Middle East
22 January 2008

In a debate on the Middle East in the House of Lords on 22 January 2008 Lord Trimble discussed parallels between the peace process in Northern Ireland and the prospects for a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and reiterated the support of the Conservative Party for a negotiated two state solution envisaging a secure Israel and a viable, democratic Palestinian state.

Lord Trimble said: 'My Lords, I join other noble Lords who have offered their congratulations to the noble Lord, Lord Alderdice, on bringing about this debate...'





Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2008
22 January 2008

In a debate on the Northern Ireland Arms Decommissioning Act 1997 (Amnesty Period) Order 2008 in the Grand Committee of the House of Lords on 22 January 2008 Lord Trimble discussed the progress of decommissioning in Northern Ireland

Lord Trimble said: "I thank the Minister for his comments about my presence here..."





Israel and Palestine: Annapolis Conference
7 January 2008

In a debate on Lord Dykes' question to the government on 'Whether they expect the Annapolis conference to lead to the creation of a fully sovereign Palestinian state' in the House of Lords on 7 January 2008 Lord Trimble said, 'My Lords, does the Minister agree that some elements are opposed to the existence of two sovereign states—primarily Hamas, Hezbollah and their backers—and that we can confidently expect that they will take steps over the year to frustrate the talks? Have the Government thought of this and of what their response should be?'

To read the debate in full click here





VAT Fraud
2 July 2007

In a debate on the report of the European Union Committee on Stopping the Carousel: Missing Trader Fraud in the European Union (20th Report, HL Paper 101). in the House of Lords on 2 July 2007 Lord Trimble highlighted the systemic weakness in this country's VAT treatment of cross border trade, leading to an enforcement exercise involving 1,500 staff and costing £95 million a year. The Treasury response of waiting for the European Commission to report on the matter before acting is simply not good enough,and the government should generate and carry through a debate well in advance of any decision in the Council.'

Lord Trimble said: "My Lords, I rise also as a member of Sub-Committee A..."





People Trafficking
28 June 2007

In a debate on People Trafficking in the House of Lords on 28 June 2007 Lord Trimble commented on the complexities of dealing with this modern day slave trade,that enacting legislation was not enough, that awareness raising campaigns should be undertaken in the countries of origin, and regretted that the failure of the Doha talks represented a lost opportunity to give other parts of the world the opportunity to engage in trade and to improve their quality of life and the standard of their economies.

Lord Trimble said: "My Lords, I, too, congratulate my noble friend..."





Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) (No. 2) Bill
27 March 2007

In a debate on the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) (No. 2) Bill in the House of Lords on 27 March 2007 Lord Trimble welcomed the prospects for completion of the move which we began nine years ago with the Belfast Agreement, anticipated that the parties will work together, and urged them to sieze this opportunity to modernise public services in Northern Ireland and reconnect politics in Northern Ireland with national politics.

Lord Trimble said: "My Lords, it is quite understandable..."





Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (Renewal of Temporary Provisions) Order 2007
27 March 2007

In a debate on the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (Renewal of Temporary Provisions) Order 2007 in the House of Lords on 27 March 2007 Lord Trimble moved an amendment to the Order which would have prevented the renewal of 50:50 recruitment to the PSNI for a further three years. The amendment was narrowly defeated. In the light of the republican movement's decision to support policing, and the broad equality in numbers of Catholics and Protestants in the age group from which most police recruits come, 50:50 recruitment is likely to penalise recruits from a Catholic background within a short period.

Lord Trimble said: "My Lords, the order renews..."





Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (Renewal of Temporary Provisions) Order 2007
Committee stage
20 March 2007

In a debate on the Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (Renewal of Temporary Provisions) Order 2007 in the Grand Committee of the House of Lords on 20 March 2007 Lord Trimble raised the question of what would happen if more applicants for the PSNI come from a Catholic background than Protestant. Lord Rooker later in the debate revealed that 41% of the applicants on the latest recruitment were RC, he conceded that Lord Trimble might be right that the percentage would soon be over 50% and then said that 50/50 would continue until 2011 even if it meant anti-catholic discrimination!

Lord Trimble said: "We would all do well..."





Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill
19 March 2007

In a debate on the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill in the Grand Committee of the House of Lords on 19 March 2007 Lord Trimble moved an amendment to propose that disclosure of sensitive information which may affect intelligence and national security matters by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland should be subject to the same safeguards as apply to the Human Rights Commission for Northern Ireland.

Lord Trimble said: "Perhaps I may preface..."





House of Lords Reform
12 March 2007

In a debate on House of Lords Reform in the House of Lords on 12 March 2007 Lord Trimble indicated his overall preference for a wholly appointed chamber, but, if that was not acceptable, he recommended the example of the Senate of the Northern Ireland Parliament (1922 - 1971) which was elected by the House of Commons of Northern Ireland by proportional representation.

Lord Trimble said: "My Lords, it would be easy to say..."





Budget (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 Grand Committee
21 February 2007

In a debate on the Budget (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 in the Grand Committee of the House of Lords on 21 February 2007 Lord Trimble raised the question of whether additional resources would be given to a devolved administration after the assembly election, the negative effect of delays in the Planning Service on development, and urged progress on the restoration of the Ulster Canal and Lagan Navigation to enhance tourism and leisure facilities in Northern Ireland.

Lord Trimble said: "This is a rather curious thing..."





Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill, second reading
20 February 2007

In a debate on the Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill 2007 in the House of Lords on 20 February 2007 Lord Trimble gave his views on prospects for the formation of an executive following the Assembly elections, restorative justice schemes, Diplock courts and non-jury trials and models for a proposed justice department.

Lord Trimble said: "My Lords, in introducing the bill..."





Lord Trimble moves Amendment to the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006
In a debate on the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 in the House of Lords on 11 December 2006 Lord Trimble moved, as an amendment to the above Motion, to leave out all the words after “that” and insert “this House, having regard to the declaration of the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland that the draft order has not been subject to full consultation, and the repeated request of the Committee on the Programme for Government of the Northern Ireland Assembly that the legislation should be deferred, declines to approve the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006”.

Lord Trimble said: "My Lords, I want to make clear...."





Government Departments: Judicial Review
In oral questions in the House of Lords on 23 November 2006 Lord Trimble asked Her Majesty's government:

"'What steps they are taking to ensure that all government departments comply with the duty of candour..."





Discrimination in police recruitment
In a debate in the House of Lords on 22 November 2006 on the Committee stage of the Northen Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Bill Lord Trimble said:

"We have discussed this issue many times, and have put on record our firm and unaltered opposition to discrimination in employment..."





Devolution of Policing and Justice
In a debate in the House of Lords on 22 November 2006 on the Committee stage of the Northen Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Bill Lord Trimble said:

"The devolution of justice and policing matters has to be treated very sensitively. I remember many years ago Seamus Mallon, who was then Deputy First Minister, saying in another place that this could be contemplated only when it could be shown that the Assembly and its Executive were stable and robust..."





Second reading of the Northen Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Bill
In a debate in the House of Lords on 22 November 2006 on the Second reading of the Northen Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Bill Lord Trimble said:

"While I have mixed feelings about the Bill, its substance is the Belfast Agreement and its procedures try to implement that agreement..."





Lord Trimble opposes Government proposals for Rates Changes
In a debate in the House of Lords on 7 November 2006 on Rates (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 Lord Trimble said:

"The review started under the Northern Ireland Assembly when I was First Minister. I can assure the House that had the review been completed while I was First Minister this would not have happened; we would not have had it in this form..."





Lord Trimble calls for power to be transferred to Iraqi Government
In Questions in the House of Lords on 1 November 2006 Lord Trimble said,

“If the strategy in Iraq is to transfer authority and regions to the Iraqi Government, should it not then be the first priority to start to give that Government some authority over the Iraqi army and the Iraqi police? At present, they have virtually none”.





Today's Business in the House

Lords Committees Weekly Bulletin (PDF)

Lords Hansard





History of Parliament Trust
The official proceedings of the House of Lords, 1509-1717 and 1832-1834 (external site)






Lord Trimble welcomes Govt concession over Order in Council system

Lord Trimble's Maiden Speech to the House of Lords

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