Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Gregory Campbell Excerpts
Wednesday 2nd April 2014

(10 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Theresa Villiers Portrait Mrs Villiers
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They certainly will need the support and encouragement of both Governments. I can assure the House that they very definitely have that, and that was confirmed in my discussions with Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore on Monday. We are committed to this process and we want to see it succeed. If we have learned anything from the events of recent days, it is the importance of a balanced, transparent and accountable process to deal with Northern Ireland’s past.

Gregory Campbell Portrait Mr Gregory Campbell (East Londonderry) (DUP)
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The Secretary of State referred to the party leaders meeting, and of course they are meeting, with the exception of the Ulster Unionist leader. We should encourage progress in those discussions because many people want to see those issues addressed and resolved so that we can get on and deal not just with the past, but with the present and the future.

Theresa Villiers Portrait Mrs Villiers
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The hon. Gentleman is right. Resolving these issues or finding an agreed way forward will enable further efforts and energies to be concentrated on pensions, the economy and so on. There is a real opportunity here. A lot of good work was done under the auspices of Richard Haass and Meghan O’Sullivan, not least by the right hon. Member for Lagan Valley (Mr Donaldson) as part of the negotiations under Richard Haass.