Northern Ireland: Devolved Institutions

Lord Maginnis of Drumglass Excerpts

Wednesday 23rd May 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Maginnis of Drumglass (Ind UU)]

My Lords, when will the Government recognise that Taoiseach Varadkar is in cahoots with Sinn Féin and encouraging it not to come together to let the Assembly work, and that a main architect of the Brexit negotiations, Mr Tusk, is briefed by an Irish republican? As the noble Baroness, Lady Blood, asked, when will we get to a stage where we do not have a Secretary of State who is unable to be seen and unable to be heard, as has been the case on three successive occasions? Are there not people—

[Noble Lords]

Too long!

[Lord Maginnis of Drumglass]

Are there not people in this Chamber who negotiated the Belfast agreement who could assist? Are there not some who served as chairmen in the Assembly? It is important that we face up to reality.

[Lord Duncan of Springbank]

There is a wealth of experience in this House, on which I hope we can continue to draw. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland flies above and below the radar.