Paul Frew
North Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for that intervention. Nevertheless, there are concerns that I want to address. The Minister and the departmental officials will know that, even from the range of questions that I have asked. We need to make sure that we get the balance correct.”
“In the written and oral evidence received then, the Committee was advised of potential amendments that the Minister may table at Consideration Stage, including an amendment to remove the commissioner that is being considered in liaison with OLC.”
“That in itself causes some victims and witnesses bother, because they are in a system that they are not part of, which means that they do not get the support that they require. That can sometimes leave them feeling retraumatised, as though they have been put through the wringer again.”
“The Bill makes provision to offer those protections and provide clarity to victims that they do not have to face their perpetrator in court. <BR /> <BR />Members asked questions about a range of matters, including the independence of the office, the ability to review the performance of any future commissioner, the costs of establishing th…”
“I thank the Minister for her intervention. She was absolutely right to take that action, as it means that victims' voices are right at the heart of the matters under discussion. It is now obvious to us that that should have been done years ago, but it is good that it is being done now.”
“Officials explained that the Bill would legislate on the disclosure regime not to prevent an application for disclosure but to set out a process whereby the defence would have to show the relevance of the information that it was requesting. That is an important protection.”
The complete record
Every one of 3,736 lines we hold for Paul Frew, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 43 of 75.
“<BR /> <BR />The focus of my Department over the past year has very much been on alleviating the impact of COVID on the economy and on supporting our employees and employers through these most difficult times. Despite the unique challenges that we have all faced, it is a tribute to the determination and commitment of everyone involved that we are able to debate this small but very important Bill today. <BR /> <BR />It is a single-issue Bill, and it is focused on providing statutory parental bereavement leave and pay for working parents in Northern Ireland who experience what is arguably one of the most devastating of losses: the death of a child.”
“I consider it a privilege that one of my first significant responsibilities as Minister for the Economy should be to stand before the House with this important Bill. I was very keen to keep it in the Order Paper today. As you can imagine, Mr Deputy Speaker, it is important that we get it moving to the next stage. <BR /> <BR />At the outset, I place on record my gratitude to my predecessor Diane Dodds. She ensured that the Bill remained a top priority for the Department in spite of the massive challenges faced by COVID. She has taken a personal interest in the area. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge and thank the Chair and members of the Economy Committee, along with my Executive colleagues and fellow Members, for the support and generosity that has already been expressed towards the Bill.”
“It is therefore my view that APD should be addressed at a national level, as its continuing impact has only been exacerbated by the profound economic repercussions inflicted by COVID-19 on our air connectivity and the Northern Ireland economy.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He has raised the issue time and time again in the Chamber and at the Finance Committee. Certainly, we have looked at it. At present, I would not give up on long-haul flights. Getting them back would be important, significant and positive. However, he is right about short-haul and internal flights. For Northern Ireland in particular, APD is an unfair tax. It has an especially detrimental impact on Northern Ireland passengers, given our physical remoteness from GB and the lack of alternative means of travel, such as road and rail options.”
“It is a support scheme for airlines that is being developed by my Department, and it is aimed at maintaining and enhancing Northern Ireland's air connectivity with the rest of the United Kingdom following the COVID pandemic. The scheme aims to support inbound tourism and business travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain and to encourage inward investment in the local economy, which are essential for recovery. We have engaged with the three local airports and the airlines in its development. My Department will launch the scheme to deliver on its commitments to support Northern Ireland's domestic air connectivity with GB as soon as the required approvals are secured. I hope to launch the scheme within the next couple of weeks.”
“I thank the Member for his important question. First, let me echo his sentiments and pay tribute to Brian Ambrose for the work that he has done over many years in leading Belfast City Airport. I also put on record my thanks and appreciation to Brian for contacting me over the weekend and working with my officials to stave off many of the negative issues around the shocking news. It is due to the work of Belfast City Airport that we now have five of the six routes back up and running. I highly commend the airport for the work that it has conducted over the past few days. <BR /> <BR />The Member is right to pick up on what I said about the Northern Ireland domestic aviation kick-start scheme, which is a mouthful.”
“If that is not the case, my Department's Careers Service is available. Hopefully, the airline industry, if it gets the confidence that it desperately needs, will pick up.”
“I thank the Member for her question; it is important. It is a worrying time for Stobart Air employees, with the company going into liquidation. I hope that a lot of those staff — some of them at least — may find alternative employment with other carriers.”
“The Member will have heard my first answer about the five routes being taken up by a combination of Aer Lingus and British Airways CityFlyer. That is to be welcomed. Hopefully, the sixth route, to East Midlands, will also be picked up soon and everything will get back to normal. <BR /> <BR />It is a worrying time for the aviation industry; it is a time of economic crisis. I will do all in my power and in the Department's power to ensure that businesses are supported in this field. We desperately need confidence injected into the industry. That is hard to come by at this time, given the state of flux and the decisions being made about countries and travel routes. I hope that we will get back to normal as soon as possible, especially as more people are vaccinated.”
“I have no information on that issue at this time. However, I am sure that my officials, who are listening in, will be able to provide that information to you and me.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I echo his sentiments about my predecessor, Diane Dodds, and the sterling work that she completed in a challenging year for the economy, the House and the Executive. I pay tribute to Diane for her work on the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill, which we hope to progress today straight after this. <BR /> <BR />The Member is right about the impact on air connectivity, and the withdrawal of Stobart Air's six routes at Belfast City Airport was certainly a shock. I am glad to say that, through the work of Belfast City Airport, five of those routes are now up and running and hopefully back to normal. Hopefully, the sixth route, to East Midlands, will resume very soon.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The employees are a worry. Employees who have lost their jobs will have a lot of worry at this time. My heart goes out to them. While there has, I understand, been no impact on jobs at Belfast City Airport, it is obviously a worrying time for all the Stobart Air employees who have lost their job following the airline's liquidation. I hope that some staff may find alternative employment with the new providers. My Department's Careers Service is available to provide personalised advice and guidance to anyone facing redundancy. Advisers have access to up-to-date labour market information provided by my Department's economists that they can use to inform discussions about reskilling, training, apprenticeships and further and higher education.”
“I thank the Member for his question. In the three hours in which I have been Minister, I have not been able to tie down any other Ministers whom I can meet. I assure the Member, however, that I will strive to meet as many people as I can in order to help the people of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />As Economy Minister, I am responsible for Northern Ireland's domestic and international air connectivity. My Department does not have the legal vires to fund airports and that type of thing. That responsibility sits with the Department of Finance and the Department for Infrastructure. Civil aviation is a reserved policy matter for the UK Department for Transport.”
“I thank the Member. I do not expect anything less from her, and I look forward to our engagement. She is after my own heart in pushing Executive Ministers forward, so I look forward to that engagement. Hopefully, we will be able to have some success together. <BR /> <BR />The Member is absolutely right when she talks about the confidence or lack of it in the industry at present. That has to change. More solid information will have to go out on how and when we can travel. I hope that that in itself will bring confidence to the industry in future.”
“The Department of Finance leads on the Northern Ireland Executive's response to the Treasury consultation, because air passenger duty is a tax. My Department has provided input to DOF that has been included in the response.”
“Yes. The Member is right that air connectivity is very important. Clearly, the announcement that Stobart Air is now in liquidation is very disappointing, and it has an impact on connectivity. I am glad that Belfast City Airport has been able to get five routes back up and running again and is working on the sixth route. <BR /> <BR />On air passenger duty, Her Majesty's Treasury's consultation on aviation tax reform launched on 23 March 2021 and closes on 14 June 2021.”
“Yes. I thank the Member for her question, and I look forward to working as a team with the Committee and with her as Chairperson. The economy is in a very challenging state, and I look forward to that engagement. <BR /> <BR />The Member is right: this sector is in need of support through both the furlough scheme and bespoke support. That is why I think that the Northern Ireland domestic aviation kick-start scheme is so important. Throughout the weekend, my officials proactively engaged with all three Northern Ireland airports to provide confidence going forward, and I hope that that work will continue.”
“I thank the Member for the supplementary question. Yes, I will discuss that issue with officials in the days ahead. I will take this opportunity to highly commend the airport for the work that it has conducted over the past number of days in securing those five routes and, hopefully, the sixth route going forward. Of course, there is a lot of work to be getting on with on future connectivity, and that is why the Northern Ireland domestic aviation kick-start scheme will be very important in maintaining a minimum frequency, incentivising enhanced frequency and encouraging new routes in the future.”
“Advisers have access to up-to-date labour market information provided by my Department's economists, which they can use to inform discussions about reskilling, training, apprenticeships and further and higher education.”
“<BR /> <BR />Throughout the weekend, my officials proactively engaged with all three Northern Ireland airports to provide confidence going forward, and we will launch the Northern Ireland domestic aviation kick-start scheme to deliver on our commitments to support Northern Ireland's domestic air connectivity with GB as soon as the required approvals are secured. <BR /> <BR />Whilst I understand that there will be no impact on jobs at Belfast City Airport, this is obviously a very worrying time for Stobart Air employees who have lost their job following the airline's liquidation. My Department's Careers Service is available to provide personalised advice and guidance to anyone who is facing redundancy.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker, I appreciate those words of welcome and congratulations. I also thank the Member for tabling the question for urgent oral answer. I look forward to working with the Member on his economy brief. <BR /> <BR />The announcement that Stobart Air is in liquidation is very disappointing at a time when our economy is beginning to recover. The withdrawal of Stobart impacted on six routes from Belfast City Airport. I and my officials were in regular contact with the airport's chief executive over the weekend, and I am delighted that five of the routes are now being operated through a combination of Aer Lingus and British Airways CityFlyer. I understand that work is ongoing by the airport to address the sixth route, to East Midlands Airport.”
“I thank the Member for her kind words. I give her the commitment now that I will work with her and all of the rest of the Economy Committee. I enjoyed my time on the Economy Committee. I am glad that I will be working alongside you guys in trying to make the economy better.”
“We do not want a two-tier system, and we do not need a two-tier service. We need a health service that is free at the point of delivery and that will help every person in our communities, no matter what age they are, where on the spectrum they reside or their experience. Those are the massive issues that will affect us all in the days and weeks ahead. We will all have to put our shoulder to the wheel and our hand to the plough. We should not and cannot look back. We need to make sure that we, as an Assembly, and the Executive deliver for the people we are here to represent. That starts with a Programme for Government that is populated and funded by a Budget that will support it.”
“I do not see direction; I do not see the better place the Minister is directing and leading everyone in Northern Ireland to, including businesses. We need to get to that better placer sooner rather than later, because lives depend on it. <BR /> <BR />The other big issue that we cannot ignore is our health service. A massive number of people are on waiting lists waiting for operations, which, in some cases, could impact their life greatly but which should not be that big an issue for our health service. That leads to further health problems and complications, which only add to the health bill that we all have to pay for. It is vital that we get moving on with the reforms that are needed for our health service so that we have a health service that all our people, not just the rich, who can afford to go private, can avail themselves of.”
“When I knock doors, as I go round helping people and doing visits, I sometimes despair at what people have to live in through no fault of their own. We need to be very cognisant of that. <BR /> <BR />We need to ensure that we can bring in, attract and create opportunities for foreign direct investment in the weeks and months ahead. It will be very challenging and difficult, even to travel and to bring people over. However, we need to strive to do that as soon and as safely as we can, because that is where we will be able to create jobs and assist businesses in providing jobs here. It will also assist the businesses that are here already. That worries me when I look at the Budget Bill. I talked about it yesterday.”
“There are major issues that should concern us all, because they affect us all, including our people and our families. One of those issues is the waste water problem, which the Chair of the Finance Committee alluded to. Just because we cannot see the pipes underneath the ground and what flows there, that does not mean that there are not issues. There are massive issues. They are massive because they affect not only our water treatment plants but development. If we cannot have development in this country, we will not have growth, new homes for our people or new business facilities for our companies, and we will not be able to create jobs from those. That is a massive issue for us. We also need better housing, as I alluded to. When I look through some of the estates and homes that people live in, I despair.”
“I thank the Principal Deputy Speaker for that ruling. Of course, I could never be accused of prolonging debate in this place.”
“No, I will not give way again to the Member, because he will get time later. <BR /> <BR />He could not even —.”
“Other Departments have put into their own budget streams funds, money and capabilities to celebrate, in some guise or another, the centenary of Northern Ireland, and I welcome all that. The Finance Minister, however, could have reached out a hand to us all by doing something in his Department and making it clear to other Departments that funding would be coming forward to celebrate the diversity of this place, all its people and all Northern Ireland's achievements over the last 100 years. That would have been a lovely gesture to make, but yet we are in a place where we cannot even lay a stone or plant a rose.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is disheartening that, in this massive document and the blue pages of the Budget Bill, the Finance Minister missed the opportunity — and it is a missed opportunity — to reach out the hand of friendship to everyone in society by celebrating everyone in the country in this centenary year. When I think about Northern Ireland, I think first and foremost about its people, and that is who we should all be celebrating. No matter what your background or political philosophy or what experiences you have had in your life, we should celebrate all our people. I believe that the Finance Minister missed an opportunity to reach out the hand of friendship. He may add in his submission that no Departments made bids. Money was produced from other means to help and assist Departments.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I welcome the fact that he agrees with me. Yes, there have been times when the Executive have not displayed the logic in some of the decisions that they have taken. It was very harsh on people and business owners when they were restricted but yet could not see the logic or even the fairness in some of the decisions. Moving forward, the Executive will have to consider how to become more transparent and get information out to people in order that they are able to understand the Executive's decisions. With that, there might be more compliance. It is very important going forward that any measures and decisions taken be open, transparent and accountable to the people whom we serve.”
“We should always strive to remove them, where and when we can, in order to allow people to live their lives and get on with their business. It is clear in my mind that, sometimes, businesses can obstruct or —.”
“It is very important that we do not rely on the Government's help, coming down from above in Barnett consequentials, to push that money out. <BR /> <BR />There will come a time when we as an Assembly and an Executive will have to be creative in how we pursue the objectives and goals that will help and enhance business and create jobs — not save them, but create jobs in the future — as we adapt to any new changing environments in the future. There will be changes; I have no doubt about that. <BR /> <BR />Before I move off the issue of restrictions, let me say this: we as politicians should never be comfortable with restrictions on our daily lives and business. They should never be classed as the default position.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is a sense, however, that businesses are still tied to a life support mechanism. I fear for the future of some businesses when those life support mechanisms are removed. I believe that there is a duty on all of us, not least the Finance Minister, to keep pressurising and talking to the Government in Westminster about future support mechanisms. It will be needed not for all businesses but for some that are still directly impacted by the restrictions that we placed on them and for those that have been indirectly impacted by restrictions — maybe their markets have fallen through and their customer base is non-existent. There are businesses out there that need support and will continue to need support in the weeks and months ahead.”
“I rise again to speak in a Budget debate, as always. Yesterday, I spoke about the direction that the Executive and the Assembly — that today will support, or otherwise, this Budget — can give to our people at this time. It is a time of great trauma, worry and concern for the population's health during a very dangerous and novel pandemic. The restrictions that have been imposed on businesses have had an impact and effect on well-being, enterprise, business and jobs. I fear that we have not yet seen the horror and damage of that fully displayed because of the support mechanisms that the Government have been able to implement, not least the rates holiday that was essential to keep businesses alive and the furlough scheme that has kept jobs alive.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will abide by your ruling, despite the diversion from across the Chamber. We should be tackling the issue of organised crime, paramilitaries and shadowy outfits in whatever guise they come, one being the army council. It is important that we tackle all aspects of criminality. There is no justification for criminality or organised crime — any of it — and it all should stop forthwith. I support the Justice Minister in her endeavours today and support the changing of these codes of practice.”
“It is not acceptable that anyone or any political party that sits in this devolved Assembly would have or would be controlled by an army council that looks not only over the political party but on all arms of activity, which could well include organised crime, criminality and terrorism.”
“I agree with my colleague in the Alliance Party when he says that it is a shame that it has taken so long for us to get these changes through. It is a shame that this place was down for so long. Over that period of three years, how many people could have been protected? How many assets and how much cash could have been confiscated during that time? Those are things that we must consider when people, and particularly journalists, ask us about the worth of this place as an instrument of change in people's lives. This is just one example of the benefits of having a devolved Assembly. It is vital that that is not misused or abused or taken for granted. That is why we should value this place. <BR /> <BR />Organised crime comes in many guises. It could be drug-dealing, racketeering, smuggling or paramilitarism.”
“— I said one of the few — and saw at first hand some of the impacts that organised crime has on young people who become trapped in it. They are cajoled and coerced into organised crime. Sometimes, that happens through pressure, but sometimes it happens because they are lured. People with big, flashy cars and houses who buy up badly needed homes to use for their criminal enterprises add to the spectre of the kingpin who strikes fear into the kitchens and living rooms of every working-class home in this country. Families' freedoms — the freedoms of husbands, wives and children — are restricted and people have to abide by other laws and other rules when a kingpin takes hold. <BR /> <BR />It is good that we can now proceed with these changes to the codes of practice.”
“I support the Minister of Justice in her endeavours to bring these changes to the codes of practice, which we most definitely need. If you speak to the Police Service, it will tell you the same thing. There is absolutely no doubt that a modern police force needs modern legislation, because one thing is for sure: criminality moves on at a pace. Criminals adapt and overcome the troubles and barriers that are presented to them. It is only right that our Police Service, which is dedicated to protecting people, has powers to combat criminality. <BR /> <BR />Of course, organised crime comes in many guises, all of which have an incredible impact on society — on people, on family units and on businesses. I am probably one of the few here who grew up in a working-class estate”
“Those are just some of my comments. I will elaborate during tomorrow's debate on the Budget Bill.”
“That is money and a scheme that the Executive had to be taken to court for. I worry about its budget lines and provisions for it, and I hope that the Finance Minister will deliver that funding for those people. Those victims will have read the newspapers over the last number of weeks and seen the great wealth that the Finance Minister's party has in its coffers, yet they struggle day in and day out with life.”
“We are still living in a phoney war period. A lot of our businesses are on life support, whether through the furlough scheme or the rates holiday, and those are very good and essential. Business is on a life support machine, and, when that life support gets turned off, as it will inevitably be at some point, probably in the near future, we need to be assured that our budgetary processes and the budgets that we have on the ground cater for and assist with the recovery, direct our people and businesses and get them out of the mess that we find ourselves in. It frustrates me that I do not see that direction in this Budget. <BR /> <BR />I also speak of the grave concerns that I have about the victims' payment scheme for permanent disablement. The Chairperson of the Finance Committee outlined the concerns about that.”
“Those two have to be coupled, even in a devolved Assembly. We have not yet seen that alignment. That causes concern, but it also means that we are not firing on all cylinders. That is a problem for people, not least those in our businesses out there. That is a big issue, especially with the challenges that we have in health and education and economic recovery and the lockdown restrictions that have placed an intolerable burden on some of our business sectors. People want to see direction. Whilst I talked last week about hope and inspiration, I am now talking about direction. Our people need to see a way out of this mess. <BR /> <BR />Every sector in our economy has been affected in one way or another. Do not get me wrong: some people have endured the pandemic and the economic crisis quite well, but so many more have not.”
“As a devolved Assembly, we still need to provide direction for our people. One of the main ways of doing that is through the Budget process. How do we get direction in a Budget process, especially one that is challenging? The Finance Minister has told us about the standstill Budget, having very little money and the cuts that there will be when you take all the inflationary aspects into account: I get that. I get the point about those pressures, but how do we instil direction in a Budget? <BR /> <BR />Having looked at it for many years, the only way that I can really see that happening is through a Programme for Government that is underlined and underlaid by a Budget that finances and populates the Programme for Government with money. The Programme for Government gives you direction. The Budget funds that direction.”
“I rise to speak in another Budget debate during which we will talk again about the same things. However, the debates are useful. They are useful so that the Finance Minister can listen to the concerns and disgruntlements of Chairs of Committees and other Members who are frustrated and concerned. It is useful for the Finance Minister and the Executive to hear those concerns. That is the essence of what this place should be about. The Minister will have to sit through a few minutes of my disgruntlements and concerns. There are just a few. <BR /> <BR />In the debate last week, I talked about hope and inspiration and asked where those were in the Budget. Today, I want to talk about direction. We are a devolved Assembly. We do not have sovereign power and have few fiscal powers. There may be good reason for that.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. That is a very important point. If you have a Programme for Government that is not budgeted, you do not have a good Programme for Government. If you have a Budget that is not aligned to the Programme for Government, you do not have strategic thought or vision in the Budget. It is a massive issue, and I agree with the Member.”
“— for the future, and it should be removed in its entirety so that we in Northern Ireland can enjoy the benefits of a free United Kingdom.”
“They want promises that, in this place, we have the remedies to fix the problems that we face this year. I am not sure whether businesses will see that, but I hope that they do. I hope that, if we do not have the answers, government stays out of the face of businesses and allows unrestricted operation so that they can trade safely and bring growth to the economy and our people. We need business to do that. <BR /> <BR />We should not ignore the damage that the Northern Ireland protocol does to this country and to east-west trade. It has a massive bearing on us as we go forward, no matter what our Budget line or process is. The protocol will be diabolical —”
“<BR /> <BR />Here we are again with a one-year Budget, and I understand the pressure that that brings. Over the year, we have seen the way in which in-year monitoring rounds have not really worked for us, because of decisions that are taken and, almost as importantly, decisions that are not taken. Committees find it difficult and struggle to scrutinise those decisions. <BR /> <BR />The rates holiday is a big thing for business. It was massive last year, and I commend the Finance Minister and the Executive for that decision. I commend the Finance Minister for the decision to extend the rates holiday to this year. However, that will not grow business; it just allows business to survive. The rates holiday is the difference between a business being here and not being here. Businesses want inspiration and promises of growth.”