Speeches by Hanna.

“On basic justice and after the Soldier F case, you said that you wanted to see fairness for all, but would you agree that that fairness means that everyone is equal before the law, and that no person who created victims, whether a state or a non-state actor, should be beyond the reach of the courts?”

“I do not think that the statistics would bear that out, David. That is what I will say.”

“I think that is what the witness is saying. She is providing suggestion and clarification.”

“Thank you very much, Lord Murphy, for your work on the review. I know that my party would have preferred a bit more focus on north-south and the island economy in the terms of reference, but the report was really fair and constructive within the terms you had. I want to ask about your recommendations on the Democratic …”

“Again, the context is your Department continuing to argue in court against disclosure mechanisms. Are you confident that you are going to be able to demonstrate good faith, and that that information, when it is embarrassing to paramilitaries or to the Government, can still be released?”

“Do you understand where that anxiety comes from? Are you confident that you will be able to build confidence? Are you confident that these structures are going to be able—”

“There is information that people think is relevant that has not emerged.”

“You will be aware that, right up until recent days, we have been dealing with decades of this information being supressed.”

“With pretty big suppressions of information.”

“Some stakeholders have reiterated their concern that the framework retains the broad national security veto from the Legacy Act, and that that could fatally undermine confidence and the progress that the framework represents. How will you prevent that veto being used to suppress relevant information reaching families w…”

“Lord Murphy’s report talked about how little is made of dual market access. Do you think there are more opportunities to promote the differential and positive impact of our dual market access?”

“What does the application of the EU steel safeguards mean for Northern Ireland?”

“Looking at the Commission’s proposals and the Q&A on their website, it looks like there is a massive advantage for Northern Ireland in how they propose to treat the region on that. Is that not something the Government should be shouting about? Are we sometimes victim of how proposals are being read in other parts of th…”

“But I presume that the feedback that Lord Murphy captured, the views he encountered and the suggestions he made will frame your future engagement with the EU more widely.”

“Minister Thomas-Symonds, what do you hope to achieve from discussions with the EU about the report? Will you come back to this Committee after that?”

“You will be raising the recommendations in the report with the Joint Committee. When do you think that will happen?”

“To be honest, the first year or two was probably a fairly slow period for the production of legislation, because of the European elections and the reforming of the Commission, so they probably haven’t seen anything yet.”

“And that is not happening currently?”

“You say, perhaps diplomatically, that they could take a more strategic approach. Where do you think that strategy should come from?”

“But you do not think they should get some of that engagement and advice directly from UK Government officials?”