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Northern Ireland Executive Formation
31 January 2024
Lead MP
Chris Heaton-Harris
Debate Type
Ministerial Statement
Tags
Brexit
Other Contributors: 28
At a Glance
Chris Heaton-Harris raised concerns about northern ireland executive formation in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Government Statement
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, made a statement on the restoration of the devolved government in Northern Ireland. The statement highlighted that it has been nearly two years since the previous devolved institutions were dissolved due to disagreements over the Northern Ireland protocol. The Government's efforts have led to the Windsor framework, which seeks to address issues related to the protocol and ensure better alignment with the rest of the United Kingdom. To restore power-sharing in Northern Ireland, four key elements will be implemented: protection of Northern Ireland within the UK, promotion of the UK internal market, recognition of connections across the UK, and support for public services through a £3 billion funding package. The statement also emphasised the role of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in advocating for the Union and condemned any threats or intimidation against DUP members.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds South
Question
Benn asked when the new UK internal market lane will come into being and about the timeline for transferring funds and producing a budget by the new Executive.
Minister reply
The Secretary of State did not provide specific timelines for implementing the UK internal market lane or details on how quickly the funding would be transferred to Northern Ireland, nor when the new Executive would produce its first budget. However, he emphasised the Government's commitment to swift implementation and called for all parties in Northern Ireland to work towards restoring devolved governance as soon as possible.
Hilary Benn
Lab
Leeds South
Question
The MP thanks the Secretary of State for his work, acknowledges the efforts of all involved in negotiations, and seeks clarification on when the UK internal market lane will be operational and how soon funds will be transferred to the new Executive.
Minister reply
The minister appreciates the shadow's support, confirms the UK internal market lane is being set up as quickly as possible with necessary legal changes. He also assures that funding will flow once the new Executive starts functioning.
Robert Buckland
Con
Not specified
Question
The MP commends the Secretary of State for his work, expresses satisfaction with recommendations incorporated in the Command Paper, and asks for assurance that the Government won't neglect Northern Ireland post-legislation.
Minister reply
The minister assures that Northern Ireland will never be forgotten by the UK government and confirms they are committed to supporting its interests.
Richard Thomson
SNP
Not specified
Question
The MP welcomes progress, recognises political failures leading to current situation, highlights Northern Ireland's unique status post-Brexit, questions details of a new fiscal framework and role for other devolved institutions in the east-west economic council.
Minister reply
The minister thanks the MP for recognition and support, confirms that Northern Ireland’s special status will be advantageous. He assures that discussions on the fiscal framework will be transparent with HM Treasury and emphasises collaboration between all UK parts in the east-west body.
Julian Smith
Con
Skipton and Ripon
Question
The MP congratulates the Secretary of State, Prime Minister, DUP on negotiating a positive deal that will boost economy, peace, and union. He asks if the minister agrees.
Minister reply
The minister affirms agreement, stating the deal will bring prosperity to Northern Ireland by making it one of the most prosperous parts of the UK.
Gavin Robinson
DUP
Belfast East
Question
The MP thanked the Secretary of State for his steadfast endurance in negotiations and expressed gratitude for the Command Paper published today. He mentioned that they were told certain things would not change, but have been changed as part of their agreement. He also asked if legislation can be introduced tomorrow to implement these changes.
Minister reply
The minister thanked the hon. Gentleman and confirmed the commitment to the timetable for introducing and passing legislation. The Command Paper sets out clear legal direction eliminating physical checks within the UK internal market system, except for those required as part of managing risk. The deal is about safeguarding Northern Ireland's place in the Union, with new measures affirming unfettered access and its constitutional position.
Question
The MP welcomed the progress towards restoring power sharing but asked if the Government could ensure ongoing dialogue with the EU to amend the Windsor framework and restore democratic control over law-making in Northern Ireland.
Minister reply
The minister thanked his right hon. Friend for her comments and confirmed that the Command Paper contains significant detail on the deal, including an important change to section 7A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 with a democratic safeguard known as the Stormont brake.
Jamie Stone
Lib Dem
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Question
The MP asked for maximum liaison between a restored Stormont and devolved institutions like the Scottish Parliament to draw maximum benefit from responsible working devolution.
Minister reply
The minister thanked the hon. Gentleman and mentioned that there is already a body, the British-Irish Council, which does exactly what he suggests at the highest level.
Question
The MP questioned why proposed legislation of great constitutional significance was merely a statutory instrument instead of an Act of Parliament. He also asked about restrictions on lawmaking related to the single market in Northern Ireland and improvements to the Stormont brake.
Minister reply
The minister thanked his hon. Friend and mentioned that they are amending section 7A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, providing a powerful democratic safeguard on the flow of EU law.
Sammy Wilson
DUP
East Antrim
Question
The MP criticised the Government for refusing to take on the EU and noted that there are still EU-manned border posts being built in Northern Ireland. He asked about divergence in laws and how it impacts GB-NI trade.
Minister reply
The minister thanked the right hon. Gentleman but corrected some of his points, stating that the agreed package will not change freedoms or powers secured through Brexit nor reduce their ability to diverge.
Richard Drax
Con
South Dorset
Question
May I congratulate my right hon. Friend and the DUP? Clearly, this is still a highly emotive issue, and understandably so, because when we left the EU, I, the House and the country were promised that we would leave as a United Kingdom. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom but, as we have heard, it will still be subject to EU laws, so that axe is still grinding away and we must get rid of it. What is unhelpful is Sinn Féin’s whispering about unification at this highly emotive time. Can my right hon. Friend tell me, the House and this country that Northern Ireland will always be part of the United Kingdom? We are stronger together.
Minister reply
I have to tread slightly more carefully on that particular issue, because as Secretary of State I am responsible for making an independent assessment of the conditions that might lead to the border poll to which my hon. Friend alludes. I have to be very careful, but I am comfortable suggesting that, certainly in my lifetime, Northern Ireland will be a strong and wonderfully prosperous part of the United Kingdom. However, it is very important to outline the parts of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement that allow for all these things to happen, and any change would absolutely depend on the consent of both communities at the time. I certainly do not think anybody judges that to be in place at this point.
Colum Eastwood
SDLP
Foyle
Question
It is important to point out that the people of Ireland, north and south, will decide the constitutional future of Ireland—nobody else. This is a very good day for the people of Northern Ireland, and I am very glad to see it. We are about to see something very significant: we will have the first ever nationalist First Minister and the first ever nationalist leader of the opposition, and I wish them well. In order to properly maintain this progress and make the most of it, will the Secretary of State convene a process with all the political parties and the Irish Government to look at how we can reform the institutions of the Good Friday agreement, to make sure that no one party can ever pull them down again?
Minister reply
I thank the hon. Gentleman for welcoming the proposal. He mentioned at the very beginning of his question that the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement relies on the consent of both communities and then suggested reform, which certainly does not have the consent of one of them. However, I understand the point he makes. When people have asked me about future reform of the institutions, I have always said that this is a conversation that should be started within Stormont and by the people of Northern Ireland and their elected representatives. The thing I hope for is not that particular conversation; it is for Stormont to be returned so that elected folk from Northern Ireland can govern for the people of Northern Ireland.
Priti Patel
Con
Witham
Question
It is absolutely vital that the democratic institutions and lawmaking powers are returned to the elected politicians in Northern Ireland, and today is clearly very historic and symbolic. At the same time, however, we know that Northern Ireland’s economic lifeblood is linked to the rest of GB, and I concur with the rest of my colleagues who have spoken on this issue. It is vital that we ensure not only that there is the ability to diverge and have the freedom to secure Northern Ireland’s economic lifeblood, but that the prosperity of Northern Ireland remains. May I ask the Secretary of State to ensure that we have the full ability to do that, and that it will be backed up by this Government in Westminster?
Minister reply
My right hon. Friend is absolutely right. I am delighted to give her the assurance she seeks, because this announcement will reduce neither our ability to diverge, nor our commitment to do so should that be in the interests of the United Kingdom.
Stella Creasy
Lab Co-op
Walthamstow
Question
Many of us welcome this day and hope that the restoration of Stormont is possible. If the Government are capable of removing trade barriers with the European Union for the constituents of Belfast, many of my constituents would like to see them do the same for them. May I press the Secretary of State on what he said about amending section 7A of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, because he will know that is the foundation of the practical application of the Belfast/Good Friday agreement that many of us hold dear. His Command Paper talks about the “pipeline of EU law”. Can he clarify for the avoidance of doubt that any amendment he makes will not see any regression at all in the rights upheld in that document, and in particular the rights afforded to every single member of the communities in Northern Ireland in the wording of the Good Friday agreement and under the European convention on human rights?
Minister reply
Yes, I absolutely can.
Jacob Rees-Mogg
Con
North East Somerset
Question
May I thank my right hon. Friend for his statement and the hon. Member for Belfast East (Gavin Robinson) for his important endorsement, which is encouraging? May I ask my right hon. Friend about paragraph 145 of the Command Paper? Can he give an example of the circumstances in which a Minister might say that there would be an effect on the internal market and what that might restrict in practice?
Minister reply
Off the top of my head, I cannot give an example, because I have not yet needed to do that in the PBL—parliamentary business and legislation committee—as I have stated. The practical effect is one of transparency. I am aware that there are many Select Committee Chairs in this place. We want to ensure that when a Bill potentially has a substantial adverse effect on GB-NI trade and we are making those decisions, we are transparent about it and we tell people about it. The best way to do that is to inform this House through a written ministerial statement.
Gregory Campbell
DUP
East Londonderry
Question
I thank the Secretary of State for his statement. I remind him that we have been pressing the Government for action rather than words for more than two years, but we welcome the fact that action has been taken, both on trading and the constitutional position. Does he agree that subsequent to the next few days, we need to continue to work to close the narrow gap that remains? We have made significant and substantial progress towards what we asked the Government to do. Will he also indicate to the wider community in Northern Ireland that even when someone gets a large number of votes, such as Sinn Féin, if they have a mantra that their day will come, it will also go with less fanfare?
Minister reply
I very much agree with the hon. Gentleman. I see all politics as a process, actually. All politics is an evolution. In the Windsor framework, there is provision for when matters are discussed about Northern Ireland in the Joint Committee—the body that looks at the EU-UK relationship, legislation and its effect—that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister can attend. We are not only moving on through Stormont returning, but we are ensuring that Northern Ireland’s voice is heard and that that process can continue.
Tewkesbury
Question
Given everything that the Secretary of State has said, can he assure the House that article 6 of the Act of Union, which guarantees that everybody within that Union shall not be disadvantaged in any way, particularly with reference to trade, is still in place and will remain so?
Minister reply
I point my hon. Friend to the very large section and annex in the Command Paper on the Acts of Union. I know my colleague the shadow Secretary of State dug out the Acts of Union to read them in relation to this business. There are many bits of the Acts of Union that we would not really want to have now, because they introduced tariffs of their own, but I ask my hon. Friend to look at the annex in the Command Paper where we go into great detail on exactly the answer he wants.
Jeremy Corbyn
Ind
Islington North
Question
We thank the Secretary of State for his very welcome statement, and we take the opportunity to congratulate Michelle O’Neill on becoming the First Minister and all the other parties that have managed to bring this agreement about. Does he think that this agreement will lead to an increase in all-Ireland institutions and their effectiveness—in culture, tourism, transport, health and so on—and does he agree with the point, made by the hon. Member for Foyle (Colum Eastwood), that ultimately it is for the people of Ireland to decide their long-term future, not anyone else?
Minister reply
On the second point, it is for the people of Ireland and Northern Ireland to decide their futures in that particular matter. I remind the right hon. Gentleman that there is a little way to go in this process before we have the First Minister and Deputy First Minister sitting, and this is an important part of that timetable, but we welcome that happening. He asked about all-Ireland institutions. This agreement means that those institutions set up by the Belfast/Good Friday agreement, such as the North South Ministerial Council, can function correctly, and it also sets up new east-west bodies to ensure that Northern Ireland’s place in the United Kingdom is equally recognised and made stronger.
Richard Graham
Con
Gloucester
Question
May I join the shadow Secretary of State in hugely welcoming this great achievement by the Secretary of State, by the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson) and by all the other party leaders with whom he successfully agreed to re-establish devolved Government at Stormont? As the son of a Northern Ireland Unionist family, I believe it will only be good for the stability and prosperity of Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom. Can my right hon. Friend confirm when the internal market levy and the changes to tariffs on goods from countries with which the UK has a free trade agreement will come into place?
Minister reply
I thank my hon. Friend for his kind words. The factually correct answer is probably that those measures will come into place when the legislation is passed through this place.
Ian Paisley Jnr
DUP
North Antrim
Question
The Secretary of State knows that 2025 is too long to wait for veterinary medicine issues in Northern Ireland. The grace period proposed by the Command Paper will decimate veterinary practices, affect farm viability and have a detrimental impact on public health. Will he confirm if legislation will be tabled unilaterally dealing with this matter if a speedy solution is not found?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman's concerns are noted in paragraphs 136 to 141 of the Command Paper which detail setting up a veterinary medicines working group for expert opinion. The minister intends to listen carefully to the group’s recommendations and will have further discussions with him at that point.
Robin Millar
Ind
Blyth Valley
Question
Does my right hon. Friend agree that Members should have time to read, digest and debate the instruments as they are constitutional law issues? Why is it proposed that this can be done in just 24 hours with a short debate?
Minister reply
The House's Standing Orders dictate debating times for these matters. The Government agreed on a timetable with the Democratic Unionist party to restore Stormont, and Members have been agile and adept at scrutiny within provided time.
Carla Lockhart
DUP
Upper Bann
Question
Does Northern Ireland remain under EU single market laws for food production? Does the EU customs code apply in Northern Ireland? Is such a situation incompatible with UK sovereignty, and will more work be needed on this?
Minister reply
I recommend re-reading the Windsor framework and Command Paper.
Tom Hunt
Con
Dartford
Question
Will the Secretary of State ensure a new chapter working collaboratively with Democratic Unionist party Members to promote Northern Ireland’s place within the UK?
Minister reply
Yes, we need to move forward and work together with the Democratic Unionists so that Northern Ireland can remain part of our United Kingdom.
Stephen Farry
Alliance
Belfast East
Question
Will there be a further discussion on a long-term review of Northern Ireland’s fiscal framework in the next Parliament, and should UK Government lead this process to safeguard the Union and Assembly?
Minister reply
The hon. Gentleman's points have been raised for months. I look forward to working with Ministers in a reformed Executive on exactly that.
Paul Girvan
DUP
South Antrim
Question
Will there be measures addressing the carbon tax issue where Northern Ireland pays twice as much compared to any other part of the UK, and is it true that the Command Paper was handed at an eleventh hour and needs more time for review?
Minister reply
Northern Ireland will continue to have access to both EU single market and UK's internal market but not subject to European Union rules. The specifics on carbon tax are in the Command Paper.
Carmarthen East and Dinefwr
Question
If a future UK Government diverges substantially from EU product regulations and standards for Great Britain, what would be the impact on today's announcement?
Minister reply
The UK would be allowed to do that with a written ministerial statement stating that fact so it can be debated in the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Question
Does the Secretary of State confirm Strangford constituents are as British as those in London, Cardiff, Manchester and Newcastle?
Minister reply
And Daventry. I can confirm that 100%. Strangford residents are proud Brits.
Shadow Comment
Hilary Benn
Shadow Comment
Hilary Benn, Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, welcomed the Government's efforts to restore devolved government in Northern Ireland. He acknowledged the tireless work of Chris Heaton-Harris and expressed gratitude towards DUP leader Sir Jeffrey M. Donaldson for his leadership despite facing abuse. The Labour Party supports measures reinforcing Northern Ireland’s place within the UK internal market and the Windsor framework, provided they have the support of both nationalists and Unionists. Benn also welcomed the funding package announced by the Government, including a needs-based funding formula and stabilisation funding to address public sector pay issues and fiscal challenges. He emphasised the need for all parties in the House to work together to prevent future collapses of devolved institutions.
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