Northern Ireland Executive Formation Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Executive Formation

Martin Docherty-Hughes Excerpts
Thursday 16th January 2020

(4 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Julian Smith Portrait Julian Smith
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I thank my hon. Friend for her text messages, WhatsApp messages and all her support during this period. I can reconfirm that the funding package that the UK Government are providing will be provided to the Executive, and should be distributed across communities in Northern Ireland.

Martin Docherty-Hughes Portrait Martin Docherty-Hughes (West Dunbartonshire) (SNP)
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Coming from good Ulster stock myself, I am delighted to congratulate the Secretary of State, along with his counterpart in Ireland, Simon Coveney, for the work that they and all Members, both here and in Northern Ireland, have done to bring about the Assembly resitting. An essential element of the Good Friday agreement, which is the foundation of that Assembly, is the notion—whether Members in this House agree with it or not—of a referendum on the unity of the Irish nation. Now, I am sure that would also mean that the Secretary of State agrees with me that the Union is consensual.

Julian Smith Portrait Julian Smith
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I think the Prime Minister was very clear about his views on those issues yesterday. I have no further comments to make.