William Irwin
Newry and Armagh · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. We have worked closely together, and I hold you in high esteem. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister for agreeing to look into the matter. I was at the funeral on Sunday, and the family are devastated by their loss. The lady was going to get her hair done and was killed on that main road.”
“I thank my party colleagues and Members from all sides of the House who have wished me well on the occasion of my retirement. It has been an absolute privilege to represent Newry and Armagh since 2007. I think that most people will recognise that I represented everyone irrespective of their class or creed.”
“The Minister may be aware that the Bramley apple industry in County Armagh is worth in the region of £20 million to the local economy. For growers, cold stores are vital to the protection and keeping of the apples. Most of those cold stores are now 30, 40 or 50 years old. Growers need help to replace and renew those stores.”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her response and for her efforts on the matter. The deputy First Minister will be aware that a large number of vaccines are used by the intensive farming sectors. Does she agree that it would be a serious issue if those medicines were not available?”
“I thank the Minister for his responses so far. We are aware of the reports that thousands of tons of raw sewage has been pumped into Belfast lough. Does the Minister agree that that is totally unacceptable and that something needs to be done as soon as possible?”
“That having been said, securing PGI status for the Armagh Bramley in 2012 was hard worked for and very welcome. That has been a valued and unique selling point, not only for the Bramley variety in the Armagh area but for apples generally in all their varieties, as well as apple-based products.”
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“<BR /> <BR />Through my numerous meetings with Colin, he has stressed that all he seeks is to be fully recognised as innocent and for the ordeal that he was put through to be appropriately addressed. That has always been the position, and it is one that I fully support.”
“Colin feels very strongly that a heavy stigma has been attached to his undeserving association with Adrian Carroll's murder and that that has prevented him from undertaking many of the normal and honourable pursuits in his life that he would have otherwise pursued. Indeed, his passion lay with the army, and he was devastated when his contract was not renewed and he had to leave the profession that he loved. His unwarranted and erroneous journey through the legal system at that time was significant for the length of time that he was held on remand. In today's terms, it would represent a very serious sentence. Lord Morrow made that point in the previous Adjournment debate.”
“I welcome the opportunity to once again bring the case of Colin Worton to the House. Members will recall that the previous occasion the matter was discussed in the Chamber was in an Adjournment debate on Tuesday 24 June 2011. We are some years down the line from that. However, for Colin, the situation remains unchanged. He continues to pursue his very dignified and honourable campaign to find redress. <BR /> <BR />The facts are well established in Colin's case. The fact that he spent 30 months on remand before he was released without charge has had a profound effect on him and his family.”
“The Committee wants to see proposals for a fairer and more sustainable market for our farming industry as a whole. <BR /> <BR />This year, the Committee will remain focused on CAP, CFP and the Northern Ireland RDP, as well as on issues identified in the European Commission work programme, such as beef-labelling rules and fishing authorisation regulation. We will continue to scrutinise all proposals from the Department and the EU, including the issue of red tape, to ensure that a positive outcome is reached for farmers, the agrifood industry and, indeed, the rural community.”
“He also said that the recent announcement on loans to farmers would mean the need to write a new programme into the RDP. We look forward to hearing from DARD on the potential of that and on the opportunities that will arise from the new financial instrument. <BR /> <BR />Volatility in the dairy, beef and pork industry is a recurring issue for the Committee at the moment. We received several briefings from the industry and heard about the current difficulties in that area owing to global market conditions. We have written to our MEPs, the European Commission, local banks and our counterparts in the Republic of Ireland. That worrying issue was discussed with the EU commissioner, and he indicated that some measures will be put in place to ease the situation.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee recently met the EU commissioner Mr Hogan, and we took the opportunity to discuss some of the issues of concern with CAP pillar 1; namely, the definition of "young farmer" and of "active farmer", direct payments and the mid-term review of CAP. We also raised the need to simplify the rules and regulations around CAP. We will be following closely the forthcoming approval of the Northern Ireland rural development programme 2014-2020. The programme is vital for improving competitiveness in the industry as well as for safeguarding and enhancing the rural environment. We want to see the EU Commission approval as soon as possible. At the meeting, Commissioner Hogan gave some indication that legal approval will be given in June or July 2015.”
“We also paid attention to the common fisheries policy (CFP). <BR /> <BR />CAP is a key EU policy area and accounts for a large proportion of the EU budget. It has gone through a major reform, and how the EU funding is allocated is of great concern to not just the Committee but our farming industry. CAP pillar 1 is worth approximately £270 million to £280 million a year. That is a significant sum of money, and we intend to oversee how it is distributed. That funding makes a huge difference to the farmer and the rural community. It helps build and sustain the industry, and the Committee does not want to see a detrimental impact on our agrifood industry as a result of a change in policy.”
“As Chairperson of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, I welcome the opportunity to speak in today's debate. As a Committee, we undertake a considerable volume of scrutiny work on EU issues. Many of the agenda items that we consider at weekly Committee meetings, such as statutory rules, originated in the European Commission. Therefore, today's debate is of particular importance and interest to the Committee. <BR /> <BR />Aside from that, we are fully focused on a number of key areas; namely, the implementation of CAP pillar 1, including the single farm payment and the rural development programme (RDP) 2014-2020. Any policy reform has the potential to cause concern, and, as a result, the Committee undertook in-depth scrutiny of how CAP reform in pillars 1 and 2 will be revised and implemented.”
“Will the Minister elaborate on that and, at the same time, indicate when she expects the EU Commission to sign off on Northern Ireland's rural development programme for 2014-2020?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. She referred to a:”
“Has the Minister had any discussions with NIE about difficulties in getting connections to wind farms? I know that DETI has already made representations about that.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. What are the implications for the planned Northern Ireland investment fund?”
“I give Sinn Féin members one small piece of advice: if, by causing outrage in the unionist community, Sinn Féin believes that the republican Trojan horse equality agenda has been advanced one iota, sadly, it is very much mistaken. The decision by Newry and Mourne council to name a play park after a convicted terrorist has only served to reinforce the view of many unionists that pan-nationalism is alive and well. Nothing less is expected from the apologists for terror, Sinn Féin. Shame, however, on the SDLP.”
“I must say that it is poor on the SDLP's part that it was, in fact, that party that asked for the naming of the park to be discussed last month, yet it did not show up for the vote. That must be explained by Mr McDonnell as leader of the SDLP. I want an assurance in the Chamber from the SDLP leader that this matter will be revisited and put right, as anyone with a shred of conscience and credibility would rush to do, given the age in which we live, where, across the world, terrorism rains havoc and brings abject sorrow to hundreds of thousands of people. <BR /> <BR />I conclude by saying this: Sinn Féin has been very vocal recently in calling for equality. In fact, it tells us that equality is going to be used as a "Trojan horse" to break the DUP and unionism generally.”
“Indeed, it flies in the face of the code of conduct. Did Newry and Mourne council promote good relations and provide a positive example to the wider community by doing what it did? Absolutely not. Did it act with the whole community in mind when it made this decision? No, it did not: just ask the minority unionist community in Newry and Mourne, who suffered at the hands of people like Raymond McCreesh. <BR /> <BR />I ask that Mark Durkan MLA, as Minister with responsibility for local government, address the House today and leave the Northern Ireland rate-paying and voting public in absolutely no doubt as to the aims and objectives of the 'Code of Conduct for Councillors'. I ask him for his comments on the actions of his council colleagues in the SDLP in Newry and Mourne council.”
“I do not find any defence in that code of conduct for the actions of those Newry and Mourne councillors who proposed, and who have voted on a number of occasions, to maintain naming the park after Raymond McCreesh.”
“<BR /> <BR />Local councillor colleagues who have been engaged in setting up the new councils tell me of the importance of the new councillor code of conduct. I understand that many hours of training have been undertaken to ensure that the elected representatives who sit on the 11 councils are fully aware of their responsibilities and the rules governing their participation in local government. That document contains lengthy direction on behaviour and responsibilities and what is acceptable and unacceptable when carrying out council business, and it will be rigorously monitored and enforced, with many councils implementing audio recording of meetings.”
“The situation must change immediately. I challenge the commission to conclude its process and issue its judgement in this case. How can an iced cake end up in the courts and a terrorist-named play facility simply amble along with no clearly defined end in sight? That is what my constituents ask me daily, and that demands an answer from the Equality Commission. <BR /> <BR />I believe that the SDLP has now seen the error of its way in supporting the naming of the play park and is now publicly repositioning itself — and not before time. However, Sinn Féin predictably remains unmoved and uncaring in every sense of the words towards the wider community, unionist and moderate nationalist, who reject the naming debacle outright.”
“<BR /> <BR />At the core remains the fact that, in Newry city, there is a play facility for kids named after a member of an illegal terrorist organisation — indeed, a convicted terrorist — that conducted a reign of terror, destruction, murder and bloodshed on the people of Northern Ireland. The rifle that McCreesh was found to possess was used in the slaughter of 10 innocent men at Kingsmills — a night that lives on vividly in the hearts and minds of many of us, especially the families affected by that atrocity. It is untenable to think that, only a few miles down the road from Kingsmills, we have a kids' playground named in memory of McCreesh. <BR /> <BR />I must criticise the Equality Commission because I believe that it is failing to deal with the issue effectively, given the depth of feeling that exists.”
“<BR /> <BR />I remain very concerned that, in this day and age, the Equality Commission has acknowledged that clear breach of section 75, and it appears toothless to challenge that persistent wrong. The flip side of that debate is, of course, the commission's almost speed-of-light approach to dealing with the owners of the Christian bakery over an iced cake. It really does stand in stark contrast. The two issues could not stand more opposed to each other in seriousness and gravity, yet one has been very publicly held aloft and pursued with every available weapon in the arsenal of the Equality Commission, whilst the other trudges along with no apparent urgency at all.”
“<BR /> <BR />I believe that it shows a complete lack of respect for due process and a disregard for any view or recommendation that the Equality Commission may bring forward. Indeed, on that point, I feel that the Equality Commission must respond to the arrogant attitude displayed, chiefly by Sinn Féin councillors in Newry but, it has to be said, no less assisted by the acquiescent nature of the SDLP councillor grouping there. Sadly, all the SDLP councillors, except one, failed to show up last month on the night of the vote, even though they had proposed that the issue should be considered. By their actions, therefore, they failed to carry through the wishes of their party leader in repairing the hurt that he is on record as saying was unwittingly caused.”
“Through various meetings with the commission and correspondence back and forth, it was decided that my complaint would be superseded by the commission's investigation, such was the seriousness with which it viewed the situation. However, a couple of years later, we had a recommendation from the commission to Newry council to review its processes and again consult the public on the play park name. The result of that process has been an astounding repeat of previous form and another two votes by Newry and Mourne District Council in support of retaining the McCreesh park name; the latest was last night, when a proposal to discuss the matter was rejected by Sinn Féin. That beggars belief.”
“I took it upon myself to raise a complaint with the Equality Commission back in December 2012 following a decision after review by Newry council to maintain the current park name.”
“It is with great concern that the motion has been brought before the House today, given that we are in 2015 and, still, we have a local council, albeit in its final days, clinging to an outdated, inappropriate and, in every sense of the word, unacceptable decision. Children represent our future. That is a very clear and obvious statement of fact. Therefore, it should be with that in mind that we consider this important issue. <BR /> <BR />At the outset, I must ask why a significant section of the elected membership of Newry and Mourne District Council continue, even as recently as last night, to perpetuate a situation that should never have been created in the first place. To name a play facility after a convicted terrorist is, I feel, one of the most ridiculous decisions that has ever been taken by a local council.”
“<BR /> <BR />I think that that has covered everyone. Thank you.”
“He said that super-councils have a role to play. <BR /> <BR />Tom Elliott said that there is a need for revised guidance on childcare provision and said that it is becoming unaffordable. He said that access to services is an ongoing issue and that transport problems are also a concern for the rural dweller. He also said that working and living in isolation leads to mental health problems. <BR /> <BR />Tom Buchanan said that, just because DARD is the only Department with "rural" in its name, it does not mean that it should be the only Department covering rural services. He said that it is important that other Departments are involved. <BR /> <BR />Sydney Anderson, like many others, praised the rural stakeholders for their commitment and work. He singled out rural transport as the main issue affecting rural communities.”
“<BR /> <BR />Kieran McCarthy said that the rural community continually strives to keep its head above water and that many problems continue. He said that TRPSI is to be commended for its success and that stakeholders were happy with DARD and the partnership approach. <BR /> <BR />Mr McMullan commended the Minister for TRPSI. He said there had been significant investment across the Departments to deliver programmes and there have been many successes to date. Ian Milne felt that there was a challenge to make sure of all information gathered to date and to use it effectively. He said that councils need to work in partnership to share responsibility and good practice. <BR /> <BR />While Mr McGlone welcomed the impact that TRPSI has had, he said that there is room for improvement. He then focused on the data captured from MARA.”
“We know how big an issue this is, and that is why we need to see work started as soon as possible on the review of how rural deprivation is measured and used. While there is guidance on how to apply deprivation indices in rural areas, it is disappointing that there is no evidence to suggest that this guidance is being used. <BR /> <BR />I will now summarise the contributions made by other Members. Mr McAleer commented on rural deprivation and outlined some of the issues in how it is measured. Seán Rogers felt that there was a need to ensure that no policy had a negative impact on the rural community and that steps needed to be taken to continue to advance services and facilities in rural areas. Jo-Anne Dobson paid tribute to the farm families health checks and praised the nurses who delivered the programme.”
“I am glad that the debate has brought the issues to the fore, and I am pleased to be able to emphasise on the Floor of the Assembly the outstanding work that the community and voluntary groups have been doing. That has been one of the key themes of the debate, and it is great to see the work of rural groups recognised and acknowledged. <BR /> <BR />Another theme emerging is the success of the individual projects in the overall TRPSI framework, particularly the MARA project. Some here today have referred to the statistical evidence of the great work that MARA has done, but the success of MARA owes much to its approach. It is an approach that we would like to see duplicated and retained in any future TRPSI programme. <BR /> <BR />The issue of rural deprivation has also been raised by many MLAs representing rural constituencies.”
“Our Deputy Chairperson, Mr Joe Byrne, was to wind up today, but he sends his apologies for missing the debate. I am therefore doing the wind in his place. I thank the staff of the Committee for all the hard work and effort that they have put in with regard to the programme and the inquiry over the last number of months. <BR /> <BR />As Chairperson of the Committee, at the start of this debate, I outlined the background and highlighted the main recommendations that we are presenting to the Minister. I was very interested in her reply, and I look forward to reading Hansard and giving due consideration to the points she made. <BR /> <BR />I am delighted to see so many people taking part in the debate. Rural issues and rural development have tended to be overlooked to a degree.”
“— when it comes to policy development in rural and farming communities.”
“The Committee is recommending that the Department proactively engages with the new councils to ensure that rural issues are a priority and that they are taken into account —”
“That is why we have recommended that the Minister rethinks that budget allocation. As a Committee, we remain to be convinced that that allocation of capital funding is the best option for the TRPSI programme. <BR /> <BR />Finally, there has been a great deal of apprehension around the creation of the new super-councils. Several stakeholders told the Committee that they fear that the new councils will not have a rural focus or make rural issues a priority. There has been considerable interest in the community planning process, and there is an expectation that rural areas will not be overlooked, but concern exists around budgets and funding for community groups. Again, the people on the ground are best placed to advise where and how any funding is best placed.”
“The Committee has, therefore, recommended that DARD commences an evaluation of the level of consideration that other Departments give to rural issues in respect of policy, services and resources, and it is calling for the development of an interdepartmental working group to monitor that. We look forward to hearing the outcome of that recommendation. <BR /> <BR />Another concern for the Committee that emerged during the review was the intention of the Department to move £1·7 million from resource to capital and the requirement for it to be spent within one year. Whilst the Department has justified that budget move by stating that it will provide more sustainable development, the Committee is of the opinion that capital is generally more difficult to spend and is not necessarily where the need is.”
“The Committee, therefore, recommends that DARD actively engages with DFP to ensure that NISRA is commissioned to undertake a review of the NI multiple deprivation indices to establish how Departments use the indices and what importance they place on the guidance for rural areas. <BR /> <BR />Another issue that gave concern to the Committee was the responsibility for rural issues and rural proofing. During the evidence sessions, the Committee heard that there was a general perception that rural issues are the remit of DARD. Whilst it may seem appropriate for DARD to take the lead on rural issues, it was felt that it is not the only Department with responsibility for that area. Stakeholders agreed that Departments were not working with the rural White Paper and that their policies were not rural-proofed.”
“The Committee firmly believes, as do the community groups that appeared before us, that, if that review is carried out, it will make a real difference to the identification of rural deprivation and will, in turn, produce a positive outcome for the rural dweller. <BR /> <BR />Over the course of the review, the Committee heard from witnesses that there appears to be a lack of basic awareness of the use of the Northern Ireland multiple deprivation indices. Despite guidance being available from NISRA, it would seem that little or no attention is paid to that aspect of measuring deprivation. The guidance is vital to any policy that aims to target rural areas.”
“Another notable issue that emerged during the review was about how rural deprivation is currently measured. Again, that is where the rural dweller is at a disadvantage. Unlike an urban area, where people are socially separated, rural areas quite often have an affluent person living alongside someone deprived and experiencing real poverty. That method of measurement has to change in order to accurately assess the real rural picture to better inform the decisions of the policymakers. As a Committee, we have called on the Department to work alongside the Department of Finance and Personnel to commission NISRA to undertake a review of how to measure rural deprivation.”
“<BR /> <BR />Given that MARA has now collected a considerable amount of data, it is the opinion of the Committee that this data can provide a valuable insight into the issues of poverty and deprivation that the rural community faces. This is why we are recommending that the Department fully utilises the data captured, along with the evaluation of the project when available, to inform a successor programme.”
“MARA aims to improve the health and well-being of people living in rural areas, where the hidden nature of poverty and isolation can make it difficult to connect with the most vulnerable. The Committee heard that MARA has visited up to 14,000 households to share information on services, grants and benefits that the rural dweller may be entitled to. This has in turn released previously unclaimed money, which has not only been of value to the individual, but has benefited the wider economy of Northern Ireland. The success of MARA can be very clearly linked to the ability to tap into local knowledge and expertise quickly and effectively, thereby targeting those rural dwellers most in need.”
“They are able to signpost the services available, with numerous positive outcomes to date. This has been a key factor in the success of the TRPSI programme. <BR /> <BR />One of our key recommendations, therefore, is that the Department build on the successes of the current programme to include the knowledge of grass-roots organisations. They know the real issues the rural community faces and have the drive and ambition to deliver solutions. This aspect cannot afford to be overlooked by the Department, and, if used in a meaningful way, will inform and shape any future programme. <BR /> <BR />Particular mention should be made of the maximising access in rural areas (MARA) programme, delivered in conjunction with the Public Health Agency.”
“It was felt that the programmes TRPSI offers, such as the assisted rural travel scheme, farm families health checks programme and fuel poverty initiatives, to name but a few, have made a real difference to people in the rural community. <BR /> <BR />The groups and individuals that the Committee met demonstrated far-reaching local knowledge of the issues and concerns in their communities. This is one of the factors that has made the TRPSI programme a success. Local people working in partnership at a grass-roots level know what is happening in their own area. They have years of expertise and knowledge, which they are able to maximise to reach out to those most in need. <BR /> <BR />The voluntary and community groups are all known to one another and have good working relationships.”
“It was very clear to the Committee, even before the review commenced, that the issues faced by our rural communities today are genuine, cause great concern and need to be given the importance they deserve. The stakeholder event was a well-attended and worthwhile experience. It showed us the passion and commitment of rural dwellers, community groups and voluntary workers and the endless hours of effort they commit to in order to improve the lives of rural dwellers. <BR /> <BR />What was apparent from all the oral evidence sessions and the stakeholder event was that there was overwhelming agreement that the current TRPSI programme has had a substantial impact on the lives of rural dwellers.”
“<BR /> <BR />With this in mind, the Committee agreed to review the current TRPSI programme to find out how effective it has been and whether it could be improved in order to maximise opportunities. The Committee took evidence from a wide range of community and voluntary groups, the Department, the Public Health Agency and statistics' experts. It also commissioned a number of research papers on issues affecting rural poverty and isolation. <BR /> <BR />Due to the number of interested voluntary and community groups, the Committee was anxious that it captured as much evidence as it could to inform the review. It decided, therefore, to organise a stakeholder event, which was held in a central rural location to facilitate those groups.”
“<BR /> <BR />Members will be aware that those who live in rural areas are often at a disadvantage when it comes to service provision and employment prospects. They are often isolated and are living in poverty. Things that the urban dweller takes for granted, such as broadband, regular transport, access to essential services and job opportunities, are often missing in rural areas. This can have a long-term detrimental effect on rural dwellers, their families, their health and life in general. We are all too familiar with stories of the hardship and loneliness faced by the person living on their own or the desperation felt by our young people with no job prospects.”
“The tackling rural poverty and social inclusion framework — TRPSI as it is known — is designed to address rural poverty and disadvantage via a range of measures in partnership with a number of voluntary and community groups and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. TRPSI focuses on three priority areas for intervention: access poverty; financial poverty; and social isolation. Its aim is to cover target areas such as the elderly, lone parents, the disabled, the unemployed and children. <BR /> <BR />The framework is delivered by DARD in partnership with other Departments and includes a wide range of programmes, each with its own objectives and targets, with an overall evaluation anticipated some time this year. It is also one of the Department’s targets in the Programme for Government and the rural White Paper action plan.”
“While the Minister is answering questions about my constituency, can he let us know whether he will prioritise a new build for Markethill High School in County Armagh?”
“As a Committee, we considered the proposal from the Department at the meeting on 9 December 2014 and at the meeting on 13 January 2015. The information received by the Committee clearly showed that the abolition will have minimal effect in Northern Ireland. Therefore, the Committee is content for the Department to proceed in seeking the Assembly's consent to the Public Bodies (Abolition of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides) Order 2015.”
“<BR /> <BR />The process will see the abolition of the committee and will result in its re-establishment as an expert committee, meaning that the committee will be under a different name and status, but its functions and members will remain the same. The procedure is essentially an administrative change that has no real practical impact on the functions that the committee carries out. The main outcome expected from the abolishment of the ACPs and replacement with an expert committee is greater transparency and more effective working. It is considered a non-controversial issue, as it is an administrative change only. <BR /> <BR />As part of the process, a UK-wide consultation took place, with DARD advising local stakeholders. A total of 45 responses were received, with none from Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Advisory Committee on Pesticides covers England, Scotland and Wales, and the Advisory Committee on Pesticides NI covers Northern Ireland. In practice, the same body of experts has been appointed for both, meaning that there is a single committee serving both legal entities. The Government have proposed to abolish both those ACPs and replace them with an expert committee of DEFRA. That committee would work for the UK Departments, including the Food Standards Agency and the devolved Administrations, including DARD. The new expert committee on pesticides will be formed and operate to terms of reference agreed by DEFRA and the devolved Administrations.”
“In March 2011, the Assembly agreed to a legislative consent motion on the Public Bodies Act 2011, which allowed certain public bodies to be dissolved or abolished. One such body is the Advisory Committee on Pesticides, the ACP. The ACP is a non-departmental body established under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 to give independent advice to government on all matters relating to pesticides. The function of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides is to provide independent advice to government through the four devolved Administrations. Its key output is about whether a pesticide or an active substance is approved for use. It examines whether it is safe, whether controls can be put in place to make it safe and so on. Essentially, it is the key advisory body on pesticides policy and safety.”