Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey has vowed to continue his campaign to pressurise the Government at Westminster to ensure that the National Crime Agency operates to its full extent in Northern Ireland as it does in the rest of the United Kingdom.
Lord Empey said;
“Today at Question Time in the House of Lords I asked if the Government Minister felt it was appropriate for Her Majesty’s Government to allow Sinn Fein to exercise a veto over the operation of the National Crime Agency?
“I then asked when the Government will override Sinn Fein’s veto, behave responsibly and fully establish the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland?
“I was heartened at the widespread concern expressed on all sides of the House at the lack of progress in establishing the NCA in Northern Ireland, noticeably from the Opposition Front Bench, and the Government will have to take note of this.
“Hiding behind the local Justice Minister is no answer and the frustration of Members from all parties and none was evident this afternoon.
“HMG has, so far, given Sinn Fein a veto over national security in Northern Ireland. This is unacceptable.'
“I shall not give up on this issue and will pursue it at every opportunity until the NCA is properly operational in Northern Ireland and able to combat organised crime from every quarter.”