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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“I can remember him telling me how difficult it was when Eileen confined him to bringing 3,000 of his favourite books to their new home, because he had just short of 34,000 to choose from. He was a man of great humour and pastor's heart. As a student, I remember coming back to his house one night with a Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket after putting up posters at midnight in Belfast city centre. He came in from whatever meeting he had been at and sat down with us at his kitchen table, where he filled a pint glass full of ice cubes to the brim with red Shloer and sat and joked with us until the early hours of the morning. We got up the next day just short of lunchtime to learn that Dr Paisley had been outside the shipyard in east Belfast at half six in the morning campaigning for the European election. He was an orator of excellence.”
“So, on this day that this great son of Ulster is laid to rest, we return our thanks to God, as Ian would want us to do, because he always put God first in his life, for the love that sought him, the blood that bought him and the grace that brought him to the fold, and how faithfully he preached Christ crucified. To be alongside Ian was to know and understand that Christ was his strength and Christ was his might. The fire of the Reformation burned strongly in Dr Paisley, and he embodied in that hymn something that we should all dedicate ourselves to — that faith of our fathers, the holy faith that he was true to until death. <BR /> <BR />He was an amazingly well-read man and a powerful orator. I do not need to pay tribute to his strengths as a politician. Long ago, he entered into the pantheon of great unionist leaders.”
“It is a privilege to pay tribute to Rev Dr Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Lord Bannside. I know with certainty that Ian has already heard the greatest of all tributes because he has already heard the:”
“I have seen the funding directories that are produced, and I would advise community organisations to access those through their political parties and their MEPs in order to simplify the rules and continue the success that we have had in attracting funds from Europe.”
“Hopefully that addresses some of those points. <BR /> <BR />Contributions from Mr Moutray, Mr Spratt and Ms Hale were very strong on the need to reduce red tape. I have alluded to where that can be done and where the European Union directive is, but I want to assure you that, as far as community organisations go, we will continue to push for that reduction. <BR /> <BR />I congratulate all our MEPs. I have seen all their work individually. I suppose that I am closest politically to Diane Dodds.”
“It was a strong point, and we are committed to developing the capacity of local organisations, particularly community and voluntary organisations, to develop their European engagement and to access the funding programmes. It should be noted that the primary focus for that will be the Northern Ireland European Regional Forum, which the Department is co-chairing with Belfast City Council. It is now in its second year and has over 100 members. <BR /> <BR />Megan Fearon made a valuable point in that more needed to be done, and she raised a query about proactivity in the nature of horizon scanning. The revision of the desk officer structure should make the horizon scanning more effective, and the new legal officer that we have in the European office should give us early warning of European Court of Justice case law.”
“We can advise that, at this stage, we are committed to assessing our own absolute, as in how we have performed against how we have performed before, as well as relative performance in drawing down competitive funds. Recently, we have engaged the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency to conduct a small feasibility study to focus on the data availability, the comparability and the analysis, and we anticipate that the next phase of that work will continue towards the end of the month. <BR /> <BR />Mr Alex Attwood argued for wider membership of the Barroso task force working group to include local organisations and stakeholders.”
“I know that, in the past, community organisations that have attracted European funding have found themselves in absolutely ridiculous situations where they were funded to provide coffee and scones at one of their meetings and ended up getting a receipt sent back to them because the Fairy liquid to wash the dishes afterwards to leave the community centre in the same tidy fashion that they found it in was not authorised expenditure. I have raised that with SEUPB and with our Department of Finance and Personnel to try to see where we can ease those regulations so that that form of difficulty does not reoccur. <BR /> <BR />The Committee Chair mentioned the need to evaluate success of European engagement through benchmarking.”
“The only certainty with EU institutional change is that nothing is certain, but I can give an assurance that I and my ministerial colleagues will continue to work in the European arena to promote our region as a great place to live, to work and to invest. <BR /> <BR />I will turn briefly to some of the points that were made. Sammy Wilson, in making an important point, referred to the bureaucracy in Departments and the red tape that is hitting applications. I think that will have resonance with every Member and right across every constituency office. Departments must promote EU audit standards, but a commitment was secured from the European Union to simplify the EU funding programmes. That gives Members some hope.”
“Success in our economy, society, environment and culture means being prepared to argue for and influence the policy priorities that impact most on our devolved responsibilities. <BR /> <BR />In effect, I suppose you could say that we have served our apprenticeship. Our approach has been tested and found to be mature. It is timely to thank President Barroso and Commissioner Hahn, who have been our partners in what has been something of a marathon, and, in defining our new future relationship with the new College of Commissioners, we are mindful that our new structured relationship may well be different from that of the past.”
“A European priorities statement that focuses on the most vital indicators, tracking overall progress towards the Executive's strategic aims, is a very necessary next step. It is a means of taking our European engagement to the next stage of development. However, the Committee's point that the Executive should publish their annual European priorities in a more timely fashion is well made, and I will raise that point with the Departments tomorrow. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, before I turn to some of the excellent contributions that have been made on the Floor this afternoon, I want to say that we are at a crossroads in our journey with the Commission services. We understand that Europe is complex and requires committed, sustained and systematic engagement.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our engagement infrastructure is second to none because we have built it that way. Now we have to optimise its use to win hearts and minds, to persuade others of our own point of view. That requires systematic as opposed to regular engagement with Europe. That is why, in developing the Executive's strategic European priorities for 2014 and 2015, Minister McCann and I have sought to ensure greater clarity between strategic outcomes and operational processes. We believe it is important to do the right thing but also to do things right. <BR /> <BR />Working with Departments to get that balance right has taken longer than anticipated. It has led to some delay in the production of the 2014-15 priorities.”
“As European engagement is a collective responsibility, I would like an opportunity to consult in detail with Executive colleagues. In fact, junior Minister McCann and I have tabled the Committee's inquiry report for discussion with Departments at a meeting of the Barroso task force working group tomorrow afternoon. At a later stage, we will provide a formal written response to the Committee. <BR /> <BR />Let me give an outline of what Ministers are doing. Notwithstanding the need for consultation, I agree with the Committee that the expertise and knowledge that we have painstakingly accrued over the years should not be lost. I support the continuation of an interdepartmental forum to further develop and enhance our European engagement so that the investments that we have all made are built upon and not squandered.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have built a European infrastructure that is second to none. We are supported by a network of committed contacts in the key directorates general of the European Commission whose work impacts most on devolved responsibilities. We are committed to continue working at a high level, politically and operationally, to enhance our prosperity. The continuation of a structured relationship with the Commission, such as that with the Barroso task force, is vital in that regard. <BR /> <BR />I turn to the recommendations in what is a comprehensive report. Although I welcome the report and the spirit in which this work has been taken forward, I cannot respond to each of the recommendations within the time allowed.”
“<BR /> <BR />The specific remit of the Barroso task force was to mobilise the services of the European Commission to move our economy up the value chain to enter the top league of innovative European regions. Over time, our long period as a major recipient of European regional aid was to be reduced. Correspondingly, we would increasingly rely on our own resources to compete against the best in Europe. <BR /> <BR />But, at that time, no one had anticipated that a credit crunch in the US housing market would lead to a full financial meltdown by the middle of 2008, which would eventually turn into a global recession. So, over the past six years, our collective approach to European engagement has matured. The emphasis we place on networks, strategic alliances and partnerships has delivered success for the Northern Ireland Executive.”
“Our partnership with the Commission's services was originally intended to support the peace process, with an emphasis on generating more growth and jobs in line with the Lisbon agenda. Subsequently, that Lisbon economic development plan evolved into Europe's growth strategy for the decade to 2020. <BR /> <BR />In a changing world, we want a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy. These mutually reinforcing priorities were to deliver high levels of employment, productivity and social cohesion. Five ambitious objectives on employment, innovation, education, social inclusion and climate/energy were to drive actions at EU and national levels to underpin the 2020 strategy.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will now deal with the nature of the structured relationship with Europe.”
“The European Commission president designate, Jean-Claude Juncker, has made strengthening Europe's competitiveness and stimulating investment his number one priority to boost jobs and growth. Despite the change of key decision-makers in the main EU institutions, the work to sustain and nourish a fragile economic recovery will continue. Mr Juncker will present an ambitious jobs, growth and investment package in the broader context of the mid-term review of the Europe 2020 strategy. Let me tell the House that the economy was, is and will remain the key issue. I should also tell the House that the First Minister and the deputy First Minister have issued an invitation to Mr Juncker to visit Belfast to showcase what has been achieved and to look at where the opportunities for jobs, growth and investment are here.”
“<BR /> <BR />I want to talk about taking a more strategic approach in Europe, because, although our experience of European engagement is positive, there is more to be done to make the most of the opportunities that Europe can offer. We remain committed to participating in Europe in a positive, outward- and forward-looking and progressive manner to become a preferred region of choice for partnership working and in which to live, work and invest. The Executive will continue to promote their interests in the European Union, raise their profile throughout Europe and raise awareness and encourage participation in European matters. <BR /> <BR />We all know that it is a time of change and renewal in Europe. Shortly, the European Parliament will begin its confirmation hearings for nominees for the next college of European commissioners.”
“<BR /> <BR />In April 2008, the European Commission noted that, although apparently less involved in EU policies than others, we had a "credible track record in general." In the past six years, the Barroso task force working group has progressively and relentlessly enhanced engagement in European matters by Departments, although I would be the first to admit that the working group has not always taken the credit for its successes. As a small region located on the north-west periphery of continental Europe, we punch substantially above our weight, to use a Carl Frampton analogy. All of that hard work has produced a step change in our relations with Europe. I want to thank the Committee for recognising that achievement in its report, including the role of our Executive office in Brussels.”
“I welcome the inquiry report from the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. It is heartening to have that external recognition that the sustained hard work that Ministers have been undertaking with their officials over many years has resulted in a marked increase in our European engagement. That work has, directly or indirectly, been very positive for the Executive. We are well on track to exceed the Programme for Government's competitive EU funds drawdown target. In building European alliances, we have raised our positive profile in comparison with our 250 competitor regions by participating proactively in countless formal and informal knowledge networks to achieve our strategic European priorities.”
“While we may be critical of his political outlook — that is the nature of political discourse — we hugely admire somebody who sought peace and has left a legacy of peace in Northern Ireland. Our sympathy and love are with his family circle.”
“We differed on many grounds, but I can say that, as a devoted unionist, I respect the fact that Albert Reynolds was the first Irish Prime Minister who understood and supported the principle of consent in relation to Northern Ireland. He had a profound understanding of the relationship between the Republic of Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. He also, and this is what I admire him most for, was a person who eschewed all forms of violence and who would not accept any caveats to ceasefires. It had to be, in his view — the correct view — exclusively peaceful, without caveat and without question. <BR /> <BR />Today, as the House gathers to remember him, we remember him as somebody who was committed to seeking peace.”
“I rise to offer the sympathy and condolences of the Democratic Unionist Party to the family and family circle of the former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds. I extend our sympathy, care and love to them. They are in our prayers. There is no doubt that Albert Reynolds contributed to helping to find an exclusively peaceful way forward for Northern Ireland. He had numerous skills as a businessman, as a leader and, from what I read, as a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. It is a wonderful legacy to be known as having made an undoubted contribution to helping to find that exclusively peaceful way forward for Northern Ireland. That is significant in itself. <BR /> <BR />The Democratic Unionist Party differed with the Taoiseach on many occasions. We did not share the same political outlook.”