Speeches by Benn.

“It is not specifically but, if you take hydrogen, which will power part of our industrial future, there is that debate about blue hydrogen as opposed to green hydrogen. Some people say blue hydrogen is the transition to green hydrogen. There is the debate about carbon capture and storage. There are a lot of discussions…”

“Thank you.”

“Of course, we would like to get people to come forward and provide information that they have not done in the past, but there was such a serious objection to the immunity contained in the Bill. That is why we have given the commitment to get rid of it and I am convinced that that is the right thing to do.”

“I suppose that the question is whether there is a partial form of immunity.”

“Sir Declan has made it clear that, when it comes to information from the state, we are able to ask for and see everything. There is a balance to be struck on immunity. I will take a parallel example: the discovery of the locations of victims’ remains. Northern Ireland wrestled with how we are going to bring forward inf…”

“It is a very complex judgment indeed. There were three essential elements to it. I am leaving on one side the question of article 2 of the Windsor framework, because, as you will know, when Mr Justice Colton ruled back in February, he said that immunity was incompatible with the European convention, but he also struck …”

“Reconciliation is a process. It is about people’s minds. It is how people come to terms with what has happened in the past. If families who have had no answers now get answers, it may or may not help them to be reconciled with what happened. Some will and some will not. All of us deal with grief and loss in different w…”

“That is also a really pertinent question because there was scepticism about Kenova when it came into being. The thing that Kenova did was to take the families on the journey as it did its work. I can think of one person I have met who said, “I was part of the Kenova process and I can tell you that it gave me what I hav…”

“That is a very interesting question. I met a victim. His brother had been murdered. He looked at me and said, “This legislation says I have to be reconciled to my brother’s killers”. My reply to him was, “No legislation can make anybody be reconciled to anyone. Reconciliation has to come from within”. Frankly, I am not…”

“The short answer is as soon as possible, but it is quite a complex process. We came to Government with a commitment to repeal and replace. The legacy Act was widely criticised in Northern Ireland. It achieved something almost unique, which was to bring the parties in Northern Ireland together in opposition to what had …”

“Since Julie sits on the board—”

“The only thing I would add, relating to the first part of the quote that you read out, is that the governance system in Northern Ireland is as it is and has been since the Good Friday agreement. Whoever is in Government in Northern Ireland has a responsibility to make sure that they take decisions that improve public s…”

“We have a commitment from the Permanent Secretary. What more could you want?”

“There was a deal reached. It was a deal. The previous Government made that part of the condition. They also said that the Executive had to raise some funding themselves, £113 million. Originally, that had to be over one year. The Executive made the argument, I think quite reasonably, “That is a bit tight. Can we do it …”

“The credible source at the moment is the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council. That is why it was established. It was asked to do the job and it came up with the 124% figure. People may argue, “That is not enough. Can we have more?” In my time in Government, I have never encountered anyone who said, “Thank you very much. Yo…”

“This is a very important process. I welcome the interim fiscal framework, which the last Government negotiated with the Northern Ireland Executive, and the package involved in the restoration. I referred earlier to the additional funding we have made available through the Budget. The Finance Minister, Caoimhe Archibald…”

“To answer your question directly, Mr Robinson, my role is to be both. I of course am an advocate for Northern Ireland in the Government. That is my job and you would expect it. I am also a Cabinet Minister who upholds collective Cabinet responsibility, as everyone round the table will recognise. As and when more inform…”

“I have had a conversation with the Environment Secretary. I have not had a discussion with any Treasury Ministers thus far, just to answer that question. Apologies. In terms of the assessment, I am not aware that there is a Northern Ireland-specific assessment that has been undertaken. That may be something to do with …”

“Your first question is discussions with—”

“I met the Ulster Farmers’ Union this morning, because it is over for the protest today, and I also had a brief conversation with a number of young farmers after a Westminster Hall debate that I did a little bit earlier. I completely understand the concern that has been expressed, because this is a big change. We have h…”