Speeches by Robinson.

“If you have the practical examples of business engagement frustrations and so on, and the independent monitoring panel have the evidential data to back up those practical examples, first, do you at this stage assess that there is an appetite or desire from both of your organisations to collaborate on requests to Govern…”

“You mentioned data earlier. You have Intertrade UK, and there is also an independent monitoring panel, and they are very data-driven. They engage with HMRC. They are looking at goods flows, GVA, spends and all the rest. Have you engaged with them as a board? Do Intertrade UK and the IMP meet?”

“With the budget in place, what does success look like at the end of the year ahead?”

“You have mentioned the budget allocation of £2.25 million. Presumably that is for the forthcoming financial year, so you have plans before the Secretary of State and are asking his approval for your budget. Will that involve much more sustained and strategic engagement with GB businesses? Often, what we have found is n…”

“Good morning, Baroness Foster. It is lovely to have you here, and thank you for the work you are doing. You mentioned infrastructure. You mentioned Belfast City airport in my constituency and its masterplan for post-retirement—it seems—in 2040, and the ports. Have you identified specific areas of infrastructure that yo…”

“I thank the Minister for travelling to Belfast later today for the East-West Council. As he knows, the council was created to strengthen ties within the United Kingdom, and one of the impediments to those economic ties is the Windsor framework. Knowing that punitive measures are still to be implemented, including custo…”

“On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. I mentioned this briefly in my opening remarks, but I place on record my appreciation for the agreement that this evening’s motion could be extended for double-time. Having praised the usual channels, the Government and Opposition Chief Whips and the Leader of the House, may I…”

“I understand why the Secretary of State focuses on amnesty, because it means that he does not have to focus on the things he did not include, which are also incompatible, or on other things that are included. Can he indicate to the House what he will do if the Supreme Court says that he is wrong, and therefore this rem…”

“Will the hon. Member give way?”

“On a point of agreement and positivity, may I thank the Leader of the House and the usual channels for agreeing that this motion should have three hours of debate? Had it arrested at 90 minutes, no Northern Ireland voice would have been heard in this debate at all, which would be shameful. Thank you for the indication …”

“indicated dissent.”

“I intend to return to this matter in my contribution later on, but the issue of civil cases highlights most starkly the discord even between the courts. The High Court in Belfast focused only on the retrospective application of the provisions on civil cases, but the Court of Appeal then said that not only should it not…”

“Thank you. Q105   Mike Kane: Thank you, gentlemen. Should dressing up in military uniform and marching in lockstep be consigned to historical re-enactment societies? I ask that because, around 25 years on, we still have paramilitary cosplay going on, which is probably a failure of the Patten report. What can …”

“There was a reference earlier to Jonny Byrne, who says that there should be a fresh conversation about all of this, and potentially a reduction. There is a danger that some decisions being taken within PSNI currently are motivated by budgetary constraints. If they latch on to the need for some of the existing spend tha…”

“That is where I think this conversation needs to go. Ms Kearns referred to this notion that, through changes in Northern Ireland, this should cease. The fact is that every other police force in the United Kingdom outside of Northern Ireland benefits from a counter-terrorism support fund of £1.2 billion for the next fin…”

“But that was you preparing a business case and saying, “Guys, we have a capacity deficit here. We need x capital expenditure. We need more resource for individuals to carry out this specific function.” It was agreed to. There was no formula—you had nothing to work alongside. Were criteria shared with you at the time, t…”

“Thank you. There is always a glaring absence of the organisations that the Paramilitary Crime Task Force target and in organised crime more generally. Sir George, I want to talk about the untidy nature of additional security funding. You had recurring funding during your tenure as Chief Constable. Are you clear in your…”

“Sir Hugh, you mentioned the transition to giving MI5 primacy on national security threats. I sense a tension: national security threats, MI5, PSNI and everything else becomes blurry when it involves the remnant parts of the IRA involved in crime, because crime is not a national security consideration, but the organisat…”

“Okay. It is a concern that I am raising, but I appreciate the response.”

“I will not explore the political eunuch status that you enjoy, George, but I will ask about succession planning and where Chief Cons come from. It was suggested to me in the last few weeks that there are two current Assistant Chief Constables in the police who are on what is known as 28 day notice watch. They could go …”