Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Tuesday 20th February 2018 Commons Chamber

[Karen Bradley]

I fully respect the Belfast agreement and the successor agreements. We adhere to the three-stranded approach very strictly.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

I thank the Secretary of State for her statement. Will she outline the timeline for the imposition of direct rule as it is legislated for in this place, to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland do not continue to be led by the nose by Sinn Féin, a party that does not have the interests of Northern Ireland at heart but seeks only the destruction of the state of Northern Ireland in an attempt to secure an unwanted and unworkable Ireland that is never, never, never going to happen?

[Karen Bradley]

My priority, focus and energies are on the restoration of devolved government in line with the Belfast agreement. That is what I will be focusing on and that is what I am determined to achieve, alongside addressing the urgent issues, including the budget, that need to be dealt with in the very near future.