A Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee (Liaison Committee Report)
Debate between Lord Dodds of Duncairn and Lord Gardiner of Kimble
Lord Dodds of Duncairn (DUP)
My Lords, I join the noble Lord, Lord Empey, in thanking the Liaison Committee for agreeing to set up a new Select Committee, following on from the work of the previous sub-committee. I, too, pay tribute to the work of the noble Lord, Lord Jay of Ewelme, and the staff of the committee who did a tremendous job.
I was honoured to be a member of the previous committee. We produced excellent reports, which have been received very warmly in Northern Ireland, with a lot of interest from civil society right across all sectors of the community and the economy. It is vital that this House continues to play an important role in scrutinising legislation for Northern Ireland that is now being made by a foreign political entity without any input from Members of the Northern Ireland Assembly or Members of Parliament. It is an extraordinary situation, which makes it all the more important that this House, which has done tremendous work in the past and has been the only Chamber doing this work is able to continue that. I think everybody in Northern Ireland, from all sides, will warmly welcome this announcement today.
The Senior Deputy Speaker (Lord Gardiner of Kimble)
My Lords, the noble Lords, Lord Empey and Lord Dodds of Duncairn, have articulated why the Liaison Committee found this a compelling case and have made this recommendation to your Lordships.