Speeches by Robinson.

“Sir Hugh is a bit more removed from this, so to give a final view on that, what could be more effective for political leadership to encourage engagement with normalisation of policing?”

“Do you think that there are still political leaders who struggle to support recruitment to the PSNI? Do you worry when you see stories about recruitment activities or attendance at schools for normal community engagement being frustrated because of local politics?”

“In your experience, do we have a problem with an aspect of political leadership in Northern Ireland that only supports policing if it works for them?”

“You are right, and that is your disposition, but in the last 3 years in Northern Ireland a Chief Constable has resigned because he did allow himself to be corrupted by political influences, whether that was with the Bobby Storey funeral and the lawlessness that occurred during the pandemic or, subsequently, the reports…”

“I dearly remember—fondly remember—that you and I had conversations of that tenor in the past when you were Assistant Chief Constable.”

“My colleague Ms Eastwood wants to ask you about legacy after I ask you a few questions, so you will have more than enough time, but thank you for that, Sir George. On political support for policing, you mentioned that when you were Chief Constable for five years, devolution was down for two and a half, and that that fr…”

“Sir George, I do not want to preclude you from answering that question, but I think Sir Hugh’s answers are enough for the Committee. I want to move on to talk to you about political support for policing.”

“One of the things about our geographic location and our history is that the PSNI has almost every competency that a police force—or police service—could require. In the United Kingdom, probably only three forces or constabularies are in that position—the Met, Police Scotland and Northern Ireland. Gavin Stephens, in the…”

“Good morning, gentlemen. Sir Hugh, you arrived in Northern Ireland in 2002. With the change that was going on in policing, you were brought in with fresh eyes and—for some in our community—clean hands to work on the Patten reforms. You mentioned a number of outstanding commitments, like a new college. I continually rai…”

“I thank the Secretary of State for her statement, and place on record my thanks and gratitude to Rosalind McClean and Charlotte Carson from a local campaign group on smartphone-free childhoods. She is right to bring forward a consultation and engage with young people, but my parliamentary colleagues in the other place …”

“The Foreign Secretary is right to say that NATO allies should not threaten one another, and she is also right to highlight the threat and potential harm caused by trade wars and the imposition of tariffs, but does she understand the bemusement of Northern Ireland Members? She talks strongly about sovereignty, but it wa…”

“Fair enough. Thank you for that added information. To go back to the exchange you had with Ms Murray around MI5 and intelligence sharing, there were some reports before Christmas indicating that MI5 were in a position of ending the sharing of information with PSNI because of their concerns as to how it is handled. It i…”

“I congratulate the hon. Member on leading this debate and on finding a Government Department to respond to it; until now, a number have eschewed any responsibility. He is right about the world of opportunity that is open to our young people. I am privileged to have in my constituency Northern Ireland’s only SDC, the Od…”

“Thank you. Finally, on Thompson, this draws on what the Chair was asking and the implications of it. Denis Bradley is a well-regarded individual in Northern Ireland. He is heavily involved in engaging with the public and paramilitaries as a priest to bring them to peace, and with the wider nationalist community, too. H…”

“When you gentlemen were with us in April, I asked you whether you considered it bizarre that we were having this discussion about naming Freddie Scappaticci as Stakeknife. I think it was you, Sir Iain, who agreed it was bizarre. When you launched your report before Christmas, I think you went as far as you could in say…”

“When you spoke to Mr Scappaticci, on what we have considered his official confirmation or denial, did he accept that he was the agent Stakeknife?”

“But as soon as a murderer whose job is to root out informants and murder his colleagues stops murdering, his colleagues are going to ask questions and his value is going to be greatly diminished. I don’t need to explore it too much further, but I just think it can be quite sterile and academic when you take these issue…”

“We have had a discussion about the sharing of information and a rebuke to the notion that published before Christmas, that MI5 was concerned about the provision of information. We have had a lengthy discussion about the neither confirm nor deny policy, and whether that should stand in every circumstance or whether it s…”

“I want to ask about the sterility of what you have said. It is hard to consider these issues in a sterile environment. You have outlined not a guarantee—because you cannot give one—but an expectation that, with the legal framework, the same would not happen again. But is it not true that Stakeknife’s value was found in…”

“That was confirmation given to the court. In the light of that confirmation that you would not name, then the judge decided not to—”