Jonathan Bell
Strangford · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I did so because terminally ill children were being prevented from getting a hospital place in my area. While attempts were being made to prevent me from coming to the Public Accounts Committee, a terminally ill child was told, after being seen by doctors, that they could not have a hospital place and that, if they needed one, they would…”
“The permanent secretary replied "No" and said that everybody would recognise that every government worked by and on collective responsibility. <BR /> <BR />We are in a mess, and somebody has to shine a light on that mess. It fell to me, and I do not know why. I did not seek it, nor did I want it. I did not want to do it.”
“Let me conclude, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. The regulations are necessary because of the extreme mess that we have found ourselves in. The points that I made when I had to shine a light on this devastating situation were not made in December. The points were made in writing to the then First Minister in March 2016.”
“The permanent secretary replied, "Well, that is right". <BR /> <BR />There were no regulations on the table when I spoke out. There was no suggestion that we could reduce to zero or even significantly reduce the costs, and we had no legal procedure, that I was aware of, that we could have followed.”
“But I cannot speak authoritatively because, even after the Public Accounts Committee meeting, when I asked the permanent secretary last week whether I could come and see the information that, I believe, legally should be made available to me, I got no reply. Nothing.”
“The second objective that I wanted to achieve was to stop the haemorrhage of public funds. Let us not pretend that the money is still to be spent: tens of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money has already been spent — £85,000 a day, day by day, as we go along.”
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“Essentially, we are working with all our partners. I regularly meet directly with the leadership of Tourism Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland. In fact, I am just back from a very successful meeting, not in the EU but in the United States, specifically in relation to the EU programme. We know that, in our work with our EU partners, our tourism figures are up. They are up in Northern Ireland and up across Ireland. Indeed, it is almost the case, which we want to encourage, that that rising tide does lift all boats. I am pressing to ensure that we maximise every opportunity that we take with our EU partners.”
“Ministers also consented to the transfer of lands to Waterways Ireland and a 20-year licence to Longford County Council. That is to facilitate the development of the shared pedestrian and cycle route along the Royal canal from the junction of the Longford branch at Cloonsheerin to the Westmeath county boundary at Cloonbrin for a distance of 28·2 kilometres. <BR /> <BR />The Council agreed to meet again in tourism format in spring 2016. I commend the statement to the Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />The NSMC noted the ongoing work by relevant Departments in Ireland and Northern Ireland to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023 and the preparations in hand in both jurisdictions to host the Women's Rugby World Cup in Belfast and Dublin in August 2017. <BR /> <BR />The NSMC noted Tourism Ireland's annual report and accounts for 2014. It consented to the grant of right of way over the Royal Canal towpath at Kilbrook, County Kildare, to Cathal Fitzsimmons and to the deed of transfer and grant of right of way between Waterways Ireland and Bord Na Móna Energy Ltd for lands at Begnagh, County Longford.”
“Ministers noted the current position of the 2016 business plan and the intention to bring it to the next available NSMC meeting for approval. The plan has since been approved at the NSMC Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) meeting on 11 December 2015. <BR /> <BR />The joint work to develop a compendium report on tourism statistics was noted. The study is expected to be finalised shortly, and a detailed report will be made available to Ministers at their next meeting. Ministers noted that work is progressing on the preparation of an all-island cruise tourism strategy in consultation and collaboration with key stakeholders and that it should be completed in early 2016.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ministers received a presentation from the CEO, Mr Niall Gibbons, on Tourism Ireland's performance throughout 2015. It contained highlights of Tourism Ireland's marketing campaign throughout the year, with particular regard to the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway coastal route; the global greening campaign; Game of Thrones; the Irish Open; the British-Irish visa scheme; and overseas publicity. <BR /> <BR />Ministers received a performance overview of the 2015 season and were informed of emerging promotional themes for 2016, in particular, Ireland's Ancient East; Northern Ireland's Year of Food and Drink 2016; the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway coastal route; and Dublin — A Breath of Fresh Air. <BR /> <BR />The NSMC welcomed the strong growth in visitor numbers from all main markets to Ireland and Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ministers noted the current position of the EU funding programmes that may be of assistance to the tourism sector and agreed that the relevant tourism stakeholders in both jurisdictions will continue to monitor closely developments at EU level to ensure that tourism may benefit from all suitable collaborative funding opportunities. The chairperson, Mr Brian Ambrose, informed Ministers of the work of the Tourism Ireland board since the previous meeting, including delivering the 2015 business plan and developing the 2016 business plan, as well as progress on implementing the corporate plan for 2014-16. Ministers also learned of the progress in delivering Tourism Ireland's performance goals for 2015 and the development of the 2016 goals.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, I wish to make a statement in compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 regarding a meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in tourism sectoral format. The meeting was held in Armagh on 2 December 2015. Minister Carál Ní Chuilín and I represented the Northern Ireland Executive. The Irish Government were represented by Paschal Donohoe, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. I chaired the meeting. The statement has been agreed with Minister Ní Chuilín, and I make it on behalf of us both.”
“Certainly, I congratulate it. I have met the GAA on a number of occasions, most recently with the deputy First Minister as we put forward the whole sport offering that Northern Ireland has, with GAA, rugby and football all joining together. Northern Ireland has had some unique sporting moments. We are just off the back of probably one of the most successful Sports Personality of the Year shows in Belfast. The Northern Ireland team has qualified for Europe. I will skip over the weekend's Ulster rugby result. Of course I congratulate the GAA, and I will work with it in how it develops sport and in how it develops and supports the sport and improves the economy of Northern Ireland.”
“I think we both agree on the goal; we might disagree on the methods. I have been meeting businesses, as well as the CBI at local and UK leadership level, and they have a specific corporate responsibility and are seeking to help in particular areas that they are working in. I note the excellent work that Business in the Community is doing. I spent time with the trade unions last week. I will continue all those individual alliances to achieve the specific goal that we have to drive down economic inactivity and increase the number of jobs in Northern Ireland.”
“Last week, I was in Ballymena where the wonderful new company Apeer is promoting 25 jobs. It has the potential to grow in the UK market. What you are seeing there is young people being able to access a pathway into employment that, hopefully, can lift them out of poverty.”
“The Northern Ireland Executive collectively are looking at where we need to raise people out of poverty. That has been done at the start, through assisting young people to get better grades at school, and through targeted intervention in numeracy and literacy through the childcare strategy that you heard about earlier. We have to focus on and keep as our priority the Northern Ireland economy. While I speak of the good things that we have done, all of us are conscious, as the Member pointed out, that we have 27% in that area, according to the last figures that I looked at on the economic inactivity index. We have to see what we can do in those areas. <BR /> <BR />Sometimes I get challenged for bringing in jobs that are below the private sector median, but the other challenge is to get people on the first step of the ladder.”
“The challenge to all of us around the Chamber is to deliver against the attractive offering of talent, cost and competitive tax and to use our budget as judiciously as we can to ensure that we get the most investment from it.”
“We are still attracting more foreign direct investment than any other part of the United Kingdom. I will give you a quote from a senior executive of Allstate:”
“The challenge for us is to work within the Budget allocation. We have a block grant. We can challenge that allocation, but we also have to work within it. When I sit around the Executive table, there are many competing priorities. The Member has been challenging for increased health spending. In nearly every area that I can think of, from roads infrastructure to agriculture and right through to my Department, if you gave me more money, I could spend it profitably and efficiently for Northern Ireland, but we have to realise that we cannot spend the same pound twice. We have to look at the resources that we have, the challenges coming down the line and the successes that we have had. With difficult resources, we are still well below the European Union average for unemployment.”
“I have taken a lot of cognisance of what Professor Johnston said. I also spent a considerable time with Professor Nixon, the vice chancellor at Ulster University, looking specifically at what we need to do alongside DEL initially and, ultimately, in the new Department for the Economy. If the Office for Budget Responsibility's assessment is accurate, we know that our economy will be growing and, hopefully, as the economy grows, we can allocate more of that money to where it is needed. I also know that the First Minister, when she was Finance Minister, held a very recent meeting with the Minister for Employment and Learning specifically on those areas, and we will seek to address the challenge that is raised to match the corporation tax investment that will come.”
“The lower rate of corporation tax will open doors and make Northern Ireland one of the most competitive and attractive investment propositions in western Europe for new foreign direct investment. A lower rate of corporation tax will also provide a boost to local profitable firms as they will have additional finance to invest in their growth and, hopefully, create more jobs and investment in the Northern Ireland economy.”
“It has been said that it is potentially a game changer, and all of us have to get behind Northern Ireland plc to attract jobs. Economists have told us that, in a 15-year period, we can grow the economy by 10%. They have told us that we can add up to 30,000 new jobs. I am working alongside DEL to make sure that we have the skills sector, which is challenging but necessary to get those jobs in. Invest Northern Ireland believes that a lower rate of corporation tax will enable Northern Ireland to compete for and win a wider range of tax-sensitive investment projects and get more than we currently have. We will build on Northern Ireland's success with foreign direct investment that I outlined.”
“The Member will know that 2014-15 was a record year for overall jobs promotion in Northern Ireland. Of the 13,785 new jobs that were promoted, 5,661 were from externally owned companies. A total of 1,047 were in 25 companies that are new to Northern Ireland. We will continue to target the priority sectors of ICT, financial services and business and professional services, combined with seeking to grow the life sciences sector. The past 12 months have been good. We have to look to where the challenges will come and at the opportunities for the next period.”
“It is envisaged that that will be achieved through the introduction of a new universal service obligation, which will be established by statute and implemented by Ofcom. I understand that the UK Government will consult publicly on those plans early this year. My officials are working with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to make sure that the specific interests of Northern Ireland are articulated, and the Member articulated the concerns in his area very well. We have made it known that our preference is for a universal service obligation that aligns fully with the ambition of the European Union digital agenda.”
“I will certainly meet the honourable Member and the people who are particularly affected. Often, I like to see what the provision is at first hand, so I will try to find time to look at a number of rural areas where there is significant difficulty. I know that the UK Government are committed to giving everyone across the UK a legal right to request a 10 megabits per second broadband connection by 2020.”
“Some other avenues are still commercially sensitive as regards what we could do to get broadband provision into those areas. There has been a pilot provision through particular satellite systems. There will be a challenge. Our broadband improvement programme has helped tens of thousands, and we have the superfast broadband improvement project. All of those deliver for many businesses, but I am acutely aware that there are pockets that experience significant difficulty. Going by my postbag and the people whom I speak to at a specific time, saying that we have 100% coverage is being increasingly challenged. I will look specifically at what we can do for those areas, particularly on satellite provision.”
“There are specific difficulties in rural areas. We can provide coverage for those areas, but I am acutely aware of the speed of that coverage. I am acutely aware, too, that, even when we say that we can provide 100% broadband coverage, very often, many people cannot get it due to the pressure, if it is satellite broadband, on particular beams. I am going through a number of postcodes with my Department to see what we can do in specific areas. We will put the information on our website so that everybody can see it, and, if the Member wants to give me the postcodes of areas where there are specific concerns, I will seek to address them. <BR /> <BR />Where there is no fixed-line provision, we have looked at other initiatives.”
“Remember that we can tell the rest of the world that, if they invest in Northern Ireland, they will have about 85% of the business costs of the rest of the United Kingdom and 95% of those of the Republic of Ireland. They will have a talent pool to draw on that, in many cases, is second to none, and, from 1 April, they will have the most competitive corporation tax rate in the United Kingdom. I encourage the Member and all others to join me as we take that message right across the globe to continue that trajectory of attracting more foreign direct investment per head to Northern Ireland than any other part of the United Kingdom, including London.”
“I have already joined a lot of residents, the manufacturing sector, a number of new businesses and Unite the Union at a very productive meeting. I did that under the radar because there are obviously a lot of commercial sensitivities attached to where there have been job losses. I can tell you that we have been looking specifically at the sites that were lost and developing the product that is there. Without breaking any commercial sensitivities, I can say that we have been looking at where some of the existing successful businesses are in the area and at what we could grow on those sites. I will keep that constituency — as I will keep all of Northern Ireland — very firmly in my mind as we seek to take forward a unique proposition.”
“Output is up 3·2% over the past four quarters. Over the past year, the sector also added 1,870 jobs, which brings the total number of manufacturing jobs to more than 80,000. Having taken the number of manufacturing jobs to more than 80,000, we should be cognisant of the fact that that is the first time that Northern Ireland has achieved that since 2008. However, a number of major redundancies have been announced, and there is no room for complacency. My Department and Invest Northern Ireland will continue to do all that we can do to support investment, create jobs and promote competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.”
“Manufacturing is hugely important to the Northern Ireland economy. It makes a significant contribution to export levels and to research and development in Northern Ireland, both of which are central to wealth creation. According to the latest 'DETI Economic Commentary', from October 2015:”
“Unemployment in Northern Ireland today sits at roughly a third of the European Union average and a third of the Republic of Ireland average. <BR /> <BR />Together, let us get a passion for Northern Ireland. I will certainly work alongside the Member to try to deliver for his constituency, as I will do for my own and every other constituency, but we have to develop a passion for Northern Ireland in order to attract foreign direct investment. To answer the Member's question on proportionality, Northern Ireland has attracted more foreign direct investment per head of population than any other part of the United Kingdom. Some 75% of the companies that have come to Northern Ireland have subsequently reinvested. That is a huge vote of confidence in our product and in our people.”
“We seek to bring investment to Northern Ireland. When I look at schemes that the Member has not mentioned, I see the Department's success with Wrightbus, which tripled its profits, and the new investment that has come in from London to the area. Many people whom I know in North Antrim are working on world-leading products in the likes of Randox and Schrader, where hundreds of new jobs have been created. I will continue to show the Member that there are companies — Moy Park and many others — with which we are seeking to encourage the development of export markets in order to build businesses and build jobs. I think that the Member will realise that we market Northern Ireland as a whole. We want to bring jobs to Northern Ireland.”
“As I said to Mr Flanagan, we will work with councils to help drive business development on an equitable basis throughout Northern Ireland and with an increased subregional focus. We will participate in and encourage the development of subregional plans that are informed and delivered by local people through the council and ensure that they are locally led strategies to deliver the best results for those areas.”
“It is vital that we allow private-sector companies to choose. They will choose, anyway. Government cannot force a private-sector company. I do not think that anybody in the House would be saying, "If you can get the jobs to Northern Ireland, don't take them unless you can get them to x, y or z". We have to show our best features. We will do that, and we will outline particularly unique prospects for certain areas. Ultimately, however, private companies will be allowed to make their own decisions. The Northern Ireland Executive Programme for Government focused on job creation for Northern Ireland as a whole; it did not include a subregional target. Invest Northern Ireland's targets flow from the Programme for Government. The job creation targets are also focused on Northern Ireland as a whole.”
“The Member will note that, by November 2015, the western regional contract of RSI, which includes Fermanagh and south Tyrone, had delivered 2,251 business plan approvals. The Member can look to Westland Horticulture, Dunbia and, particularly, Teleperformance for some significant involvements and confidence of investors in the area.”
“Without that body meeting, I have been specifically looking with a number of businesses in the west at what exactly we can do. It is important to note that we have been working alongside Fermanagh and south Tyrone in terms of the regional start initiative (RSI), which encourages potential entrepreneurs to produce a business plan as one of the key early steps to a new business. Under local government reform, a number of economic development functions transferred to the 11 councils, including local start-up provision. The councils have requested that Invest Northern Ireland continues to manage the RSI until March 2016, with the potential flexibility up to October 2016. That will help all of us to shape how enterprise can be delivered in the particular areas. The regional start initiative continues to operate successfully.”
“During the period 2011-12 to 2014-15, with Invest Northern Ireland support, businesses based in areas east of the River Bann promoted 27,116 jobs and created 20,451 jobs. During the same period, with Invest Northern Ireland support, businesses based in areas west of the River Bann promoted 9,679 jobs and created 7,416 jobs. It is Invest Northern Ireland's role to support companies that bring forward investment projects on the basis of merit, irrespective of where they are based. "Jobs promoted" are jobs that a company expects to create in future years; "jobs created" are jobs that have actually been filled at that point in time and may relate to investments secured in earlier years. Therefore, it is not possible to directly compare jobs promoted and jobs created in the same period.”
“The first thing that we want to do is to ensure that we get the jobs to Northern Ireland; that has to be our priority. We will always target and showcase particular areas for the unique skills that might be there because of the cluster of areas. We have asked all our 11 councils to look at the unique selling points of their area, and we have asked Invest Northern Ireland to look at Northern Ireland as a whole. The Executive asked it to deliver a very ambitious target of 25,000 jobs over the past four years, which, as you know, it has massively exceeded. If any Member has a particular concern, they should come and talk to me. We will look with Invest Northern Ireland at what is unique and special for that area and see where we can make the networks to deliver jobs and investment to Northern Ireland.”
“I will certainly instruct my officials to do that and work alongside the Member, as we want to see and be part of anything that brings jobs to Belfast. When I look at Glassmarque Design and Chemtest, to name just a couple, I see where the success in west Belfast is already, and it is not least because of the quality of the workforce there.”
“I understand that the former Visteon site is under the ownership of Fold Housing Association. I am aware that Belfast City Council recently approved a planning application proposing a mixed-use development, including housing and business uses on this former industrial site. If it is the wish of the promoters, Invest Northern Ireland would be willing to market any suitable business property through its online database. The property could also be included within property searches, in line with specific investor requirements.”
“We will work alongside local food and drink businesses to export by organising Northern Ireland group stands at the 10 food and drink exhibitions, including major exhibitions such as Gulfood in Dubai in February, SIAL in Paris in September and other regional events where we can across Europe, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. Ultimately, however, to export and sell we need to support producers, and we will continue to work with DARD on how we can do that.”
“I certainly understand that. I disagree about the Comber potato: I believe that it has a great future. We had the Comber Potato Festival, and we were there on the Saturday morning. Over the summer, everybody saw the interest and the quality of the product. Everybody can understand that the Comber potato has not only a great present but, potentially, a great future. <BR /> <BR />The Member raises a very important point about food producers. I have asked Invest Northern Ireland to continue to work alongside all the food and drink companies of all sizes and from all subsectors to ensure that they get the best price for their pure, natural, quality produce. This year provides an opportunity to promote quality produce both at home and in markets outside Northern Ireland.”
“That is what we are looking at in terms of the umbrella identity. <BR /> <BR />Four Year of Food and Drink 2016 roadshow events were partnered with Food Northern Ireland. They were attended by approximately 350 delegates. Tourism Northern Ireland also supported, through the tourism event funding programme, an additional scheme specifically for food and drink at those events, and a total of £300,000 has been allocated for that scheme.”
“I do not know which of the three questions to answer. We should focus on the aim. I welcome the Member's passion for the subject. The comparisons that I want to see at the end of this year are whether we have generated £10 million in PR — £5 million in Great Britain and overseas, £2 million in Northern Ireland and £3 million in the Republic of Ireland; have increased our export sales by £30 million; have increased by 5% the level of visitor satisfaction with Northern Ireland food and drink as measured by the Northern Ireland visitor attitude survey; have 10 new food experiences delivered and developed, whether consolidated food buyer, producer network or clusters; have 10 new applications for protected geographical indication (PGI) status progressed with DARD, with at least two approved by the Commission by the end of 2016; and have increased the number of entries to the Great Taste Awards, to 105 companies that won 400 stars.”
“Its opportunity for differentiation is regionally produced, distinctive, provenance-based local produce, not just for our agrifood or markets, but for people to enjoy as part of their tourism experience.”
“Of course. The reality is that we will showcase, not only those that the Member has mentioned, but all our indigenous, sometimes award-winning and even internationally award-winning food offerings, from Comber potatoes to our eels. We have heard the great news that some major programmes on the BBC, with millions of viewers, are now coming to Northern Ireland. We have a unique opportunity to boost our tourism figures along an upward trajectory. I have not spoken to all our hotels, but I have spoken to many of them, and I know that they are quite happy with the healthy occupancy figures and the number of cruise ships that we are attracting. All that shows that Northern Ireland has something unique and very special. What we want to do is to show where Northern Ireland's strength lies.”
“The Whitewater Brewery at Kilkeel has a new craft ale which is called Maggies Leap. I helped to launch it at the Irish Open and I understand that at least five pallets of that new craft beer are heading for Asia to celebrate the Chinese New Year. So, not only are we being successful locally, we are also being successful in international markets.”
“The first thing that we look at is sales of £4 billion per annum. We also look to measure it against the agrifood industry, which is our largest manufacturing sector and provides us with about 10% of all private-sector employment. I say to Mr McKinney that not only do I want to measure it against that but I actually want to build on that. The Year of Food and Drink offers a whole opportunity to differentiate and celebrate indigenous local food and drink. Mr Wells's constituency is South Down. I know that they were looking specifically at the food and drink offering and tourism offering on the back of the success of the Irish Open and other initiatives. The Irish Open attracted well over 100,000 paying spectators. <BR /> <BR />I will mention to the Member one particular initiative that I found out about only at the weekend.”
“Tourism Northern Ireland has coordinated a series of dedicated industry and event roadshows across Northern Ireland, and Invest Northern Ireland will assist local food and drink businesses to export by organising Northern Ireland group stands at 10 food and drink exhibitions and other regional events across Europe, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain. DARD will be supporting the Year of Food and Drink 2016 through the regional food programme. <BR /> <BR />We are on the back of another highly successful launch at the Ulster Hall and I think that we are on the right trajectory to show the potential that our food and drink offering has.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 2 and 7 together. <BR /> <BR />The Year of Food and Drink 2016 is a significant opportunity to positively influence the perception of Northern Ireland's food offering in key areas such as tourism and also in our export markets. We aim to generate £10 million of positive PR and increase exports by £30 million. <BR /> <BR />The direct answer to Mr McKinney's question is that Tourism Ireland outlined its plans for promoting Northern Ireland, including the Year of Food and Drink, at the NSMC tourism sectoral meeting on 2 December 2015. Tourism Northern Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland and DARD are also committed to the delivery of that initiative.”
“I welcome the Member to the House. We will use all the data available to us to help target our resources to support firms. I am very keen that we support both large and small-scale firms. We look to initiatives right across Northern Ireland. We will take the best intelligence to support those firms and utilise all our data analytics to the full.”
“The collaborative network programme was launched in September 2011. It has funded networks across a variety of industry sectors aligned to the DETI matrix thematic priorities, including connected health, data analytics, IT skills, renewables, digital media and aerospace. That programme fully supports SMEs to collaborate with others, particularly larger companies and higher education institutions, to develop capacity and capability and, ultimately, to derive business benefit from those involved in and supporting the wider Northern Ireland economy.”
“I acknowledge the good work that the Member has highlighted. In Northern Ireland, the clustering approach has underpinned Invest Northern Ireland's collaborative business networks programme, and that has seen the development of more than 30 networks.”
“I align myself fully with the Member's comments about improving the technology sector in Northern Ireland. It is a knowledge-based sector that, in many cases, is growing exponentially. In some areas — I am thinking of the knowledge-based sector in the Science Park and others — it is growing by up to 30%, which is huge growth. We must maintain that momentum, and we will do anything and everything that we can to deliver more jobs in Northern Ireland. As Members will know, I have maintained the baseline for InterTradeIreland, because when something is delivering for Northern Ireland companies, I want them to continue to deliver. I think the Member will be pleased to note that I have approved an additional bid for 2016 of £206,000 for InterTradeIreland. That is subject to the InterTrade board's ratification.”