.formed. This has real and practical implications. From tomorrow, a civil
:15:57. > :16:01.servant, not elected representatives, will be allocating
:16:02. > :16:07.cash for public services. This is not sustainable beyond the short
:16:08. > :16:09.term. Northern Ireland wants and needs effective devolved government,
:16:10. > :18:33.delivering an agreed set of priorities and
:18:34. > :18:37.The UK Government will continue to engage with stake holders in
:18:38. > :18:43.Northern Ireland and represent those interests. But it would be much more
:18:44. > :18:48.effective if the executive was in place and there has been progress
:18:49. > :18:52.with the parties in the discussions that we have just had in
:18:53. > :18:55.establishing how they can come together to represent the interests
:18:56. > :19:02.of Northern Ireland going forward. With regard to the RHI, I think
:19:03. > :19:06.everybody wants to see a rapid reporting of that inquiry. Clearly
:19:07. > :19:11.the procedures are a matter for the inquiry itself, but I think we want
:19:12. > :19:20.the facts on this as quickly as we can. As one of those involved in the
:19:21. > :19:24.Belfast agreement, I'm delighted at the statement and the government's
:19:25. > :19:29.determination to try and have devolution restored to Northern
:19:30. > :19:35.Ireland. But in the statement it says, but should the talks fail, in
:19:36. > :19:46.their objectives, the Government will have to consider all options.
:19:47. > :19:54.Is direct rule an option? And is... Joint rule of Northern Ireland not
:19:55. > :20:00.an option? I think clearly, our focus is on this period ahead, the
:20:01. > :20:04.window of opportunity that the sectary of state has talked about
:20:05. > :20:09.and I continue want to speck late about alternatives. But clearly if
:20:10. > :20:14.we do not get agreement within this limited period, then clearly we need
:20:15. > :20:19.to consider all of the options. But it is fair to say that nobody wants
:20:20. > :20:23.to see a return to direct rule and that is why we need to intensify the
:20:24. > :20:44.discussions. We are are told we are approaching a
:20:45. > :20:48.point where there is no budget and civil servants will allocate funds,
:20:49. > :20:54.but that is not sustainable. But that is the realm of life I live in.
:20:55. > :20:57.When I agree the Irish language, legacy issues are important, they're
:20:58. > :21:03.not what makes the world go round I have to say. And you know the talks
:21:04. > :21:08.are figured mostly on those things and that worries me, I see work
:21:09. > :21:14.coming to a halt, because of the budget and what I wonder is sorry...
:21:15. > :21:23.Could you take, could the minister tell us have all the parties been
:21:24. > :21:26.around table? And if not why not. Are some elected representatives
:21:27. > :21:30.more important than others. In the future of Northern Ireland I don't
:21:31. > :21:38.consider that. You talk about future talks, what will be different about
:21:39. > :21:43.the next set of talks? Just on the issue of round tables, I mean, there
:21:44. > :21:52.has been progress in the talks that we have had over the last period,
:21:53. > :21:55.and progress has been made on setting a budget, programme for
:21:56. > :21:59.Government, improving transparency and accountability and these have
:22:00. > :22:06.been part of round table talks that have been convened. But clearly, as
:22:07. > :22:11.we go forward, we need to step up the intensity and the inclusivity of
:22:12. > :22:14.the discussions. That is what the Secretary of State will be working
:22:15. > :22:18.towards.