Mervyn Storey
North Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for his statement. It will be noted that there are those who cry much about the environment and purport to be the champions of the environment who did not have the courtesy to come to the House and be present when the statement was being made.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Clearly, there are some in the House who want to continue with the same old, same old and get the same outcomes at a huge cost to the public purse and to farms in Northern Ireland. The Minister is absolutely right: it is a scourge.”
“I am sure that the Minister will be aware, having listened to the Member who spoke before me, that the farmers of North Antrim will make an informed choice about who best supported farmers during this mandate of the Assembly.”
“A pilot scheme has been operating with the Education Authority, the PSNI and the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust across 60 schools in the south Down area since September 2021 and was extended to a further 77 schools in the Newry and south Armagh areas at the start of February 2022.”
“As Chair of the Justice Committee, I am pleased to welcome the motion. It implements the provisions taken forward by the Committee in the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act (Northern Ireland) 2021 to establish an Operation Encompass model in Northern Ireland, which is, as the Minister has outlined, a police and early intervention pa…”
“We had our final meeting of that Committee this morning, and I want to place on the public record our appreciation and thanks to our Committee staff of for all the work that they have done.”
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“People like Dr Owen Finnegan and others in that group make an invaluable and informed contribution to the future of the service at the Causeway Hospital. <BR /> <BR />I want to drill down into some details in relation to the Causeway Hospital. The over-65s account for 30% of our population, the highest of any of the trusts. We need to recognise that that is a particular challenge. As someone who is now heading towards that age, I am always careful to ensure that I declare an interest. The trust does acknowledge that there is a challenge in the age profile of its area. <BR /> <BR />The other important figure is that 70% of inpatient beds at the Causeway Hospital are from the over-65s category. That focuses on and creates a challenge for the delivery of services. The over-75 population is expected to grow by 32% between 2012 and 2021.”
“I welcomed the fact that, back in 2011, there was a commitment from the then Health Minister to ensure that the Causeway Hospital: "is here to stay." I trust that that will continue to be the case. Of course, we had all the naysayers who spread, I have to say, very dangerous comments that it would close. <BR />We have to be cautious when people use a platform only for political purposes when there is no substance to what is being said. That causes fear, concern and anxiety, first, to the patients who are served by the hospital, and, secondly, to the staff who work there. <BR /> <BR />I want to pay tribute to the Causeway support group, which I have worked with on many occasions over the last number of months.”
“I will concentrate on a number of elements key to the delivery of healthcare. My constituency colleagues will refer to other elements of the provision in North Antrim when they make their contributions. <BR /> <BR />Let me turn to the Causeway Hospital. North Antrim is unique in many ways. It is unique in the fact that it does not have an acute hospital within its parliamentary boundary. We are served by two acute hospitals: one in East Londonderry and the other in South Antrim. I well remember having had opportunity in my previous job and as a patient and parent to access what was the Route Hospital. Of course, it, along with the Mary Ranken Maternity Hospital in Coleraine, became the new Causeway Hospital. In our area, we have bought into the provision at the Causeway Hospital.”
“The trust provides services to a population of some 436,000 from a budget of some £600 million. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Minister to the House. She will now not have to read in Hansard my earlier comments. She will not be surprised to hear that, in the time that I have, I want to concentrate on the Causeway locality in particular. Members will know that there are now four localities in the Northern Trust area since its reorganisation. Again, I pay tribute to those who have helped in the turnaround of the Northern Trust. Some time ago, there were concerns about its future existence. Indeed, there was talk about it maybe being merged with or taken over by the Western Trust. However, I believe that we now have a degree of stability. I pay tribute to those who have worked hard over the past number of months on that particular issue.”
“Members will therefore not be surprised that I want to refer to structures in the provision of healthcare in North Antrim. Some are pivotal to and some essential for the continued delivery of health provision in North Antrim. <BR /> <BR />At the outset, I pay tribute to those who work in the health service and provide for us, day and daily, a service that we ought to be proud of. We see how well the Opposition parties are arrayed this evening. I have lost count of how many of them there are here. It is always easy for them to be critical. It is always easy to find the point at which you will criticise something, but it is a lot more difficult to give credit when things go well. I say to the almost 12,000 staff who work in the Northern Trust area a word of thanks and appreciation.”
“I welcome the opportunity early in the mandate to raise issues of concern and also to place on record my appreciation for the provision of health services in my North Antrim constituency. <BR /> <BR />I am well aware of the timing of this particular debate. We may soon have a public debate and discussion around the findings and recommendations of the Bengoa panel, so I recognise that that may limit what I had hoped the Minister would say, but I see that she is not present. We will therefore have to talk to ourselves and hope that the Minister finds time to read the Hansard report of the comments that we make. <BR /> <BR />I am also aware of the comments that were made by Professor Bengoa when he was appointed earlier this year. He said:”
“First, I apologise to the House and the Minister for not being present for question 13 to the Justice Minister.”
“Will the Minister look at the test to ensure that taxi drivers are given the appropriate test for the best possible outcome?”
“Will the Minister give an assurance that he will look at the issue of new taxi drivers, in particular, wanting to sit the examination? If he speaks to his officials about it, he will be aware that I have had meetings with them recently about this — I appreciate the help that they have given. There is a concern, however, that the current process to ensure that the system is open and transparent is not working in the best way that it possibly could.”
“I welcome the Minister to his first Question Time. This proves that being a member of the Education Committee is very advantageous. <BR /> <BR />The Minister will be well aware of the concerns that have been raised about grass cutting. Given the collaboration there is with local farmers on gritting in the wintertime, where they are used as a means of delivering a service, will the Minister consider expanding that relationship to grass cutting? They could become a valuable asset to the rural community, freeing up the facility to ensure that the urban network is maintained in a way that is safe and is returned to how we would like to see it.”
“I welcome the Minister to her Question Time, but I am disappointed that she has refused to meet in relation to the Causeway Hospital. Given that today she is interested in islands, can she give a commitment to the House that she will continue to provide healthcare for the only inhabited island in Northern Ireland, which is Rathlin in my constituency, and that the people there will get the continued care that they need, given the particular issues that they face daily?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he agree that one of the criteria that should be seriously considered when providers are refusing to, maybe, be helpful in the provision of an appropriate broadband speed is for businesses in the rural community to be given priority? That is only one customer, as opposed to them having hundreds of customers, which makes it financially viable for them.”
“— that it is incumbent on the Government to provide. However, it is equally incumbent on the private sector, which has a responsibility in this area, to work more proactively to ensure that the areas where there are black spots are delivered for and that we continue to make progress on this vital issue.”
“I concur with the Member. With the exception of Members who are from the city of Belfast, there are very few Members who do not have a rural element to their constituency. Rural proofing was mentioned in the House yesterday. As a legislature, we are good at bringing forward legislation, but we have to ensure that those pieces of legislation are enacted and are fit for purpose so that, when it comes to an issue such as this, an obligation is placed not only on the Government to provide the services but on those who provide those services in the private sector. The private sector is always very good at coming knocking on the door of the Government and saying, "You have a duty to do this for us. You need to help us", and the leaders, plural, of the Opposition will tell us —”
“There is a lovely cabinet outside your door." In this particular case, my constituent can see the —”
“In fact, it was suggested to that business that what it should do is move into a town such as Ballymoney, Coleraine or Ballycastle and then that service could be provided. In many ways, that undervalues the importance that we place on our rural communities and in having rural businesses. If we want to see, as I have no doubt that the Minister does, a spread of the financial benefit, it has to be not only in urban areas but in rural areas. I certainly encourage the Minister — I welcome the fact that he is here to speak on this issue — to continue to work with the providers. Let us remember that while the Government can stimulate and provide a certain degree of money, they still have to involve those providers. It is not good enough that they say, "Oh, but there are alternatives to having fibre.”
“We have been told about this dynamic Opposition that we will have; that it will be incisive and really get to the issues. Well, we need to have a look at Standing Orders. I have to commend the Member in all that. Members in the House know that I say many things, but I never make them personal. I trust that Members understand that. I commend her in the comments that she made. <BR /> <BR />Today, across the House, many examples will be given from our constituencies. I can take you to the town of Bushmills in my constituency of North Antrim, where, in that rural area, a business that has to depend on clients in the City of London cannot get the broadband speed that it requires to do its business in an accurate and appropriate way.”
“<BR /> <BR />When we look at the many statistics, which I am sure that the Minister and others will undoubtedly give us on the issue in the House today, there is one fact that, I think, we would do well to remember, which is that, over the last eight years, something in the region of over £60 million has been invested by previous Executives, and will be committed to by this Executive, to help to provide for broadband provision. Undoubtedly, the figure will be given to us that something in the region of over 95% of Northern Ireland will be covered by broadband. That is all to be welcomed. All that is to be applauded. However, I concur with the comments made by the proposer of the motion, eventually. <BR /> <BR />I cannot resist saying that the Opposition really do need to have a look at Standing Orders.”
“As I rise to contribute to the debate, I think that it is important that we should, at the outset, say that we all agree on the importance of having access to good broadband provision. Obviously, we come to the debate with another aspect, which is that it reminds us of the important role that the Government play. Often, this House and Governments generally do not get good press around what they do or do not do. However, when we come to the issue that we are debating, it is important that the Government play that role of stimulating, providing and assisting.”
“I hope that that will still be seriously considered because, if it is about savings, there are savings that can be made. <BR /> <BR />Let me conclude by paying tribute to the staff in the Electoral Office. Yes, I would like to see votes counted a bit quicker; maybe that would reduce the overall burden. I still think we need a quicker process for counting our votes. However, that does not take away from the professionalism and independence of the staff. That is an important issue, because let us remember that, in the past, there were those who were quite happy to abuse the electoral system. That is why we need to ensure that, in Northern Ireland, we have an independent, robust and accountable electoral system, which is what we receive from the Electoral Office. I support the motion but not the amendment.”
“He wanted me to rewrite history and say that somehow Danny Kennedy was not a member of the Executive when he made reference to the fact that there was a previous Executive. I am glad that he was only giving the House advice on the Electoral Office today and was not giving us advice on how to run elections. I am also glad that he was not the director of an electoral campaign. <BR /> <BR />Mr Nesbitt made some valid points. This is an issue of concern: the removal of a service that has already been reduced. In my constituency — I referred to this — we lost the electoral office in Ballymoney. Now they are proposing to take the one out of Ballymena, even though there was a proposal on the table, as the Member for North Antrim referred to, about the office accommodation that could be offered in Braid.”
“I will be happy the day on which the Parades Commission is placed where it rightfully belongs: in a Sadducee's grave from which there is no resurrection. I assure you that that is a day that should come very quickly, because it is the most useless organisation this country has ever had, and I can tell you that we have had some useless organisations. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to Mr Nesbitt, the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party. Maybe those two things are —”
“In a few weeks' time, he will trip in through the door of the Parades Commission to tell unaccountable, unelected individuals his woes, which he will want them to act upon, and then we will not know the reasons why they did certain things. Of course, double standards know no bounds sometimes in these issues, so let us not get carried away too much with us being champions for accountability. We need a wee bit of consistency on that.”
“I commend my colleagues for tabling the motion, which I support and which follows on from a promise made to staff in the electoral offices that we would take this issue to the House. I think that is to be welcomed. <BR /> <BR />I want to make a few comments about the amendment. I notice that Mr McKay made reference to the fact that we should go for the amendment because it would ensure local accountability and that, because the NIO is not accountable, there are all these problems. However, the same Member has no difficulty in supporting the Parades Commission — the most unaccountable organisation in Northern Ireland.”
“The electoral office in Ballymoney was closed and moved to Ballymena, so we have seen a gradual withdrawal. I concur with the Member's comments on the staff in Ballymena. Does he also recognise that this is yet another issue that has affected North Antrim for the second time? The first time, an office was removed from Ballymoney.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. It was before his time, but this is not the first time that we have suffered in North Antrim from proposals by the Electoral Office.”
“I welcome my friend and colleague to his first Question Time and wish him well in his new role. <BR /> <BR />The Minister will be well aware of the turbulent times that the manufacturing industry has had in my constituency of North Antrim. Will he outline to the House the benefits that R&D has brought as a result of investment in North Antrim? I am thinking particularly of companies such as McAuley Engineering and others that have been beneficiaries. Will the Minister give a commitment to that continuing?”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. Will he also accept that herein lies the difficulty? I appreciate the comments he made in relation to the Alliance Party, one of the parties of opposition. However, in terms of what the Ulster Unionists are saying, if there is — there may be, and that is an issue for the Health Minister — at some stage a reduction, for example, in bureaucracy in the health service, the first people who will be standing on the picket line, signing a petition and putting out the press statement are the very same people who came into the House today and said that we have wonderful professionals but there has to be change. How do you square that circle? When will those parties start to be honest and tell us who it is that they want to sack or take off the payroll and the benefits that that will bring us?”
“I appreciate the comment that the Member made about the money recently secured from the European Investment Bank by Choice and Apex. Does he agree that, if we can get the issue of housing right, through a structure for the Housing Executive, the private sector and the housing associations — I trust that the Finance Minister will take this into account with his colleague in the Department for Communities — we will unleash the construction industry in Northern Ireland? Given the comments of the Ulster Bank today, the construction industry needs that help, and it will certainly be to the benefit of our constituents.”
“I ask the Finance Minister to continue to do the work that needs to be done to underpin those small and medium-sized enterprises and the large manufacturing companies. I am delighted we now have a number of those large companies in north Antrim, such as Terex, which is a world leader in the manufacturing industry. I want to see those companies progress and prosper in a way that benefits not only them as companies but the people of Northern Ireland.”
“It is also about those small and medium-sized businesses that are the backbone of our industry and our economy. In the previous Executive, let us not forget that we helped over 35,000 properties through small business rates relief; let us not forget that a total of 530 properties benefited from the empty property relief scheme; and let us not forget that it was this party, the DUP, that gave the commitment to, and delivered on, industrial derating, which benefited a total of 4,443 properties. That, I think, was a commitment not only to what we want to see in new investment but to what we have. <BR /> <BR />I know how important small and medium-sized enterprises are in my constituency.”
“Does the Member want me to give way? <BR /> <BR />I happen to be one of those people who keeps a lot of election memorabilia, and I have the UCUNF document. That was that failed political process with the Tories. If we want to see where the problem lies, I think one of the leaders of the Opposition need not look any further. <BR /> <BR />Let us come to some issues that have been of benefit to our business community. I refer to employment and the need to create new jobs in Northern Ireland. That has to be for us a priority, whether it is in Loughguile or Loughgall, or whether it happens to be in Ballymoney or Banbridge. Wherever it is across Northern Ireland, the focus has to be on creating good, sustainable jobs for our constituents.”
“I also happen to be one of those individuals who keeps —”
“They are issues that we ought to be worried about, but let no one be foolish enough to think that somehow coming into the House and making throwaway comments — making good headlines if you can get on 'Newsline' at 6:00 pm — will somehow, automatically, fix the issue.”
“In my constituency of North Antrim, I know all too well what it is like to deal with the consequences of the closure of JTI; the closure of Michelin; the devastating impact that Pattons had in relation to the difficulties that were created; and many other jobs that have been lost. <BR /> <BR />If it is now down to the two parties in the Executive, and it is, I say to the Minister to work with his colleagues in other Departments and that our focus needs to be the creation of jobs. I do not just want jobs created in North Antrim for my own constituents — I want them wherever the need exists. We have seen a slight increase in the unemployment figures recently. We have the news today coming in relation to the Ulster Bank. Those are issues of concern.”
“Yes, and I also say that the electorate endorsed what my party did, and that is why we had the election result we did. I am not one of those people who believes that, as a senior member of the Ulster Unionist Party in north Antrim famously said, an election manifesto is only good for the day of the election and after that the world moves on. I still have a copy of our election manifesto, and the commitments that we made in it are not just words that are written to fill pages; they are things that we actually believe should happen to ensure that Northern Ireland keeps moving forward. That includes the creation of more jobs.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will move on to some of the issues that, I think, are of relevance for our constituents.”
“<BR /> <BR />As Members and citizens of the United Kingdom, I think it would do us well to always couch what we say in reality, and not live in this constant world that is easy for people to live in, where a money tree grows at the bottom of the Stormont estate — a place where all they have to do is come to the House, make a few complaints, get a few petitions, have a few nice words, have the press statement out before you come to the House and, suddenly, the money will appear. Well that is not how it works in reality in the real world. I am surprised by people like the Deputy Chair of the Economy Committee, who, as he tells us regularly, having been in the business world would recognise some fiscal realities for how we have to operate in the political world.”
“When you speak in the House on finance, it has to be set in a particular context. Sometimes, the comments that come from the leaders of the opposition parties really amaze me. I say the leaders of the opposition parties, not the leader of the Opposition, because we have a plethora of opposition parties, and, at the last count, I do not know how many leaders there were of the opposition. They all have their views on what should be done, but the one thing that they all seem to forget is that we are dependent on the fact that we are part of the United Kingdom; that we are part of the sovereign Parliament at Westminster, which gives a block grant to Northern Ireland; and that, for the last number of years, there has been a considerable strain on that particular Budget.”
“That will be tomorrow — or by the Treasury, because he obviously wants to take away the current Minister's capacity for independent thinking.”
“I rise to make a few comments in relation to the onerous task that lies to the Finance Minister over the next couple of days. Having been in that post, I know all too well the challenges that he will face. I have to say, however, that I am disappointed that the previous Member who spoke did not go as far as he did when I was the Minister and accuse the current Minister of being employed by DWP.”
“Is it not also the case that some councils are happy for regeneration powers not to be devolved at this time until they become accustomed and used to the powers that they already have? When the powers come, the councils will be in a better place to use them to the ultimate benefit of their constituents.”
“It is sad that there are those who believe that death — the taking of innocent life — is sometimes justifiable, whether it is in the sick mind of someone filled with the hatred of his cause under the banner of religion, such as we saw in Orlando, or for some political cause. This little country of ours has seen too many funerals, too many sad days. I trust that, as we move forward as a society, the one thing that we can do collectively in this House is stand together to say that there should never, ever again be any justification for death. <BR /> <BR />I say to Darren's family and the wider football community, and to Superintendent Goddard from the PSNI, who is there at this time, that our thoughts and prayers are with you all.”
“The psalmist David penned it well when he wrote:”
“In life we are in the midst of death. How sad it is for Members of the House to have to come again and be reminded that there is but a step between us and death. None of us know, when we rise in the morning, who it is that will prepare our body for the shroud. When Darren went to France, none of us knew or thought that the celebrations that we would have as a nation would be tempered with such sadness. <BR /> <BR />We extend our sincere sympathy to his family, friends and his community. As with the families in Orlando and families across the globe who, because of a variety of issues and problems, face death. It is good for us all to take a moment in the Chamber and remember that we are all mortal and that there will come a day when each of us will pass from this scene of time to eternity. Where is our comfort in the midst of sorrow?”
“— continue to build on the success and make Northern Ireland the economic powerhouse that, I believe, it can become.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mr Farry makes a very valid point that it is a diverse environment in which manufacturing operates, and we need to ensure that in our terminology, our policy, our strategy and in everything we do we have covered all the areas appropriately so that we —”
“Indeed, I ask the Deputy Chair of the Committee and the proposer of the motion whether he could speak to his colleague Mr Swann and ask him his view of the issue, because, of course, we know, as has been alluded to, the Ulster Unionist Party, not for the first time on a number of issues, is divided on it. My party is very clear. If you heard my colleague Sammy Wilson on this morning, you would know that we should deal with facts, not fear. Let us deal with the reality of where we are. It is regrettable that our Chancellor came to Northern Ireland today and was about bringing fear to the debate as opposed to bringing the facts to it.”
“I am glad to be on the Economy Committee with him and look forward to working with him. I have no doubt that we will have our differences, and no doubt we will have our political spats; you would not expect anything else from politicians. However, he raised the coming referendum. I would like the Member to ask the companies in Northern Ireland that have been curtailed, restrained and in many respects set at a disadvantage because of our attachment to the European Union. The regulations are destroying and crippling the advantage that our companies could have in the way in which they provide their services.”
“We made reference to that, and I thank Members for the references to the closure of JTI and Michelin and to the pressures that there are, even on our manufacturing companies, such as Wrightbus, as well as to the challenges they face on a day and daily basis to underwrite and secure the long-term future of those jobs. I pay tribute to companies such as Terex, which has recently come into Ballymoney in my constituency. It is a global organisation that needs to continue to be supported; indeed, I recently met with it. I agree with the issue that was raised by the Member and others about the cost of our energy. I have no doubt that my colleague the Minister — I pay tribute to him and wish him well in his new role — will make this an area of priority. <BR /> <BR />Let me come to an issue that was also raised by the Member.”