Speeches by Robinson.

“You have to hear, rather than assume.”

“Well, I have, and you have to hear, rather than assume.”

“I have given you an answer not only once but twice now. If it is about strand 1, you cannot just cherry-pick. I have heard witnesses today suggest that they could improve the world if you change the designation of First Minister and Deputy First Minister, but I am suggesting to you, first, that that is fanciful; second…”

“He has asked me that question already, so I have engaged in that discussion with him. I repeated what I said to you: we can happily engage in those discussions, but that the AERC is engaged in that work currently, that we do not believe there should be any à la carte or fundamental change to the consensus aspiration me…”

“I am not sure how beneficial continuing this conversation would be in the run-up to an election. I get a sense, as I mentioned this earlier, that there are people clearly engaged in this discussion because they think it electorally useful for them. There has been an insatiable desire on the part of a number of parties …”

“I am making the point to you, and you can accept it or not, that somebody wishing to change the law may wish to engage with colleagues, reach consensus and understand why there is resistance and, furthermore, challenge the attitude that infected this process, because a decision seemed to be reached that would get a maj…”

“Well, I have, and you have to hear, rather than assume.”

“I am not sure how beneficial continuing this conversation would be in the run-up to an election. I get a sense, as I mentioned this earlier, that there are people clearly engaged in this discussion because they think it electorally useful for them. There has been an insatiable desire on the part of a number of parties …”

“I am not sure how beneficial continuing this conversation would be in the run-up to an election. I get a sense, as I mentioned this earlier, that there are people clearly engaged in this discussion because they think it electorally useful for them. There has been an insatiable desire on the part of a number of parties …”

“I know that some very hard-working MLAs would not like that categorisation.”

“Good morning, Chair; thank you for having me. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to give evidence to the Committee and for completing a bit of parliamentary trivia, as I am the first member of a Committee to give evidence twice over a decade. We have achieved something at least.”

“He has asked me that question already, so I have engaged in that discussion with him. I repeated what I said to you: we can happily engage in those discussions, but that the AERC is engaged in that work currently, that we do not believe there should be any à la carte or fundamental change to the consensus aspiration me…”

“I know that some very hard-working MLAs would not like that categorisation.”

“I think I gave you an option. It is not an aspect of reform necessarily, but I believe it would be useful to have a coalition agreement in advance of an Executive being established. I think you can construct such a thing through agreement when you see manifestos in advance of elections. I understand that you will be en…”

“For communities against others—you know very well, Mr Hoare, the history of the system that we have. You know that it can only operate with the confidence and commitment of our collective communities. You know that we have a system where—which is right—communities, neighbourhoods and those with competing aspirations wo…”

“I am making the point to you, and you can accept it or not, that somebody wishing to change the law may wish to engage with colleagues, reach consensus and understand why there is resistance and, furthermore, challenge the attitude that infected this process, because a decision seemed to be reached that would get a maj…”

“There is no refusal, because I started my answer by saying that these things cannot be dealt with in an à la carte way. That is my answer. My answer is that if you are going to have a discussion—”

“I think about some of the reflections of the witnesses already. It is all too easy to forget that in Northern Ireland, we have an important system of government and a Government of necessity. If you were to compare and contrast it with Westminster, you would have a Cabinet with Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal De…”

“I have indicated very clearly my support for devolution, my belief that devolution is fundamental to Northern Ireland and its place within the United Kingdom, and my commitment to devolution. I cannot indicate to you, Mr Kane, what will happen in the future—not just for events within my control, but the position that o…”

“There are a couple of things I want to respond to. It is not the wrong attitude when I suggest, for example, that a change to titles will not make a fundamental impact on delivery. I do that because you will hear people continually point to frustrations with delivery of Government, and then suggest that that is the cat…”