Christopher Stalford
South Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“In the United States of America, you have two schools of thought: the expansionists — the people who do not believe that the Founding Fathers should be taken at their word, or that the Constitution should be interpreted in the strict sense; and the originalists — those who do.”
“Let me make some progress. <BR /> <BR />The key point in the brief is the "particular circumstances" of Northern Ireland. That is, and should be, central to everything that we examine.”
“I do not think that it ever got particularly bad-tempered, so I am disappointed at the tone that was struck in the opening of the debate and in subsequent contributions, but I am not going to lie down like a dog and take it. I am not going to take the rewriting of history.”
“There is one absolute right in law, and that is the right not to be tortured. That is an absolute right that is accepted as a universal right. How many people did the fellow travellers of the party opposite deny that human right to? So I am not going to take that from any Member opposite when it comes to rights.”
“I have stated my position and made it clear that I think that we have a strong human rights framework in Northern Ireland. We have two bodies, established in law, that are dedicated to the protection of human rights and equality. We are one of the most human rights- and fairness-compliant societies in the world. It is important.”
“I appreciate the Member's giving way. She and I served together for many years on Belfast City Council, where people from different and disparate backgrounds had to work together because nobody had a majority. That was just the nature of the place. She talked about respect and disrespect.”
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“The success of the science-led approach is measurable, as the junior Minister said, in the fact that, at the commencement of the crisis, the House was told that we faced the real possibility of up to 15,000 deaths in this part of the United Kingdom. Now, every death is a tragedy, and I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the 482 people who have lost their life as a result of the virus. Because of the perseverance of our people, this dreadful virus is coming under control, and the terror that it unleashed in all of us eight weeks ago has mercifully not been realised. However, we need to be clear and honest: patience is starting to run thin in the wider public. We need to face that. Others have talked about the need for clear messaging, and I absolutely associate myself with that.”
“Before I go into my remarks, I associate myself with yours, Mr Deputy Speaker, in welcoming the new Member for East Londonderry to the Chamber. It was my great privilege to preside over her signing the book. I am sure that she will have a good time here; at least, I hope she does — we all try to. I wish her all the best. <BR /> <BR />A free people cannot be expected to live under house arrest indefinitely. We voted eight weeks ago for the Government to have huge and wide-ranging powers. In a free society, such provisions do not sit comfortably with those who believe in individual, property or collective general rights. Our people have endured serious curtailments of their rights in the name of controlling the threat of the virus.”
“Further to that point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. To come to the aid of a fellow Deputy Speaker, this is a plenary sitting of the House; it is not the Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19. The time period for questions to a Minister is established in Standing Orders: it shall not exceed one hour. The Ad Hoc Committee on COVID-19 has a greater flexibility, and that is why you have more scope to play about with it in that area.”
“In her statement, the Minister mentions the fact that there has been a huge rise in unemployment. In a previous answer, she mentioned key infrastructure pieces. One of the most significant arm's-length bodies relating to her Department is, of course, the Housing Executive, which is working in conjunction with housing associations to deliver significant build projects. I am referring specifically to Hope Street in our constituency. Will the Minister give the House and me an assurance that no action by her Department will delay further the development of Hope Street and the associated development of additional housing in Sandy Row?”
“At that time, I think we had a Government up and running at Stormont that included all parties, so there is no legitimate reason why people could object.”
“Does the Member recall the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that took place in Northern Ireland in 2001? On that occasion, the army was deployed to help deliver essential supplies.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. Earlier in the debate, I referred to the Special Powers Act. The Member will recall that the Special Powers Act was introduced in 1922 and was renewed every year that the Northern Ireland Parliament sat. That being the case, does the Member recognise that there is an inherent danger? I say this as a politician: once politicians acquire power over people, they are often reluctant to return it to the people.”
“That was in the darkness of 1940. We all know that it would take another five years for the sun to rise over Europe again. I know that it will not take five years to win this war if we all play our part.”
“I can assure you that that is not what you think it is. <BR /> <BR />I want to pay tribute to our NHS staff. I also want to thank the First Minister, the deputy First Minister and the Executive for the work that they have done and are doing on behalf of us all. I said at the start that this is the worst crisis since the start of the war. In 1940, Mr Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister, said:”
“I think it was the Chair of the Executive Office Committee, Mr McGrath, who used the term "special powers". This is probably the most far-reaching piece of legislation to come in front of Stormont since the Special Powers Act. It has a very, very far reach. We are a free country. Any loss of liberty in our country, which invented the concept of parliamentary democracy, is counterintuitive. This is the land of John Stuart Mill and John Locke. The people are the master of government in this country, not the reverse. There are natural rights to life, liberty and property, but the selfishness of certain individuals has forced the Government's hand. Foolish people, putting others at risk by their actions, have forced the Government's hand. <BR /> <BR />The Minister is laughing because I sniffed.”
“I want to place on record my condolences to the families of those who are already suffering bereavement as a consequence of this dreadful virus. This country faces the gravest crisis since September 1939, the commencement of the Second World War. What we heard from the Prime Minister yesterday in his national address was a call to national service. Given what previous generations have endured in the long history of these islands — famine, war, pestilence, the threat of enslavement — a call from our Prime Minister to stay at home, except in certain circumstances, does not seem like too much to be asking people to do. <BR /> <BR />It is clear that this virus is no respecter of person or politics. This virus does not care where you put your x on a ballot paper on polling day. This virus is coming for all of us.”
“Will the Minister also reflect that, now that the 28 is 27, those who, up until this point or relatively recently, enjoyed being in the position of net recipient will quickly find that their club membership fee rises rapidly?”
“I also refer to the Member for Foyle, Mrs Anderson, who directly tweeted the Health Minister. Does the Member agree that actions like that will simply cause panic in our society and we cannot engage in them?”
“Does the Minister agree with me that it is important that, at a time of genuine national crisis, Members of the House do not engage in behaviours that are likely to cause panic? I refer specifically to the Member for Upper Bann, Mr O'Dowd, who used social media to accuse the Government of engaging in a "twisted medical experiment". I also refer —”
“I am very grateful to the Member for giving way. Does she agree that if, having had the report published on Friday, the House did not consider it on Monday, other parties would be screaming, "Government cover-up", and claiming that we were trying to prevent scrutiny of the report's content?”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. He will be aware of chapter 39 of the report. In December 2016, one of the main allegations that was being put to our party was that advisers or, indeed, the Minister had deliberately sought to keep the RHI scheme open. Would the Member like to put on record that Sir Patrick Coghlin found that there was not one shred of evidence to justify that claim?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. <BR /> <BR />That is a perfectly legitimate concern, and that is why it is important that we hear a timetable for ensuring that that is not the case from the Executive and the Minister. It is essential not only that action is taken but that action is seen to be taken in a speedy and expeditious manner in order to restore public confidence. <BR /> <BR />Finally, the First Minister did the right thing in apologising for the mistakes that were made and saying that we, as a party, will learn from those mistakes to ensure that they do not happen in the future. All parties who were party to the scheme and have responsibilities in that regard should have the courage to do likewise.”
“There it is in black and white. I want the independent panel that the Minister has announced to examine the behaviour and conduct of senior civil servants. The significant failings identified and the clear blame attached to those named individuals by the inquiry require swift and immediate action.”
“On and on it goes. Perhaps the most significant paragraph, however, is finding 313, which states, in relation to the predecessor Department to the Department for the Economy:”
“That is vital. It has been and remains a significant challenge for the Executive. Recommendation 19 states:”
“Sir Patrick's report sets out a clear road map of recommendations that will need to be implemented and will require careful planning and sufficient resource to ensure that they are fully implemented. The Assembly will need to have a strong oversight role in ensuring that the recommendations are faithfully and fully implemented, with a clear timetable produced by the Executive for doing so. <BR /> <BR />The recommendations made by Sir Patrick deal with serious failings on the part of the Northern Ireland Civil Service. Recommendation 3 states:”
“Those are the words of the inquiry chairman, Sir Patrick Coghlin: no evidence of corruption or malice. That discredits the wild and spurious claims that were made by current and former Members in the Assembly as devolution was teetering towards collapse. I reiterate the apology that has been made by the First Minister for mistakes and misjudgments, but they were mistakes and misjudgments, not corruption or maliciousness, as was implied and inferred for the last three years. <BR /> <BR />The systemic inaccuracies in the Civil Service documents and submissions to the Minister provide grounds for a full and detailed appraisal of how the Civil Service in Northern Ireland functions. This is now a core issue in relation to the governance of this country.”
“This is probably the most important discussion that we have had since the restoration of devolution because this issue was the pretext for collapsing the institutions and keeping the people of Northern Ireland without a devolved Government for three years. It is important, therefore, that we have this discussion.”
“I am very grateful to the Minister for his answer because it addresses precisely the concern that I have, particularly for inner-city areas of Belfast, where there is a dire need for increased social housing building but where we have a situation of private developers engaging in exactly the sort of practice that the Minister outlined. Has the Department considered, or is it in the process of considering, some sort of levy on holding land like that in order to encourage private developers to release it for public use?”
“I am very grateful to the Minister for giving way. He mentioned the pressing need on school budgets — and I declare an interest, as I am on the board of governors of Braniel Primary School, which my children attend — but will he agree that one of the ways in which we can help to tackle that is to devolve additional powers over school budgets to head teachers, away from the centre?”
“In 2014, there was an outbreak of sudden oak death in Belvoir forest. Some 6,500 trees covering 11 hectares had to be felled, which accounted for almost a quarter of the forest. Will the Minister join me in visiting Belvoir forest to see for himself how tree replanting can be facilitated there? I hope to engage Belvoir Park Primary School in such a project.”
“I welcome the answer that the Minister has given and am grateful to her for it. The sexual harassment of women involving mobile phones has become an increasing problem in our society. Will the Minister outline some of the proposals that she has to tackle those outrageous assaults on women?”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. I take him back to the comments of my colleague Ms Bunting about the way in which senior officials — whether it is the Parades Commission, the Housing Executive, the institutions and organs of the state — who engage directly with paramilitaries will never live in the communities that he describes. They will never live in the communities in which those paramilitaries operate. They rub shoulders with them and then get to go home to nice, middle-class communities where they do not have to deal with the behaviour of paramilitaries.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. In a previous debate and in this one, we have heard, on more than one occasion, about socio-economic deprivation. Does the Member not agree that, ultimately, individuals are individuals, that they choose to engage in criminal activity and that no excuse can be found lying in a defence of socio-economic deprivation?”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. I want to put on record high praise to him for sharing his experience with us. In the context of what he has just said, does he not find it incredible that people think that the DUP amendment is too focused on the criminal justice system? People who behave in that manner should be subject to the full rigour of the criminal justice system.”
“I look forward to that legislation coming forward and to seeing the discussions and debates taking place in the House. That is where those debates and discussions should have been taking place for the last three years. There is no point in rehearsing the arguments as to how the last three years were frittered away; let all of us across the House now resolve to use the two years that we have remaining and demonstrate to all the people of Northern Ireland the value of having devolved government here at Stormont.”
“Going back a long way, I am steeped in that tradition. I am proud to come from that tradition. I recognise that other people are steeped in, and proud to come from, other traditions. The success of Northern Ireland, going forward, will be when we create a situation where people feel equally valued and respected in their identity. Therefore, the clarification that was given by the deputy First Minister is important — that we will take that package forward together, with no tradition or identity being left behind. <BR /> <BR />I very much welcome the proposals that were referred to by Mr Givan on the introduction of a domestic abuse Bill. It is a scandal that this is the only part of the United Kingdom that does not have dedicated legislation in that area. It is right that the Executive have identified that gap and the need to fill it.”
“I want to mention some of the issues that are of particular concern in my constituency. I am very pleased to welcome the housing (amendment) Bill. It is essential for constituencies, particularly South Belfast. I am sure that all Belfast Members can attest to the need to build more social and affordable housing. I welcome that because I think that it will be positive. <BR /> <BR />I also welcome the clarification on the culture package, which was given in the earlier part of the debate by the deputy First Minister. It is important for Northern Ireland society that all cultures and identities are treated with equality, dignity and respect. I come from a British unionist tradition. I have been a member of the Orange Institution from the age of 17. My father was in it. His father was in it.”
“I do not know whether other Members have referred to it, but, on this day three years ago, we were all standing shivering outside primary schools, asking people for their votes in the Assembly election. It is a source of profound regret that so much of those three years has been wasted. I believe firmly in devolution and the value of having devolved government at Stormont. Devolution allows us to serve the people. Our success in this place shall no longer be determined — and cannot be measured — by simply existing or surviving. These institutions need to be used to deliver for the people. <BR /> <BR />That is why I welcome the fact that the Executive have outlined the legislative programme. Of course, it is not a comprehensive list but is merely a headline of priorities going forward.”
“I associate myself with the Minister's remarks about the appalling cynicism that we heard on the BBC last week. It was disgraceful. What assessment has been made of the long-term health benefits for the population, particularly in urban areas, as a consequence of planting more trees?”
“Mr O'Dowd referred to the Benches opposite: now, perhaps, I can. The Minister will agree, I am sure, that unity of approach is important going forward. Given that Sinn Féin opposed entry into the Common Market, opposed the Single European Act, opposed the Maastricht Treaty, opposed the Lisbon Treaty, opposed the Nice Treaty and were on the anti side in every European constitutional referendum in the Republic of Ireland, does the Minister agree that it is time that they returned to their original Eurosceptic principles?”
“Ah, but that is one of the favoured sectors.”
“Does the Member agree that our ultimate vision should be a single education system for all of Northern Ireland that encompasses the myriad identities, cultures and difference here rather than continuing with five separate education sectors, some of which are more favoured than others?”
“I appreciate the Minister giving way. He has been very generous with his time. At a recent meeting with the Executive Office, we were informed by officials that it is likely that the total cost of addressing the historical institutional abuse scandal could run to more than £600 million. Five institutions have been identified in connection with the scandal, so can the Minister detail for the House what contact there has been with those institutions and what percentage of that £600-plus million he anticipates receiving from those institutions as a contribution?”
“I am very grateful, Mr Deputy Speaker. On financial deregulation and management, the Minister mentioned small procurement, which is a particular issue here. How do we compare with other UK regions?”
“On the theme of the public interest, can the Minister give us her assessment of the need and demand for these minerals?”
“We need to be prepared to do the difficult things that need to be done there. <BR /> <BR />I will conclude where I began. The Secretary of State and the Government have obligations towards all of us who entered into the New Decade, New Approach agreement. The Secretary of State may have changed, but the commitments that were made have not. We all have a job now to do to hold Her Majesty's Government to those commitments.”
“Courage is needed around the Chamber to see that issue through. It would be the easiest thing in the world for the Health Minister, as previous Health Ministers have done, to simply stamp his feet and say, "I need more money", and it would be the easiest thing in the world for the Finance Minister to say, "You can't have more money. You need to do the reform". One side will make their point, the other side will make theirs, and, at the end of it, nothing will have got better. Nothing will have improved. I am happy to put it on record and have it recorded in Hansard that I believe that Robin Swann should be given the political cover to see through essential health reform, because, if we continue like this, within a short time, that one Department will gobble up not 50% of the block grant but 100% of it.”
“I welcome the increase in funding for the Victims and Survivors Service, because I think that we have a moral obligation in that area. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to the Department of Health. The comments made by the Chairperson of the Health Committee are astonishing. The statistic that he mentioned is staggering: more than 50% of our block grant allocation is going to a single Department. If that does not demonstrate the need for serious and far-reaching reform, I do not know what does.”
“<BR /> <BR />I associate myself with the remarks made by Mr McGrath, the Chairperson of the Executive Office Committee, on which I serve, on the issue of historical institutional abuse. The estimate that has been given is that the recompense scheme is going to cost anywhere between £25 million and £60 million per annum. It is essential, and it is only right, that the institutions that had a hand in the systematic abuse of children should be made to pay financially towards that compensation scheme. The state handed children over to rapists and paedophiles, and it is essential that those institutions, which those rapists and paedophiles used as a cloak to carry out their despicable actions, be made to pay towards compensating their victims. I therefore associate myself with what the Chairperson of the Committee said.”
“We are in the middle of a massive explosion in diagnoses of autism and ADHD, and it is important that every child gets the best start in life, particularly children with special educational needs. I welcome the announcement in that regard. <BR /> <BR />The problems in the Department for Infrastructure have already been mentioned by Miss McIlveen, the Chairperson of the Infrastructure Committee. The reductions that we have seen in road safety provision and for roads maintenance will have a knock-on effect. For the Department of Justice, I am concerned about the reduction in funding for the Police Rehabilitation and Retraining Trust, but I welcome the increase in additional resources for the PSNI. The police work hard to keep us all safe, and a well-funded police service is essential.”
“I have some concerns about reductions in net provision for urban regeneration, sports, and employability and skills for the Department for Communities. As a representative of communities such as Sandy Row, Donegall Pass, the bottom of Ravenhill Road and the Market, I know about the need for investment in urban regeneration in those inner-city communities. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the fact that there has been a reduction in the costs associated with the Department of Education's overheads, but we need to press on with the devolution of powers to schools and, in particular, to head teachers, so that they can have greater control over their own budgets. I welcome the allocation that has been made for special educational needs.”
“The Finance Minister's approach — to wait until after the national Budget is handed down at Westminster in order to allow us a more accurate picture, whereby we can set priorities for the coming period — is absolutely correct. <BR /> <BR />When we are talking in the context of the Budget at Westminster and its implications for us, it is important to note that the previous Secretary of State, Julian Smith, presided over a talks process that produced an agreement that contained spending commitments. Those were commitments given by the Government at Westminster, and it is essential that Julian Smith's successor, Brandon Lewis, honour the commitments that were given. <BR /> <BR />I will now go over areas in Departments that are of particular interest to me as an individual.”
“It is a pleasure to follow the Member from West Tyrone. I believe that public-service reform will be the defining issue of the next 10 years. It is incumbent upon all Members to have the courage to do what needs to be done. Whether it is in health, in education or in any of our other public services, we need to be brave and to accept that controversial and sometimes unpopular decisions will need to be made. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the fact that this process is now back in local hands. The scrutiny of departmental monitoring rounds and of Budgets etc should never have been out of the hands of these institutions. Devolution is about setting local priorities. It is about having power in local hands, in order to deliver for local communities.”
“I welcome the Minister to her place and wish her well in her new role. Does she agree that whilst always wanting to be merciful and allow people the opportunity of redemption, there are some crimes that are so despicable that life should mean life, specifically the murder of a child? I am sure all Members will agree that, as part of any review of sentencing policy, anyone who engages in such a heinous act should spend the rest of their days in prison.”