Nelson McCausland
North Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Such an attack on a garage forecourt, where people are milling around — young people, elderly folk, people out and about their business, as well as the intended target — means that anyone could have been cut down and killed on the spot last night. It is reminiscent of the 1970s and 1980s in Belfast.”
“The event that took place on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast last night was an appalling attempt to murder a police officer or police officers. It is a chilling and terrible reminder of those dark days — some of the darkest days — when such attacks were a regular occurrence in Belfast.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and also for his answer to the earlier question regarding uncertainties with youth funding issues. I thank him for his clarification. What is his assessment of the value and benefits that flow from the work of those whom we are speaking about?”
“Fortunately, on the previous occasion of an attack on the Crumlin Road not so long ago, the intended victims were not killed. It is a stark reminder of the responsibility of all of us to make sure that those who are responsible for such attacks are brought before the courts.”
“On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. May I ask that the Speaker review Question Time today in Hansard? Some Members were permitted to preface and contextualise their question with a couple of sentences without interruption, some Members managed it with interruption and some of us were interrupted in the first sentence.”
“Some might argue that the Gaels were Planters as well. Would the Minister undertake to work with the relevant folk in the Department for Communities and the Minister there, who have responsibility for the Ulster-Scots Agency, to see if additional resources could be afforded to enable it to work up additional work in that context because o…”
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“I rise today as the Chairperson of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure to speak on the motion. I welcome the opportunity to do so. <BR /> <BR />I have to say at the start that the Committee has not really had the opportunity to discuss the draft budget for the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure for 2015-16 in any great depth as members have, as yet, received very little detail. The information provided is very high level — I emphasise the word "very" in that sentence: it is extremely high level — and therefore the Committee has not been in a position to undertake its usual detailed scrutiny. <BR /> <BR />Under the proposal, DCAL's budget sees a baseline current expenditure cut of 10% overall.”
“I would be delighted if he answered the question that I actually asked, which was not about a prospective planning application but about his assessment of the landfill site as it is today. Having grown up in the area, I am familiar with the part of the hill just above the Horseshoe Bend as it was many years ago. The quarries have been filled in, but a much larger mountain is now developing there. Can the Minister assure me that officials have investigated whether the dumping at the landfill site has, up until now, been done in accordance with what was permitted or has it in some way gone beyond that? I am surprised that it has been able to grow in the way in which it has.”
“The work that is carried forward on indigenous minority languages is largely done not at ministerial meetings but in the ongoing work programme between officials. How is the information, good practice and so on that is discovered through that work disseminated to the Department and more widely in culture, arts and leisure in Northern Ireland? I appreciate that the junior Minister is standing in for the Culture Minister, but maybe I could get an indication subsequently.”
“In a response to a question for written answer that I received the other day from the Minister, he mentioned the Ulster-Scots education project, which is producing materials on culture, history and language. Am I right in assuming that his Department has not contributed one penny to that and that it is being funded entirely by the Ulster-Scots Agency? Will he contrast that with the fact that he recently gave £140,000 to Irish-medium youth work? There seems to be something of a disparity between £140,000 and nothing.”
“There is plenty of stone throwing sometimes in Ardoyne.”
“I say to the Minister, then, that on this occasion, perhaps it is rather the case that Mr Adams was being truthful and speaking from the heart, and it is simply the fact that his mask slipped on this occasion. Does the Minister not accept that that is really the case? He simply was caught on, was found out and had to own up.”
“I welcome the fact that Belfast City Council has made the commitment of £100,000 towards the Ulster Orchestra. I understand that Sir George Bain made some comments on the radio today about the provision of the business model for the Ulster Orchestra, which, given what has been said even here, will hopefully be forthcoming very soon. Will the Minister give the clear undertaking that, in the event that it arrives in the next few days, she will very soon be in a position with the Arts Council to ensure that the funding to make up the shortfall on top of the £100,000 is met?”
“The Minister put the figures together for the programmes that are made by both broadcast funds. Will she give us separate viewing figures per programme for each fund? If not, will she send that on to me? <BR /> <BR />Will she also ensure that, when she is negotiating with the Treasury or DCMS in London, the funding for both broadcast funds is equalised? That will mean that we will have real equality and not the Trojan Horse of equality that was mentioned by her party leader last night in his efforts to break unionism, which, of course, he will fail to do.”
“I am glad to hear that conversations have already started and that discussions are under way between the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council and Sport NI and, presumably, officials in DCAL. As the motion says, this has to involve everyone. It calls on the Executive to develop a bid. This has to involve Sport NI, the Commonwealth Games Council, DCAL and the Executive. I hope that we will be in a position to make a good strong bid to bring the event here to the Province.”
“For the vast majority of people, Northern Ireland has moved on and is now a better place. We want to reap the benefits of that, and one of those is to see events of this type coming to the Province.”
“Something like this could help to sustain participation, because it is in the period at the end of the school years that you see it drop. As a number of Members highlighted, there are potential health benefits from sport, including an opportunity to tackle obesity. All those things are good. <BR /> <BR />There are no downsides to this. It is good for the country's profile, good for the pride of the people of Northern Ireland, good for opportunities for the athletes and good for the sports. <BR /> <BR />We are in a much better place today than we were some time ago. I notice that Cathal Ó Oisín referred to "dark and dismal" days in the past when people did not want to come to Northern Ireland. That was true, and we know the reasons for it only too well.”
“That is good for Northern Ireland. It is good for the country; it brings a sense of pride and achievement to people; it raises Northern Ireland's profile on the international stage, which we are always keen to do to generate good publicity and business; it is good for the athletes because they have an opportunity to perform on their home territory; and it is good for the sports, because it raises their profile and will, I hope, encourage higher participation levels. <BR /> <BR />With the Commonwealth Youth Games in particular, we want to increase the potential for participation in sport amongst young people. Quite often, young people will go through their school years participating in sport, and when they leave school there is a dropping off in their level of participation.”
“She said that the Northern Ireland team brings back:”
“<BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland has considerable experience and expertise that has been built up by hosting major events, a number of which Members listed. We have demonstrated time and time again that we have the capacity, the skills, the experience and the infrastructure — all the things that we need to make major events a success. If we encounter difficulties in a particular area, we have the capacity to work our way through them. <BR /> <BR />A lot of work has already been done to improve our sporting infrastructure. More work is under way, and more is to come. In addition, where accommodation is concerned, I think that we would be in a very good position to bring such an event to Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />One of the key things for me was a comment that the Minister made about the Commonwealth Games.”
“I thank my party colleagues for bringing the motion before the Assembly. It is a good motion, and I am glad to see that there is support from all parties in the Assembly for it and for bringing the Commonwealth Youth Games here to Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Michelle McIlveen set out very clearly and extensively the potential for and the benefits that would flow to Northern Ireland by bringing the Commonwealth Youth Games here in 2021. A number of smaller countries have hosted the event, and there is absolutely no reason why Northern Ireland should not be in a position by 2021 to bring the games to the Province. We have seven years between now and then, but it is important that we start very quickly.”
“I welcome the fact that the Minister referred to the parliamentary constituency and the Assembly constituency of North Belfast and his commitment to look at the whole constituency. Will he do all he can to ensure that the Housing Executive delivers in all areas of the constituency to meet the need that is there?”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I apologise for not being in my place for the first topical question.”
“In his budget, the Minister received an additional £29 million on the back of the pressures on the policing budget. Why, then, was only £13 million of that £29 million delivered to policing? How much of the remaining £16 million was devoted to legal aid? I welcome the fact that he has launched a further consultation on legal aid but would he agree that his actions so far have been far too little too late and that it is unacceptable that such a large amount of the additional funding is going to legal aid? He says that it is an issue that dates back to devolution —”
“If it is possible for a school in any sector to participate in sharing, how does that disadvantage one particular sector?”
“<BR /> <BR />On the group 1 amendments, our position is that those tabled by the Minister are acceptable, amendment Nos 2 and 3 are not, and we will see how the other four amendments are moved or which of them is moved in due course.”
“We are opposed to amendment Nos 2 and 3. <BR /> <BR />The other area dealt with in group one is in amendment Nos 13, 14, 16 and 17, which were tabled by Mr McCallister, regarding representativeness. I will wait to hear what he says in due course, because amendment Nos 13 and 14 appear to be contradictory to Nos 16 and 17. We will see exactly which amendments he moves in due course. We certainly strongly subscribe to the concepts of representativeness and equality. I am sure that the Member to whom I have just referred, who has tabled amendment Nos 13, 14, 16 and 17, will explain to us in due course which ones he intends to move. We will look at that in due course. We certainly hold to the concept of representativeness.”
“The difficulty that I see with amendment Nos 2 and 3 is that, as was stated earlier, these things were raised previously and voted against in the Assembly. They would put one sector — the integrated sector — in a special, privileged position where it alone of all the sectors would be promoted. I believe strongly in the principles of equality and fairness. I believe that the different sectors should all be treated fairly and equitably. Having that additional special treatment for a sector is inappropriate. <BR /> <BR />It is right that all sectors should be supported. It is right that we should promote shared education. It is right that there should be support for the integrated sector along with others, but that additional term is one that we think is unacceptable in so far as it has a particular legal connotation.”
“is perfectly reasonable. The other amendments that he has tabled are, again, ones with which we have no issue. The key thing with all of these is that the focus should be very much on shared education. <BR /> <BR />That brings me to the point concerning amendment Nos 2 and 3, which have been tabled by the Alliance Party. My concern is that, when we say that we promote shared education, it is something that is available to all sectors. No matter whether a school is in the controlled sector, maintained sector, voluntary grammar sector, controlled grammar sector or Irish-medium sector, it can be part of a process of shared education. Therefore, that commitment and determination by the Education Authority to promote shared education is one that is inclusive. No one is excluded or left out.”
“With regard to group one, I intend to deal with the amendments that are proposed by the Minister of Education first of all. <BR /> <BR />I am glad that we are at Further Consideration Stage today because it is imperative that we get the Education Bill through the entire process and move forward to the creation of the new education authority because, at the moment, there is a level of uncertainty. The current education and library boards are in a difficult position. Many of them have depleted staff and resources. The sooner we have this completed, there is some certainty and work can get really under way, so much the better. <BR /> <BR />As regards the issues raised by the Minister of Education in his amendments, we certainly agree with his proposal in amendment No 1 to clause 2. The insertion of the words,”
“We are all very clear on the role of teachers and principals within the education system, and it is important that they have professional development. School governors also have a very important role to play in the running of a school, setting the ethos, monitoring the work of the school and so on. Is the Minister satisfied with the current level of training provided to governors and will he ensure that there will be a review of that to make sure that it is adequate for the needs of governors? I speak as a former governor.”
“Does the Minister agree with that statement?”
“The document that was produced — the report itself and then the response from the Minister and the Department — is primarily about language. I notice that the document also refers to culture, and I was interested in the use of the word "identity" and in the use of the word "racism" by Pat Sheehan. It is clear that Sinn Féin sees this as a linguistic, cultural and ethnic issue. That is interesting because the Minister then referred to a political fixation with the Irish language. If that is the case and there is a fixation about the Irish language, many would hold the view that Sinn Féin has contributed to that fixation. Thirty years ago, they set out their position on the Irish language in an official Sinn Féin publication, in which they said that every word spoken in Irish was another bullet in the freedom struggle.”
“I notice in the statement that there is reference to the collaborative work between the Youth Council and the National Youth Council for Ireland and, in particular, exploring funding. One of the ways in which that was done in the past was to help to fund youth exchanges. In the context of cultural diversity, building a shared future and what is sometimes called the totality of relationships, can the Minister assure us that this will not in any way create or perpetuate an imbalance whereby children in Northern Ireland would only be able to experience exchange with the Irish Republic but not with other regions of the United Kingdom?”
“Clearly there are issues around finance, dissolution and the establishment of the controlled sector support body. How are all those things going to be done in that period of five and a half months? <BR /> <BR />I am happy to support the Bill. I think that it is a good outcome in the circumstances. It is much better than and preferable to what has been previously suggested, and it is for the benefit of the system, the teachers, the children and education in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mr McCallister and Mrs Overend both referred to the fact that there are five and a half months until the start of the new year. If we consider the timeline for completing the legislative process, even with accelerated passage, and look at the preparatory work that will need to be done before 1 April 2015, it may be just as well that we have a five and a half months, if that is all to be completed. <BR /> <BR />The Minister sent a letter to the Chair of the Committee, Miss McIlveen, in which he referred to a programme management board which would be established to identify and oversee key work strands. It would be interesting to hear a little bit more about the timeline for that: when will those various pieces of work be completed?”
“I do not know of any other country that has as many different types of schools as we have in Northern Ireland, and there is a complex architecture. It is also a very sensitive issue. We know that only too well, and we are all aware of the lobbying and the strength and fervency of that from various sectors. It is a sensitive and complex issue, and the approach that is being taken now to merge the five boards into one through this legislation is the right way forward. <BR /> <BR />Over the last few years, the staff in the boards have worked in very difficult circumstances, and it is right that we express our appreciation for their work in spite of the uncertainty and those difficult situations. Issues still need to be addressed — this is not the final Bill, and we know that amendments will be tabled and issues will be addressed.”
“There has been some sharing of services amongst the boards, and there was talk of extending that. However, the proposal before us for a new education authority will hopefully create greater savings. <BR /> <BR />That will mean more money for schools. I take the opportunity to say that, in a whole range of areas, we should be looking at where we can make savings to put the money down to the schools. Quite often, you get a whole plethora of ad hoc initiatives that can soak up money in administration when it should go straight to the schools. Schools should be at the forefront. <BR /> <BR />It is good that the arrangements will be taken forward incrementally. Our education system is complex, and education is a complex subject.”
“I welcome the acceptance that the controlled sector should be supported and advanced. Whatever commitments there are for advancing other sectors should also be available to the controlled sector. If we believe in equality, it should be for everyone. <BR /> <BR />The other point that I want to make is about savings. It would be helpful if we had some sense of how much duplication will be addressed over the next period. Clearly, with five boards, there is duplication. Whilst it is true that places have not always been filled and there has been some depletion in staffing and, therefore, some savings have probably already been made, it would be helpful to have some clear indication of the assessment of the extent of the savings that will be made by the removal of duplication.”
“I noticed that Mr Lunn spoke about the responsibility for advancing and promoting certain sectors. I would have thought that, therefore, there was a responsibility to advance and promote the controlled sector within our education system. Is it not worthy of advancement? Is it not worthy of support? Are those schools not worthy of promotion? I believe in equality. Others may talk about it, but I believe in it. I think that that sector deserves the equality of having a support body that is strong and has a commitment to advancing, promoting and supporting that sector.”
“It is important that that sector, which is at the very heart of our educational system, has the service and support of such a body. It needs to be properly grounded — that matter has been raised, and we look forward to what the Minister will say in that regard — and it needs to be adequate to meet the needs of that sector. Having served for many years on an education and library board, I know that there was always a perception that the controlled sector was somehow being treated in a second-class or inferior way and that there was not proper equality. The creation of a body to support that sector is a good step forward, but we need to get clarity on how that will be done.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill is a short one, and therefore it is acceptable in the circumstances that it moves forward by accelerated passage, and I will turn to that in a moment. It is not the 2012 Bill, it is not the 2008 Bill, and, as we were reminded by Mr Lunn, we will claim the credit for killing off what was bad legislation. <BR /> <BR />A number of Members pressed the point, including my colleague Michelle McIlveen and my other colleague, of the controlled sector support body.”
“I support the Education Bill. I welcome it. After 40 years of the education and library boards, it is time for change, but, up to now, there has been no agreement on what that change might be. Everyone agrees that the system should be streamlined and simplified, but there has been no agreement on how that might be done. <BR /> <BR />The imperative for change is partly that the current boards, because of the uncertainty, have, in a sense, been withering on the vine and have therefore become increasingly untenable and unsustainable. It is because of that uncertainty that people have taken the opportunity to leave and posts are not being filled. Because they have become unsustainable, it is imperative that we proceed as quickly as possible. Doing nothing is not an option, and the long saga of ESA is now over.”
“Within any strategy for the arts and culture, there will be a number of important key organisations. One of those is undoubtedly the Ulster Orchestra. Will the Minister acknowledge the financial issues concerning the Ulster Orchestra and give a commitment to ensuring that it is sustained to play its continued important role in our cultural infrastructure?”
“We did well, but we want to do better. As was pointed out, Sport NI had a deputation in regard to the issue of excellence in sport and elite performance. They were with us at the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure last week, and there was a positive response from the chief executive of Sport NI and from the others in that deputation. They were all very positive about ensuring that we can enter teams in hockey and rugby sevens in 2018.”
“Those issues have been around for some time. Mr McGimpsey referred to his experience in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, and I go back to my experience in that regard. Then, the issue of hockey was raised. People within the ranks of hockey and who played hockey said that they wanted to be able to enter the Commonwealth Games but could not do so. It would make good sense for us to have a team there, so I encourage all those who can exercise influence here to work with the governing body to see what can be done to remove any obstacles and overcome any difficulties and to ensure that, by the time we get to 2018, Northern Ireland teams enter the hockey and rugby sevens competitions. <BR /> <BR />The success that we had was testimony to the dedication, skill, perseverance, talent and passion of all those in the team.”
“It is also good for society generally here because, as was pointed out earlier by Mr McGimpsey, we live in age when there are issues with obesity and when many folk have a much more sedentary lifestyle. Role models in sport encourage participation, particularly amongst young people, and that is bound to be good for the health of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I want to pick up on the point that was made earlier by my colleague Mr Humphrey. If we are to achieve our very best in the Commonwealth Games, it is absolutely essential that we compete in as many sports as possible. It is just common sense that, if you do not enter as many events, you will not have the same level of success, and it is therefore particularly disappointing that it is not possible to enter a team in hockey and no team was entered in the rugby sevens.”
“The Commonwealth Games is another occasion and is, obviously, a much more high-profile event than the UK School Games. It is a very important occasion when a Northern Ireland team is entered. It is good for the athletes that they are able to enter that competition. It is an opportunity for them to excel and show their excellence. It is good for the sport because it raises the profile of the various sports in the country and encourages people to take up those sports. The more a sport gets exposure in the media and the more local success there is, the more interest there is and the more participants there will be. It is good for the country because it means that the name of Northern Ireland is out there in the media around the world and is identified with success.”
“I support the motion. It recognises the tremendous achievements of the entire Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team. Obviously, it picks out the boxing team, which excelled so much in the competition. It is right that we should recognise it, and it is right that we should congratulate all those involved and go further. Congratulations should be given to all the participants, but especially those who achieved medal success. Also, our congratulations go to the officials, coaches, trainers and all those who supported the athletes. <BR /> <BR />This is one of the occasions when the name "Northern Ireland" is blazoned on the sporting world. It happens in football, where we have a Northern Ireland football team. It also happens in the United Kingdom School Games, where a Northern Ireland team takes part.”
“I also congratulate the Minister on his appointment. Is he aware of the significant housing need in the Glengormley area of north Belfast, especially in unionist estates such as Queens Park? Is he also aware of the failure of the Housing Executive over many years to meet that need in those communities, with no family homes built in almost 40 years? Will he undertake to engage with the Housing Executive and local representatives to see how it can provide new housing in appropriate locations for those communities?”
“I trust that, as a result of today's discussion and all of the other pressures that are being exerted and the demands that are being made, that will be forthcoming.”
“The point I was making — I do not have time to go into it in full detail — was particularly around the fact that there were other aspects of Wallace's narrative that people may wonder about. As regards the core story, which was the issue around Kincora, there is not a question nor a doubt that it was correct. Chris Moore's book about Kincora, which has also been mentioned, was much more focused on Kincora and is a much superior piece of work because he had access to a lot more information and sources when he put that book together. It is an excellent book that highlights the issues. Clearly, because of all this, we now need something that is very different from what is on offer. We need the most extensive, thorough and empowered research and inquiry into this.”
“<BR /> <BR />Soon after the initial article in the 'Irish Independent' in January 1980, stories began to emerge in newspapers and journals about other allegations of involvements, many of which were traced back to Colin Wallace and the book written about him by Paul Foot. Many people would have raised questions about the credibility of some of it because they would have seen Paul Foot as coming with a particular agenda because of his background. However, we now have very different and very compelling evidence that is solid and substantial.”
“As has been pointed out, it is something that nearly all the political parties in the Chamber have called for. We need the fullest and strongest inquiry possible. <BR /> <BR />The focus has also been on the fact that there were suggestions, allegations and now clear first-hand testimony of the awareness in the British security services and military intelligence of what was happening in Kincora. Questions were raised all those years ago about the fact that the third person to be appointed to Kincora was appointed in August 1971 at the very point when internment was introduced in Northern Ireland and when, in many ways, Northern Ireland exploded. It had started in August 1969, but the introduction of internment in August 1971 changed the scene here politically, and that was the point when the third member of staff was appointed.”
“The Hughes report of 1985 looked at recruitment processes, but it is interesting to pick out as one example the fact that one staff member gave a reference for a friend to enable him to be appointed. There are big questions about recruitment that need to be looked into in more detail. <BR /> <BR />Then, of course, in 1973, the Belfast welfare authority gave way to the health boards. The question arises as to how it was that over time, under the old corporation welfare authority and then under the boards, none of these things were uncovered. Previous investigations were partial and limited in their remit and their powers. Therefore, the fullest and strongest possible inquiry with adequate powers in relation to this matter is what is required.”
“Three homosexual predators were appointed to one home; that is the starting point of it. The first of them arrived in 1958, the second in 1964 and the third in 1971. Many people have asked how it was that the staff — I suppose the entire staff at one point — of that home were appointed to that home and all of them were homosexual predators. The Belfast welfare authority, which made those appointments over that period, was part of the old Belfast Corporation. Clearly, the chief welfare officer of the Belfast welfare committee had a role in making those appointments. Many people asked themselves how it was possible for this particular and unique situation to arise.”