Ian McCrea
Mid Ulster · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I am not surprised by the Minister's answer, but, surely, given that he has announced that he will not take on the job of Justice Minister after the election — that is dependent on the electorate, of course, but nonetheless — surely he will have to accept that there have been questions that may not have come under his direct responsibilit…”
“Given that the Secretary of State has said that Northern Ireland farmers would no doubt benefit from being outside the European Union, I am not so sure that it is necessarily a bad thing.”
“I commend the First Minister for all the work she has done on corporation tax. When she goes to the United States, will she take the opportunity to invite businesses and people there to come to Northern Ireland so that they can see exactly the product we have here and, indeed, our people?”
“We have heard the deputy First Minister's words of condemnation — rightly, I believe — but will the deputy First Minister condemn outright those who took part in this disgraceful, murderous attack on people in my constituency?”
“With respect to the Committee and the work that it did, as I have said at other times, the Chair has gone through the detail of the how the Committee scrutinised this. Once again, I want to put on record the good work that was done and the good working relationship that the Committee and the Department had.”
“I thank the junior Minister for her intervention and the clarity around that. That is why I make no apology for supporting the investment fund and supporting the delivery of this large amount of money into areas across Northern Ireland. When that is delivered, it will provide a big difference for our communities.”
The complete record
Every one of 225 lines we hold for Ian McCrea, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 5.
“The Member talks about people being disingenuous in how they vote on councils. Will he advise us how the SDLP voted on Omagh and Fermanagh councils, when, in this place, SDLP MLAs voted against the Budget? It was their right to do that, but, in Omagh and Fermanagh, SDLP councillors were split. Had they been united, the rates bills might have been a whole lot less.”
“I still have not found a valid explanation of where we would have found the additional £1·4 million for the projects in my constituency. <BR /> <BR />All in all, I commend the Finance Minister for the efforts that he put in to bring us to this point. He spent many hours trying to ensure that we had enough money to pay for all the services and ensure that front-line services were kept, certainly in the education sector. I commend him for all the work that he has done, and I wish him well as he continues to do the job.”
“<BR /> <BR />I contributed to one of the Budget debates, when an Ulster Unionist Party amendment proposed to take £26 million out of the social investment fund. I will not rehearse all the issues, but I still have not heard how the Ulster Unionists proposed to do that. Twenty six million pounds is allocated to the social investment fund. From my constituency's perspective, there is £1·4 million of committed spend. Had the Ulster Unionist Party's amendment been accepted, where was the £1·4 million going to be found? I discussed it with the Finance Minister, who told me that he had allocated £26 million — no other money — to the social investment fund. This is basic mathematics: if you take £26 million away from £26 million, there is nothing left.”
“I understand that, in other council areas across Northern Ireland, rates have been cut or frozen. Mid Ulster and Fermanagh and Omagh councils are no different in having that responsibility. In the new Mid Ulster Council, Sinn Féin, backed by the SDLP, is more interested in the Irish language and other things than the delivery of key services. If that is the lesson to be learned from the way in which we exercise our fiscal responsibilities, I am not sure that everyone has grasped how best to do so. In the past few days, I have not heard from one constituent who is happy with the increase, and I, speaking on behalf of my party and the Ulster Unionist Party, which also opposed the increases, think that it is incumbent on those parties who voted through the increase to tell people exactly why they did so.”
“In my council area — the new Mid Ulster Council — Sinn Féin, backed by the SDLP, which holds the balance, increased the rates burden by 5·81% in Dungannon, 5·63% in Magherafelt and 2·74% in Cookstown. We are asking for more powers — Sinn Féin certainly has it on record that it wants as many powers devolved as possible — yet we cannot even strike a rate in councils in the best interests of our constituents or ask council officials to try to cut their cloth to ensure as low an increase as possible. No one will tell me, after 12 and a half years' experience, that there was never any cloth to be cut. <BR /> <BR />It is important, therefore, that we look at the wider context. If we are to devolve additional fiscal powers, we have to get better at exercising the powers that we already have, such as setting the rates.”
“If we look at what we have and what we are due in the not-too-distant future when we will be dealing with corporation tax, we should take one at a time and see how we get on. Some Members believe that corporation tax should not be devolved, but the debate has long since moved on to the rate at which we set it. <BR /> <BR />We are looking at the wider context of our Budgets and how we set things. The Minister will no doubt look at rates and issues to do with rates. We need to address those as they affect people in our constituencies. In my constituency, I find it very difficult to understand why we talk about devolving more fiscal powers, given those that we have already, including the ability of councils to set rates.”
“Thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. This is my first opportunity to put on record my congratulations to you on gaining the position of Principal Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />A lot has been said throughout the last few weeks in respect of the debates on budgets and whatnot. Rehearsing a lot of that today is probably unnecessary, and I will try my best to avoid it. There are some issues that need to be addressed. Michaela Boyle, across the way, tried to give us many a good reason why we should have more fiscal powers in Northern Ireland.”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. Given that he has referred to the number of occasions that this has been put in the public domain, can he find any reasoning behind the amendment that is on the Order Paper? Does he believe that it is down to a lack of understanding, or is it just political grandstanding?”
“Is there a timeline for the groups that have been allocated funding to be issued with letters of offer? What is the process for that?”
“— consider the issue. When the Minister gets the funding to look at the issue, he should show respect to this side of the House.”
“I have 20 seconds. I do not think that 20 seconds will be enough for the Member's time and my time to respond. Nonetheless, it is important that we —”
“Indeed. I wholly agree with that. <BR /> <BR />The Minister referred to there being no such thing as a UK licence. Maybe that is the case and maybe it is a Great Britain and Northern Ireland licence, but, on every licence in Northern Ireland, in the top left-hand corner, "UK" is printed within the European flag. So, I am not so sure if that argument stacks up. The Minister has an opportunity. He referred to getting approval from the Executive for a new system to print our own, which will be cheaper. That is the Minister's opportunity to show this side of the House the respect that we require.”
“He started by suggesting that the motion is a waste of time and energy. He spent most of his time and energy trying to get a point of order from the Deputy Speaker. That summed up his points. It was just point of order, point of order, point of order. He expressed concern that some people would be intimidated in republican areas if they were to show up at a nightclub and show a licence with a Union flag on it to a doorman. That says it all. <BR /> <BR />Many other Members referred to their outrage. All my colleagues who spoke are outraged. I think that any right-thinking person should be outraged at this. As Tom Elliott said, we are part of the United Kingdom, so respect it. <BR /> <BR />One other point that I feel is important to —”
“The Minister's closing comments, when he said that he would not reconsider this, does not show much sensitivity to our identity. <BR /> <BR />Sandra Overend referred to the issue of cost and the SDLP being joined at the hip with Sinn Féin. Signing the petition of concern has proved that. <BR /> <BR />Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley, my esteemed colleague, referred to the ongoing genocide by republicans for over 30 years. It did not work, has not worked and will not work. The Minister is attempting to join republicans in hollowing out our identity. Lord Morrow made the important point to be very careful what you wish for, because, if we get it — it is not an election manifesto campaign; it is a fact — we will change it. <BR /> <BR />Phil Flanagan; what can I say?”
“I thank the Member for that intervention. Any recent opinion polls made it clear that the majority of people want to remain part of the United Kingdom, no matter whether Martin McGuinness has issued recent statements to say that a united Ireland is close or not. He is living a pipe dream if he thinks that. <BR /> <BR />Colum Eastwood's opening comments were that he did not understand this. By the time we got to the end of his contribution, he still did not understand it, and we did not understand what he was trying to say in response to any issues that had been referred to. He talked about the issue of equality and acknowledging the sensitivity of identity. For the most part, all that we on this side of the House are asking for is sensitivity to our identity.”
“You will not find that it is much about my tradition, other than maybe the orange. I will give way to Mrs Overend.”
“I will in a second. The Member is deluded in thinking that half of this population aligns itself to the green, white and orange.”
“I do not know what to say in response to that, to be honest.”
“If that is how Mr McElduff tries to encourage this side of the House to accept his argument, I ask that he at least consider the same in respect of our argument.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I could not agree more. When people reflect on the debate, those who said that it was not a cross-cutting or contentious issue will find it difficult to explain that to the public. <BR /> <BR />It came as no surprise that Barry McElduff was opposed to the motion. He went on a rant about the kingdom of Kerry, allegiance to the flag of the Republic of Ireland and all the rest of it. I wrote down his closing comments, and it is important that he and maybe others reflect on those. "We exist" was one comment that he made. In this debate, it is important that those who oppose the motion consider that we on this side of the House and the unionist community exist also.”
“Indeed. It is important that the Minister takes responsibility. Many on this side of the House certainly view it as a cross-cutting or contentious issue. So, there was a responsibility on the Minister to bring it to the Executive. Mrs Cameron referred to it being a devolved matter. Other Members said that it was not happening due to the prohibitive cost of maintaining two systems. The Minister referred to the reasons for that. However, I think that —”
“Pam Cameron proposed the motion and referred to this being a cross-cutting or contentious issue. I do not think that the Minister truly dealt with that matter, and other Members, including Mr Allister, referred to it being a cross-cutting or contentious issue and asked why he did not bring it to the Executive. I am happy to give way to the Minister if he wants to respond.”
“I think that the Minister should take cognisance of Members' comments on that. I will go through some of those comments now.”
“In considering the comments that a number of Members on these Benches have made, it is obvious that the Minister was involved in a decision. He does not claim responsibility for it but he will accept that he had some role in it. According to him, he was in receipt of a letter. His closing comments that he will not change his decision are regrettable. He has an opportunity. Unfortunately, there is a petition of concern, so we will have to wait and see what the numeric vote tells us.”
“— to the Department for Regional Development, for which the Ulster Unionist Party holds the ministership.”
“I have some sympathy for the issues that the Ulster Unionist Party refers to in its amendment, but if we look at the crux of the issue, it is all about taking money from the social investment fund and reallocating the bulk of it —”
“It is important, from my constituency perspective, that Mrs Overend and the Ulster Unionist Party tell the principals of schools across Mid Ulster why the party told them that it would do what it could to ensure that additional funding was allocated to front-line services and, when £65 million or thereabouts was allocated by the Finance Minister to Education, her party voted against it. Will Mrs Overend and the Ulster Unionist Party tell the people of Mid Ulster why, when an additional £5 million was allocated to the Regional Development Minister to help with town bus services and other roads issues, her Minister, for whom she is the assistant private secretary, voted against it? When additional money was allocated to the health service, the Ulster Unionist Party's Minister voted against it.”
“I thank the Member for at least attempting to clarify exactly what the amendment will do. If the money has not been spent, where is it going to come from? The £26 million that the Ulster Unionist Party proposes to remove from the social investment fund will stop every project that has not received funding. The Member is well off the mark. It ill behoves any Member to call for money to be made available for projects for their constituency and then instruct their Minister to vote against the Budget. <BR /> <BR />Mrs Overend is not in her place, but no doubt she will hear about this.”
“I am happy to give way to any Member from the Ulster Unionist Benches — and I am glad the Member has asked — to put on record and tell the people of Mid Ulster that their amendment proposes to do just that.”
“Whilst I am the first to admit that the timeline for getting it to this stage has been long — and I am sure that any Member who has been involved in the process will understand that — not one of the representatives of those lodges has said to me, "It took too long, so, no thanks; we don't want the money". It is a fact that they are delighted and are looking forward to getting the work started and seeing the end results. <BR /> <BR />It is now time for the Ulster Unionist Party, and especially the Member for Mid Ulster Sandra Overend, to state clearly that, through the amendment, it proposes to stop any money being released to rebuild and refurbish those halls.”
“I will deal with the amendment first. However, as the Member who has requested me to give way would earlier give way only to the Minister, I am not sure how he expects any of the rest of us to want to give way to him. <BR /> <BR />I agree with the Member: the projects he mentioned in east Belfast — like those that are receiving funding in my constituency — are important. If we were to go down the route of accepting the amendment, they would be seriously jeopardised; indeed, it is likely that they would not go ahead. <BR /> <BR />I — like many others in my constituency, and especially, no doubt, the members of the lodges in each of the five halls — welcome the funding announced last week by OFMDFM.”
“As Members will be aware, OFMDFM announced last week an allocation of approximately £1·4 million from the social investment fund to my constituency. I want to read into the record what that money would fund: Coagh Orange Hall, Castledawson Orange Hall, Lisnamorrow Orange Hall, Ballymaguigan Orange Hall, Kennedy's Memorial Orange Hall in Stewartstown, Moneymore Recreation Centre and An Bruach Dearg Community Centre.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Ulster Unionist Party believes that its amendment is very important. It sets out what it would take for its Members to support the Budget today. It details what important changes the party proposes to make to the Budget that will get it over the line to support the motion today. If what is in its amendment is all that stopped it from supporting the Budget in the first place, dear help us all. <BR /> <BR />However, I will give the Ulster Unionist Party some credit. Unlike any other party that opposed the Budget in the Executive, it has at least made an attempt through the amendment to make it right. Its only error, in my opinion, was to propose to move £26 million from the social investment fund.”
“In considering the motion and the amendments, I was intrigued most by the amendment tabled in the name of the Ulster Unionist Party Members. The amendment, which the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Mike Nesbitt, proposed, has shed new light on things. It is important that, from a Mid Ulster constituency perspective, people are fully aware of the implications if that amendment were to pass today. The Ulster Unionist Party has been very clear that it opposes the Budget, and that was clear when Danny Kennedy voted against it at the Executive. Mind you, the Finance Minister said that he did not bring forward any ideas for why that party opposed the Budget, nor did he suggest any amendments at the Executive meeting. Mind you, I do not think that the SDLP or the Alliance Party did either.”
“I welcome the Minister's statement. Can he provide further detail on how he plans to develop clinical leaders in patient safety?”
“There has been a lot of talk about sorting out departmental budgets. What work has been done to prepare for any reduction in budgets that may come about with the reduction in corporation tax?”
“I, too, welcome the Minister's statement. In the blue Budget booklet that the Minister has released, he refers to £53·3 million of funding being allocated to the community safety college at Desertcreat. Can he tell us what stage that process is at and what future funding is required to take it forward? Does he not feel that it is rank hypocrisy for those who did not support the Budget to call for finances to be made available for it?”
“The Minister will not be surprised to hear that I will ask him a question in respect of the Rainey Endowed. As the Minister will know, not only from his visit but, no doubt, from discussions in his Department, the Rainey Endowed has been in the system for quite some time. I accept that the schools enhancement programme funding will help the school at least to address some of the difficulties, but will the Minister give an assurance that he will do what he can to find the funding to try to ensure that a new build is given to the school?”
“When the draft Budget process was announced, Libraries NI started a process of reducing the opening hours of libraries. As part of the bilaterals that the Minister has had with the Finance Minister, has she bid for additional funding for libraries to try to give them additional money to at least re-look at opening hours and try to sustain the libraries, especially in rural areas?”
“— I can say, but I see that my time is about to come to an end.”
“It is unfortunate that the Regional Development Minister picked a very emotive issue in street lighting. He has to provide more clarity on why he chose street lighting as the financial saviour, as it were, to try to balance his books. It has not gone down well in the community, and I feel that the matter needs to be addressed. Again, it is about the reprioritisation of budgets. <BR /> <BR />There are always plenty of constituency issues to raise. The events fund is something that cropped up time and time again. It is important that we look at that as well. <BR /> <BR />A number of Members have referred to corporation tax. The Minister has said that it is important that we have the skills in place. The Minister's words are "tax" and "talent". It is important that DEL ensure that the talent remains in place for when the tax rate is reduced.”
“Therefore, things will no doubt progress, but it is important that the Education Minister look again at the issue of the aggregated schools budget, because, as principals have said — it is not scaremongering — it is the case that schools will have to look again at whether they can afford to employ, and keep in employment, classroom assistants. I do not know what that will mean, under health and safety, for children's lunch breaks and breaks in the school yard, but it is certainly going to mean that there will be fewer teachers. With that comes larger class numbers. Therefore, there are a number of issues that need to be resolved in the wider education package. <BR /> <BR />My colleague the Chair of the Regional Development Committee mentioned street lighting. It is an issue that each and every one of us has had expressed to us.”
“He sent a communication from the Department to boards of governors and principals on the draft Budget and the aggregated schools budget planning figure for 2015-16. In any meetings that I have had over the past number of weeks with principals and members of boards of governors, there is deep concern, to say the least, about the ability of principals to run their schools properly if the Minister does not reprioritise his budget. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate that the draft Budget is just that. At the talks process for the Stormont House Agreement, which Mr Nesbitt and others referred to, a five-party financial package was agreed with the Prime Minister.”
“Unfortunately not. It is important to put on record my thanks to the Committee officials, because they had to go through a lot of evidence sessions, listening to the members and other things that were going on, and deal with other Committees. They had an important job to do to try to bring it all together, so I thank them for that. <BR /> <BR />In respect of the education budget, it is important that the Minister look at his priorities.”
“<BR /> <BR />I must put on record — I can now see them as I stand — that I could see someone's tablet as I was sitting in the Officials' Box. It is important to put on record the —”
“Thank you. That is also a very important point. No doubt the Minister will have heard and will hopefully be able to answer that, because an important part of what happens for the future of Desertcreat is that that money is in place. We have been told in the past that it is ring-fenced. The Justice Minister was given money in the draft Budget. There are as many questions as answers in respect of it, but the time needs to come very quickly in respect of exactly what is going to happen there. I know from the communication that I get from the local community, and, indeed, the local council, that there is a big concern that it is going to fall flat. Let us hope that those who make the decisions make the right ones in a positive way for Desertcreat.”
“Whilst the Justice Minister has commenced a process, he should come to the House as soon as possible to advise exactly what is proposed there, what services will be delivered there, who will use it and whether there is a national or international dimension to it.”
“I will touch on something that the Member who previously spoke mentioned — the Desertcreat training college. It is important that, as things have progressed in respect of that, it has not been the easiest of journeys for anyone who has been involved in that process, certainly as a constituency matter, never mind for those who sit on the respective Committees that have to deal with that. The Minister will know that I have pressed the issue time and time again, not only with him but with the Justice Minister, as have other colleagues in the constituency. <BR /> <BR />The Member who previously spoke made an important point: the time has come. We are going to get something, whether that is on a smaller scale than what was initially programmed or is the same, which I doubt. The time has probably well and truly passed in respect of Desertcreat.”
“The Minister was referring to the officials in the corner, but I wanted to join him, and it is fair to put on record the appreciation of Members on this side of the House to our colleague Lord Morrow and to the effort of the Department.”
“I had thought of putting my name down to speak in the debate, but the Minister got to the point of congratulating Lord Morrow. It is important that those of us who have followed this through the House do pay tribute to Lord Morrow for the time and effort that he has put into the Bill. I suppose we should give credit to the Minister for the work he has put in alongside Lord Morrow. It would be wrong of me to not refer to my colleague to my left who led the Committee through the Committee Stage.”