Adrian McQuillan
East Londonderry · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I am sure that you agree, Minister, that stalking is one of the worst types of harassment and that the sooner we bring forward legislation to stamp it out and get the people who are carrying it out before the courts the better.”
“The Executive are also committed to the Co-ownership scheme, which supports people buying a home, and the Minister has secured an additional £100 million for it. <BR /> <BR />Another block to providing new and affordable homes is down to the availability of land.”
“I oppose the motion and the amendment. The housing sales scheme has been part of the fabric of housing policy for nearly 40 years. Its purpose is twofold: first, it has been utilised as a means of generating income to build more social housing, through the price paid for the house and the savings made from the house maintenance budget; an…”
“Suspending or scrapping the scheme would, therefore, not provide additional homes for the social housing sector. Everyone is aware of the pressure on the social rented sector, given the number of people in statutory housing stress.”
“All government policy is subject to regular review, and the housing sales scheme is no different. <BR /> <BR />The Programme for Government sets out the aim to provide an additional 9,600 new homes by the end of the mandate. That is an ambitious but achievable target.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I certainly agree with my colleague from North Belfast, who has made a very good point. When people were not able to buy their housing association house, there was uproar. <BR /> <BR />I support the house sales scheme and the right of long-term social housing tenants to buy their home.”
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“I thank the Minister for his answer. Can he give his assessment of the contribution that integrated care partnerships are making to improving healthcare?”
“I recognise what Invest NI has done for Northern Ireland over the last four years and what it continues to do. Will the Minister accept an invitation to accompany me to Coleraine and the Causeway coast and glens area to visit some of the businesses? In a recent poll in the 'Belfast Telegraph', figures showed that the Causeway coast and glens was the area of lowest investment for Invest NI.”
“<BR /> <BR />In my humble opinion, and in view of all that the Committee has heard and seen during the review, the Barnett formula is, at the minute, the best placed formula for Northern Ireland to be funded by from the UK, and will be in the future. Leave well enough alone.”
“In the evidence, it was pointed out that the Treasury had a long-standing commitment to the continuation of Barnett because it can be applied simply and, largely, automatically; it avoids direct annual negotiations over public expenditure; it has minimised conflict between the four jurisdictions of the UK over spending levels; it provides stable and largely predictable allocations without large fluctuations; and it prevents the devolved Governments from having to face many of the problems of revenue raising. While acknowledging those benefits, the drawbacks of the Barnett formula were also highlighted and identified to the Committee. <BR /> <BR />The Committee is also mindful that while the three main UK-wide parties have made a commitment that the Barnett formula will continue, it is unclear what that means going forward.”
“I start by thanking the Clerk and the Committee staff for all of their help during the review and, indeed, throughout the past year. <BR /> <BR />In February 2012, the Committee for Finance and Personnel received preliminary evidence from a panel of expert witnesses that while, historically, the Barnett formula had provided generous funding to Northern Ireland, it was no longer safe, due to various factors. It was in that context that, on 24 September 2014, the Committee agreed terms of reference for a review into the scope for improving the operation and administration of the Barnett formula, with a view to ensuring that the future needs of Northern Ireland would be met. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has received written and oral evidence from a number of expert witnesses and stakeholders.”
“When does the Minister expect the Budget to be passed, agreed and all the rest of it?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Does she agree that almost 35% of people in Northern Ireland live in rural areas and would very much welcome a rural proofing Bill?”
“As I said at the outset, we have just begun the journey of tourism in Northern Ireland, and we have a unique product with a world heritage site on our doorstep, not to mention the numerous areas of outstanding natural beauty. Those are only the natural assets that we have at our disposal; I have yet to touch on the complete tourism package, which includes historical sites, historical buildings and cultural events, including some of the most renowned sporting events in the world. I fully support the work that the various bodies have done to promote tourism in Northern Ireland and will continue to support them going forward. I encourage a collaborative approach that may have more influence on Her Majesty's Government and bring the results that we and others in the UK would like to see in what is a very demanding and competitive marketplace.”
“We need to work collectively with the rest of the United Kingdom to address the imbalance and put forward a joint case to Her Majesty's Treasury to consider, as realistic measure, a reduction in tourism-related VAT in the UK as a whole. It is easily realised that a reduction in tax is not going to be welcomed in the early stages of a new Government that have the existing deficit at the forefront of their attention. That is why it is vital that we work together.”
“I have every sympathy with local tourism businesses that struggle to compete with the reduced VAT rate in the South of Ireland. However, we must not get caught up in the argument that what is right for them is right for us. A number of research reports have been commissioned by various tourism-related bodies, and the evidence appears to support the case for reduced VAT on tourism. <BR /> <BR />I commend the efforts of the previous Finance Minister in writing to Her Majesty's Treasury in relation to exactly this cause. The response, however, was negative for Northern Ireland, somewhat stifling the purpose of this debate.”
“Tourism is one of Northern Ireland's key service sectors and presents a great opportunity to expand and strengthen its contribution to the economy. With the massive potential to capitalise further in this market, we are at the beginning of an exciting and prosperous journey with tourism in Northern Ireland, and we need to have the opportunity to fulfil and explore that. <BR /> <BR />The motion gives us an opportunity to look at the potential under the tourism umbrella and consider what our European neighbours are doing. With various European countries adopting different rates of VAT on their tourism services in varying aspects of the industry, a number of different combinations could be possible if considered in the right way.”
“I thank the Members for bringing the debate and all those who contributed. <BR /> <BR />Those who live in the East Londonderry constituency, which takes in a swathe of coastline, are lucky to have a large chunk of Northern Ireland's tourist attractions along the north coast and in the Causeway Coast Borough Council area, which straddles County Antrim and County Londonderry. <BR /> <BR />Tourism makes an extremely large contribution to the economy there, as it does in all of Northern Ireland. Tourism is worth millions to the Northern Ireland economy every year and is a major investor in employment, supporting 43,000 jobs, which represents 5·2% of the total workforce. Tourism jobs and skills are spread across Northern Ireland, which attracts over four million visitors each year, and that figure is growing.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I agree with what he says; there are other people who need funding. Does he agree that early years funding is very important in a child's education? Maybe it is one of the last places that we should be looking at to cut, no matter what our budget is saying.”
“I also congratulate the Minister and agree with Mr McGlone that DETI's loss will be Finance's gain. Minister, in your answer, you mentioned appealing. How do people go about appealing valuations?”
“How can we marry that with the numerous wind farms that are being erected around the environment that we are trying to protect? That is where they aim to put most of the wind farms. How can we marry the two together and make sure that both can live together?”
“I thank the junior Minister for her answer. Can she tell me how many applications there were and how many she received from the East Londonderry constituency?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer, and I think that £81 million over five years is a big turnaround. Minister, how does your Department promote the uptake of benefits?”
“I have always been vocal in pledging my support for the retention of the Causeway Hospital. I have no fear and continue to state my categorical support for the hospital and its services. I will continue to support the staff, users and campaigners in the best way I can to ensure that those services and that hospital have a future for many years to come.”
“I also urge the Minister and the Causeway Hospital management to continue to be proactive in advising and informing staff, users and campaigners at the hospital to reduce the risk of any further rumours escalating and to keep morale up in all areas of service from front-line services such as domestic and caring staff up to consultant and senior management level. Historically, mistrust between senior management and staff has added to the low morale. Thankfully, the new chief executive has so far demonstrated a very hands-on approach and worked closely with staff and elected representatives to build relationships, which can only be welcome. <BR /> <BR />The Minister has also been very proactive in his involvement with staff and user groups, which is reassuring to them and the wider public.”
“I believe that morale at the hospital will continue to improve with the Minister's reassurance of his commitment to retaining these services in future. That can only add to the continuing improvement of the services received by and care provided to this extensive area, including the north coast and further afield. <BR /> <BR />We are all very aware of the hard times facing all Departments. However, I am sure that the Minister will continue to support the retention of the Causeway Hospital and will make his spending cuts in other areas with less impact on front-line services to the area.”
“The hospital has borne the brunt of some seriously negative press in the last year, but there have also been some very positive aspects that did not attract as much media attention. It has had excellent results in achieving improved waiting times through initiatives such as changes to work patterns for senior medical, nursing, allied health and managerial staff and the introduction of the community rapid response service. The staff must be commended for this because they worked extremely hard at all levels to achieve that improvement when many other hospitals were experiencing an increase in their waiting times. <BR /> <BR />The Causeway Hospital continues to provide a significant range of services, including an accident and emergency department.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is no doubt that there is a need for a hospital; otherwise such appointments would not have been made. The hospital is a key asset in delivering integrated services to a very large catchment area. Let us not forget that the population rises on the north coast over the holiday period at times of significant sporting and leisure events, such as the North West 200, which attracts over 100,000 visitors, and the air show, which, last year, attracted around 200,000 visitors to the area. There are many more that I could add. <BR /> <BR />A large proportion of the East Londonderry constituency is rural and isolated, and for constituents in those areas it is vital that acute services and a 24-hour emergency department remain fully functioning.”
“As a Member for East Londonderry, I welcome the debate on the future of the Causeway Hospital, and I want to make it clear at the outset that I fully support its retention as an acute hospital and nothing less. <BR /> <BR />There has been much speculation about the future of the Causeway Hospital over the last number of years that has caused fear and distress among all in the area and for staff and users of the facility. There is no denying that that scaremongering added to the difficulty of recruiting and retaining clinical staff, which itself added to the question of the hospital's future. However, the recent filling of a number of permanent consultant posts, with more in progress, has given the hospital the much needed morale boost that it has been longing for.”
“We have witnessed the First Minister, along with his deputy, getting a good deal for Northern Ireland, with additional means of borrowing to plug the gap created by the failure of Sinn Féin to accept welfare reform and to fuel further enhancements to build our economy and generate additional revenue for Northern Ireland. It is therefore somewhat ironic that Sinn Féin stands here today and presents this motion calling on the Executive to look at ways to generate additional revenue and increase the Northern Ireland Budget, when a significant means of doing that was rejected by Sinn Féin after it got cold feet.”
“Furthermore, like the Scottish National Party, they wish to fuel sheer discontent and anger in order to motivate their core vote here in Ulster. <BR /> <BR />A number of months ago, we had a similar debate with regard to the revenue-generating mechanisms open to the Assembly and Executive, and the Finance Minister was clear that they were all options on which progress had been made. However, due to Sinn Féin's rejection of the Stormont House Agreement, after it got cold feet over welfare reform, one of those key revenue-generating mechanisms — corporation tax — is on hold.”
“If the truth be told, we, as a Province, are far better off as part of the United Kingdom under the Barnett formula than we would be as either an independent state or part of a foreign nation. I therefore view the motion with suspicion, and you may ask why. The first reason is the timing. We are weeks away from a general election and one year away from a general election in the Republic of Ireland, where Sinn Féin is allegedly standing against austerity in the hope of collecting a significant portion of the lefty party votes. The second reason I am sceptical about the timing and wording of the motion is that Sinn Féin despises the Conservative Party. After all, the IRA once tried to murder the late Prime Minister and her Cabinet.”
“They would rather have seen the Government of the Irish Republic behave like the current Government of Greece rather than behave responsibly and accept economic changes which were responsible for the need to cut public expenditure.”
“We live in significantly different economic times than when the powers to this Assembly were restored in 2007. Since then, we have seen our block grant reduced in cash terms by successive Administrations in Westminster, beginning with Labour — which Sinn Féin prefers, according to Martin McGuinness in an interview some weeks ago — and the Conservative/Liberal Democrat Administration in the most recent parliamentary term. <BR /> <BR />Those cuts were generated by the need to make savings due to the imbalance in revenue generated through poorer tax returns and higher expenditure, primarily in the public sector. The bottom line is that the books do not balance, and that is an economic reality. <BR /> <BR />I do not expect Sinn Féin to understand that, as they do not even understand that fact in the country they affiliate to.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. She has also appointed the rural development programme monitoring committee. I notice that there are a lot of different groups represented on that committee, one of which is the GAA. Will she consider appointing other groups to that committee, such as the Orange Order?”
“I support our amendment and the ongoing work of the Minister of Finance and the Department in assessing the potential for fiscal powers to be devolved to the Executive.”
“A 1% increase would provide us with an additional £5 million per annum. This sounds like a lot of money, but, in reality, it would not do a lot for the people of Northern Ireland. It would cut their disposable income and reduce spending in shops and local high street businesses. I am not in favour of that, as we know only too well how fragile the high street is. <BR /> <BR />My party supports investigating revenue-generating measures, as we have done with air passenger duty and corporation tax, and agree that those are viable options open to the Executive. However, the impact on the people of Northern Ireland of a significant loss of revenue from the block grant or an increase in rates would be severe and significant. It will not happen, because the DUP supports the most vulnerable.”
“The Executive also have rates powers, and I am pleased that the DUP, holding the Ministry of Finance portfolio, has kept rates frozen for seven consecutive years, protecting domestic customers from soaring rates amid price increases in electric and heating bills, which I am pleased to hear will drop from 1 April. We are aware that the Department of Finance is to conduct a review of the non-domestic rates as a means of identifying possible additional revenue to ensure fairness, as well as to paint a picture of reality in these slightly more stable yet fragile economic times. <BR /> <BR />Some parties, like the Alliance Party, might like to introduce water charges or higher rates. However, to secure additional revenue from the rates increase, it would be necessary to apply a significant increase of 1% to the regional rate.”
“<BR /> <BR />That aside, Sinn Féin and other Members will be only too well aware that any means of revenue-generating powers will cost the Province financially, with alterations made to our annual block grant. This will result in cuts. Before we explore any further income-generating powers, it is important and, in fact, responsible to assess whether the actual costs outweigh the benefits and the costs would significantly impact on the people of Northern Ireland, including those in west Belfast, south Armagh and beyond. <BR /> <BR />We know, looking to the future, that the Northern Ireland Executive have air passenger duty powers, which I believe will take vital routes to and from the Province.”
“I oppose the motion and support the amendment in my name and the name of my three colleagues. I begin by questioning the timing of the motion. As Sinn Féin will be only too well aware, the Stormont House Agreement paves the way for further income-generating powers, namely the devolution of corporation tax powers by 2017. Members will also be aware that Northern Ireland benefits significantly from the Barnett formula, gaining significantly more expenditure than we generate in revenue alone. These are benefits of our membership of the United Kingdom and factors that Sinn Féin perhaps wants to dismiss and ignore. Rather than being grateful and appreciative, it wishes to complain.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Given the pressure on budgets that we heard about earlier, are PCSPs talking shops? Are they a luxury that we can afford at the present time?”
“At this moment, I want to express my appreciation to all those health workers on the front line who deal with the pressure of the job along with showing care and compassion for those who they look after. They are a credit to society and the health and social care system. <BR /> <BR />I, like others, want to see Northern Ireland become an economic driver and net contributor to the UK as a whole. The Stormont House Agreement makes light of this objective in what is promised in the economic package. <BR /> <BR />I will continue to support the draft Budget and commend it to the House. While we might see other parties jump up and down to condemn it, I ask this: could they have done better?”
“This is why I have endorsed the increased budget for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in order to deliver more economic growth through securing foreign direct investment and, in turn, jobs. Manufacturing has taken a major hit in recent years, and while there has been some growth in the sector, I would like to see more, along with growth in construction, another sector that has suffered tremendous losses in recent years. <BR />I am pleased to see that our Executive and my party have protected front-line services in health. An increase in the overall health budget, which currently represents the largest portion of the Budget, is a huge thing, reflecting not only a commitment by the Minister and the Executive but a willingness to limit the economic pain being felt on the front line.”
“While its content is not necessarily good reading, it is a statement of fact in reflection of the need for the Executive to make savings and efficiencies. The need to make savings is known to many hard-working families outside this place who, for too long now, have had to make choices based on economic circumstances; to heat or to eat, for example. Our only way out of this is to ensure that we continue along a path of economic growth which was present in 2014 and is expected to be present in 2015. Growth is and will be slow, but it is happening. <BR /> <BR />I want to see these stories of economic growth emerging in east Londonderry, which, in 2014, was the victim of the loss of the DVA office in Coleraine, which was moved to Swansea.”
“We unfortunately continue to live in difficult economic times. However, some positive growth is emerging, which we should work to strengthen and grow further. Unemployment is thankfully on the decline. While this offers a general positive outlook, I appreciate that it may not be felt on the ground by those who are without employment. <BR /> <BR />The overall picture of the draft Budget points to one of more pain five years after the comprehensive spending review. This pain is reflected through cuts imposed by Westminster to the block grant, in sharing the economic burden and reducing the deficit. However, we must be realistic and take the positive from this Budget, which is the very fact that it exists.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. My supplementary question was to ask the Minister to meet the banks. You have already said that you met the banks, but did you get a fair hearing?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Can he, at least, ensure that administration costs of 43% can be brought into line with those of the public sector, which are 20%?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers so far. Will he provide an update on the HSCB review of domiciliary care?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for his answer. What is he doing to achieve this and make sure that we do get corporation tax devolved?”
“The Committee expects to see a collaborative strategy that includes other relevant Departments and agencies, particularly in areas such as social services, social development and youth justice. The Department has accepted that recommendation, acknowledging that, alone, it cannot address the underlying issues of non-attendance. I support the motion.”
“It lacks the basic management and information necessary to monitor attendance on a real-time basis and take pre-emptive action with vulnerable children. The fact that 16,000 pupils a year miss almost six weeks of school yet are not known to the EWS is extremely concerning. The Committee emphasised that that must be a priority for action and is reassured that the Department has agreed to commission a fundamental review of the EWS. <BR /> <BR />It is clear that tackling the problem of non-attendance, particularly persistent non-attendance, is highly complex, and, in certain cases, it may be necessary to involve a wide range of stakeholders. We recommend, therefore, that the Department's attendance strategy address non-attendance at primary and post-primary school in a holistic and joined-up manner.”
“We find it very disappointing, however, that such examples are very much driven by individual schools, so we ask that the Department translate the dissemination of good practice into a coherent plan so that all schools can share expertise in a structured way. <BR /> <BR />The Department has recognised the need for a structured approach and accepted the importance of the Education and Training Inspectorate's role, with the result that the ETI is to undertake a good practice survey. The Education Welfare Service (EWS) is a specialist education support service that seeks to help young people of compulsory school age and their families to get the best out of the education system. The Committee was not convinced that the EWS was on top of the problem of non-attendance, and, as an organisation, it appeared to be more reactive.”
“Certainly I agree with the Member. Those are some of the points that I will touch on later. <BR /> <BR />It is pleasing to note that the Department, in its memorandum of reply, has agreed that an attendance strategy is required and has undertaken to develop that over the next 12 months. The strategy will also address specified groups of children and young people who require additional support. The Committee is aware that there is already a plethora of good practice in our schools and that some schools have managed to overcome the problems associated with non-attendance, despite challenging circumstances. Indeed, we visited Millburn Primary School in Coleraine, in my constituency, and found that it has a very proactive approach to non-attendance.”
“We therefore considered the development of a coherent strategy to be the necessary starting point and recommended that that should be in progress urgently.”
“The Committee was particularly concerned that the absence levels reported for some of the most vulnerable groups of young people, including pupils from socially deprived backgrounds, Traveller children and looked-after children, are much higher than the average. The Committee was not convinced that the Department had got to grips with the most deep-rooted issues, such as social disadvantage and unauthorised absence. We noted that, while the Department has taken steps to improve pupil attendance over the last 10 years, it was disappointing that it had not made more progress in implementing the recommendations in the Audit Office’s 2004 report. In particular, the Department has still not developed or implemented an overall attendance strategy.”
“Pupil attendance and educational achievement are inextricably linked, and it is therefore vital that the education system does all that it can to ensure that children attend school regularly to make the most of their time in compulsory education. Children who do not attend school regularly are effectively forfeiting the value of their education. As a Committee, we therefore found it extremely concerning that unauthorised absence in Northern Ireland schools has increased from 27% in 2007-08 to 33% in 2011-12 and is double that reported in England. <BR /> <BR />The annual cost lost in education is estimated to be in the region of £22 million.”