Parachute Regiment: Arrest

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Wednesday 18th November 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Wallace]

I hear what my hon. Friend says and I do not disagree with him. Like him, I have had personal experience of that restraint. We should not forget the tremendous pressure that soldiers and police were put under every day, including provocation. I remember soldiers being attacked and people parking their cars in front of ambulances so that they could not come to their rescue. There was inhumane treatment, murder and victimisation by parts of a society that we were there to try to protect. Like my hon. Friend, I have real passion for what our soldiers achieved. The United Kingdom Government recognise and support that. He will also recognise that those soldiers who showed restraint are the ones who make ours the best Army in the world. Their professionalism meant that they managed to carry on and try to achieve a better result for the people of Northern Ireland, who they were there to protect, and that restraint means that those people who have a chance to clear their name should be allowed to do so. It is those soldiers who follow the rule of law who are only ever let down by those very, very few soldiers who break the law.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

I concur and agree wholeheartedly with the comments of the hon. Member for Aldershot (Sir Gerald Howarth). The diligence and zeal shown by the authorities in questioning and detaining Parachute Regiment soldiers cause concern when compared with the treatment of on-the-runs, who have committed horrible, brutal, evil crimes and are free today, some in elevated positions across the Province and in other parts of Ireland. Does the Minister appreciate the anger that many feel towards the double standards evidenced by what is happening today?

[Mr Wallace]

The hon. Gentleman is right and I understand his point. Indeed, I was on the Back Benches during the whole on-the-run process. I cannot comment much further on the on-the-runs, other than to say that it is my understanding, unless I am corrected, that the on-the-runs are not subject to any amnesty, and that means that they are not free from prosecution. I hope that the prosecuting authorities will hear what we say today and make sure that they continue, where they can, prosecutions of any of those individuals who have committed crimes against our armed forces and the people of Northern Ireland.

Paramilitary Groups (Northern Ireland)

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Tuesday 20th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Villiers]

For clarification, the assessment in relation to the paramilitary organisations does not indicate that those organisations are no longer on ceasefire. However, I think that my hon. Friend’s question was primarily about the Stormont House agreement. As the House will be aware, the major blockage on the Stormont House agreement is that the two nationalist parties, having signed up at Stormont castle to welfare reform with top-ups from the block grant, then withdrew their support. That is an instance where two of the parties signed up to something and are not currently supporting it, but I hope we can find a way to get their support back in the days to come.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

As the Secretary of State has indicated, dissident republicans are very active and deadly. The PSNI is on a high alert. Army units have been sent to the Province to give assistance to the PSNI. The terrorist threat is at a severe level in Northern Ireland. The law-abiding overwhelming majority of Northern Ireland citizens are sick to the back teeth of this cancer in our society. Does she agree that only by taking a ruthless and uncompromising approach to paramilitary activity can we have a real chance to heal the scars on the face of Northern Ireland once and for all?

[Mrs Villiers]

We certainly need an uncompromising approach to pursuing criminality wherever it is found. It is also important to harness the activities of wider society. One of the problems in getting convictions for things like paramilitary assaults is that people feel afraid to come forward and give evidence. We need to reflect on what more can be done to give them the confidence to confront these individuals in their communities and to come forward and give evidence in court when those individuals commit crimes.

Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Wednesday 14th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Wallace]

There has never been a place in United Kingdom politics for terrorism, and nor is there a place in UK politics for people who refuse to condemn terrorism.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

The IRA terrorist campaign led to the deaths of 3,750 people. The IRA has stated that it has not gone away, its guns have not gone away, and over the last three months its murderous ways have not gone away, either. Will the Minister confirm the commitment by the Government of the Irish Republic to reduce IRA activity and to catch IRA members involved in murders and criminal activity in that jurisdiction in the past and today?

[Mr Wallace]

I again place on the record my condolences and those of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the family of Garda Golden, who was brutally murdered last week. I was in Dublin only a few weeks ago, and it is absolutely the Irish Government’s intention to pursue men of violence and terrorists on their side of the border and to assist the UK Government on our side of the border.

Stormont

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Monday 12th October 2015 Commons Chamber

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

It is 10 years since the IRA was supposed to decommission its weapons, 10 years since the IRA was to disband its military operations, and 10 years since a party now at the heart of the Northern Ireland Executive began its transition to a party that was, at least so it said, committed to exclusively peaceful means. Ten years on, we have murder on the streets of Northern Ireland and it is that supposedly decommissioned, supposedly disbanded terror group that is once again making the headlines and putting Northern Ireland in the news for the wrong reasons.

We are holding this debate because armed terrorists carried out executions on the streets of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If this were any other part of the United Kingdom there would be a national outcry. Just how many lies have been told? How many more lies are we expected to believe? We were told the IRA had gone away and had left the stage. It was described as withering away by none other than the Independent Monitoring Commission. Do we believe Bobby Storey when he says that the IRA has disappeared into the air like a butterfly? Cassius Clay said that he floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee. When the IRA stings, people die. That is the difference. Do we believe Bobby Storey or do we believe the IMC? Do we believe the assessment of the IRA by the Chief Constable of the PSNI or do we believe that political colossus, Gerry “I was never in the IRA” Adams? Who do we believe?

Is it any wonder that Stormont is in crisis when the largest nationalist party cannot tell its partners in government the truth about its supposedly former terror wing? We cannot expect simply to brush all this under the carpet. After all the hurt, pain, suffering and death that the IRA caused, it is beyond an outrage that Sinn Féin cannot understand the angst not just in the Unionist community, but throughout the Province. Up and down Northern Ireland, normal hard-working families are worried—worried for the future, worried that terror is back on the streets, worried that they cannot trust those at the heart of our Executive and worried that it will affect them.

[Mr Gregory Campbell]

Does my hon. Friend agree that last week we saw an opportunity for the police to recruit from all communities across Northern Ireland, but that in some cases terror was manifested and threats were made? This weekend, there is one of the delayed recruitment procedures in the north-west of Northern Ireland, which offers an opportunity to politicians, trade unionists and the wider communities to stand united in opposing terror and ensuring that everybody across the community can join up with the police to ensure that terrorism never wins.

[Jim Shannon]

I thank my hon. Friend for that intervention. He covered my next point. Over a weekend when the PSNI tried to recruit across the whole of Northern Ireland, there were threats and bomb hoaxes. That may be the future that some republicans want to see, but we do not want it.

If Sinn Féin is willing to hide from the truth on this issue—an issue so close to home for many people across our United Kingdom—one must ask what else it is hiding. If Northern Ireland is truly to enjoy a new era and a true process of reconciliation, it is time for republicans to step up to the plate and start taking their responsibilities seriously.

The hon. Member for South Antrim (Danny Kinahan) referred to the elephant in the room. It very clearly is in the room.

Northern Ireland deserves better than this. After all that we have been through, I implore the House to support those who are rooting out the scourge of terrorism within our society so that Northern Ireland can enjoy the true peace and stability it so deserves.

[Gavin Robinson (Belfast East) (DUP)]

rose—

Northern Ireland

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Tuesday 15th September 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Villiers]

It is always important to have a reminder of the interests of those who have suffered most as a result of the troubles and the terrorism that took place. The hon. Gentleman is right to highlight the problem in Northern Ireland of so-called paramilitary assaults. These things are utterly unacceptable. For people to seek to take the law into their own hands is just an excuse for violent thuggery. Many people have lost their lives or suffered permanent disability as a result of those assaults. That is one reason why we need to address urgently the role of the continuing paramilitary organisations, so that we can finally see an end to what really is a scourge on Northern Ireland’s society.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

I thank the Secretary of State for her statement. I am especially pleased to see the shadow Secretary of State back in his position. I look forward to welcoming him down to Strangford. He said that it was the best constituency in Northern Ireland and I know he will say it again the next time he is there.

Political developments in Northern Ireland are obstructed and held back by criminality. Dissident republicans—who have been involved in maiming and killing—are involved in my constituency of Strangford in illegal fuel smuggling and the disposal of that fuel. The rise in the number of people being intimidated out of their homes by thugs is at an unprecedented level in my constituency and it continues to cause great concern. What discussions has the Secretary of State had with the Chief Constable in relation to those matters, and what steps will be taken to ensure that such criminality right across the Province and in my constituency comes to an end?

[Mrs Villiers]

I am regularly briefed on the actions that are taken to combat the dissident republican threat. That extends not only to their terrorist activities but to the criminal activities that they engage in to fund those terrorist activities. I am working closely with the PSNI and its security partners to ensure that the UK Government do all they can to combat this menace, whether on the criminal side, the terrorist side or both.

Northern Ireland: Political Situation

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Tuesday 8th September 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Villiers]

The Irish Government are very enthusiastic about trying to move things forward, not least because they are a party to the Stormont House agreement. Paramilitary involvement has been the source of important discussions in an east-west context over many years, and successive Irish Governments have played a part in trying to find the right solutions in relation to paramilitary activity. I will be working with them and the Northern Ireland parties over the next few days to work out a way forward.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

I thank the Secretary of State for her statement. The IRA army council continues to exist; the murder of Kevin McGuigan confirms that. Today, it has been confirmed that Kevin McKee and Seamus Wright, two of the disappeared, have been found in the Republic of Ireland, murdered by the IRA. The past and the present have caught up with the IRA, and therefore Sinn Féin. Confidence has been undermined to the greatest extent for many years and it needs to be restored. What assurance can the Secretary of State give to the people of Northern Ireland—those who are involved in the democratic political process—that the IRA army council will be brought to account for its control of republican terrorism?

[Mrs Villiers]

As I have said, it is very important that the police are allowed to get on with their investigation and to pursue whoever they find evidence against regardless of their background or status. The hon. Gentleman is right to mention the finding of two of the disappeared, which has been confirmed today. It will be a difficult day for those families. I hope that they will derive a degree of comfort in knowing that at last the remains of their loved ones have been found. As for confidence in the institutions, there is no doubt that that has been shaken. Both of the issues in the talks have contributed to that. The concerns felt over the events of recent days and the fall-out from the Kevin McGuigan murder have been intensified by the fact that relations within the Executive were so very severely strained anyway because of the decision to block the welfare reform within the Executive and the inability to deliver financial sustainability. These are difficult times, and it is important that we work together to find a way forward.

Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Wednesday 24th June 2015 Commons Chamber

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

6. What discussions she has had with Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive on security of police officers.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr Ben Wallace)]

The safety of police officers, and others who work tirelessly and with great courage to tackle the terrorist threat, is paramount. The Government are in regular contact with Executive Ministers, and the Secretary of State and I regularly meet the Chief Constable, the security services and the Minister of Justice to ensure that every effort is made to tackle the threat from violent dissidents.

[Jim Shannon]

The safety of police officers is critical. Recently, the Policing Board purchased Vauxhall Vectra cars, which are completely unsuitable for policing in west Belfast, Londonderry or south Armagh. Police officers—who have an average height of 5 feet 10 inches—with body armour and weapons cannot get into those cars in time if attacked, and nor can the Vauxhall Vectra be armoured. What discussions will the Minister have with the Policing Board to ensure that this issue is looked at again?

[Mr Wallace]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. As someone who previously had to squeeze into armoured cars on the Falls Road, I know, and have full sympathy with, what it is like trying to get into such cars at speed. Procurement decisions are a matter for the Chief Constable, but I take on board the hon. Gentleman’s point and am happy to raise his concerns directly with the Chief Constable when I next see him.

On-the-Runs Scheme

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Tuesday 27th January 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Villiers]

I have certainly always tried to be objective and measured in how I view the actions of the previous Government on these matters. In relation to OTRs generally, there certainly are some differences between the parties, not least of which is the opposition of the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats to the Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill. In relation to this scheme and the way in which Northern Ireland matters were handled generally by the previous Government, I do not doubt their sincerity. They were motivated, I am sure, by a wish to see the process move forward and to secure peace and stability for Northern Ireland. The key problem that was revealed by the Hallett report was that, unfortunately, the scheme was not managed in the way that it should have been, and that gave rise to risks. Errors were made, which, unfortunately, could jeopardise future prosecutions.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

At a time when yet another OTR is issued a covert letter to escape jail, British soldiers—funded by legal aid—are being investigated for a shoot-out with terrorists which led to the much-deserved deaths of those terrorists. Does the Secretary of State not accept that the legal system and the rule of law are being undermined by the fact that while some individuals are not being charged for their terrorist activities, British soldiers are being investigated?

[Mrs Villiers]

For some, confidence in the legal system has been shaken by the OTR scheme. But that is a reason to be very clear that it was not an amnesty; it never was. It was a scheme designed to ensure that individuals who were not wanted by the police were told that that was the case as a matter of fact at a particular point in time. It is important that the scheme is described in such a way to provide as much reassurance as possible to the people who have been understandably distressed by what has happened.

Corporation Tax (Northern Ireland) Bill

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Tuesday 27th January 2015 Commons Chamber

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

It is a pleasure to speak in this debate, and I thank the Government for bringing the Bill before the House under the Stormont House agreement. Obviously, the DUP is in favour of the Bill. We have concerns about its delivery, but we are committed to the devolution of corporation tax. I thank the right hon. Member for North Shropshire (Mr Paterson) for his contribution. I understood it was his baby back when I entered the House. He always says it was a team effort, but certainly every conversation we ever had when he was Secretary of State was about corporation tax. It is good to see it being delivered; I am sure he is especially pleased.

The power to set our own rate of corporation tax could be a game changer for the economy, if done right, and could help to create thousands of jobs. My hon. Friend the Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson) said that 37,500 jobs could come out of it. I am not sure how accurate that figure is, but if that is the potential figure, there is clearly an opportunity here to do something significant, diminishing our reliance on the public sector and generating wealth for our citizens. For years now, we have faced difficult economic circumstances, with people forced to tighten their spending and unemployment rising, and this has the potential to deliver what we need.

I made it my business to speak to business men—mostly in my constituency—and gauge their opinion about the devolution of corporation tax, and there was a general feeling in favour. They were keen because they could see the benefits coming through to them, but they saw that it was a 10-year plan and that it might take some time to get to where we wanted to be, and they had concerns about how it would be delivered over that period. They also had concerns about the planning system in Northern Ireland—the hon. Member for South Down (Ms Ritchie) mentioned fast-track planning. We have to do something because the planning system is so slow and cumbersome it defies belief.

Although unemployment rates are better in Northern Ireland than in the Republic, we have always struggled to compete with the latter’s attractive corporation tax level, as the shadow Secretary of State pointed out earlier, and it is little wonder, given that its tax rate is 12.5%, compared to our 21%. The ability to set our own tax rate will make that a thing of the past and put us in a better place to compete with the Republic of Ireland, as well as with our Scottish, Welsh and English counterparts. Competition is vital for any economy and ours is no different, so naturally anything that will assist us is most welcome. Devolving corporation tax has the potential to do that.

Allowing us to set our own rate of corporation tax is supported by all five parties in Northern Ireland, as well as the parties in this place. Clearly the benefits are recognised by all. As the Secretary of State has said, it would provide a major incentive for domestic businesses to invest further in Northern Ireland and significantly increase foreign direct investment. That is what we want: real jobs for our people. Given that we share a land border with a jurisdiction with significantly lower corporation tax, this measure has the potential to create thousands of new jobs and stimulate growth in Northern Ireland’s private sector, leading to a stronger, more stable and more lucrative economy.

We have already witnessed change in the last five years in Northern Ireland. In fact, we have already seen a large number of foreign and domestic businesses opening and expanding into our Province. That is great, but we need more opportunities and better employment. We want to encourage more businesses to open up and enjoy the benefits and fantastic work opportunities that Northern Ireland has to offer. Belfast has been described as a small city with a big heart, and it certainly is the up and coming place to invest. That said, however, sometimes big businesses need that little bit of extra motivation. If a low corporation tax rate does not help them to make their minds up, I do not know what will. It would certainly put us on a much more even playing field with the Republic of Ireland, with which we share a land border.

I want to make a quick comment about connectivity and the importance of the air corridor between Heathrow and Belfast City and Belfast Aldergrove. We want to ensure that it is put in place in such a way that we can be part of growing the economy. Just last night, the talk on the news back home was about the new rail links between Belfast and Dublin—to increase their connectivity and, I would suggest, take it away from Northern Ireland. I am concerned that we need to match our neighbour when it comes to those things.

There is no doubt about the benefits that devolving corporation tax will bring, but there are several things we need to consider before its implementation. Fortunately, we have until 2017 to make this a reality. That gives us the time to ensure that when corporation tax is devolved, we have the necessary resources in place to take best advantage of it. My main aim is to see unemployment fall. I believe that the best way forward, coupled with lower corporation tax rates, is for the Department of Employment and Learning to develop a way for students to get real jobs. That might mean creating more apprenticeships, promoting particular skills and helping young people to get experience in the workplace through courses in schools and techs.

Our colleges are working to try to ensure that people are qualified, experienced and able to take up employment opportunities, but I sometimes think that the further education colleges and businesses—with the opportunities that will come off the back of this—need to work more closely together. I understand that we have a dearth of engineers in Northern Ireland. Again, something needs to be done about that. So many young constituents come to me with concerns about getting jobs or houses, because although they have hard-won degrees, diplomas and certificates, they cannot get the necessary experience. I have no doubt that if further education colleges and schools create policies to march alongside tax policies, including on corporation tax, we will see much lower unemployment rates among our young people. That has to be a priority.

I also want to see real reductions for businesses. The week before last, I was talking to a business man who runs a very successful company in my constituency, Mash Direct, which employs 170 people—I understand that the Secretary of State took the opportunity to visit the factory. The company produces simple but attractive foodstuffs and has increased its work force. However, he told me that it was cheaper for him to import vegetables rather than grow his own—he has his own fields round there and is also co-operative with the farmers in trying to ensure that the products he uses for his factory are grown locally. However, he can buy vegetables from south America for less than it costs to grow them in a field in Newtownards. That is ludicrous. Devolving corporation tax will help him to compete better, and that is an advantage. While being ever mindful of better rates for businesses, we need to ensure that there is something in place to protect those who have these issues.

The agri-food business is important in my constituency. Pritchitts, Willowbrook Foods and Rich Sauces are all companies that have thrived over the last few years, employing almost 1,000 people between them. We also have the Akin pharmaceutical industry. These are businesses that have grown over the last few years, and the change in corporation tax will help that growth to continue, which is their ambition, and to employ more people.

I have been approached by many business owners in my constituency, some of whom use their buildings and are delighted at the announcement on devolved tax power, while others are extremely concerned because they do not use their premises. There needs to be some sort of protection or exemption clause for such people. That needs to be considered in the next two years, because we cannot expect business owners to pay corporation tax on vacant properties; that would be unfair. Instead of promoting the economy and creating more jobs, it could have the reverse effect, particularly when Northern Ireland is made up of so many small and medium-sized enterprises—30,000 micro-businesses to be precise, which is 89% of our community. Although we want to encourage big business, we do not want to forget about those who account for such a large part of our economy.

Let me express one more concern that I feel needs to be addressed before implementation in 2017. This is not something that will be unique to Northern Ireland, as it has been raised across the United Kingdom, but I am referring to the issue of holding companies. The hon. Member for Amber Valley (Nigel Mills),who spoke in the diverted profits tax debate in Westminster Hall, asked me about this matter. The issue is clear: we do not want to see a brass plate on an office that is lying vacant; we want to see jobs. It is the jobs that grow the economy and bring in the wages, which then brings money to the Treasury through tax. That is what we want to see. This is an issue of great concern.

A company may come into the United Kingdom and open a holding company in Northern Ireland. This means that it could put any profits made elsewhere back into the Northern Ireland branch, saving on corporation tax. Concern about that was expressed in the Westminster Hall debate. Big US companies such as Starbucks, Google and Amazon have all been accused of tax dodging entirely or of paying considerably less than they should. What steps will be taken to ensure that this same practice does not happen with corporation tax in Northern Ireland?

Undoubtedly, I believe that the benefits outweigh any drawbacks, but in order fully to profit from this proposal, the issues I have raised need to be addressed. I am hopeful that, with this legislation, Northern Ireland can become even more successful and really begin to compete in the business sector on the world stage.

Stormont House Agreement

Jim Shannon Excerpts

Wednesday 7th January 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mrs Villiers]

The hon. Lady makes an important point. The agreement will help partly by providing extra funding for institutions that are doing work on the past that is currently done by the PSNI, but the financial annex attached to the financial package also contains an obligation on the Executive to do what they can to minimise reductions in police funding. Given the financial realities, it seems inevitable that there will be reductions in PSNI funding to some degree, but the UK Government would certainly like these to be kept to an absolute minimum, which is why it is in the financial annex to the agreement.

[Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)]

I thank the Minister for her statement and for all the hard work that she and many others did to achieve the Stormont House agreement. We in the Democratic Unionist party ensured that the bedroom tax would not be implemented in Northern Ireland thanks to the flexibilities and the top-ups that we secured through the Northern Ireland block grant. Sinn Fein, of course, opposed that, but they never turned up in this Chamber to vote against it. However, this time Sinn Fein have joined with the DUP to agree a deal, which means that there is now no obstacle to a revised welfare reform Bill for Northern Ireland. Can the Minister set out the time scale for welfare reform in Northern Ireland and the legislative process through this House?

[Mrs Villiers]

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his comment. It is a hugely important step that the five parties reached an agreement on a way forward on welfare reform. It is indeed a matter for the Northern Ireland parties that they have applied the top-up in relation to certain matters, including the spare room subsidy, which they are funding through their block grant. It is now vital that progress is made on implementing welfare reform as soon as possible, so that we can press ahead with the rest of the agreement.