Speeches by Swann.

“What happens if—and this is a hypothetical “if”—the Department or the Justice Minister came out and was critical of some of the steps that you have taken in the last 12 months or said that they have not met their expectations? As Gavin said, it is leaving you carrying the can at this minute in time.”

“The Northern Ireland Office and the Treasury are doing an open book exercise on how all the Departments of the Northern Ireland Executive are spending their block grant allocations. Will the Secretary of State commit to publishing their findings?”

“Sinead, you used the words that you are taking comfort. What is that in regard to?”

“I appreciate the steps you are taking to remove that perception of political involvement. Is the political involvement in appointment and recruitment of every position at ACC and above something that the board has considered maybe taking a step back from and allowing a more operational appointment?”

“Just on that point, are you now saying to this Committee that the PSNI will not be in a position to release that information in a timely manner in the way that will be required?”

“Thanks, gentlemen, for your honesty and frankness in your answers so far. It is always refreshing for this Committee to hear that. Can I ask about the relationship that the PSNI has with this Committee, the Executive, the Policing Board and NIO? You are looking to a lot of people with regard to your engagements. There …”

“Going back to the report, it also stated that the board has an excessive workload, often at the expense of sustained follow-up, strategic focus and direction, and achieving tangible outcomes. What changes in your operation have you made or are you making to make sure there is that more strategic oversight?”

“Just as a final point, then, was the devolution of policing in 2010 detrimental to the PSNI?”

“May I start by condemning the attack on the ambulances of the Hatzola community ambulance service over the weekend? A core tenet of our system and beliefs is that of civil and religious liberty for all. Does the Minister agree that we all have a role to play in upholding that core British tenet?”

“3. What guidance her Department has provided to police forces on the application of public order legislation in relation to the expression of religious beliefs.”

“Well, it was Democratic Unionist party MPs who were prepared to oppose the Bill in this House while their MLAs supported it back in the Northern Ireland Assembly. That was a strange mixture, but that is where we are and that is where they are at this minute. I am assured that DUP MLAs support this legislation applying …”

“That is the concern, but I point out that the Windsor framework was negotiated and implemented by the previous Government, who left Northern Ireland in this current situation. When I was in post, I received reassurances from the previous Government and from this Government. I would like to be in a place that I can take…”

“I welcome the Minister to her place. I worked with her predecessors when I was Health Minister in Northern Ireland, when this Bill first came about. I am sorry to disappoint the hon. Members for Windsor (Jack Rankin) and for City of Durham (Mary Kelly Foy), because this legislation started its iterations under the prev…”

“The right hon. Member is correct. That appeal was being heard at the time, and I remember those issues being raised. I am conscious that this debate is on the Select Committee report, and I want to congratulate the work that has been done, and its sensitivity in balancing victims and veterans. Over the past number of w…”

“I do accept that point. If the hon. Gentleman looks back to my contribution in that debate at the end of January, he will see that I made that same point, because I could not understand why the Government were in such a rush to bring forward a piece of legislation that was not actually necessary, as he indicated.”

“The Solicitor General will know that 29 women have been murdered since 2020 in Northern Ireland—we have seen a significant increase in femicide. Will she give me an assurance that she will continue to engage with Northern Ireland’s Attorney General and Justice Minister to ensure that prosecution rates are also increase…”

“It is a pleasure to serve under your chairship, Dame Siobhain. I congratulate the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on bringing forward the report, and the Chair, the hon. Member for Gower (Tonia Antoniazzi), on the way she has stewarded the debate and taken evidence from so many groups. Bringing forward a unanimous r…”

“Lough Neagh Fishermen’s Co-operative Society relies on a supply of glass eels to meet its regulatory commitment to be a sustainable eel fishery, but the supply from GB rivers is now being blocked because of EU wildlife trade regulations. That issue has been raised with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Aff…”

“The right hon. Lady says that the system is unfair. Does she agree that charging interest rates during maternity and paternity leave is also unfair? It disadvantages people in the workplace, especially women, who have worked hard to get into progressive careers through university education, and they are penalised at th…”

“You will know that I have asked you in the Chamber about the legacy Bill that the Northern Ireland Office is bringing forward and the fact that sexual offences are not specifically listed as one of the crimes that the commission will look at in a historic nature. The work of the Committee here has actually recommended …”