Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding for Casement Park.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
My Department is engaging with the Department for Communities, which is responsible for the procurement process for the redevelopment of Casement Park, including direct engagement with local partners on their funding contribution. I wrote to the Northern Ireland Minister for Communities on 27 February to say that it is vital to understand what the most recent costs associated with the redevelopment of Casement Park are.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what steps his Department is taking to ensure Northern Ireland can host Euro 2028 games alongside the rest of the UK and Ireland.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Department for Communities is responsible for the redevelopment of Casement Park, including direct engagement with local partners on their funding contribution.
The UK Government will need to receive confirmation of the updated cost of the Casement Park project from the Department for Communities before detailed consideration can be given to allocating taxpayers' money, particularly given wider public sector funding challenges. This has yet to be received. The Northern Ireland Minister for Communities has written to me on this matter and I replied on 27 February 2024 to say that it is vital to understand what the most recent costs associated with the redevelopment of Casement Park are.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what discussions he has had with the Irish Government on the funding of Casement Park.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
My Department has engaged with a number of stakeholders in relation to funding for Casement Park, including with the Irish Government. I welcome the announcement by the Irish Government that it is willing to contribute €50m to the redevelopment of the stadium.
The Department for Communities is responsible for the procurement process for the redevelopment of Casement Park, including direct engagement with local partners on their funding contribution. I wrote to the Northern Ireland Minister for Communities on 27 February to say that it is vital to understand what the most recent costs associated with the redevelopment of Casement Park are.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to announce the investment decision on Casement Park.
Answered by Chris Heaton-Harris - Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
My Department is engaging with the Department for Communities, which is responsible for the procurement process for the redevelopment of Casement Park, including direct engagement with local partners on their funding contribution. I wrote to the Northern Ireland Minister for Communities on 27 February to say that it is vital to understand what the most recent costs associated with the redevelopment of Casement Park are.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals on Irish language as announced by the Government in June 2021; and if he will bring forward those legislative proposals before the Northern Ireland Assembly mandate ends in March 2022.
Answered by Conor Burns
As the Northern Ireland Executive has not progressed the carefully balanced package of legislative commitments negotiated in New Decade, New Approach in respect of identity and language, the Government intends to do so soon. The legislation that the Government plans to introduce will benefit everyone in Northern Ireland, including Irish language speakers and those of the Ulster Scots/Ulster British tradition.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what his timeframe is for (a) introducing and (b) implementing legislation to establish a Commissioner for the protection and enhancement of the Irish language in Northern Ireland as set out in New Decade, New Approach.
Answered by Conor Burns
The Government remains committed to delivering on the package of identity and language measures set out in New Decade, New Approach and to introducing the necessary legislation soon. In accordance with the commitments negotiated by the parties in New Decade, New Approach, the two new Commissioners and the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression provided for through the Bill will be for the Northern Ireland Executive to establish, support and fund. It is the Government’s intent that these commitments are implemented in full, and the forthcoming legislation will make provision to this effect.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what assessment the Government has made of the compatibility of the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement with (a) the UK leaving the EU without a deal and (b) the Irish backstop.
Answered by Julian Smith
The UK Government is unconditionally committed to the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement and its successors, and to maintaining the rights of the people of Northern Ireland and North-South Cooperation in all circumstances, whatever the outcome of Brexit.
The Government wants and is working to achieve a new deal with the EU. However, the Government’s position is that a no deal EU Exit would not be a breach of the provisions of the Belfast Agreement.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 13 March 2019 to Question 230086 on Brexit: Northern Ireland, whether it is the Government's position that only Irish citizens living in Northern Ireland who are also British citizens will be permitted to vote in the event of a border poll conducted under Schedule 1 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Answered by Julian Smith
This Government has been clear that the circumstances requiring a border poll have not been satisfied. The franchise for such a referendum is not currently set out in legislation and would be determined by me as the Secretary of State, by Order, at the time of calling a poll.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, pursuant to the Answer of 19 June 2018 to Question 153188 on Common Travel Area, for what reason the reciprocal voting rights for Irish citizens do not cover referendums; and what assessment she has made of the implications of that for Irish citizens in Northern Ireland in relation to any border poll conducted under schedule 1 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The voting rights which will continue to be enjoyed by British and Irish citizens are reciprocal. British citizens may vote in local and parliamentary elections in Ireland but not Presidential elections or referendums. This reciprocal right is reflected in the voting rights of Irish citizens living in the United Kingdom.
I continue to believe that a majority in Northern Ireland favour Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom. The test for a border poll set out in the 1998 Northern Ireland Act has therefore not been met.
Asked by: Conor McGinn (Independent - St Helens North)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what the timetable is for the Derry City Deal to be signed.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The Government has set out several public commitments, including in the Budget and in the Confidence and Supply Agreement, to work towards a ‘comprehensive and ambitious’ set of City Deals across Northern Ireland.
A timetable has not been set to deliver a City Deal, however officials from across Whitehall and the Northern Ireland Civil Service have been engaging with Derry City and Strabane Council and partners on their proposals. I look forward to considering these proposals in due course.