Oral Answers to Questions

Mark Durkan Excerpts

Wednesday 1st February 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

Well, we might not get there. We will see.

[Mark Durkan (Foyle) (SDLP)]

May I join in the condemnation of the deplorable attack on the police officer? May I also use this occasion to pay a quick tribute to my constituent and opponent, and now fellow former Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, for the calibre and tenure of his service in our democratic institutions? I wish him well in his personal battle.

Does the Secretary of State recognise that, in meeting Executive Ministers, he would be meeting Ministers who have taken a pledge to uphold the rule of law, based as it is on the fundamental principles of fairness, impartiality and democratic accountability, including support for policing and the courts? Will he meet that same benchmark and remove the comments he has previously made—

[Mr Speaker]

Order. Enough! We have got the gist.