The Ulster Unionist Party’s Justice Spokesperson, Doug Beattie MC MLA, has welcomed assurances from Westminster that in spite of some local opposition, the provisions of the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing (CTS) Bill which is currently passing through Westminster, will apply to Northern Ireland.

Doug Beattie MLA said:

“The Ulster Unionist Party has long been concerned that although the United Kingdom Government was intent on bringing forward counter terrorism legislation though Westminster, there was a real danger that Northern Ireland would be excluded from the provisions within the legislation.

“The Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill is set to be introduced into legislation at the end of 2020 or early 2021 and Northern Ireland had been requested, after Government consideration, to sign a Legislative Consent Motion (LCM) allowing the legislation to apply in Northern Ireland.  Unfortunately the Justice Minister was not inclined to do so and offered what was termed ‘a compromise’ that effectively watered down the legislation. This was simply not acceptable to the Ulster Unionist Party.

“Counter Terrorism is not a devolved matter and the Ulster Unionist Party believes that Northern Ireland must remain in line with the rest of the UK.  This would help us to future proof ourselves against domestic and international terrorism especially in light of recent media reports that Republican terrorists operating in Northern Ireland were in contact with terrorist organisations in the Middle East.

 “Taking all this into account, in my role as the Ulster Unionist Party’s Justice Spokesperson, I wrote to Chris Philp MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at Westminster’s Ministry of Justice, outlining our concerns and asked that he direct that Northern Ireland should be included in the legislation.  He is in agreement with our position and has now indicated that Northern Ireland will indeed be included in the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Bill, which comes as a great relief.

“We in Northern Ireland know what it is like to live under the shadow of terrorism but this is not about our past but about future threats.  Therefore it is right to be tough on terrorism and ensure Northern Ireland does not become the soft underbelly of the UK.”