Tom Buchanan
West Tyrone · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“However, the Bill must give hydro operators clarity and confidence, through a sustainable licensing framework with long-term regulatory certainty, to enable them to invest and upgrade, modernise and improve fish pass technology.”
“I note that quite a bit of work in the Bill falls to the Department with regard to monitoring, enforcement and scientific assessment, which will require adequate resourcing. <BR /> <BR />The Bill must strike the right balance between encouraging investment and protecting sensitive freshwater habitats.”
“I welcome the opportunity to say a few words at Second Stage of the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill. It is overdue legislation, which touches on three interlinked systems: commercial fisheries; growing the aquaculture sector; and the wider water environment, with an ambition to modernise regulation while supporting susta…”
“<BR /> <BR />Hydro schemes and hydropower to produce clean energy that will contribute to decarbonisation targets must be catered for in the Bill, with a clear vision for their future expansion. Those are not abstract infrastructure projects but local assets that generate clean renewable energy while supporting employment in rural areas.”
“Minister, under your watch, many miles of posts and wire fencing were put up along the A5 western transport corridor. However, in the past few weeks, a good bit of that has been removed by a mechanical digger and pushed into a pile for dumping.”
“In reality, however, every notice, every new form and every new administrative step will be another cost to councils. We simply cannot keep relying on councils to pick up the cost. We cannot pretend that council budgets are elastic, with plenty of stretch left in them. As is the case in many other sectors, councils are under pressure.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,021 lines we hold for Tom Buchanan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 11 of 21.
“Thank you, Minister, for the update. As the Minister knows, this has been an ongoing issue for some time, and we are keen for it to be brought forward, perhaps at a quicker pace, and to get the diggers on-site in order that the project is brought to completion. <BR /> <BR />The Minister mentioned vacated sites. Will he indicate what discussions have been going on or outline any plans for those vacated school sites when the campus is completed?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. It is of extreme concern that there are still those in the House who are constant advocates and cheerleaders for the premeditated murder of the unborn child through the mechanism of abortion. We saw that again in Saturday's 'News Letter'. Does the Minister agree that it would be much better to ensure that we have proper help and support services in place for mothers-to-be who may feel vulnerable and unable to cope, rather than advocating the destruction of the unborn child? Will he advise where he and his Department are in ensuring that such services are readily available in every trust area for all those who need to avail themselves of them?”
“Despite our road network, we still see that interest. I have a lot more here, Minister, but I hope that you will step up to the plate and ensure that this road is delivered without further delay.”
“In the absence of a dual carriageway, traffic movement is slow and there are often delays. That is piling extra costs on our companies. They could use that money for further investment to expand their businesses, create more jobs and strengthen the economy. I pay tribute to Houston Precision Engineering in Donegal. That manufacturing firm is looking at setting up in Strabane Business Park. It wants to bring its business into Northern Ireland from Donegal and expand there.”
“A number of families have lost loved ones and a number of businesses have perhaps gone to the wall because of a poor road network. We do not enjoy the same road network as the rest of Northern Ireland in the form of a dual carriageway. The loss of life speaks volumes about the dangers associated with the road network and the urgent need for the project to proceed. <BR /> <BR />Then, of course, there is the economic benefit. Businesses in west Tyrone, in Omagh and Strabane, have been struggling for many years to get their products to the ports to be exported. The Minister will know that west Tyrone is known for its engineering industry. That involves the moving of large items of machinery daily, yet the current conditions on the A5 create all types of problems for those companies.”
“I do not know of any other country in the world where progress on such a major road infrastructure project has been so slow. <BR /> <BR />Minister, you, and, indeed, every politician in the House, will be aware of the importance of the A5 project for the entire western area of Northern Ireland. It is important for a number of reasons, and I will touch briefly on a few of them. The first is road safety. The A5, as we know it today, has been branded one of the most dangerous roads in Northern Ireland. Time without number, we hear on the news of certain stretches of the A5 being closed due to a serious road traffic accident. Unfortunately, in most of those cases, someone loses their life or sustains serious injury. It was recorded that 30 people lost their life on the A5 in the 10-year period between 2006 and 2016.”
“The issue also begs this question: who is benefiting from the project? Who has benefited from it over the last number of years? It is certainly not the business community, which is crying out for the new road in order to increase its businesses. It is not benefiting our large companies, which depend on the roads network daily to move their products to the ports to be exported. It is not benefiting our daily commuters, who continually struggle with the slow-moving traffic on the A5. It is not benefiting our local people. We can conclude, therefore, some 14 years later, that the only beneficiaries have been the consultants and solicitors who are involved in a project to the tune of £83·407 million on which no work has been done on the ground as yet. After 14 years' consultation, the Minister is asking for more of the same.”
“I have to ask: when will this all end and work be allowed to begin on the ground?”
“I fully agree with the Member. However, it is important to highlight the costs associated with the project at the minute, with nothing having been done. <BR /> <BR />I note that the Minister has instructed her project team to prepare a further addendum to an environment statement for further consultation later this year and even more consultation due next year.”
“This is public money that we are talking about, and, 14 years later, we have spent over £83 million with nothing really to show for it. <BR /> <BR />Another alarming factor — if my figure is not right, I stand to be corrected — is that £51 million has been spent on consultant fees. While this delay in progressing works continues, those fees continue to increase, and there is nothing to show for it. I note that the Minister —”
“I thank the Minister for being here this evening as we discuss the A5. When it comes to such important issues, it is always good to see the Minister in place, even at an Adjournment debate. <BR /> <BR />To say that I am disappointed at the progress made to date on the A5 western transport corridor would be a gross understatement. In October this year, it will be 14 years since the project was first agreed, and Mouchel was appointed to undertake a detailed study of the potential dual carriageway upgrades to the A5, including highway design, traffic and economic appraisal. Yet, 14 years later, we are standing here again in the House. After much debate over those 14 years and at a cost to the public purse of £83·407 million, not as much as one sod has been turned or square metre of tarmacadam laid. That is a matter of grave concern.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Perhaps he can give us some indication of the role that Departments can play in supporting Northern Ireland food producers.”
“As we reflect today on the loss of Prince Philip and extend our sincere Christian sympathy to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and the entire royal household, we think of a chair that is now empty. We think of a voice that is now silent. We think of words of wisdom that are no longer there. Today, we sincerely pray that the royal household and Queen Elizabeth will know the strength, comfort and blessing of God in the days, weeks and months to come.”
“I remember the day, which my colleague Edwin Poots referred to, when the Queen and Prince Philip came to open the new South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, and I remember the humour that Prince Philip presented that day. As I was reflecting on those things this morning, I remembered the words of Jonathan to David in 1 Samuel 20:18. David was taking his leave from the king's table, and Jonathan came to him and said onto him:”
“Despite all those responsibilities, we see how he gave himself to a full life of service to country and to Commonwealth. He was forthright, intelligent and forward-thinking, serving as patron to some 800 organisations and leaving the most lasting legacy through the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme, which so many of our young people have taken part in. Those who are older today and who passed through it over the past 65 years can testify to how they benefited from it. <BR /> <BR />Throughout his life, Prince Philip exemplified the qualities of duty, service and sacrifice to country and Commonwealth with great humour, humility and, indeed, humanity. There is no doubt that he has left us all with a great example to follow.”
“Like others around the Chamber, on behalf of the constituents of West Tyrone, I tender my sincere sympathy to the Queen and to the royal family and its household at this time. Friday 9 April 2021 will be a date that is etched in all our memories as we remember when the news filtered through of the death of a great man who was loved by so many, His Royal Highness Prince Philip. It is one of those occasions in life that we will remember where we were, what we were doing and who we were with when the news broke. Although he was a few weeks short of his 100th birthday, we never really expected the suddenness of his death because of the fact that this man had lived such an active life. <BR /> <BR />Prince Philip, as others said, was not only a dedicated husband of 73 years but a dedicated father, grandfather and great-grandfather.”
“However, as mentioned before in the House, the Committee continues to consider the instances in which proxy votes could be retained on a more permanent basis and how that might be reflected in Standing Orders. I commend the motion to the House.”
“In such cases, the Member would be compelled to leave the Building but would not be able to nominate a proxy to vote on their behalf on that day. Today's amendment seeks to address that situation. <BR /> <BR />The other temporary provisions remain as introduced, in that there is no specific deadline in Standing Orders if a Member holding proxy votes needs to pass authority to another Member. Sinéad Bradley, the only other Committee member to speak in the debate, gave the full support of her party to the measure. She looked forward to brighter days as we move out of the pandemic, which is a sentiment that we all reiterate. We are all looking for brighter days as we come out of the pandemic. <BR /> <BR />I remind Members that today's proposed amendment is to the temporary provisions in Standing Orders.”
“The temporary provisions exist to ensure that Assembly and Committee business can continue during the pandemic. They were agreed by the Assembly in March 2020, and that work was, necessarily, undertaken at pace. At that time, the Committee acknowledged that further amendments could be required to enhance the provisions as we take the pathway out of the pandemic. The proposal before the House is an example of the Committee's reviewing the temporary provisions, reacting to ongoing circumstances and offering proposals where necessary. <BR /> <BR />As the Chairperson explained, the Committee was concerned about cases arising in which Members who intended to be in the Building on a particular sitting day received notification to self-isolate after 9.30 am on that day.”
“As was outlined, the amendment has come to the House today after concerns were raised by the Committee with regard to Standing Order 112. I will not go over the technical aspects of the proposal as that has been covered in the Chair's introduction. However, I will summarise. The proposed amendment will allow a Member to nominate a proxy to vote on their behalf after the deadline of 9.30 am in the specific circumstances of self-isolation. That applies after 9.30 am, when they have been compelled to leave the Building. Where that happens, the Member will give notice as soon as possible and, in any event, a reasonable time before the vote on the item of business to which the notice applies. The Member must also state when they became aware that they were required to self-isolate.”
“I thank the Minister for that response. The Minister said that some ambulance drivers have been facilitated, but can she give any indication of a time frame for when it will be opened up for all key workers who require a licence for their work?”
“Given the wider cost of the scheme, which the Minister talked about running from £600 million upwards, what action is he taking in order to ensure that, whenever applications are made by the innocent victims, the money will be there to make the payment to them and that there will be no further delays in the scheme?”
“I thank the Minister for her response, but she did not take the opportunity to withdraw the remarks that the party made and to apologise to the people for the misinformation that the party put out, which seems to be a constant drip from that party.”
“I come from a rural area, and I know the difficulties faced by rural communities with poor broadband connectivity. I hope that Project Stratum will address those issues when it is finally rolled out. Given that rural areas and communities are really affected, why are the areas of greatest need not prioritised in this programme? What impact will that have right across Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for her response and for the ongoing work. With months of delay that are now running into years, this issue is having an adverse effect on the mental health of victims. Given the length of the process, some are pulling out to try to regain a normal life. That is an indictment on the Department. What encouragement can the Minister give to victims who feel that the process is letting them down?”
“However, should the Assembly agree to the proposals, the Committee will continue to carry out its role and keep the Standing Orders under review, as it does with all of our Standing Orders. As part of its review, the Committee welcomes feedback on any issue that relates to the provisions in the Standing Order. The Committee will act on that, should it be required. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I echo the Chairperson's thanks to the Committee members and Assembly officials who have been involved. They have made great efforts to bring the proposals to the House today, and I sincerely thank them for that. Mr Deputy Speaker, I commend the motion to the House.”
“He made reference to the difficulties posed last year when Ministers and Members had to self-isolate. Hopefully, this will help to overcome the problems that we saw back then. <BR /> <BR />The proposed amendments bring fundamental changes, albeit temporary, to plenary and Assembly business. Given the current circumstances, it is essential that we, as an Assembly, do all we can to protect each other and adhere to the regulations and public health guidance. As Members have already mentioned, when such fundamental changes are introduced there will be teething problems, and we must expect that. We cannot expect the whole thing to be set up in one day, and, the next day, to be up and running with no problems. We must accept that there will be certain limitations to how Members can engage when participating remotely.”
“<BR /> <BR />Linda Dillon and Nicola Brogan both said that it is the job of the Assembly to show leadership, and of course it is. When we put out the message, we need to show leadership and put that into action ourselves. It is not just about these amendments and regulations that have been brought forward; it is about all the regulations that the House has put out from the very start of the pandemic in March last year. We are bound to adhere to all those regulations and amendments — to the letter of the law — that the House has put out for everyone to adhere to. If we are going to give genuine leadership, we need to adhere to all the regulations that the House puts out, and that message needs to go to each and every Assembly Member. <BR /> <BR />Gerry Carroll said that this should have been done a long time ago.”
“She said that, with the introduction of hybrid proceedings, we are sending out a clear message to the public in these challenging times, and that is absolutely correct. <BR /> <BR />Rosemary Barton spoke about the priority that everyone works in a safe environment, and, of course, the Assembly has been putting out that message. She said that the facilities that the Committees have offer a unique opportunity to introduce those same facilities in the Chamber. <BR /> <BR />Kellie Armstrong said that the debate gives her heart. She said that she does not often write to a Committee and find that it acts in such a swift and positive manner. Well done to all Committee members. Obviously, you have excelled, given that this has come forward in such a swift manner and given heart to Members of the Assembly and, hopefully, to members of the public.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will pick up on some of what was said. My colleague Gary Middleton mentioned the importance of Ministers and Members not being disadvantaged in their Assembly work, and, of course, one of the reasons for this motion is that Ministers and Members will not be disadvantaged if they have to self-isolate or whatever. Therefore, I think that that is one of the important factors in having hybrid proceedings. <BR /> <BR />Sinéad Bradley spoke of her preference for all parties to be present in the Assembly. That is absolutely correct because, as Assembly Members, we must always remember that our place of work is here in the Assembly. However, as we saw last year, at times, that was not possible because of the pandemic.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will take the opportunity to inform the House that, if we were in normal times and in normal circumstances, the Committee would have carried out a full review of the introduction of hybrid proceedings. This would have included taking formal evidence from legislatures that have already gone down the route of introducing remote proceedings. Much more time would have been spent on the Committee's consideration, and a report would have been brought to the House for debate and consideration. However, I am sure that each one of us will agree that the times and the circumstances that we find ourselves in are not normal, and the Committee and officials have reacted remarkably quickly to the request to consider hybrid proceedings. We have heard that echoed around the Chamber by all who spoke in the debate.”
“The Executive have also sought to discourage extended travel and to limit the occasions on which groups of people meet indoors in any setting. <BR /> <BR />As responsibility for amending Standing Orders lies with the Committee on Procedures, the Committee agreed to consider all of these matters. The Chairperson has covered the Committee's deliberations on hybrid proceedings and the provisions contained in the proposed Standing Order. MLAs received correspondence from the Chairperson providing a detailed update on the Committee's deliberations, so I have no intention of rehearsing all of those. Members are well aware of all of the issues surrounding this amendment.”
“I will be brief, too, Mr Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to conclude on today's debate on the motion to amend Standing Orders. First, I thank the Committee Chairperson for opening the debate, and I thank the Members who contributed. <BR /> <BR />As outlined by the Chairperson, this motion comes to the House following the Committee's decision to consider hybrid proceedings as a matter of priority. The decision was made following a number of items of correspondence received from the Speaker's Office, from the Executive Office and, of course, from the Alliance Party. The Committee also reacted to the Executive's introduction of tighter restrictions in Northern Ireland, including the need for people to stay at home wherever possible, including for work purposes.”
“<BR /> <BR />Therefore, I thank the Committee for its work on the Standing Orders and commend the motion to the House.”
“Hopefully, those proposals will be brought to the House in the near future. The proposals will give additional provision to help people to stay safe and protect one another in the days that lie ahead. There is an onus on everyone in the House, and every elected representative, to ensure that, as we bring forward and discuss regulations, each of us gives leadership and adheres to the regulations. If the regulations are breached, we should condemn it, as should all elected representatives. We should give leadership directly from the House because that is the only way that we can build confidence in our community. Our community will adhere to the regulations when they follow the people who should be setting an example for them.”
“We certainly are in unprecedented times. <BR /> <BR />Throughout this challenging period, the Committee has continued to carry out its role to keep Standing Orders under review. Therefore, the Committee brought the motion to the House so that Assembly and Committee business can continue to function while adhering to the current regulations and guidelines. The motion amends Standing Order 110 to allow the provisions in Standing Orders 110 to 116 to be temporarily extended to 3 July 2021. Like the Chairperson, I hope that the Committee is being overly generous with the extension. However, I can assure you that the Committee will keep the situation under constant review and consider further extensions if required. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I welcome the additional issues that the Committee is considering on proxy voting and remote working.”
“I welcome the opportunity to conclude today's debate on the motion to amend Standing Orders. As outlined, this comes to the House today as the current temporary provisions will cease to have effect on 31 January. The provisions were originally agreed by the Assembly on 27 March to keep its business operating and everyone safe during the pandemic. I acknowledge that, on 29 September last year, we, again, asked the Assembly to extend the temporary provisions for a period of four months. Of course, at that time, I am sure that most of us thought that, by the end of January this year, we would be well on the path out of the COVID pandemic. Sadly, that is not the case. Since Christmas, we have seen a considerable rise in the number of positive cases of COVID, our hospitals are inundated, and the medical staff are exhausted.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. I am sure that she, like the rest of us, will have heard the disgraceful comments of Micheál Martin over the weekend. He made reference to COVID testing in Northern Ireland not covering the new strains of the virus, which we know is totally untrue. In the light of that, what discussions have taken place with the Southern Government about their continual, disgraceful refusal to share with the Health Minister and his Department data on those travelling into Northern Ireland through the South, which must be of huge concern to the Executive, given that the Southern Government are struggling so much with their vaccination and testing programmes?”
“Students who have booked to do their driving test will be coming in that day. They do not want to cancel the test again, as it will have been cancelled on a few occasions, and they may not have had a driving lesson for two, three or four weeks prior to the test. Will you engage with your Executive colleagues to allow those students a little flexibility so that they can have a final driving lesson on Thursday 10 December, the last day of lockdown, in preparation for their driving test without cancelling it for a third or fourth time?”
“I thank the Minister for her response on the issue. We are open for business again on Friday 11 December.”
“Like others, I thank the Minister for making his statement to the House today. I know that the thoughts of the Minister and of everyone in the House are with those patients today. I agree with Mr O'Dowd, on this occasion, that consultants have far too much power. They dictate to their employer where they will work, and that has to change. Given the length of Mr O'Brien's 28 years' service in the trust, were concerns raised about his actions prior to this? If not, does that not cause the Minister concern about those in the trust with responsibility, who, apparently, failed to pick up on this until late in the day?”
“On the basis of the modelling that the health service uses, the restrictions in place over the past four weeks have not worked. The R factor has increased; not dropped to the level that was expected. What plans has the Minister in place should the R factor still sit at 0·8 or 0·9 at the end of the two-week lockdown that is being brought in? What plans does he have in place to ensure that there will be no further extension of the lockdown and that our businesses, and especially our churches, will be allowed to open? The closure of our churches is a retrograde step.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. Was a change in that voting mechanism an issue in the three years of negotiations to restore the Executive?”
“Minister, I am sure that you are aware that, for many years, soccer has been underfunded and underdeveloped in comparison with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA). Will you, as Minister, give an undertaking that you will do what you can to reverse that so that soccer is funded on a par with the GAA?”
“Minister, I note a number of important projects in your statement but none more so than the A5, which has been rumbling on for more years than I wish to remember. You will know of the importance of the A5 project for commuters in the west. Can you indicate when the project will commence on the ground? Have you any idea of what the cost will now be? Do you know whether the scheme will be delivered as a total project or in phases?”
“Our efforts can no longer focus on initiatives that generate improvements in indicators of well-being for the majority who already enjoy good mental health rather than tackling the factors that contribute to creating meaningful change for those with mental illness or suicidal behaviour. Our next action needs to be meaningful for the most vulnerable. <BR /> <BR />Again, I plead with the Minister today to complete the development of the Omagh Hospital and Primary Care Complex with the completion of the new acute mental health facility. I plead with the Minister to look at the business case, get it brought forward and get the development under way for the benefit of people not only in the south-west quarter of Northern Ireland but further afield. I thank the Minister for being here to listen to the debate. We look forward to his response.”
“Northern Ireland has a disproportionately high rate of suicide among under-18s compared with the rest of the UK, and an increasing number of anti-depressants are being prescribed for those under 19 years of age. That shows a serious increase in the mental health issues that our young people face. Those statistics continue to rise year-on-year. <BR /> <BR />As a government, our priority, first and foremost, must be to make people's lives better.”
“<BR /> <BR />I can bear witness to that today about the people in Omagh, because many's a person comes into my office in tears about the mental health problem that they are facing, and they do not know where to turn. When you try to get them an appointment, it is far down the line and away out on the horizon. This is not where we ought to be. We need to be right up to date so that people can get an appointment as and when they need it. That is why I stress the urgent need for this new acute mental health facility in Omagh. <BR /> <BR />This is impacting on our future generations. Children who have parents with mental health issues are more likely to have mental health problems. There is a generational cycle, which impacts on the well-being of our subsequent generations.”
“As publicly elected representatives for the people of Northern Ireland, we need to ensure that we are delivering the highest possible quality and value of care to patients and service users across the divisions of the health sector. <BR /> <BR />Evidence suggests that levels of poor mental health are at the upper end of the international scale in Northern Ireland due to the conflict that was experienced by our society. A mental health problem will only continue to deteriorate because of lack of action. Omagh witnessed some of the most horrific acts of violence during the Troubles, yet PTSD can happen many years down the line. With the increasing awareness of mental health issues, many people who witnessed horrific acts of violence have only recently sought help for the first time.”
“The Omagh hospital and primary care complex has been open now for over three years, yet phase 2 of the acute mental health facility has not yet begun. <BR /> <BR />I stress to the Minister that I am very passionate about this project, and I am glad that he is with us in the Chamber. We would like some movement on the issue. <BR /> <BR />Through the confidence and supply agreement, the DUP was able to secure £50 million specifically for mental health. However, much of that money has been used to relieve the current pressures on services and address funding gaps to ensure that current mental health services do not stop. The Bengoa report stated that we are papering over the cracks in the current system rather than investing in long-term strategic change.”