Justice and Northern Ireland

It would be inappropriate for any of us to prejudge the inquiry, but I repeat—I think, for the third time—that it is most important that this significant report is published in a calm atmosphere, and I propose that it is published after the election. To sum up, it is our sincere hope that, with devolution complete, politicians in the Assembly will begin to focus on the other issues that really matter to people in Northern Ireland. It is important to get policing and justice right, but people on the ground are also concerned about key issues such as jobs, health, transport, schools and social deprivation. It is only through making progress on all those issues that devolution will be shown to have worked. We will support the orders today, and we wish the Assembly and the Executive well in exercising their new powers.