Oral Answers to Questions

Liz Twist Excerpts

Wednesday 8th December 2021 Commons Chamber

[Brandon Lewis]

My hon. Friend will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment on an open court case, but we are determined to ensure we resolve the issues for the people and businesses of Northern Ireland and for the UK internal market.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab)]

6. If he will make an assessment of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission’s ability to carry out its core functions.

[The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Conor Burns)]

We value the important work of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission in championing human rights in Northern Ireland. We are committed to ensuring the commission has the resources and the ability to carry out its functions, and we remain in close contact with the chief executive and their staff.

[Liz Twist]

One of the many risks of activating article 16 is the chance that human rights safeguards secured under article 2 and relied on by organisations such as the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will fall by the wayside. Will the Minister confirm that any negotiations involving the protocol will not lead to the unravelling of article 2 commitments?

[Conor Burns]

I am happy to confirm to the hon. Lady that the provisions of article 2 are unconnected to any triggering of article 16. We are absolutely committed to seeing no diminution of human rights in Northern Ireland.