Northern Ireland: Devolved Government

Baroness Smith of Basildon Excerpts

Thursday 22nd February 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Duncan of Springbank]

In response to my noble friend I will happily say that the Belfast agreement is an imperative, essential element of the Government’s policy, and I have no desire for that celebration to fall without an Executive.

[Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord Browne of Belmont (DUP)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Smith of Basildon]

I am happy to give way to hear from the DUP.

[Lord Browne of Belmont]

My Lords, it is clear that in the coming weeks, regrettably, Northern Ireland will not have a functioning Assembly or Executive at a time when decisions will have to be made on the details of managed divergence between trade regulations in the UK and the EU. Can the Minister assure me that, given the absence of local political representation, the Government will arrange for discussions as soon as possible with representatives of the business and farming community in Northern Ireland to ascertain their concerns and, if possible, take steps to address them?