"That is precisely my point. I do not argue with the need to uprate them, for the reasons that the Minister has set out, but why has it taken so long? Why has it been 21 years since there was any change in these limits, given the massive increase in …..." Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech
"My Lords, I will speak briefly on these statutory instruments, which I welcome broadly for the reasons that my noble friend Lord Weir and the noble Baroness, Lady Ritchie, outlined. I have a couple of queries on which I would be grateful for the Minister’s response.
"My Lords, I thank the Minister for introducing the regulations. Once again, we are debating regulations which may appear on the surface to be technical and limited in scope, but, as we know, such regulations raise issues of real constitutional and democratic significance and importance. No one here tonight is …..." Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech
"As an amendment to the above motion, at end insert “but that this House regrets that the Plant Health, Seeds, Seed Potatoes and Plant Propagating Material (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2026 implement provisions of EU law on part of the United Kingdom without public consultation; and do not help resolve …..." Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech
"My Lords, I am grateful to all those who took part in the debate, especially those who have indicated support for my regret amendment. One noble Baroness questioned what is achieved by these debates and who benefits. Well, I suppose when the Government do not bother about a consultation or …..." Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech
"To ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to ensure communities have access to face-to-face banking services...." Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech
"My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper. In so doing, I am sure the whole House will want to join me in wishing Garter King of Arms, this being his last Introduction, a very happy retirement and all best wishes...." Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech
"My Lords, I welcome the Minister’s reply, as well as the Government’s Access to Banking Services review and the powers they have committed to taking through the Financial Services and Markets Bill. Everybody knows the negative impacts that the denial of face-to-face banking has on communities, small businesses and vulnerable …..." Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech
"My Lords, scenes of appalling violence that we have seen in Belfast and in north Belfast, which I used to have the honour to represent in the other place, have been rightly condemned by everybody. Such violence serves absolutely no purpose except to hurt communities and innocent people and should …..." Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech
"My Lords, I am grateful for this opportunity to speak in the gap. I want first of all to join with the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, in her remarks about the incident in north Belfast—the area I had the honour to represent in the other place for almost 20 years—and …..." Lord Dodds of Duncairn - View Speech