Question to the Northern Ireland Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the roles played by Lord Trimble, Lord Kilclooney, Lord Empey and Lord Maginnis of Drumglass during the talks that led to the 1998 Belfast Agreement, when the Prime Minister or the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland last consulted them; and whether they intend to do so before attending the proposed final talks this week.

The cross-party talks are ultimately a process owned by the political parties. It is the parties’ responsibility to decide which of their representatives should be participants in the talks. The Government is doing all it can to move the process forward towards a shared future in Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland provides regular briefings for Peers.