Tag: Lord Laird

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-05-18.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the purpose of the concept of parity of esteem as applied to Northern Ireland; and why those standards of esteem are not applied in the rest of the UK.

Lord Dunlop

‘Parity of esteem’ is expressed and defined in the 1998 Belfast Agreement in relation to people living in Northern Ireland. That Agreement was reached following talks between the then UK Labour Government, several of Northern Ireland’s political parties – including the Ulster Unionist Party, Sinn Fein and others – and the then Irish Government. This Government sees parity of esteem as treating everybody in Northern Ireland fairly, with equal respect, just as it is committed to treating people fairly and with equal respect wherever they live in the United Kingdom.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-10-13.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, following the announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in October 2014 that they were planning to pay off some debts from World War One, how much has been paid off to date, and how much is still outstanding.

Lord Young of Cookham

The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 3 December 2014 that the government would adopt a strategy to remove the remaining undated gilts in the government’s debt portfolio, thus repaying all the nation’s First World War debt.

Three of the eight undated gilts that remained in the government’s portfolio in 2014 were issued to fund the First World War: the 4% Consolidated Loan, 3½% War Loan and 3½% Conversion Loan. These were redeemed in 2015, on 1 February, 9 March and 1 April respectively.

Almost 99% of the amount due has been repaid to date. Due to the age of the records relating to undated gilts, the registrar has not been able to contact all holders. However, the government has thus repaid the vast majority of the nation’s First World War debt.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-11-17.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government on what dates in the last 24 months the government of the Republic of Ireland attended in any capacity meetings held under section 1 of the 1998 Belfast Agreement.

Lord Dunlop

The Government has held regular meetings with the Irish Government over the last two years in accordance with the established three-stranded approach.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2015-12-03.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 2 December (HL3879), whether they will publish the draft Bill for setting up the Historical Investigations Unit and other legacy bodies that was presented to political parties at those negotiations, and why they did not provide that information in that answer.

Lord Dunlop

The matter of how best to move forward and achieve broad consensus in support of legislation to establish the legacy bodies, including whether to publish the draft Bill, is currently being considered.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-01-12.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they define parity of esteem as set out in the Belfast Agreement 1998.

Lord Dunlop

As I have made clear in previous answers on this subject the UK Government is committed to affording due respect and parity of esteem to all the people in Northern Ireland as underpinned by the 1998 Belfast Agreement, and in accordance with the obligations on the Government to promote equality and prevent discrimination across the United Kingdom.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-01-21.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what procedures they apply to ensuring that all parties to the Belfast Agreement 1998 honour the terms of that agreement, and what action they can take if they assess that other parties to that agreement are not complying with it.

Lord Dunlop

The UK Government meets regularly with the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government, both at ministerial and official level, to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern, including matters relating to the implementation of the Belfast Agreement and subsequent Agreements.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-02-02.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether in paragraph 3 of the Declaration of Support in the Belfast Agreement 1998 equality between these islands” includes parity of esteem for all on or of those islands.”

Lord Dunlop

Paragraph three of the Declaration of Support in the Belfast Agreement commits the participants involved in the multi-party negotiations that led to the Agreement ‘to partnership, equality and mutual respect as the basis of relationships within Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between these islands’. The United Kingdom Government is committed to affording due respect and parity of esteem to all the people in Northern Ireland as underpinned by the Agreement and in accordance with the obligations on the Government to promote equality and prevent discrimination across the United Kingdom.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-02-24.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Dunlop on 24 February (HL5739 and HL5740) concerning the Belfast Agreement 1998, why they did not answer the question about the agenda for discussion with the Republic of Ireland, and who checks that those involved in discussions are entitled to be involved.

Lord Dunlop

I have previously responded to the Noble Lord’s question by explaining that discussions with the Irish Government are in accordance with the established three-stranded approach to Northern Ireland affairs which is reflected in the Belfast Agreement. I have nothing to add to this.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-05-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and others who live for part of the week in Northern Ireland can avail themselves fully of parity of esteem, and if not, what parts of the concept of parity of esteem they are unable to avail themselves of.

Lord Dunlop

This Government understands the concept of parity of esteem, as set out in the 1998 Belfast Agreement, as placing a general obligation on the UK Government to treat people of different traditions in Northern Ireland fairly and with equal respect. In the Agreement it is clearly expressed and defined in relation to people living in Northern Ireland.

As a general obligation there is no definition of particular circumstances in which it does or does not apply.

As I have set out in previous replies to the Noble Lord, this Government is firm in its commitment to the protection of people against any form of discrimination, and the promotion of opportunity for all, across the whole of our United Kingdom.

In respect of the Noble Lord’s question about those who might march wearing army uniforms but who are not members of an army, the concept of parity of esteem clearly does not absolve people from upholding the law. This Government has made clear many times that we will never accept any form of equivalence between members of the security forces and those who engage in terrorism or other forms of paramilitary activity.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Laird on 2016-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Dunlop on 17 October (HL2170), which body or individual ensures that the Northern Ireland Parades Commission is compliant with international treaty obligations concerning human rights.

Lord Dunlop

There is no one body or individual that is specifically responsible for ensuring the Parades Commission complies with international treaty obligations, including on human rights. Further to my written answer of 17 October, the Commission operates independently of the Government, in line with the provisions contained in the Public Processions (NI) Act 1998. That Act is compliant with international treaty obligations on human rights, and the Commission is accountable to the courts for its operational decisions.