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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“<BR /> <BR />As I stated last week, I have no difficulty committing my Department to making the first set of regulations by the end of September. That requirement is again encompassed in the amendment being considered at present, and I am content to endorse it. Likewise, I am happy to include a reference to community amateur sports clubs in the Bill now that such a requirement no longer affects the generality of the new enabling power brought forward in the Bill. The change also avoids the enabling power being pinned down too tightly and should help allay the concerns raised by Mr Cree at Consideration Stage in that it will allow the consultation process to take place without artificially confining the enabling power for the enhancement. It is important to underscore and underline that.”
“I do not want to enter into the internal workings of UKIP and whether it uses pigeon carriers or whatever it is. That is entirely an issue for the Member's party. <BR /> <BR />On amendment No 1, I advise the House that I met Mr McKay to discuss the new amendment and agree a form of words that would develop the amendment that he tabled at Consideration Stage. At that stage, I highlighted that there were elements of his proposed amendment that would have been acceptable to me and that would fall within the stated aim of the Bill, as it was introduced, and my preferred policy position for further consultation. The present amendment complies with those standards, and, although I am not convinced that it adds material value to the Bill, it certainly does not conflict with its aims as agreed at Executive level when it was originally introduced.”
“Thank you to the Members who spoke about the two amendments. I will try to resist using some of the analogies that were used already during the debate.”
“I thank the Chair of the Committee for his help in regard to this. I also thank the Committee. I appreciate the collaborative work that has been done on this issue, and I am satisfied that we have come to a conclusion on it.”
“The amendment simply makes clear the type of secondary legislation that is most appropriate to effect the terms of the review and the most appropriate form of Assembly control. It does not impact on the policy in any way. Accordingly, I recommend that the amendment is made.”
“This amendment comes as a result of the earlier provision tabled by the Committee for Finance and Personnel and passed by the House last week at Consideration Stage, which will see the appointment, within three years of the commencement of this legislation, of an independent person who will undertake a statutory review of its implementation. I opposed this amendment at Consideration Stage for the reasons that I set out then and which I will not rehearse, but I am content to accept the will of the House going forward. The clause as drafted, however, requires a little tidying up. <BR /> <BR />The amendment that I have tabled seeks to do that, and my officials have liaised with the Committee on that point.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Obviously, when it comes to this particular matter or anything else, we all suffer or are subject to ensuring that we get efficiencies and savings. I want to ensure that our focus is on delivery at project level, not delivery in the system. There is a challenge, and we have to be up for it, to ensure that we maximise the amount of money that goes to projects and is, ultimately, for the benefit of communities.”
“I trust that it will make an invaluable contribution to communities in north Belfast.”
“<BR /> <BR />There have been capital projects. The Member referred to Belfast, but I had the privilege of opening, jointly with the Lord Mayor, the Girdwood provision. I think that no one could be anything but impressed by that facility, which is in an area that has suffered. I know that it is not in the Member's constituency, but there are other examples that I could refer to. I remember all the concerns that were raised about that location. It is in an interface area where there are particular problems. However, as a result of a focused provision, we now have a facility that is the envy of many other parts of Northern Ireland. I had an opportunity to speak to young people when I was there last Friday, and I think that it will bring a focus and cohesion.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He makes a point that we all need to keep in mind. The areas on which spending is proposed under the new programme include shared education; children and young people, particularly young people who are not in education, employment or training; shared spaces and services; and building positive relationships. I was glad to see included in the proposals under Peace IV a focus on our young people. They are at the heart of our communities in our capital city of Belfast and right across Northern Ireland. The Member makes the point — it is one that needs to be reinforced with our colleagues in the Executive and the Departments — that we must ensure that this spending is complementary to our focus on delivering for young people who need to have hope and need to have proper training.”
“I am also well aware of the concerns of the farming community in my constituency. However, we need to ensure that the debate is based on the facts and the finance. If that is the case, I believe that, whenever the referendum is held, what is in the best interest of Northern Ireland will be very clear.”
“I thank the Member for the question, which is not related to my statement. However, as I resisted the temptation of answering the Chair's question, I will now yield. Everybody knows my party's position on Europe: we are Eurosceptic. However, a debate has commenced, and I think that it has to be based on facts and the reality of whether we would be better off in or out. Look at it in terms of the money that goes out — remember, the United Kingdom is a net contributor, and our national position within the United Kingdom means that we are also a net contributor. That fact cannot be denied and needs to be borne in mind when we have this debate. Undoubtedly, it will appeal to many who have concerns — issues were raised in the House yesterday, and rightly so, about fisheries, and I am well aware of those concerns.”
“I do not have the details for that. I will write to the Member and give him the answer.”
“It is my intention to ensure that, by the beginning of March, at the very latest, there will be an open call so that funding applications can be processed.”
“There is always a challenge with that issue; it gives all Departments and those who are involved in the process a particular challenge. However, what we have achieved with Peace III — the 99% that we have committed and the 94% that has been spent — indicates that we are improving the situation. <BR /> <BR />This relates to a question from the Chair, and part of it is about making the process simpler. I go back to the time when we had a multitude of delivery organisations. They have been streamlined considerably, and we now have a more focused approach. However, we still need to keep our eye on the ball. I trust that we will have a call for applications very soon. I will appoint the monitoring committee in the next number of days, and it will meet.”
“The final element is about building positive relations, which seeks to create a society that is characterised by good relations and respect. We would all aspire to those aims and objectives.”
“<BR /> <BR />The programme will focus on social inclusion and combating poverty and will align with Together: Building a United Community activity in a number of areas. Those are specified as shared education, where we will seek to increase the level of direct, sustained and curriculum-based contact between pupils, and children and young people, which will seek to help young people, particularly those who are not in education, employment or training — known as NEETs — and to develop a greater understanding and respect for diversity. It also has an element on shared spaces and services. Some €99 million has been set aside for that, including €17·6 million to enhance regional services for victims and survivors and to create a new shared space for services, where people from different communities and backgrounds can come together.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As I said, Peace IV was adopted by the European Commission on 30 November 2015. The programme has a total value of €269 million, which includes €40 million of match funding. So somewhere in the region of €400 million is available. The programme was developed through a public consultation exercise, in liaison with key stakeholders and in discussion with Departments, and was subject to Northern Ireland Executive, Irish Government and European Commission approval. The programme received Executive approval on 15 September 2015 and takes account of the Executive's September 2014 comments regarding the level of funding available for projects for children and young people and the Commission's observations that were received in January 2015.”
“However, that issue has been looked at by my officials, in conjunction with SEUPB, and the intention is to ensure that that process is more streamlined and that the time period is reduced. That, ultimately, will be to the benefit of those who will make an application.”
“I thank the Chair for his comments. I will resist making any public or political statement in relation to the ongoing debate about our future in the European Union. That will be decided by a referendum, and the people of the United Kingdom will decide what that future will be. <BR /> <BR />The Member raised a point in relation to the process. It is our intention to have the 36 weeks reduced, if we possibly can, to somewhere in the region of 20 or 21 weeks. If anybody was at the launch of the new programmes, they will know that I made that commitment publicly on that occasion. We all become very accustomed to application processes, particularly from Europe, that are rather challenging.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Council was advised that the SEUPB annual report and accounts for 2014 have been certified by the Comptrollers and Auditors General in both jurisdictions and were to be laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Houses of the Oireachtas. The documents were subsequently laid on 16 December 2015. <BR /> <BR />The Council approved an amendment to the North/South pension scheme and noted a protocol on the handling of further amendments to the scheme. It also approved the 2016 business plan and budget provision for Waterways Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Safefood. The Council agreed to hold its next special EU programmes meeting in spring 2016.”
“It was noted that the 2014-2020 Peace IV programme was adopted by the European Commission on 30 November 2015, and the Council approved the agreed Peace IV cooperation programme. The Council was informed that there is an expectation that Peace IV and INTERREG Va would be publicly launched in January 2016, with calls opening shortly thereafter. <BR /> <BR />The Council approved the SEUPB business plan and budget 2016, noting cumulative 4% year-on-year savings during 2014-16. The main priorities for SEUPB for 2016 were outlined; namely, to achieve closure of the 2007-2013 Peace III and INTERREG IVa programmes; ensure effective implementation of the 2014-2020 programmes; ensure that SEUPB services are delivered efficiently and effectively; and to maximise uptake in the transnational and interregional programmes.”
“A further €21·4 million needed to be spent by the end of 2015. <BR /> <BR />It was noted that all previous years’ expenditure targets have been met, and the importance of maximising full EU funding allocations was highlighted. The Council was advised that Northern Ireland was successful in securing an additional £8·9 million from the INTERREG IV transnational and interregional competitive funding programmes in the 2007-2013 funding period. It was confirmed that a number of key targets for the Peace III and INTERREG IVa programmes had already been achieved and surpassed. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted that the 2014-2020 INTERREG Va cooperation programme was adopted by the European Commission on 13 February 2015, and the SEUPB had issued five funding calls under the INTERREG Va programme.”
“The chief executive of the SEUPB then updated the Council on progress since the previous special EU programmes sectoral meeting in May 2014. The Peace III programme is 99% committed, with expenditure of 94% of the programme value incurred. Remaining expenditure to be achieved by the end of 2015 is €21·4 million. The INTERREG IVa programme is fully committed, with expenditure of 91% of the programme value incurred.”
“In compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I wish to make the following statement on the eighteenth meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in special EU programmes sectoral format, which was held in Armagh on Friday 11 December 2015. Minister Foster, in her capacity as Minister of Finance and Personnel, represented the Northern Ireland Executive and was accompanied by junior Minister Jennifer McCann. The Government of the Republic of Ireland were represented by Richard Bruton TD, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted that the two sponsor Departments will consider the current governance structures and reporting arrangements in place for the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and report back at a future meeting.”
“The Chancellor has a duty to look at the matter, and Her Majesty's Government will continue to be pressed on it. I await the outcome of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee report.”
“Obviously, that is an issue for the Irish exchequer; that is the decision that it made. I have responsibility for Northern Ireland in terms of our Budget. Let us remember that this is a reserved matter. The focus of our attention has been to make the case to Her Majesty's Treasury and the Chancellor. That is what we will continue to do. The benefit to the UK as an entire region over the next number of years will be somewhere in the region of £4·7 billion.”
“I went on record just the day after I came into post as not being in the business of creating what could only be described as a sun subsidy for those who might want to spend their money in other jurisdictions during the holiday period. I am interested — I am having discussions with my colleague the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in relation to establishing a particular fund — in ensuring that we strategically look at the routes that will bring economic benefit to Northern Ireland. That remains the focus and the issue to be pursued.”
“I thank the Member for his question and his best wishes. I appeared last week before the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee; the Member will be aware that it is currently undertaking an inquiry into the issue of the reduction of VAT in relation to the tourism sector, and this is an issue that has arisen. I am very conscious of the concerns that have been raised by Her Majesty's Treasury around the cost to Northern Ireland; it is estimated that it could be £100 million. We already have devolved the long-haul element of air passenger duty in relation to the Newark flight. That is a cost of somewhere in the region of £2 million that we have had to put in.”
“However, the reality remains in education that, irrespective of who the providers are or the number of providers, we still have the same number of children to educate in Northern Ireland.”
“The Member gave me congratulations and wished me well, but he will now be disappointed in me, as I cannot give that commitment until I have fully gone through all the details in the report. I will give consideration to what is in the report. I trust that Members expect me, as Finance Minister, to endeavour to ensure that we continue to use the moneys that we have in Northern Ireland in the best possible way to benefit the people of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I take the point that the Member makes. The duplication, in some cases, of the provision of services is a long-standing issue that has been raised consistently by his party. Going back to our education days, the Member knows my view on the way in which we have duplication of education provision. Some elements of that sector are not prepared to change, and so we have that cost.”
“I thank the Member for his question and his best wishes. I miss the days of working alongside my colleague when we were on the Education Committee. However, we now find ourselves in this position. <BR /> <BR />It is my intention that that report will be published very soon. There are just some issues that I want to satisfy myself on. Having just come into post, I want to be across the content and detail of it. I trust that, in a few weeks' time, we will see that report being put into the public domain.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary. While I do not have the detail on whether what the Member said is doable, my officials continue to progress towards the establishment of the Northern Ireland investment fund. This fund intends to help boost investment and promote economic growth in Northern Ireland. I think that those are issues that we all want to see progressed. The intention is that the fund will provide loan, equity or mezzanine finance to viable local private sector projects that cannot obtain funding from commercial banks. Funding is expected to be provided at commercial terms to avoid falling foul of state aid rules. I will come back to the Member and give him a specific answer on the issue that he raised.”
“The Executive have a variety of funds for how we spend public money. I give an assurance to the Member that the Departments that have responsibilities for those funds will be given every encouragement to ensure that they focus on the priority spend so that we maximise the outcome from what, in many cases, is a considerable amount of money. In my time in DSD, for example, we used financial transactions capital (FTC). That is a financial model that can ensure that we give out considerable amounts of money but that also gives us in DFP the best possible outcome or payback. I assure the Member that we will continue to focus on getting the best possible value for money in those funds.”
“The Member has now specified what he is referring to, namely European funding. The Member will know that my reference on that occasion was made at the launch of the Peace IV and INTERREG moneys. There is a commitment, whatever the outcome of the referendum, in terms of the period from 2014 to 2020. I have every confidence that those commitments will be maintained and that Northern Ireland will not lose out on the £400 million allocated under INTERREG and Peace IV.”
“I thank the Member for his question. We are entering into an unprecedented time of debate and discussion about our future role in the European Union. My party's position on the issue of the European Union has been made very clear by the First Minister, our deputy leader and others in the party. However, we need to ensure that when a decision is ultimately made it is as an outcome of the referendum, whenever that is. Certainly, in my role as Finance Minister, I will ensure that Northern Ireland is to the fore, and kept there, in any discussions with Her Majesty's Treasury about the moneys that would come to Northern Ireland.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. I intend to announce a way forward in respect of the fund very shortly. It is one of those things that I want to ensure we get up and running. I believe that it will bring benefit to the recipients of what is a substantial amount of money, given the difficult and — unfortunately, we always have to use such phrases when it comes to finance — challenging times. The funds released from the reclaim fund are apportioned according to the Barnett formula, as set out in the distribution of dormant account money. As I said, there is £7·15 million available to meet expenditure in Northern Ireland, and I trust that I will be in a position in the not too distant future, given the limited time that I have before purdah kicks in, to make an announcement on the fund.”
“I thank the Member for his best wishes and look forward to working with him on the issue. <BR /> <BR />Some £7·15 million is available for Northern Ireland expenditure under the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008. As part of the 2015-16 Budget, the Executive agreed that the moneys should be made available in Northern Ireland through the establishment of a new fund.”
“I confirm to the House that I support that position and that there are no plans to remove the support, which I see as key to building and supporting manufacturing in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The wider review officially closes today, although some engagement with stakeholders has been undertaken this week at the close of the formal consultation period.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary and for reminding us all of someone from the past, Mr Hain. The Member will be aware that my predecessor stated on a number of occasions that industrial derating will continue and that there are no plans to remove that support from manufacturing. The support provides a valuable boost to the manufacturing sector in Northern Ireland, which, although growing in Northern Ireland, has not been without high-profile difficulties in recent months. I know all too well the challenges faced by my constituency. The relief is of the magnitude of some £58 million a year. It helps 4,300 businesses, and last week's Budget committed to it for 2016-17. My predecessor said that she intended to retain industrial derating, following a business rates review that is under way.”
“Thank you, Mr Poots, for the question. The review of the non-domestic rating system is out for consultation, a process that officially closes today. I am, however, allowing it to run until the end of the month because a number of respondents asked for a little more time to make a submission. It is too early, therefore, to state the final number of responses. Once all responses have been received and considered thoroughly, my Department will report to the Finance Committee on its findings and those of the consultation. That will prepare the way for developing options for change and for decisions to be taken by the Executive early in the next mandate.”
“Are there other issues that we still need to look at? Yes. That is why, when I was in my previous ministerial role, the Department for Social Development, which has responsibility for town centres, undertook considerable investment in town centres: there were provisions for rehabilitation and revitalisation, and public realm works were carried out in many of our towns and city centres. Collectively, they point to the fact that the Executive are committed to ensuring that town centres remain live, vibrant places where people want to shop and do business.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary. I assume that he refers to the Lisney report, published just last week. Information in the report points to the positive effects overall of the revaluation, particularly on Donegall Place, which has been described as Northern Ireland's premier shopping street, and the rebalancing of the rate burden towards out-of-town centres without having a detrimental effect on their vacancy rates. The report states:”
“However, I remain focused on ensuring that we have a system that is fair. We have to be cautious in any moves that we make so that we do not have a situation in which some benefit over and above others.”
“There are always different views on rates. My difficulty, and the difficulty with the rating system, is that, if you take money from one hand, you have to find it with the other hand. Many organisations across Northern Ireland can make valid arguments about their own circumstances. However, we have to balance all that against ensuring a fair system. I am aware of the recent revaluation and the concerns that were raised, and a number of appeals are working their way through the system.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I have no plans or proposals to change the rating of large charities and residential homes. My Department, however, is undertaking a wide-ranging review of all non-domestic rate support to help the new Executive to decide what changes are needed to the non-domestic rating system to make it fit for purpose. This process involves asking stakeholders in all sectors to produce evidence to justify their existing support provision, which is not the same thing as signalling an intention to change policy in any particular area.”
“Yes, I think that there is. Now that we have started on this road, we need to keep focused. As Finance Minister, I will keep the pressure on, given the work that the project board will have to do to work out the modalities following on from the memorandum of understanding. I understand that the First Minister and the deputy First Minister will be going to the United States soon, and a key component of their message will be that Northern Ireland will have a corporation tax rate of 12·5% in 2018. That is a good message to send out to the United States and to the wider economic world. My colleague in DETI and I will continue to ensure that it plays an important role in encouraging foreign direct investment to Northern Ireland.”
“I want to ensure that we have covered all our bases. It follows on from what I said about preparations for the introduction of corporation tax. I am keen that, having taken up post, we ensure that we have given consideration to all the possible benefits. This has been described in various ways, including being a game changer for Northern Ireland. My Executive colleagues and I remain focused on the issue. We will do what is in the best interests of the economic challenges that we face and the economic circumstances that we are in. We will ensure that Northern Ireland continues to benefit from the wide variety of benefits that come from the introduction of corporation tax.”
“Obviously, as with any scheme, there will always be a cost. Under the memorandum of understanding, we have built into the Budget an allocation to ensure that we deal with that; it is somewhere in the region of £4 million. We have to make sure that, when it comes to the implementation of corporation tax, we have our IT in the right place and that we have aligned all the other elements. That is why the project board will meet very soon — my officials intend to meet either this week or next week with our colleagues from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, Her Majesty's Treasury and the Northern Ireland Office — and we will endeavour to put in place the regime that will deliver corporation tax as we have envisaged. We have set the date, we have the rate and now we need to make progress in preparation for it.”
“Corporation tax will play a vital role in that, and skills are an equally important element of that equation.”