Northern Ireland: Political Developments Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Scotland Office
Lord Rogan
Main Page: Lord Rogan (Ulster Unionist Party - Life peer)Department Debates - View all Lord Rogan's debates with the Scotland Office
Northern Ireland: Political Developments
Lord Rogan Excerpts(7 years, 7 months ago)
Lords ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Dunlop
I have been asked that question in this House before and I will give the same reply that I gave then. We are committed to the Belfast agreement and the principle of consent. Northern Ireland remains a full part of the UK and joint authority would be incompatible with that principle of consent.
Lord Rogan (UUP)
My Lords, the Minister mentioned in the Statement public services, the community and the voluntary sector. What is his assessment of the uncertainty that the present situation places on those vital services, which are often accessed by the most vulnerable in our Northern Irish society?
Lord Dunlop
The funding of these voluntary bodies and the public services is absolutely at the heart of why we need to make quick progress and why this process cannot go on indefinitely. Measures are in place that allow the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Finance to allocate cash, but political choices need to be made and that is why we require a fully functioning Executive to be in place.