George Robinson
East Londonderry · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Member for his answer. As this is a unique event that will never happen again and to recognise the outstanding service that Her Majesty has given, including to Northern Ireland, if the next Speaker agrees, can an invitation be extended to the palace for Her Majesty to attend this momentous event here in Northern Ireland?”
“Does the Minister agree that, if her party and others in the Assembly joined the DUP to oppose the protocol, the money could be distributed to all those clubs tomorrow morning? Clubs such as Coleraine and Limavady United need the money urgently to improve their grounds.”
“Could policing be looked at in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, where there is a shortage of officers on the ground to tackle antisocial activity, particularly in Limavady town in the evenings? We have had windows broken, street lights damaged and homes attacked. The situation is getting out of control.”
“Will the Minister commit to have her officials investigate Linenhall Street in Limavady, which is in my constituency, with a view to implementing a much-needed revitalisation scheme to overcome the dilapidated state of that street? Such a scheme would help existing traders and attract new business to the street.”
“Minister, no ifs or buts, you had plenty of time to release the funding long before the horrific protocol was implemented. You have heard at first hand from Coleraine and Limavady United football officials the absolute need for the long-awaited funding to help transform their grounds —”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I welcome the rural community pollinator garden scheme. It is an excellent, forward-thinking policy that will increase biodiversity and, given the number of successful applications from schools, encourage and educate the next generation to understand and deliver biodiversity into the future.”
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“Indeed, the tourist sector benefits greatly from the presence of the Causeway Hospital. The North West 200, the air show and Portrush raft race are just some of the major attractions that we look forward to in the north-west. We may have the Open golf tournament, perhaps as early as 2019, when the Causeway Hospital will play a vital role for dozens of tourists and visitors to our beautiful north coast as well as our student population. <BR /> <BR />There is also a close working relationship between the trust, the unions and the voluntary and community sectors that, I hope, can be extended in future to serve the entire population of the Causeway area. Despite scaremongering from some quarters, I have always believed that the Causeway Hospital can be maintained as a viable facility, and I have not changed my belief.”
“Indeed, I welcome the fact that those new appointments will secure the Causeway Hospital in line with the commitments from the trust's chief executive, Dr Stevens, Dr Fred Mullan and others. <BR /> <BR />At some stage, a great boost to the hospital and staff would be a programme of separation and independence for the Causeway and Antrim hospitals. I also welcome the trust's developing a service for elective surgery that will further secure the future of the Causeway Hospital and the vital role that it plays for the local community and visitors to the area.”
“Specialist doctors in general surgery, obstetrics and anaesthetics have also been appointed. That is fantastic news and will ensure continuing and permanent services at the Causeway Hospital. <BR /> <BR />I want to outline my support for the Causeway Hospital and express my relief that the chief executive has stated his commitment to it. That has been reflected in the appointments that have been made, which will, hopefully, ensure that the other posts are filled soon. All those positive changes add great confidence and boost morale among the Causeway Hospital's staff and, indeed, the wider community in the causeway area. The list of appointments does not show a hospital that is earmarked for closure.”
“I am pleased to speak in the Adjournment debate, and I congratulate the SDLP Member Mr Dallat for securing it. I congratulate all the staff at the Causeway Hospital, who have proven that they are professional, friendly and caring. I have heard those words used many times by patients and relatives alike. I also want to be positive in my contribution, as recruitment and the hospital's future are being positively addressed. <BR /> <BR />I have spoken to representatives of the Northern Trust and have learned that five consultants have been appointed in surgery, gastroenterology, respiratory medicine, obstetrics/gynaecology and internal medicine. I have also learned that a consultant cardiologist is being recruited for a joint post between the Causeway and Altnagelvin hospitals.”
“Will the Minister state whether community transport services for the rural population, such as those in the Limavady area, will be retained to reduce the impact on social deprivation, isolation and health visits? I appreciate what his answer was to Mr Dallat.”
“The concerns about the block grant and welfare provision have to be part of any discussions in the event of a hung Parliament, regardless of others' wish lists. I am confident that all returned DUP MPs will have Northern Ireland's best interests at heart and will be arguing the case for the additional funding required to continue the improvement in our local economy.”
“First, I congratulate all my party colleagues who are outgoing Members of Westminster as they have represented Northern Ireland consistently and with dignity in the Mother of Parliaments during the last few years and more. I believe that, whether or not there is a hung Parliament, DUP Members will continue to argue Northern Ireland's case and seek the "best possible outcomes" for Northern Ireland. At least my party MPs are in their Westminster seats to argue Northern Ireland's case, week in and week out. <BR /> <BR />I am confident that MPs who are returned for the DUP will continue a tradition of not hitching their political wagon to any single political party unless the needs of Northern Ireland are being fully addressed, particularly from an economic and austerity point of view.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Will he outline some examples of actions being implemented by other Departments?”
“I am actually looking for more. I am asking for Millburn Primary School in Coleraine, which has been on the list for quite a long time. Are there any plans to upgrade or replace the old Millburn school?”
“Does the Minister agree that the money used for the campaign would be better spent on keeping libraries open longer, for example, and on supporting the arts against more drastic cuts?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Will he confirm if he will have any meetings with public representatives on the future merger?”
“Will the Minister give us an update on the rare diseases strategy?”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Do you realise that Enterprise, Trade and Investment Question Time was reduced by three minutes?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I am glad to see that his wife is making good progress. <BR /> <BR />Who will have the final say where children with congenital heart disease in the north-west of the Province will be treated?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for his answer. Does he agree that the opposition of political parties to any redevelopment of the Ballykelly site could be damaging to the economic future of the north-west?”
“My question could be partially answered, but could I ask the First Minister whether any consideration has been given to the role of junior Ministers?”
“What impact is the delay having on community planning?”
“Does the Minister agree that free travel for the over-60s and the partial upgrade of our rail network has contributed to the growth of numbers on public transport?”
“Will the Minister outline what work is under way to implement some of the Donaldson recommendations?”
“I thank the Minister for his very welcome statement. How have the numbers of people diagnosed with cancer been changing in Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for her answers so far. Does she believe that we have sufficient skills in the Northern Ireland workforce, especially in my East Londonderry constituency, to attract more foreign direct investment into Northern Ireland?”
“Has any financial support been committed to the upgrade of the grounds at Coleraine Football Club and Limavady United Football Club?”
“Will the Minister agree that a rail halt at the very welcome relocation of DARD headquarters to Ballykelly would be a big benefit to the travelling workforce?”
“Who is to blame for Northern Ireland having the highest level of mortgage arrears in the United Kingdom?”
“If we are part of the UK, then the national flag — the Union flag — should be on our driving licence. Taking all that into consideration, I ask the Environment Minister to reflect on his and his party's position and to reach the logical conclusion to reverse the undemocratic decision given to the Department for Transport. In light of the evidence, it is the only fair and equitable decision.”
“It is bad enough that I have had to fight to have Northern Ireland driving licences recognised as UK licences by some UK bodies in the recent past, but to exclude the national flag from the licence really is heaping insult upon injury for the Northern Ireland people. <BR /> <BR />I welcome my colleague's recognition that the SDLP has acknowledged that there is not a majority for constitutional change in Northern Ireland in the foreseeable future. Since that is the case, why do they refuse to acknowledge that fact in their actions? I look forward to the explanation. <BR /> <BR />It is my belief that the decision reached by the Environment Minister is in direct opposition to the majority community's view of Northern Ireland's constitutional position.”
“It is bad enough that we lost our DVLA service in Coleraine, but to have our licence tarnished is an insult, and we were shocked to see that decision taken by the SDLP. <BR /> <BR />We are told that Northern Ireland is British, but Swansea and the Department for Transport do not, apparently, understand that. It is another example of how Westminster is caving in to the agenda of nationalists and republicans at the expense of those loyal to Her Majesty and the law. During the debate on the DVLA jobs in Coleraine, I warned that the service that Northern Ireland would receive would deteriorate. I must confess that my assumptions are coming true.”
“I support the motion tabled by my DUP colleagues. <BR /> <BR />The Department for Transport has proudly boasted that United Kingdom driving licences will display the country's Union flag, but, despite Northern Ireland being part of the UK, that will not apply here. Indeed, the Department is going to the expense of:”
“I am glad to hear the Minister agreeing with me. As far as Ballykelly is concerned, it is an area where an awful lot of jobs have been lost. The move to Ballykelly would make up for a quite a lot of those job losses, and I would love to see the Minister and the Executive going ahead with the move. There is agreement that Ballykelly, Limavady and the north-west need all the jobs they can get because they have lost so many in recent years.”
“What is the Minister's reaction to Sir Liam Donaldson's criticism of the local media?”
“Will the Minister provide an update on the paediatric palliative care strategy?”
“Some Members alluded to the hotline situation. What is wrong with the hotline? Why are people not getting through? Why is there a problem there? That is an essential thing that people need and a central service that people need to get answers.”
“There has been much talk in the media about hotel development on the north coast. Is it essential for further hotels to be developed on the north coast in order to have the Open come to Portrush in 2019?”
“That is not a devolved matter. <BR /> <BR />The Minister is well aware of how my colleagues and I feel about developing the area. Indeed, she has visited the area to see for herself the many good points, including our great tourist potential. One problem that the Minister has is that she cannot force companies to come to the north-west. If we constantly run the area down, we damage ourselves in the eyes of future investors. Let us highlight the many positive points of the north-west and give the Minister an additional carrot with which to attract new investment for the future.”
“I can appreciate the positive impact that expansion of the campus would have, but the question has to be where the money comes from. <BR /> <BR />As mentioned previously, the area has a former Ministry of Defence (MOD) site, which runs adjacent to the Project Kelvin high-speed Internet connection. I was recently informed by OFMDFM that there have been over 40 expressions of interest in utilising the site from all sectors of business, as well as the future relocation of the DARD headquarters to the Shackleton/Ballykelly site, which will attract hundreds of jobs. That is why I believe that we must sell our area by being positive.”
“A new dual carriageway has recently been partly constructed between Limavady and Londonderry, and there has been a re-laying of the railway track and new rolling stock for Northern Ireland Railways — all positive points to sell the region. One project that the area needs urgently is the upgrade of the A6. That is very urgent. Eglinton airport has the possibility for additional capacity if required, and there is always the Ballykelly site. I see all those as positives, addressing the neglect that was previously apparent, but I appreciate that there is much more that could be done for infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to the expansion of Magee campus, there is no doubt in my mind that budget pressures are a major problem.”
“It may have been a modest drop, but the reduction is very welcome. Northern Ireland as a whole is even outperforming many other areas of the UK, the increase being 0·4% per head in output. The north-west has many positive points that investors must be made aware of. There is a leaflet produced by Limavady Borough Council that points out that the workforce in the Limavady area is young and how that is projected to continue in the next few years. Employers will have a willing and well-educated workforce, as the North West Regional College offers courses such as HNDs in business administration and diplomas in IT. Those courses are designed to aid people into employment, especially our younger people. That applies across the north-west. <BR /> <BR />For investors, we have good road, rail and even airport infrastructure.”
“I share some of the concern regarding the north-west and its unemployment levels, but I am concerned that the debate could be seen as being negative in tone by potential investors and could be deemed detrimental to employers. In 'The Limavady Chronicle' on New Year's Day, the headline read:”
“What additional capital investment is going into other post-primary schools in the Limavady and Dungiven area?”
“Will the Minister outline how costs and income from any such scheme would be divided between the two jurisdictions?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement, and welcome that work has commenced at Altnagelvin Hospital on the much-needed radiotherapy unit for the north-west of the Province. Is all the funding now in place for that much-needed project?”
“As the trend is towards continuing growth and expansion opportunities for our farming communities, does the Minister agree that it is important to assist our farmers through these difficult financial times?”
“We have had a very mild winter so far and hopefully savings can be made. Will salt boxes still be provided to rural communities — to farmers, schools etc — along with other road services?”
“Will the Minister outline the time frame he envisages for the review of administrative structures?”
“I am acutely aware that the Minister has a restricted budget, so I truly appreciate that any developments will be on the basis of finances being made available, as my colleague Mr Campbell mentioned. Every job that is attracted to Northern Ireland is welcome. The A6 would be a vital component of that job creation for the north-west and for Northern Ireland in general. I hope to see some movement, especially in regard to the Dungiven bypass in the short to medium term, and I hope that the Minister will endeavour to prioritise the scheme, for the beneficial reasons already outlined. I support the motion and the amendment.”
“These include the Moneynick section of the A6, which has witnessed many accidents in past years.”
“I am pleased to speak in the debate, as I see the A6 as a vital improvement to transport infrastructure in the north-west of the Province. The proposed upgrade will be a bonus to investors, the construction and tourism industries and road users in general. Indeed, it could stimulate the economic growth of the entire north-west of Northern Ireland if and when the long-awaited A6 upgrade comes to fruition. In my constituency, I am also very aware of the health risk that currently exists in Dungiven and would support a bypass at the earliest possible opportunity, even as a decoupled scheme. Due to the health dangers that currently prevail for residents and motorists alike, the earlier this can be achieved, the better. I travel the route on my way to the House, so I speak with intimate knowledge of where the problem areas exist.”
“Will hard-to-reach rural communities have a role to play in health on local government community planning bodies?”
“Does the Member agree that local government should make more use of the post office network?”
“Could the Minister give a rough estimate of how many much-needed jobs will be created when Shackleton Barracks is fully open for business?”