Speeches by Robinson.

“Minister, some of the evidence we have heard focuses on the fact that no Government, no community group and no organisation can reconcile an individual’s heart to their experience. But obviously, in working with those groups, we can assist in that process. It is only because we have had these things raised with us that…”

“Chair, I decided not to intervene on some of the Windsor framework questions because it would not have been helpful. The Secretary of State knows my position and my disappointment in his Department and Government’s position that it may take 18 months to even get close to an agreement on SPS. I think it is a shame. This…”

“You have; I have just never heard it pronounced that way.”

“I think it might catch on. Following on from ICRIR, “A-ERC” seems to work. Secretary of State, my final question is about Spirit AeroSystems. Though constituency-focused, it is of interest to the entire Committee. Are the Government doing enough to pressurise Airbus into completing a deal that would look at the entiret…”

“All of that is well known and it is an accurate portrayal of where things sit, but again, that was not really the question, Secretary of State. Airbus is displaying no benevolence in this, nor should we expect it to; it is being paid half a billion dollars to take the facilities in Belfast. The mid-fuselage section, as…”

“Drawing on your response to Mr Hoare, can I ask whether you have considered convening the meeting?”

“I don’t know what his answer is. I have not received an answer from anyone.”

“And in the absence of him convening the meeting, will you?”

“It is a pleasure to follow the hon. Member for Sittingbourne and Sheppey (Kevin McKenna), though I will reach a slightly different conclusion from him. Although she is not in the Chamber, may I remark on the principled stand taken by the hon. Member for Lewisham North (Vicky Foxcroft), not only today but in her decisio…”

“I could see there being some utility if you also had an extra column so you could see what was actually going on.”

“I understand the compliance and why you should and why you must—”

“Dr McAlister, on a number of occasions you have talked about violence and gender-based violence not being unique to Northern Ireland. Sometimes we can be too introspective, like we are always in some special category, but actually it is faced elsewhere. From the perspective of a constituency MP, I know the stories of i…”

“Of course. You have answered questions about data and comparisons, and the Committee has had the benefit of your responses. There have been a number of high-profile cases in Northern Ireland over the last—to stretch it out—six or seven years. They tend to fascinate the public and lead to a lot of gossip, innuendo and a…”

“A knitting needles at the gallows-type situation, fascinated by the trauma of it all.”

“I’m sorry but I am going to have to withdraw early to attend another Committee. What you just suggested is helpful for the Committee. There is the Executive and their strategy, but our role is to look at it from a UK perspective, and we were not going to ignore this issue. Sonya talked earlier about mapping out and get…”

“Claire wants to pick up on some of those legacy issues, so I will not touch on them. DCS McKee, you mentioned Home Office statistics and how they change their counting rules, which can make a material impact on how you track trends. Even though the counting rules may have changed, does the PSNI continue to record data …”

“I know you will, but do you keep a separate column to show how it would have been counted, and then track trends, or do you not have any ability to track them when the counting rules change?”

“Thank you very much for all that you have shared so far. DCS McKee, what you have said is very stark. I will not get into the specifics of the case in Ballymena, but it should be a reminder to everyone that you have just said you lost 15 officers in your public protection branch, who are there to help assist victims of…”

“No—thank you for it. I hope the Chair forgives me for delving into a slight tangent, but it was an important opportunity.”

“How temporary was that removal from your team?”