Restoration of Power Sharing 2024-01-17
2024-01-17
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The situation has been ongoing for four years with the collapse of institutions on February 3, 2022.
What recent discussions have you had with party leaders regarding the restoration of power sharing and the formation of a new Northern Ireland Executive?
I recently held discussions at Hillsborough Castle on Monday with political party leaders focused on restoring the Northern Ireland Executive and addressing related issues.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
Ongoing negotiations have not yet resulted in the restoration of the Executive.
What does the Secretary of State think the DUP is looking for during ongoing negotiations?
The Northern Ireland protocol has been a concern, specifically how leaving the EU impacted goods availability and Northern Ireland's status within UK influence, but the Windsor framework addressed this issue.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address what the DUP is seeking in negotiations.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
A financial package of £3.3 billion was proposed to address the crisis in public services.
Will the Secretary of State consider releasing elements of a £3.3 billion financial package to address public sector pay pressures?
The package is fair and generous, but funds are tied to a restored Executive budget from this place, not available otherwise.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not commit to releasing parts of the £3.3 billion package.
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
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Context
The lack of a functioning assembly affects public service and potential strike action.
What efforts are being made to restore the Northern Ireland Executive given ongoing issues with bills, strikes, and other matters?
There is significant activity including meetings galore, especially with the DUP, but progress depends on interlocutors involved.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not provide specific details about meetings and conversations.
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
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Context
Industrial action is due to hard-pressed public servants feeling at their wits' end.
Would it not be better if the Assembly were functioning normally so that issues like this could be resolved?
A £3.3 billion package is available for a restored Executive to address public service needs, including pay pressures.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not address whether a functioning Assembly would help resolve current issues.
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
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Context
Direct rule requires primary legislation under the St Andrews agreement.
Is it not right that, were direct rule contemplated, primary legislation would be needed, and should we aim to restore governance at Stormont?
We do not want to go down the route of direct rule or joint authority; our aim is to find a form that allows the Executive to reform, which we are working on with Northern Ireland colleagues.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not directly address whether primary legislation would be needed for direct rule.
Response accuracy
Q7
Partial Answer
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Context
The Republic of Ireland has taken an interstate case against the UK Government regarding the Legacy and Reconciliation Act.
Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is regrettable for the Taoiseach to pander to his domestic audience rather than focus on Northern Ireland's greater good?
The decision by the Republic of Ireland to pursue an inter-state case is unhelpful and unfortunate, affecting efforts to bring justice to victims of troubles through the Legacy Act.
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Assessment & feedback
Did not comment on whether the Taoiseach is pandering to his domestic audience.
Response accuracy
Q8
Direct Answer
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Context
Following the conclusion of talks on the Windsor framework, there is a deadline for restoring the Northern Irish Executive. The House voted in March to support the framework.
Now that the talks have concluded, with the House having voted overwhelmingly to support the Windsor framework back in March, Labour Members stand by our commitment to implement it if we were to be in government, and we support the efforts the Government are making to restore the institutions. Furthermore, it is worth pointing out that there would be no prospect of negotiating with the European Union further arrangements of benefit to Northern Ireland if the UK were to renege, again, on an international agreement it has signed. Will the Secretary of State confirm that if the Executive are not restored by tomorrow evening, he will need to bring forward legislation to postpone the elections?
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his question and for his affirmation of the work done on the Windsor framework. Obviously, I will be doing everything I can to ensure that it is not a Labour Government who come in to do any of this in the future. However, he is right to say that as of midnight on Thursday—tomorrow night—I will need to bring in primary legislation, because a duty falls on me to call an election for the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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Q9
Partial Answer
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Context
Public sector workers in Northern Ireland are set to go on strike due to a lack of a pay rise for almost three years. Leaders and the head of civil service have called on the Secretary of State to release available money for pay increases.
I am grateful for that clarification. The absence of the Executive and the failure to sort out the urgent question of public sector pay is going to result in the biggest strike in Northern Ireland for many years tomorrow. Some workers have not had a pay rise for almost three years—that is not sustainable. As we await the restoration of the institutions, the party leaders and indeed the head of the civil service in Northern Ireland have all called on the Secretary of State to release the money for pay, which he has said is available. Will he now do so, so that public sector workers in Northern Ireland can get the pay increase they deserve?
I am acutely aware of the industrial action scheduled for tomorrow and the detrimental impact it will have on public services. I hear the call from the right hon. Gentleman and others to step in, but let me put this into a slightly different context. Public sector pay is devolved to Northern Ireland, and he will know that, as I mentioned earlier, this Parliament set the budget for Northern Ireland this year, with primary legislation.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not commit to releasing the available money for public sector pay increases but emphasized that decisions on such matters are devolved and should be made by local politicians.
Context
Devolution
Response accuracy
Q10
Direct Answer
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Context
The Secretary of State has mentioned that the Northern Ireland protocol does not enjoy support from any Unionist in Northern Ireland. The restoration of institutions is contingent on confidence within both nationalist and unionist communities.
The Secretary of State will know that Northern Ireland can benefit from power sharing arrangements only when those institutions enjoy the support and confidence of both the nationalist and Unionist communities. I think I have previously heard him accept that the Northern Ireland protocol does not enjoy the support of any Unionist in Northern Ireland. Despite references to talks having concluded in December, the Secretary of State helpfully indicated on Monday this week that further progress had been made. Does he accept that the restoration of institutions will be secured only when that confidence within the Unionist community is put where it needs to be?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and for the many, many hours of work that he personally has put into the talks we have been having. They are detailed talks and it is a complex situation. I have said before, because it is absolutely obvious, that the Unionists in Northern Ireland are deeply unhappy with the existing Northern Ireland protocol.
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Q11
Partial Answer
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Context
Public sector workers are set to strike due to a lack of pay increases. The Secretary of State had secured the availability of funding, but release is being delayed.
I appreciate the Secretary of State's remarks. He will have heard the concerns around the general strike, which will be called tomorrow. He will know that his Government dismissed our calls when we said that there simply was not sufficient money. He knows we had to battle for sufficient money and that in the run-up to Christmas he personally secured the availability of that money. The release of the funds is called for by the DUP, every political party in Northern Ireland, the head of the Northern Ireland civil service and, this morning, 50 chief executives of public sector agencies across Northern Ireland. I do not believe there is a lack of will on the Secretary of State's part, but this is a choice—a political choice that the Government can make. Will the Secretary of State use today to encourage his Government colleagues, the Treasury and anyone else who believes that using public sector workers as blackmail or political pawns is beneficial in any way?
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question and the way that he put it. As I mentioned earlier, public sector pay is devolved and is properly a matter for locally elected politicians who are best placed to take decisions in that space.
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Assessment & feedback
The Secretary of State did not commit to encouraging his government colleagues to release funds but stated that the issue is devolved to local politicians.
Devolution
Context
Response accuracy