Member

We have also heard about the various procedures that took place before the final one of the four Governments within the UK acceded to this statutory instrument. That is the Northern Ireland Assembly decision of this week, which was agreed by a substantial majority. We have heard about what happened in various corridors leading up to that debate. I must say, I do not recognise people attempting to inform various people within the Assembly as to what this SI consists of as the sort of arm-twisting and threats that we have heard about this afternoon. Thinking of my own participation in that, I am grateful for the acknowledgement of those actions by the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, at the beginning of the debate. I reached out to her to discuss her fatal amendment and we had a very pleasant, friendly discussion. I do not think I twisted her arm or intimidated her in any way.