Trevor Clarke
South Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“For recruitment to the current Youth Assembly and on the basis of research on the youth demographic in Northern Ireland, a minimum of 10 young people with disabilities were sought in order to be representative of the data. Of the 90 young people appointed to the Youth Assembly, 18 have a disability.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Youth Assembly regularly uses social media to promote its work, and, when preparing for a new mandate, targeted multimedia recruitment campaigns are used to engage young people and encourage participation.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission also has an apprenticeship and placement framework that provides the opportunity for people with a disability to avail themselves of short-term supported placements.”
“In 2025, 770 tours were delivered and the number of events hosted in Parliament Buildings almost doubled to 583. <BR /> <BR />Our Education Service promotes its programmes to schools and colleges through an annual September mail-out, outlining provision for the relevant Key Stages, including a focus on inclusive engagement for children wi…”
“Mr Speaker, I may require an extra minute to answer the question. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Member for her question. The Assembly Commission's school work experience programme is facilitated through a partnership between our internal education services team and an organisation called Futures For All, a social mobility charity.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, with your permission, I may need an extra minute to answer the question, and I thank the Member for it. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission's public engagement strategy 2025-27 aims to increase awareness, improve understanding and enable participation in the work of the Assembly.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,151 lines we hold for Trevor Clarke, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 24.
“Following the apprenticeship and placement framework in June 2019, the implementation of supported placements was initially delayed by COVID-19. Three supported placements have now been completed, and the feedback from the business areas and individuals involved has all been positive.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission will continue to identify further actions that could help people with special educational needs and disabilities to access meaningful work experience opportunities at the Assembly.”
“For recruitment to the current Youth Assembly and on the basis of research on the youth demographic in Northern Ireland, a minimum of 10 young people with disabilities were sought in order to be representative of the data. Of the 90 young people appointed to the Youth Assembly, 18 have a disability. <BR /> <BR />The commitment to inclusive recruitment is also reflected in the Assembly Commission's wider contract arrangements. Over recent years, the support services contractor, which provides catering, cleaning, porterage and related help desk services, has developed links with social enterprises, leading to the permanent employment of five team members. Building on that approach, the Assembly Commission will explore further opportunities to embed social value in the delivery of those services during the next contract term.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission also has an apprenticeship and placement framework that provides the opportunity for people with a disability to avail themselves of short-term supported placements. Such placements are arranged by the Commission's human resources office, working in partnership with an external umbrella body that supports a range of organisations that work with individuals who have a disability. Implementing supported placements for people with a disability is an action in the Assembly Commission's disability action plan. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission has also sought to ensure that young people with disabilities are represented in the Youth Assembly and have an opportunity to share their views and directly influence decisions taken by the Assembly.”
“Mr Speaker, I may require an extra minute to answer the question. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Member for her question. The Assembly Commission's school work experience programme is facilitated through a partnership between our internal education services team and an organisation called Futures For All, a social mobility charity. The programme aims to be as inclusive as possible for all young people, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or additional support needs (ASN). All schools who are registered with Futures For All are eligible to put forward pupils for participation in the programme, including pupils with SEND. Any additional needs of participants are then considered and provided for during online and in-person sessions.”
“I do not want to disagree with the Member, but some of us who have been here for longer than he has may have noticed that the offering is much larger than what we had previously. The room is much larger, but its size is fairly restrictive for doing what he suggests while acting as a coffee shop at the same time. I will take his comments to the Commission for it to consider and reflect on.”
“I thank the Member for those words and associate myself with them. Indeed, all Members will probably want to be associated with them. As I said in my original answer, staff are keen to point people in the direction of the Public Gallery and Committee meetings to encourage participation and to help others join in. It is a case of our continuing to encourage that.”
“They produce a regular "This Week at the Northern Ireland Assembly" update, which outlines the business diary and explains an Assembly term. In addition, a monthly "Did You Know?" series shares insights into the history of the Assembly and Parliament Buildings whilst encouraging the public to visit and take part.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Youth Assembly regularly uses social media to promote its work, and, when preparing for a new mandate, targeted multimedia recruitment campaigns are used to engage young people and encourage participation. <BR /> <BR />The visit and learning section of the Assembly’s website offers a full suite of information on Parliament Buildings, including how to arrange a visit and book a tour, the facilities available, including dining, and accessibility information. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission aims to engage with broad and diverse audiences through a range of social media channels. Staff create videos and visual content to illustrate the work of the Assembly, while also covering key events such as Committee proceedings, public engagement activities and Speaker engagements.”
“In 2025, 770 tours were delivered and the number of events hosted in Parliament Buildings almost doubled to 583. <BR /> <BR />Our Education Service promotes its programmes to schools and colleges through an annual September mail-out, outlining provision for the relevant Key Stages, including a focus on inclusive engagement for children with special educational needs. The Education Service website also offers detailed programme information and classroom resources. <BR /> <BR />The participation and outreach team promotes its work through community events such as the Balmoral show, outreach sessions, newsletters and social media content that is developed with the communications team. It delivers to all 18 constituencies and welcomes groups to Parliament Buildings regularly.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, with your permission, I may need an extra minute to answer the question, and I thank the Member for it. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission's public engagement strategy 2025-27 aims to increase awareness, improve understanding and enable participation in the work of the Assembly. A wide range of programmes and activities support that aim. <BR /> <BR />Our visitor experience team plays a central role in welcoming visitors to Parliament Buildings, providing guided tours, sharing information and signposting facilities. Their visible presence and approachable manner offer a warm welcome for all visitors, and the team takes pride in highlighting the facilities available for everyone who comes to Parliament Buildings.”
“Minister, you may cite an HR matter, but it is also a legal matter, and you are the Minister for the Department responsible for that workforce. Are you saying that you are going to ignore the legal advice and not pass that on to discourage anyone from participating in those parades when they are easily identifiable as being part of your Department?”
“Minister, we have heard from two Members that the 5% Budget cut could mean a loss of £1·5 billion, and we heard your words about the shortage in the overall package. The Budget would, therefore, be circa £3 billion short, if that were to happen. I also heard your comments about the change of leadership at Westminster. It might still be in the early stages, but, given the dire consequences that the situation might have for Northern Ireland, have you reached out to some of the prospective runners and riders in the competition that might take place in Westminster? There is no point in waiting for weeks until that is resolved. This is a dire situation that needs to be resolved now.”
“What, however, is the Minister going to do about the actions of those who obstructively covered up what went on and made the families feel as though they were not believed when they raised their concerns?”
“It is easy to go after those who are in front of the courts, because the courts will decide what is going to happen to them.”
“Following on from Mrs Dodds's comments, given the seriousness of the Muckamore inquiry, the lack of detail in the Minister's statement on the actions that he is going to take is stark and disappointing. In a couple of his responses, he reminded Members of some of the wrongdoing that occurred. All of us will say that what some staff did to some patients was deplorable. I received an email over the weekend from one of the families affected that said that it had been a difficult fight for them, because they felt as though they had not been believed. Some of us who made representations found management to be obstructive and difficult to work with when we raised concerns. Can we hear clearly from the Minister what action he is going to take to address the lack of action on the part of the management that was in place at the time?”
“What I do not like is someone then deciding to get into the car and use it as a weapon against the police officers. <BR /> <BR />Questions have been asked about the length of sentences in the judicial system. While some of us believe that sentences are lenient, it is open to our courts to use the maximum on the scale. I hope that, in this case, when any individuals are brought before the courts, the judge sends a clear signal by using the maximum sentence available. We need to send a clear message that it is unacceptable to attack our security forces or public workers or, for that matter, anyone. No one should be attacked for doing their job. I hope that, when the case goes to court, the full rigour of the law will be applied to the individuals involved in the incident.”
“<BR /> <BR />All police officers and all right-thinking people will stand in solidarity with that officer today over his use of a firearm to protect himself and others in the community. We now hear noise and rumblings from people who are asking, "How did they get into the police car? How were they able to drive it off?". Those questions are irrelevant. Everyone should put themselves in the position of the two officers out in the heat of the moment of an incident to apprehend someone who was obviously up to no good. The last thing on their minds would have been to lock the police car and check the doors before making off after the individuals. I have no concern about the officers' behaviour in relation to the car. They were responding in the heat of the moment to an incident, and they did so in a timely manner.”
“Three hundred and sixty-five days a year, police officers go out to protect our communities across the Province. Twenty-four hours a day, they do so without fear or favour in every community that they visit. From the events that we saw unfold in the early hours of Sunday morning, however, it is clear that some people had other intentions: to harm our police officers. <BR /> <BR />My thoughts are with the police officer who was injured in that heinous attack and with his colleague, who, I am sure, was concerned about his partner in the early hours of that morning. It looks as if the officers were responding to something in the vicinity. As we have now seen on social media and other platforms, someone then got into their police car and used it as a weapon against the officer.”
“However, the person or persons responsible for this have got the reaction that they wanted. They have achieved social media notoriety from the threat. Indeed, they have singled out a house in Antrim and signed off the email from an individual at that address, thus bringing attention to an individual in the Antrim area. <BR /> <BR />I hope that the police are swift in bringing this person to justice. Of course, if that person wants this to be their last day on earth, I hope that they make that swift as well.”
“Whilst we hope that this is a hoax, the principals are treating the threat seriously and are trying to reassure parents that their schools will be safe places and that whatever the schools can do, over and above what they do during the normal working day to keep our children safe, they will do. <BR /> <BR />The message was sent by email to each of the schools in the area. The police are investigating the matter. I hope that they come to a speedy conclusion, identify the individual or individuals concerned and bring them to speedy justice through the courts. <BR /> <BR />A lot of concerned parents have made the decision to remove their children from school. Children are precious to us all, and to threaten them is one of the most depraved acts that any individual can do.”
“Many parents awoke this morning to messages on social media that related to a threat to schools in my constituency of South Antrim. It is a very sinister threat: the individual who made it has decided that they do not want to be on this earth any more. Indeed, if that is the case, I wish them a speedy journey. Of course, the email has caused serious concerns in our community because threats involving bombs, knives and guns are all referred to in the message. <BR /> <BR />I was contacted by the police early this morning, and, to be fair to them, they have reassured the schools. I spoke to school leaders this morning as well.”
“Minister, in your previous response, you talked about where the responsibility best sits. Given the tripartite arrangement, you will be aware that the other two partners believe that it is currently in the wrong place. Would it not be better for you and your officials to sit down with the other partners in the tripartite arrangement to resolve the issue and fix the debacle around the ill-health retirement scheme?”
“It is right that we have a right to protest in this country, but we do not have the right to intimidate staff and those shopping on the high street for the day. The PSNI needs to be more robust and use the powers that it has to take action against the individuals who take part in those protests and bring them before the courts.”
“What if the people who work in those shops are their voters and come to them when they lose their jobs? Why do they remain silent, and why do they support people going into shops on the high street with their face covered? Pastor Clive was 100 metres away from a hospital. I read the judgement, and it stated that someone may have been in the hospital getting an abortion. What Pastor Clive did is in stark contrast to what happened in Zara in Belfast on Saturday. The protesters took the protest inside the shop; they covered their face; and — guess what? — they even had a megaphone to make sure that all those in the shop and in the vicinity could hear them. <BR /> <BR />I am highly disappointed with the action, or little action, of the PSNI. The PSNI needs to be more robust in taking action against those protesters.”
“On Saturday past, they took the protest not outside but inside a shop, where the staff, who have nothing to do with Palestine, were only out to earn a fair day's pay for a fair day's work. Of course, the Members opposite remain silent. <BR /> <BR />There has been no condemnation of the attacks on the individuals and staff in the shop. There has been no condemnation of the fact that those staff risk losing their jobs. The Members opposite remain silent, but, of course, they were all pontificating when a pastor read from John chapter 3, verse 16. Do the Members opposite not realise the contribution that such shops and banks make to the high street? What if continual protests put jobs at risk? What if those shops close and Belfast City Council loses an enormous amount of rates?”
“Yesterday in the House, a few Members talked about the ridiculous prosecution of Pastor Clive Johnston, a man who wanted to hold to his personal convictions in silence about 100 metres away from a hospital. The Members opposite all supported that ridiculous legislation. <BR /> <BR />Almost every weekend in Belfast, there is protest after protest. Most of the protests are about the Palestinian plight, so far away. The Members opposite remain silent, however, on the harm that those protests do to the businesses of Belfast.”
“It is important that we do not continue to re-traumatise those men and women, who were out to protect us. It is important that they give evidence but only when they are given adequate trauma support and the necessary counselling for what they witnessed, which they are having to revisit.”
“We heard in another debate today that some blame state forces, and I think that there is a fear in the police and among others that there will be finger-pointing in relation to the inquiry. Of course, I do not want to stray into that. However, let us be very clear. Those who are responsible are those who planted the bomb and detonated that bomb on that day. One thing is sure: I stand and my party colleagues stand with the retired officers until — not before — adequate trauma support is given to the officers who are being asked to give evidence at the inquiry.”
“I believe that it covers all of Northern Ireland because its services are so important and so vital to so many. During my time there, I walked around Omagh, and I have to admit that I had not been there since the atrocity. The gentleman who took me on that walk was one of the police officers who was there to serve and protect our community. He walked me through the street that day, and I felt as if it was 1998. You could see the horror on his face. He could show me where the dead bodies lay and where people were placed — every aspect of that bomb. Twenty-eight years later, that man is living it as if it was today. <BR /> <BR />Of course, I think of the barbarity of the actions of those who were responsible for that bomb.”
“Reference has been made today to one inquiry, and I want to talk about a different inquiry: the inquiry into the Omagh bomb, which detonated in August 1998. Of course, we heard over the weekend about some of the officers who were affected by that and about how they are going to withdraw from the inquiry. I fully agree with them, and I support them wholeheartedly. Over the years, the PSNI has had difficulty in supporting its officers whilst in service, but now we have heard of the recent suicide of a man, a former police officer, who had been called to give evidence to the inquiry. <BR /> <BR />A number of weeks ago, I travelled to Omagh to meet representatives of Military and Police Support of West Tyrone (MAPS). I saw the work that that organisation does on a voluntary basis for the community of Omagh and beyond.”
“Democracy has been the alternative. It is the only show in town. Violence has stood for nothing; it only destroyed people's lives, families, homes and much worse, of course. When I listen to Sinn Féin glorifying terrorism at every opportunity, I think, "Shame on them" because the people who are coming behind them now look at what Sinn Féin said in the past and what it is doing now.”
“<BR /> <BR />We are all too aware of the press commentary in the past couple of weeks around the illegal memorial to Bobby Sands in west Belfast. Some of us wonder whether the bomb corresponds to that. Is it some sort of a nod to the time that he bombed a furniture shop in Dunmurry? Nor can we forget, of course, how Sinn Féin continually romanticises violence across Northern Ireland on every occasion that it can, glorifying people who carried out similar acts and, indeed, worse, when they took people's lives. <BR /> <BR />The First Minister came out at the weekend and condemned this attack but has yet to condemn all of the previous attacks carried out by the then IRA. She talks about there being no alternative: everyone or most people on this side of the House appreciate that there were alternatives. The Chamber has been the alternative.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. As has already been said about that attack in Dunmurry, many people either knew about it late on Saturday night or awoke to the news on Sunday morning. Clearly, there was shock in that community and the wider community of Northern Ireland on how the attack was premeditated and carried out. Our thoughts first go to the police officers who could have been affected in such a tragic way and to the families affected. <BR /> <BR />We heard from the Deputy Chief Constable over the weekend how those police officers risked their own lives to help their communities, as they do regularly, by escorting families and young children from their homes when the bomb was detonated. "Despicable" would not be a strong enough word for the actions carried out by the individuals responsible.”
“If the concerns raised during vetting have now been assessed and addressed, given the sensitivity of the Office of the Police Ombudsman and the importance of maintaining public confidence, its independence and, of course, its integrity, it is essential that full transparency be provided on the matter. As a party, we on these Benches will continue to push until we get all the answers to all those questions.”
“Mrs Anderson was, nevertheless, deemed suitable and was subsequently appointed to the role, which carries access to highly sensitive information on senior policing personnel — a matter that alarmed us then and should alarm us more now. If such claims are accurate, they raise deep and serious concerns about the robustness of the vetting process, the safeguards that were put in place at the time and the decision-making that led to her appointment. <BR /> <BR />Later today, my party leader will raise the matter in Westminster and seek answers from the Northern Ireland Office on whether Mrs Anderson successfully passed all the security requirements of the vetting processes prior to her appointment in May 2019.”
“Many of us will be aware that, when the previous Police Ombudsman was appointed to office — of course, many of us will also be aware of how it went for that particular individual — that appointment took place at a time when there was no devolution in Northern Ireland, meaning that the appointment process rested solely with the Northern Ireland Office. Following the necessary procedures and departmental clearances, including by the Department of Justice, the decision rested with the then permanent secretary, Mr Peter May. Concerns have now been raised with others and me about the integrity of that appointment process. We should all be concerned about that.”
“Many of us on these Benches, when we watch the debacle in Westminster, will hope that today is the last day for the current Prime Minister, given his handling of the affairs of his Government, particularly when we look at Lord Mandelson's appointment to the high office of UK ambassador and how that has unfolded over the past number of weeks and months. From what we read now, it seems that protocols that were put in place to protect our Government, including the interrogation demanded by the high security requirements of that position, were set aside to allow their pal to hold such high office. <BR /> <BR />Of course, one might wonder why we are speaking about that. I want to bring us back to the House.”
“While I am on my feet, I make this call on the Minister: if those rumours are not true, can we get that question answered to quell the concerns in the community? This is gathering steam. There are people who live in Muckamore Abbey. There are still clients on the Muckamore Abbey site. Former patients are in supported living beside it. Former staff live on-site. I think that the last thing that those people would wish to hear is confirmation that there are plans, now or in the future, for an immigration centre on that site.”
“Just last night, I had a lady on with me who is being made homeless on Monday. The recovery van is coming on Monday. She is a pensioner and has nowhere to go. Three weeks ago, I had a similar case with another pensioner, who called off the recovery van on the morning that the van was to come because the landlord gave her an extension on her lease. Those would all have been viable reasons to use the unused student accommodation and other parts of that building, but, if those rumours are true, it is deeply disappointing. <BR /> <BR />There is no rationale for it to take six weeks for a priority question for written answer to be answered, given the basic nature of the question. I know that the Minister is here today. I am sure — I hope — that the Minister has had sight of this.”
“Given that, like me, the Minister has representatives in that area, he will, I am sure, have heard by now some of the concerns from people who live in the Antrim area and beyond. Those concerns are that there are allegedly plans afoot — I do not know whether this is true or otherwise, but, if it is not true, it would have been good to kill off the rumours — to take asylum seekers to Muckamore Abbey. If that is true, we will be deeply disappointed.”
“Given the financial state of the health service and the Health Minister's concerns about raising finance, you would think that that is a fairly straightforward question to answer and that plans for Muckamore Abbey would be at an advanced stage.”
“Quite often in the Chamber, we hear Members complaining about the length of time that it takes for questions to be answered. Given the complexities of some questions, I understand that it may take considerable time. Six weeks ago — bear with me — I tabled the following question for written answer:”
“I also read at the weekend that one of the supporters, who has been travelling for 20 years to most matches, said that that was the first time that he had witnessed such an act. That shows the gravity of the case. I do not know why the police felt it necessary to act in such a way. It was an overreach of their power, and I am very disappointed by what they have done. I look forward to hearing an explanation, if one ever comes, from Police Scotland.”
“It reminds me of the debacle in Londonderry a few years ago, when the PSNI got on to buses with children on them, just as Police Scotland did at the weekend. Football, like every other sport, is a family sport. There were children on that bus on Saturday, who were disturbed by police entering the bus, making their way down it and searching bags. Some of the video stuff that I have seen shows small bags being searched. What exactly they were looking for, no one knows. The police did not indicate what, or who, they were looking for. It was very disturbing. <BR /> <BR />I wrote to the Chief Constable of Police Scotland, Jo Farrell, on Saturday night and am looking forward to a response.”
“For Northern Ireland supporters of Rangers, and, indeed, Rangers themselves, Saturday finished up being an exceptionally good day, with a 4-1 win at home against Aberdeen. However, the day did not start so well. It was deeply disappointing to read on social media that a supporters' bus that had come from Northern Ireland was stopped and searched in Scotland. The first question that the police asked was not, "Are you visitors to Scotland?" but, "Are you football supporters?". Some will say that there are justifiable reasons for that, but I do not think that there are. If there had been any issues, or had there were materials that Police Scotland wished to find, they could have been easily accommodated when those people were entering the match.”
“Regarding the Economy Minister's performance this morning, no one can be in any doubt that a lot of coaching was done at the weekend. In a previous response, Finance Minister, you said that you were awaiting a business case from the Economy Minister. Who was right: the Economy Minister or you?”
“I can assure the Minister of one thing: whether it is a vanity project, as it was described, or otherwise, the Communities Minister's trip to America will not cost Northern Ireland 300 jobs, unlike the Economy Minister's previous trips.”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. First Minister, no one underestimates the impact that war can have on communities. I am not sure that those who are involved in the war will be listening later today to the debate on a motion that your party has tabled, and I am not sure what difference it will make. However, my substantive question was about what conversations you and your colleagues have had on the potential economic impact on Northern Ireland. What are you going to do to assist with a response to that, given that you are supposed to be the First Minister for all?”
“Those were very good supplementary questions. The tomb was last cleaned in 2019. As I said, the preservation of the tomb has to be taken into consideration. The Commission is committed to ensuring that the site is subject to regular cleaning and maintenance. That work will be undertaken in line with conservation guidance and best practice to ensure that any maintenance protects the fabric of the site and avoids causing damage, bearing in mind the importance of the tomb's grade A listed status. <BR /> <BR />I will take the Member's second point, which was about an information panel, back to the Commission for an answer in writing.”