Speeches by Swann.

“Facial recognition did get some coverage, because it was very much a trial in Holyhead. Is there an intention to roll that out in other ports or airports across GB, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland? What is your plan?”

“It does, Gordon, but I suppose it raises another. You mentioned the gaps that others are becoming aware of, and you are obviously aware of those gaps as well. What actions are you and law enforcement taking to close those gaps at speed?”

“A significant expectation of the common travel area via the land border being used for the purposes of both irregular migration and criminal activity has been reported. Has the scale or nature of that changed in recent years?”

“Is the MOU in that operational environment still with the Department of Justice or is it with PSNI in partnership with its policing plan?”

“To follow up on Simon’s point, I think the Irish Government put out figures on the numbers of asylum claims that they said had come via the UK to Northern Ireland and to the Republic of Ireland. It will be strange if the Irish Government have some way of capturing that data but we don’t.”

“Rob, the NCA went operational in 2013, and has been operational in Northern Ireland since 2016. I was in the Assembly and I remember those debates and discussions about allowing that authorisation. That was by agreement between the NCA director general and the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice. Is there an opportuni…”

“One final point: you spoke about money laundering on either side of the border. Following up on Ms Hanna’s question, does the agency have a fiscal limit where you investigate or you do not? Is there a trigger point?”

“Rob, you used the phrase “multi-agency teams” when you were talking about commodities. Does that include the Irish Government as well? I am sure you are aware of some recent media coverage where drug smugglers were saying, “Look, don’t enter British waters; stay in Irish waters when you want to land.” It was cocaine at…”

“I thank the Member for giving way. He will be aware that a good friend of ours, Frank Feighan, the TD for Sligo-Leitrim, is in Westminster today. Frank has often championed the idea that the Republic of Ireland should return to the Commonwealth and expand that greater familiar connectivity that we have across the old e…”

“Are you in conversations with the PSNI about the usage of it?”

“Facial recognition did get some coverage, because it was very much a trial in Holyhead. Is there an intention to roll that out in other ports or airports across GB, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland? What is your plan?”

“rose—”

“Secretary of State, the Irish Government have yet to produce anything on what they going to do regarding legislation in regard to the Troubles. You mentioned to Mr Kohler about finding a balance. You also mentioned your memorandum of understanding with the Irish Government over this. When the Government bring forward a…”

“The PEACEPLUS funding has come out as an option for funding them. Why did you not meet them long before? Why not at the start of last year, when they were raising these alarm bells, rather than saying, “You’ve got £230 million now coming in Barnett consequentials and there are PEACEPLUS opportunities as well.” These or…”

“With regard to the timeline that you raised and the pressure on these organisations—we hear it said, “We’ve listened; we’re hearing”—these organisations have been raising alarm bells since December, really seriously, at the highest level they can, and you are meeting them tomorrow?”

“Well, you have been sidestepping this one, Secretary of State. With regard to the local growth fund, there are organisations back home that are now left with a number of days before we will see 400 people paid off and 11,000 system users who are getting economic inactivity support will see their programmes come to an e…”

“With regard to the working of that group with the Fiscal Council, is it complementary? Is it additional?”

“When that report comes out, who will take action on the findings or recommendations? Will it be solely up to the Ministers on the Northern Ireland Executive, or will the Treasury at that point be able to step in and challenge, reprimand or advise on better ways of spending—or will it be up to yourself?”

“Into all Departments?”

“Going back to Ms Murray’s original question about the open-book exercise, you said that Treasury officials will be going into each Department. Can you confirm that it is in fact Treasury officials that will go into each Department? When the original announcement was made, it was either Treasury officials or independent…”