Sydney Anderson
Upper Bann · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for coming along today in relation to the issue. Bannview Medical Practice in Portadown is in crisis. It is a serious situation. When you come along and put out statements that a contactor has been secured and suchlike, people stop believing anything. They tell me that they are being told lie upon lie.”
“I thank the Minister for that response. Minister, you will be well aware of the damage that was caused to land, property and businesses in upper Bann. I am referring to the area along the lough shore at Kinnego, and at the Birches and Maghery areas of Portadown. In light of your answer, what assurances can you give to those people?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. The recently published report on the announced visit to HMP Maghaberry in September 2016 noted that no significant progress had been made in addressing the concerns on the abuse of drugs raised in May 2015 and restated in January 2016.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I will not be asking a question about Brexit. She mentioned animal health and welfare in paragraph 9 of the statement. Will she give us an update on the bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) eradication programme in Northern Ireland?”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. We all recognise that the agriculture sector plays a pivotal role in the Northern Ireland economy, with approximately 70,000 people employed in the agriculture and food processing sectors.”
“This committee will be useful because it formalises discussions between the Government and key industry stakeholders so that open discussions and debate can be taken account of as policy and negotiating positions are developed.”
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“I feel that the whole area of school careers advice needs to be more focused on encouraging all our young people, but especially girls, to pursue STEM subjects. The system continues to produce too many graduates in areas where it is very hard to get permanent, well-paid jobs. As a result, we are losing too many of our most capable young people as part of our brain drain. Northern Ireland's economy, like the rest of the industrialised world, is facing radical and ever-accelerating change. The older manufacturing industries are declining or gone, and in their place there are new areas of growth. I am sure the Minister will not be too annoyed if I quote his words at a recent event, organised by SEMTA and held in Parliament Buildings, to highlight the issues raised by today's motion:”
“That is evident from new entrants and enrolments in higher education courses in 2012-13, as contained in the labour market bulletin entitled 'Women in Northern Ireland' and released last September by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). In 2012-13, more females than males chose courses in the following areas: medicine and dentistry; subjects allied to medicine, including nursing and pharmacy; biological sciences; law; social studies; languages; creative arts; and education. Males, on the other hand, tended to be in the majority in most STEM and STEM-related subjects: physical sciences; computer science; engineering and technology; and architecture, building and planning. <BR /> <BR />What can we do to redress the imbalance?”
“As a member of the Employment and Learning Committee, I offer my support to the motion. It highlights the need for meaningful action in an area where there has been gender imbalance for some time. The Northern Ireland education system has always given both boys and girls every opportunity to excel academically, from primary level through to secondary level and, in many cases, on to university. Traditionally, some subjects and some career paths have been regarded as being more suitable for males than females, and vice versa. <BR /> <BR />Thankfully, that is changing, but not on a radical enough scale.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement today. She mentioned that work is being done to achieve officially brucellosis-free (OBF) status in Northern Ireland. Will she expand on what that would mean for trade and on the differences in the approaches of the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland in working to achieve OBF status?”
“In which areas are the budget cuts likely to happen?”
“I thank the Minister for his responses thus far. What changes have there been in the numbers of key staff in the Southern Trust area over the last four years?”
“I commend the motion and the position paper to the House. I urge the Minister to implement the paper's recommendations.”
“<BR /> <BR />This was also touched on, but another area that needs to be considered is the impact of local government reform on the overall strategy to tackle rural deprivation.”
“However, we need to ensure that rural dwellers are not disadvantaged in those things because of where they live. Services to connect with rural dwellers need to be put in place. I commend the voluntary organisations that run transport for rural dwellers, and I would like to see more coordination of planning and resources in that area. <BR /> <BR />One project that has been well mentioned today and deserves the highest praise is the maximising access to services, grants and benefits in rural areas programme, known as MARA for short. Many who gave evidence to the Committee praised MARA. It is collating a most valuable database that can only help to take TRPSI to the next stage. It is vital that there is a new TRPSI in 2016.”
“Our paper commends the way in which the community and voluntary sector has risen to the challenge of TRPSI. Those groups deserve the highest praise. Rural Support, which provides a listening and signposting service for farming and rural families in Northern Ireland, is to be highly commended. It has been able to deliver practical results on the ground. <BR /> <BR />One area that I regard as vital is the transport infrastructure. In the countryside, people need a car just to go about the basics of life. They do not have the easy access to facilities that those who live in towns and cities take for granted. In a recent speech on higher education, I said that no one would argue that we should have a university in every town; the same could be said for hospitals and leisure centres and so on.”
“<BR /> <BR />As the motion confirms, the Committee has been looking at this area, and it has been reviewing the Department's progress on its commitments under its rural anti-poverty and social exclusion programme. Our position paper sets out the details and makes recommendations. <BR /> <BR />It is obvious that the Minister and her officials are taking TRPSI seriously, and, as we gathered evidence, we were also very impressed by the extent of the efforts of a range of voluntary and community groups to make a real difference to rural dwellers' quality of life. Our paper commends the —”
“We have many folk who live in the countryside who feel vulnerable, and I think particularly of the lonely and elderly who are often targeted for brutal attack where they live in isolated areas. Tackling poverty and social exclusion is a key target for the Executive. The tackling rural poverty and social isolation framework aims to help to tackle poverty and social isolation in rural areas through a series of measures in partnership with statutory and voluntary community groups and Departments. This is a DARD commitment, but it covers a wide range of areas of life, and other Departments and agencies are required to play their part. Too often, others view rural poverty and deprivation as matters merely for DARD. The Ulster Farmers' Union, among others, made that point very strongly.”
“All of that has had a major impact on morale and on the standard of living of farmers and families. Farmers are people with considerable self-respect, and they are often extremely reluctant to seek help. However, financial difficulties do not extend only to farming families. Many non-farming families are also affected, and, in the main, they are private people as well. For that reason, if for no other, I am pleased that a series of measures is being taken to address the financial hardships and pressures on those who live in the countryside.”
“I rise as a member of the ARD Committee to speak in support of the motion on the position paper. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland has a rich industrial and manufacturing heritage, but not all of it is based in towns or cities — far from it. Indeed, our agricultural base, which is an integral part of our industrial and manufacturing heritage, is central to our economy. The well-being of the rural community is therefore a big priority. <BR /> <BR />In recent decades, our agriculture industry has suffered many setbacks, and that has had a big impact on the quality of life for our rural dwellers. As farmers' incomes have declined, they have been forced to diversify and have more than one job. They have also had to grapple with ever-increasing bureaucracy and red tape.”
“He has been given extra money in the Budget, and our amendment urges him to look carefully at those options.”
“Visions and plans are good and necessary, but so much then depends on the prevailing financial climate, which can mean that visions cannot always become a reality in the way that we might like. That is why our amendment rewords the nature of our commitment to the One Plan's higher education targets. We are broadly supportive of those targets, but, rather than affirm our commitment, we think it prudent simply to note it. That said, we also want the Minister to continue to explore the options open to him and to push ahead with his plans for Magee as far as possible. <BR /> <BR />The Minister is looking at the Magee campus business plan, but he is on public record as saying that he does not have the funds to contemplate any further expansion of the higher education sector.”
“In developing such a strategy, the Minister has to encourage the colleges and universities to develop their courses in a very focused and strategic manner, taking limited resources into account. He also has to tailor his overall strategy on the basis of those limited resources. In my recent speech, I urged him to use his money wisely. I think that he would remember that one. That same advice is the basis for my reasoning this afternoon. <BR /> <BR />I support the concepts underlying the One Plan, which is the ambitious regeneration plan for Londonderry. However, even when it was launched, doubts were expressed about the extent to which the vision could be realised.”
“I do not want to be flippant, but, if we base our arguments purely on local needs, might we not be in danger of wanting a university in every town? <BR /> <BR />Investment in higher education is crucial to the development of Northern Ireland plc. I made that point very strongly during the debate on further and higher education on 2 February. Investment in higher education is a key component of the Programme for Government, and that vision is also set out in detail in the 'Graduating to Success' strategy document. If we are to attract inward investment that can provide us with the sort of high value-added job opportunities that we so greatly desire, our further and higher education sector has a crucial role to play.”
“No, I have too much. However, any strategy must take the financial climate into account. It must also be Northern Ireland-wide. We want to see development and expansion of Magee to meet the needs of the local area, but, with respect, the whole of Northern Ireland could be classed as a local area. This is not some vast landmass like somewhere in the United States. Coleraine is 30 miles from Londonderry. Belfast is a bit further, 70 miles, but, today, that is no distance at all.”
“That point still has relevance. Indeed, to me, and to our amendment, it is central. We support the expansion of Magee and the development of higher education in Londonderry, as proposed in the One Plan and outlined in the motion and the amendment. I know that my party colleagues from the maiden city are very keen to see such a development and I can fully understand where they are coming from.”
“I want to point out in passing that the report considered the proposed new city in County Armagh as a possible location, so those of us from Upper Bann could also give vent to a sense of grievance as well as those in the north-west, but, as I said, I am not going to dwell on what might have been. <BR /> <BR />What we must do today is look at the higher education needs of Northern Ireland in 2015. Lockwood said that the proposed second university should be, or would be:”
“I welcome the opportunity, as a recent member of the Employment and Learning Committee, to wind on the debate. I have considerable sympathy with the overall thrust of the motion and much of what it has to say, but I feel that our amendment leads to a more pragmatic, balanced and realistic assessment of the current situation. <BR /> <BR />The timing of the debate is significant. It is no coincidence that, 50 years ago this month, a decision was taken to implement the Lockwood Commission report, which included a new university to be sited in Coleraine. We all know the fallout from that, and, 50 years on, in a very much changed Northern Ireland, it is perhaps not helpful to the current debate to dwell too much on what happened in 1965.”
“I thank the Minister for that response. As he quite rightly said, this funding is the lifeline for a lot of our small volunteering organisations. How many organisations have benefited from this support?”
“I thank the First Minister for his answer. First Minister, you touched on the possible date for the legislation for our corporation tax powers. When do you want corporation tax powers to become effective? What do you think the rate should be?”
“I want to see more of our local young people studying in Northern Ireland, getting good secure jobs in Northern Ireland, and staying in Northern Ireland. I urge the Minister to make full use of the extra money now available to him by investing wisely and well in further education and higher education. However, as the motion alludes to, this issue is bigger than the Minister and the Department. The Executive as a whole must rise to the challenge.”
“The winds of change have had a big impact on our further and higher education sector. However, I have been impressed by the way in which the sector has adapted to changing needs and financial pressures. I am in favour of diversity in the curriculum, which will offer a broad range of subjects at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. However, in times of financial pressure and to meet the demands of business, we must focus our efforts on key subjects such as the STEM subjects, law and modern languages. <BR /> <BR />Having met representatives of the further and higher education sector and considered briefing papers submitted to the Committee, I am impressed with the strategic vision of our colleges and universities. I want to see that develop and grow.”
“I raised it with him during questions for oral answer on 20 November when he said that he, too, was concerned but that it was due to the cuts in his departmental budget. I am glad that my colleague the Finance Minister was able to announce that the Department for Employment and Learning will now receive an extra £33 million to develop the skills that are vital to our workforce.”
“If we are to meet that central target and rebalance the economy by reducing the public sector and developing our business base, it is imperative that we have a properly educated and skilled local workforce. Indeed, priority 1 refers specifically to the need for a better, more highly skilled, competent and confident workforce. One of the first questions foreign companies ask when assessing their investment options is: "What sort of existing workforce is there in that location?" or "Is there a pool of skills that we need?" <BR /> <BR />During the Budget planning and consultation process towards the end of last year, I became very alarmed by some of the dire warnings about cuts in third-level education coming from the Minister for Employment and Learning.”
“In more recent years, that haemorrhaging has been reduced — perhaps even reversed — but we have to be very careful to ensure that it does not return with a vengeance. <BR /> <BR />Priority 1 of the Programme for Government addresses economic growth and the need to achieve long-term economic growth by improving competitiveness and building a larger and more export-driven private sector. The Programme for Government states:”
“We must not underestimate the crucial role of the local further and higher education sector in producing the well-educated and highly skilled workforce that we need. <BR /> <BR />We are often accused of being stuck in the past, but sometimes it is useful to glance back. During the dark years of the Troubles, when our society suffered so greatly from terrorism, our economic infrastructure was seriously damaged, and we lost many of our brightest and most capable young people. Once they left school, they left Northern Ireland to study in universities and colleges in the rest of the United Kingdom or in the Irish Republic. Many of them got jobs outside Northern Ireland, settled down and never came back. For too long, we endured what became known as the "brain drain".”
“As a recently reappointed member of the Committee for Employment and Learning, I support the motion. In 2007, when devolution was established, I was delighted that the economy had been placed at the heart of the Programme for Government. That remains the position in the current 2011-15 Programme for Government. <BR /> <BR />The economy is the key to progress as we continue to seek to move Northern Ireland forward. In recent years, despite serious world economic downturns that have inevitably affected us all, we have made significant progress in our economic growth. One of the essential ingredients in any plan to deliver sustained and deep economic growth is education, particularly third-level education.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are many aspects to the Budget, of which the social investment fund is only a small part. However, it is significant and vital right across the community. Even to suggest its removal and drag money through the back door of the DRD in the form of the amendment is quite pitiful, to say the least, and shows the complete incompetence of the Ulster Unionist Party, whose only motive is to cover its failure in the DRD portfolio.”
“I believe that what they were trying to do on the £26 million was to gloss over the fact that it is not money coming out of the Budget, but I am sure that the Minister will clarify later that it is money that is in the Budget and that would be taken out by the amendment, which would, at the end of the day, possibly scupper those projects. <BR /> <BR />In the amendment there is a proposal to give £18 million — if I read it right — to the DRD. Even if the DRD does get that £18 million by robbing, as I see it, the social investment fund, there is no guarantee that one extra street light will be repaired or one additional road gritted as a result. It would just be another £18 million lost to key projects like those that I have identified in my constituency. It would be £18 million that would disappear into the black hole of the DRD.”
“Thank you. I thank the Member for that intervention. I certainly agree. <BR /> <BR />We are talking about rural development funding. I have just left today's Agriculture Committee meeting, where I asked the Minister what lessons can be learned in relation to getting funding out quickly on to the ground where it is most needed. The social investment fund is no different. Those who have been working behind the scenes to roll it out have been doing tremendous work, and we now see it coming to fruition. I hope that it will continue to roll out. <BR /> <BR />There has been comment today by, I think, Mr Swann and Mr Cree.”
“There are others in the pipeline that would be under threat as well and unable to get the funding that they need so much. Much hard work has been put into those worthwhile projects, but, at the stroke of a pen, the Ulster Unionist Party wants to wipe them out. <BR /> <BR />I know that Mrs Dobson is not in the Chamber today, but maybe the Upper Bann Ulster Unionist MLA Mrs Dobson, who was formerly Minister Kennedy's APS, would like to explain the fiasco to my constituents and say why she and her party propose to scupper those very worthwhile projects, which have the ability and potential to transform our community throughout Upper Bann. I am sure that she will read Hansard, and maybe sometime she will give an explanation.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am greatly concerned that, if the amendment is passed, vital funds will be lost to key schemes in my Upper Bann constituency. At a time when the social investment fund is beginning to roll out, with a number of projects approved, today we have the Ulster Unionist Party trying to pull the carpet from under its feet. This is £26 million of funding. Major projects in my constituency, such as the YMCA in Lurgan, Banbridge Orange Hall, Seapatrick parish church in Banbridge and Corcrain Orange Hall in Portadown, could all be brought to an end if amendment No 1 were to succeed. All as a direct result of the Ulster Unionist Party's Budget proposals. Those are all community-led projects that go right to the heart of our communities.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak briefly on the motion, specifically on amendment No 1. I have to say that I am totally flabbergasted by the amendment from the Ulster Unionist Party. If that is the level of financial expertise in that party, I am glad that it is not in the driving seat with our country's finances. The Ulster Unionist Party amendment serves only one useful purpose, which is to expose their real agenda on the Budget, for it is fairly obvious that they simply want to move some money around so that they can put a small fig leaf over the total mismanagement of the Department that they are supposed to be running. The Ulster Unionist Party is so desperate to get its hands on some extra money that it is prepared to rob the social investment fund, which does sterling work right across our community.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. The table at annex A shows that mackerel is the second most important catch of our fishing fleet. You referred to further agreements with Norway and the Faroes on the mackerel stock. Can you update us on when that is expected to happen, and what will Northern Ireland's negotiating position be?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I, too, wish to follow on with paragraph 19 and the budgets. Minister, that paragraph refers to "efficiency savings", as you mentioned. Can you elaborate on that? Are you satisfied that the agency represents value for money?”
“I thank the Minister for her answers so far. What support and assistance does her Department give to the food processors in the agrifood sector in Upper Bann, such as Moy Park and other major employers in the area?”
“I thank the Minister for that response. Does he accept that, if places are cut in our universities, it will make it even more difficult for Invest NI to attract high-quality jobs to Northern Ireland?”
“I am sure that the Minister will address some of the issues in the report later in the debate, so I will leave it there and commend the Committee's report to the House.”
“<BR /> <BR />All the key players have responsibility to collaborate and cooperate so that we can meet our 2020 target. The strategic energy framework, to which I referred earlier, is the agreed basis on which we move forward. As the key policymaker in the field of energy, DETI must continue to lead the way. We need to face the challenge of energy supply with a high degree of determination. Security and reliability of supply are vital to us all and fundamental to economic development.”
“Some of the witnesses we took evidence from were unhappy with aspects of NIE's performance. I hope that those concerns will be looked at and addressed where necessary. We recommend that the Utility Regulator ensures that NIE has an appropriate and effective communications strategy in place for developers. That strategy must be open and transparent. The report refers to access to the NIE heat map. That issue might need further consideration by the Committee, but it would be very helpful if NIE could improve and update its heat map and help developers understand how best to use it. The map should be updated regularly. I referred to the Utility Regulator. She and SONI must do all that they can to work with NIE on a range of recommendations contained in the report.”
“I thank the Member for the intervention. On who should pay, we really have to look at pricing. As my colleague Mr Frew stated, businesses and domestic consumers have to be considered in the mix. There is a lot of work to do and I hope that, as we go forward, all those concerned about connection to the grid, pricing and security of supply will get together and come up with the proper solutions, bearing in mind businesses and consumers. <BR /> <BR />In light of the high costs and delays, it is vital that progress be made on opening up the market to competition and contestability. I know that the Minister is supportive of the need for contestability; so too are the Utility Regulator and NIE. One of our recommendations is that this should be introduced within an earlier time frame than is currently proposed.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our research has highlighted a number of concerns about the problems faced by developers who are keen to connect to the grid. Due to congestion on the grid as a result of the high penetration of renewable energy, connection costs are now two to three times higher than they were in 2012. They are much higher than in the rest of the United Kingdom or in the Irish Republic and there are considerable delays in processing applications.”
“In just six years' time, we need to ensure that 40% of our energy is sourced from renewables. We have made some steady progress, and we are doing a lot better than many other countries in growing our renewable energy sector. Also, it is fairly clear that there is no shortage of interest from developers, with 42 large-scale schemes at various stages being taken forward but not yet finalised and many applications from small-scale renewable connections. The interest is there, but there are several challenges and problems, as outlined in the report. There needs to be a holistic, balanced and proactive response from all the key players. At the end of the day, as we stressed when we considered pricing, the needs of the consumer, domestic and business, must be a prime consideration in the development of any strategy.”
“Last December, we debated security of supply and, in March this year, presented our second report, this time on pricing. In its third report, the Committee has given detailed consideration to the complex area of grid connections. None of those areas stands alone; all overlap and one impacts on the other. Grid connection is a highly technical issue, and it will take time for interested parties to fully digest the contents and recommendations of the report. I recognise that, as has been mentioned, not everyone has had the opportunity to examine the report in detail. The report and its recommendations are central to the whole area of the development of renewable energy. It is especially important because we have clear and demanding targets to meet by 2020 under the strategic energy framework.”
“Up until a few minutes ago, I was a member of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee. Although I have only just stepped down, I want to speak briefly in support of the Committee's motion, which asks the House to approve its third report on its extensive review of electricity policy in Northern Ireland.”
“I agree entirely with that and wholeheartedly commend the motion to the House today.”