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Scrutiny of European Statutory Instruments 2025-02-11
11 February 2025
Lead MP
Jim Allister
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
Northern Ireland
Other Contributors: 4
At a Glance
Jim Allister raised concerns about scrutiny of european statutory instruments 2025-02-11 in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
Jim Allister emphasised the importance of scrutiny for laws made by a foreign Parliament, particularly in Northern Ireland. He expressed disappointment over the lack of scrutiny and representation from Northern Ireland on the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee. Allister highlighted the imposition of EU laws without proper scrutiny or transparency and questioned how many such laws had been imposed since 2023. He also criticised the current system for not allowing proper scrutiny within the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Greg Smith
Con
Mid Buckinghamshire
Greg Smith agreed with Jim Allister's concerns and highlighted that Labour Members on the former European Scrutiny Committee rarely attended meetings, indicating a lack of interest in scrutinising EU legislation.
Gregory Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
Mr Gregory Campbell raised concerns about potential trading arrangements between the American Administration and the EU, suggesting that proper scrutiny is crucial given Northern Ireland's unique position under the customs code.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Sammy Wilson agreed with Jim Allister’s points, emphasising the sheer volume of EU laws and regulations that still apply to Northern Ireland and highlighting instances where regulations have been adopted before they were even known by scrutiny committees.
Robin Swann
UUP
South Antrim
Questioned Lucy Powell about the necessity of excluding Northern Ireland from the European Statutory Instruments Committee, suggesting that measures related to Northern Ireland should be reviewed by a dedicated committee.
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