Northern Ireland

In the House of Commons debate on Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, outlined the government's position. He stated that the government is committed to repealing and replacing the legacy Act, which has little support in Northern Ireland. Benn assured the House that the government will consult widely on this process and keep the House informed. The shadow Secretary of State, Alex Burghart, welcomed Benn to his role and expressed hope that he would be an active supporter of the Union. Burghart raised concerns about the government's commitment to implementing all the measures in the Command Paper designed to strengthen the Union. The debate then covered a range of topics. On the redevelopment of Casement Park, Benn defended the government's focus on the project, arguing that a decision needs to be made, but acknowledged the concerns about prioritizing this over health service funding. On the Barnett formula, Benn reiterated the government's commitment to needs-based funding for Northern Ireland, while emphasizing that decisions on allocating that funding are a matter for the devolved administration. The discussion also touched on steps to support public services in Northern Ireland, with the Minister of State, Fleur Anderson, highlighting the need to transform services and improve outcomes. Regarding the repeal of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act, Benn outlined the government's plans to scrap conditional immunity and allow inquests and civil claims to resume, while consulting with all interested parties to find a way forward that has the support of victims and survivors. The debate covered other topics, such as the Windsor Framework agreement, access to veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland, and UK-Ireland relations, with the government reaffirming its commitment to implementing the Windsor Framework and strengthening ties with Ireland. Throughout the discussion, the government representatives emphasized their focus on addressing the concerns of the people of Northern Ireland, while working collaboratively with the devolved administration and all political parties.