Speeches by Hoare.

“Can I ask for a yes or no answer to this question? Would you and your party colleagues welcome a more activist, small a, interventionist, small i, approach from the Secretary of State?”

“Mr Tennyson, I think it is probably safe to say that there is nobody in Northern Ireland, either politically engaged or a member of civil society, who would think that the institution is working as well as it should or could; instead, it is probably more focused on process than on output, and it is far more interested …”

“Mr Tennyson, I think it is probably safe to say that there is nobody in Northern Ireland, either politically engaged or a member of civil society, who would think that the institution is working as well as it should or could; instead, it is probably more focused on process than on output, and it is far more interested …”

“Mr Robinson, forgive me. In which case, I have not had the mental dexterity to discern what you said. Could you just give us a yes or a no?”

“I am inclined to agree. I think that on both sides, whether in Stormont or in Westminster, there is a view that the Executive, in its functioning, is a little bit like a piece of Ikea furniture: I don’t know how I have got it to stand there, but don’t touch it, don’t use it, don’t put any stress on it, don’t put anythi…”

“Why would that be in danger if, for example, the mechanisms of the election of the Speaker were to change? We know that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister literally cannot go to the loo without the other one signing it off in duplicate. If one was to have a modernisation of those differential titles, one woul…”

“You touched on something that I want to ask Mr Tennyson his view on, and on which I think we will agree. A predecessor Committee was struck by the fact that the vast majority of the population of Northern Ireland, irrespective of traditional attachments and political affiliation, were streets ahead of the politicians w…”

“Can I ask for a yes or no answer to this question? Would you and your party colleagues welcome a more activist, small a, interventionist, small i, approach from the Secretary of State?”

“We could have a pub quiz. That is the knockout question sorted out.”

“This is my final question. I guess the answer will be yes, but do you think it would be helpful for both Westminster and Dublin to make it clear that it is in the interest of public service that reforms accrue and are delivered; that—irrespective of standing in the polls or party representation in Stormont—no one party…”

“That is a view, Mr Robinson, that you and I share. Does that not inexorably take us, on the basis that we have nothing to fear but fear itself, to this? Some people will say, “I’m not going to be the first to jump in.” Should we not be pressing for—it may come to nothing at all, but at least the process will have been …”

“Protections for whom and against what?”

“Why would that be in danger if, for example, the mechanisms of the election of the Speaker were to change? We know that the First Minister and Deputy First Minister literally cannot go to the loo without the other one signing it off in duplicate. If one was to have a modernisation of those differential titles, one woul…”

“But protections against what? What, in your heart, are you fearful of? Because one only needs protection if one is fearful, worried or anxious. What do you perceive? I take your point that an à la carte, Woolworths pick ‘n’ mix approach to reform is not desirable—it needs a strategic overview; I hope there is unanimity…”

“This is my final question. I guess the answer will be yes, but do you think it would be helpful for both Westminster and Dublin to make it clear that it is in the interest of public service that reforms accrue and are delivered; that—irrespective of standing in the polls or party representation in Stormont—no one party…”

“I am inclined to agree. I think that on both sides, whether in Stormont or in Westminster, there is a view that the Executive, in its functioning, is a little bit like a piece of Ikea furniture: I don’t know how I have got it to stand there, but don’t touch it, don’t use it, don’t put any stress on it, don’t put anythi…”

“Mr Tennyson, I think it is probably safe to say that there is nobody in Northern Ireland, either politically engaged or a member of civil society, who would think that the institution is working as well as it should or could; instead, it is probably more focused on process than on output, and it is far more interested …”

“Mr Robinson, forgive me. In which case, I have not had the mental dexterity to discern what you said. Could you just give us a yes or a no?”

“You touched on something that I want to ask Mr Tennyson his view on, and on which I think we will agree. A predecessor Committee was struck by the fact that the vast majority of the population of Northern Ireland, irrespective of traditional attachments and political affiliation, were streets ahead of the politicians w…”

“Mr Robinson, forgive me. In which case, I have not had the mental dexterity to discern what you said. Could you just give us a yes or a no?”