Chris Lyttle
East Belfast · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“The Department for Communities, councils, the Department for the Economy, further education stakeholders, the Department of Health and the Department of Finance all responded with their perspectives on and experiences of the provision of free period products and with ways in which the Bill's provisions could be coordinated and funded.”
“That is an important start in support of the implementation of the provisions of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The Education Committee undertook Committee Stage scrutiny of this cross-cutting Bill — I am proud that we did — on behalf of other relevant subject Committees.”
“and fighting our corners in media studios. Perhaps the hosts of some of those programmes see fit to encourage that type of approach, but I am thankful for the level of cooperation between parties on the key issues and hope that that will be the legacy for the next Assembly.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to move the Final Stage of the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Bill. It will remove the anachronistic exception of teachers from the Fair Employment and Treatment Order (FETO) and ensure that it is no longer possible for any teacher to be discriminated against because of their religio…”
“This opportunity has been made possible by a collective effort from many people, and I put on record my thanks to research officer Connie Egan and constituency officer Nick Mathison for the work that they contributed to the Bill's progress.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank my Assembly colleagues without whom the Bill would not have progressed to this stage and would not pass. I thank Sinead for the role that she played as Chairperson of the Executive Office Committee and for the time that she made available to me outside of Bill stages and Committee meetings, which, as I said, made the…”
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“Two years on, what progress has been made on the T:BUC commitment to roll out a buddy scheme in publicly run nursery and primary schools in Northern Ireland?”
“However, on behalf of the Alliance Party, may I also make it clear that the comments by the Health Minister, Jim Wells, in this recent week were completely unacceptable, unsubstantiated and, unfortunately, part of a wider pattern of DUP hostility to equality for all citizens here in Northern Ireland? The DUP leadership needs to make it clear where it stands on these important matters. The Ulster Unionist Party leadership and supporters who will be voting for DUP candidates in the Westminster election need also to reflect on the credibility of their support for that DUP approach to equality. <BR /> <BR />I support the motion.”
“I also believe that, if the faith groups' ability to define and observe religious marriage as they determine is upheld and shown to be a positive experience of marriage, the aspects of that marriage that they hold dear can survive and thrive. My aim has always been to contribute to respectful and accurate dialogue on this issue. I hope that my contribution has reflected that aim and the Alliance Party commitment to equality and to building a shared society for everyone in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />In my remaining minute, may I extend my sincere thoughts and prayers to Jim Wells and his wife for the health challenges that they are facing?”
“As I mentioned, the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 makes a distinction between religious and civil marriage. It is an explicit requirement of civil marriage that it be conducted in a secular manner. The proposal is that civil marriage be extended to all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation; it is not the redefinition of religious marriage. <BR /> <BR />Whilst I have my own faith and belief about marriage, I find it reasonable that a person of same-sex orientation, which is a legal sexual orientation in Northern Ireland, expects, under the principles of democracy, equal access to state-provided civil marriage.”
“There is stark and brutal historical and present-day evidence of how a lack of freedom from religion has allowed the perversion of religion to justify terror and totalitarian rule against people of all backgrounds, including Christians. I believe that the application of these principles and a reading of the law on the matter, in particular the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003, support the extension of state-provided civil marriage, regardless of sexual orientation and, therefore, to same-sex couples.”
“I recognise that I do not always live up to that faith and that many people do not agree with my personal belief. That, however, is who I am. I believe, therefore, that the religious freedom of people and groups of faith to define and observe their understanding of religious marriage should be upheld. <BR /> <BR />I believe in the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven, but I believe that the principles of freedom of religion, freedom from religion and equality for all citizens that democracy affords provide the best framework in which to build a safe, fair, shared and prosperous society under government by the people. I also believe that freedom of religion relies on freedom from religion.”
“Yes, I agree. That point is well made. We recognise, of course, that there is a wide range of sincerely and strongly held views on the issue. There are people who oppose the proposal because they believe that it contravenes their faith. There are people who oppose it because they believe that equality is afforded to same-sex couples via civil partnerships. There are, however, many people who support it because they believe that it is the duty of the state to treat all citizens equally. <BR /> <BR />I am a Christian. I cherish the freedom of religion that I have in a democracy to practise and communicate my Christian faith and my belief that marriage is the voluntary lifelong union of one man and one woman to the exclusion of all others under God.”
“The Alliance Party, therefore, supports the extension of state-provided civil marriage to same-sex couples, provided robust legislative protection can uphold the religious freedom of faith groups to define and practise religious marriage as they determine.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Alliance Party is committed to delivering a shared society for everyone based on religious and civil liberty and equality for all, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity or sexual orientation, and to standing against discrimination or stigmatisation of any kind. The Alliance Party believes that state-provided services should be available to all citizens. Civil marriage is a state-provided service. It is differentiated from religious marriage in the Marriage (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 and required by that law to be secular in nature: that is, to have no religious or spiritual basis.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion, not least because it allows me to clarify and respond to the DUP Westminster candidate in East Belfast, who has quite underhandedly attempted to claim that my colleagues and I have been pressurised on the issue. Given that he has close knowledge of how intimidation, threat and attack, inflamed by the DUP, has not pressurised me or my colleagues one iota, I find it strange that he purports to believe that party process would have achieved otherwise. The only pressure that I put on myself on the issue is my own belief and standards to live up to my vocation. I will speak on behalf of the Alliance Party in supporting the motion.”
“— will cost households and the economy in the long term. It is time that all parties faced up to the realities that households and businesses across Northern Ireland need us to address if we are to provide the water system and the vital public services that they need and deserve.”
“One alternative would be to mutualise, as has happened in Wales, to improve borrowing ability for capital investment. <BR /> <BR />Alliance opposes the introduction of additional water charging at this time, but we oppose the squandering by other political parties of Executive Department budgets that are vital to protect the households in Northern Ireland that the proposer of the motion claims to support. The failure to even explore other models of finance and governance for our water system —”
“The current model does little to help those households every time we have heavy rain and the panic of more flood damage to homes sets in. It is my understanding that the Belfast drainage plan alone requires an investment of around £750 million. Funding for NI Water, however, includes a subsidy of approximately £275 million every year, paid for by the taxpayer from the Executive Budget, and that is £275 million that cannot be spent on other vital services and contributes to a funding model that limits the ability of NI Water to borrow for capital investment. I would be interested to hear from other parties how they think the Belfast drainage plan will be funded. The Executive should consider alternative models for funding capital investment in our water system.”
“Unlike other political parties, Alliance Ministers are working to reduce the cost of waste and division for households and to maximise the resources that we have to build a shared society and a strong economy for everyone in our community. <BR /> <BR />Alliance certainly does not want households to pay more in water charges to simply paper over the cracks of financial mismanagement by the DUP and Sinn Féin with the willing support of other political parties. Political parties need to get serious about tackling waste and have a realistic debate about how we fund much-needed improvements to our water system. People in my constituency of East Belfast know painfully well that the current level of investment in water and sewerage infrastructure is not enough.”
“Separate education costs around £300 million. There is separate teacher training: proposals on that were put forward by an Alliance Minister and blocked by other parties in the Executive. Welfare reform fines and the policing of parades and protests cost the taxpayer in Northern Ireland multimillions of pounds every year. That is wasted money that could otherwise be used to fund health, education and jobs and protect vulnerable people in our community. The refusal of other parties to tackle the cost of that waste and division has a devastating impact on the very households that the DUP claims to support.”
“<BR /> <BR />Alliance believes that existing charges for water should be more open and transparent. Households should have an identifiable charge for water separated from the rates bill, with no household paying twice. That would provide a clearer picture of how our water and sewerage system is being paid for, with protections for vulnerable households, and Northern Ireland Water would have, in part, an improved borrowing ability for capital investment in this vital service. So, we support the motion but we challenge the proposers to consider how water and sewerage will be financed and governed on a long-term basis, and to acknowledge the cost to the taxpayer of waste and inefficiency in other Executive Departments. <BR /> <BR />The cost of division is estimated at over £1 billion every year. That is around £1,000 per household per year.”
“So, it has been an interesting contribution from him so far today. I will take this opportunity to respond to the motion on behalf of the Alliance Party and I will challenge the deliberate misrepresentation of our position by political parties intent on electioneering. <BR /> <BR />The Alliance Party will support the motion as we oppose the introduction of additional water charges at this time, in line with the Executive agreement and because other Executive parties have failed to tackle waste and inefficiency in their Departments. We do, however, need to give serious consideration as to how water and sewerage infrastructure will be adequately financed and governed if fit-for-purpose provision for existing and new customers, environmental protection, flood prevention and economic growth are to be achieved.”
“I think that it is fairly clear that Westminster election fever continues to infect the DUP contribution to this Assembly. If the contribution of Trevor Clarke is anything to go by, we are going to have scaremongering and misrepresentation of the Alliance Party, as is par for the course, with little to no new ideas about how we address the serious issue of underinvestment in our water system, which is interesting, given that Trevor Clarke was quoted on 4 October 2014 as saying:”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Is his contribution on behalf of the Alliance Party, or is he going to wait to hear what we have to say before he continues?”
“I thank the Minister for his response and for his support for the Right to Know campaign. In his assessment, how far are we from achieving the key targets of the campaign, which are a diagnosis for everyone with dementia, a wait of no longer than 12 weeks between first appointment with the GP and diagnosis and a dementia support worker or equivalent for everyone at the point of diagnosis?”
“I beg to introduce the Public Services Ombudsperson Bill [NIA 47/11-16], which is a Bill to establish and make provision about the office of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsperson; to abolish the offices of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints and the Assembly Ombudsman for Northern Ireland; to provide that the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsperson is, by virtue of holding that office, the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Ombudsman; and for connected purposes.”
“I thank the Minister for his update. I find the work being done on apprenticeships encouraging. What will the main opportunities and challenges be in the coming months, and has progress been made on companies working together to deliver apprenticeships in a joined-up fashion?”
“When will OFMDFM publish the research conducted by the Victims' Commission with regards to the pension for the seriously injured?”
“I ask the junior Minister whether delays in the delivery of age discrimination legislation, the racial equality strategy, the gender equality strategy and the sexual orientation strategy bring into question OFMDFM's commitment to the delivery of equality for everyone in our community.”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, it is clear that the Assembly Committees must work to hold their respective Departments and Ministers to account in scrutinising what action they are taking to influence European policy and legislation in a positive way for the people of Northern Ireland. We have access to those institutions: we have the representation of our MEPs, the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee, and there are numerous other ways for Northern Ireland to engage with European issues. <BR /> <BR />I thank all Members who participated in the debate, and I encourage all our Assembly Committees in the ongoing work that they will do to ensure that European affairs are given good consideration at the Assembly and at Executive level.”
“<BR /> <BR />Robin Swann, Chair of the Employment and Learning Committee, mentioned the focus that his Committee will have on the green economy and job creation through that and, indeed, the important issue of the European Social Fund. I am encouraged to hear that he has been briefed by the Minister on that issue on numerous occasions. Perhaps he could give the OFMDFM Committee a few pointers on that, and we could get the First Minister and deputy First Minister in front of our Committee as well. <BR /> <BR />Jim Allister took some time to set out his intense scepticism towards Europe. It was strange to hear him speak of liberation of any kind, but, in relation to the European Union, he has a clear stance on that particular issue.”
“<BR /> <BR />Phil Flanagan spoke about the lack of consideration that had been given to the potential impact that exiting the EU would have on businesses, workers and people in Northern Ireland who do not want to leave the European Union and how frequently Northern Ireland is promoted as a gateway to Europe. He also mentioned the importance of the EU to peace building here in Northern Ireland and his concerns that the British Government may not match the scale of funding contributed by the European Union. In response to that, I would probably say to Mr Flanagan that I would be just as concerned that the DUP and Sinn Féin Executive here in Northern Ireland have not done much to match that level of funding either, so I think that all of us need to keep a watching brief on funding towards peace building here in Northern Ireland.”
“Alex Maskey, Chair of the Social Development Committee, reminded us of the important role that Europe and, in particular, the European Investment Bank, could have to play in tackling our lack of social housing and the significant social housing waiting list that we have here in Northern Ireland, and also reminded us that our Executive should, indeed, be working hard to access funding from that bank to make progress on that vital issue. <BR /> <BR />William Irwin, Chair of the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, emphasised the importance of scrutiny around CAP, the single farm payment and the rural development programme towards growing our agrifood industry even further here in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />David McIlveen set out an initial sceptical view on Europe but also emphasised the work that can be done to ensure that our local SMEs are well connected to the potential benefits of Europe, in particular through Horizon 2020 and a number of schemes and projects.”
“She touched not only on a number of issues that the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee will look at but on greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and the way in which the Northern Ireland Executive will ensure that they contribute to what is likely to be a target of 40% reduction by 2030 and how her Committee will closely monitor that issue as well as climate change. It will monitor the targets set by the Paris climate conference in 2015 and what the Department of the Environment, in particular, will be doing to prepare for targets set by that conference and the ongoing contributions it will make to ensure that Northern Ireland delivers on climate change. Ms Lo also mentioned the need for work on the reduction of CO2 emissions, improved water quality and the birds and habitats directives.”
“The Chair of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment emphasised that the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership treaty will be scrutinised by the Committee, and I am sure that it will concentrate on trade, but the concerns of many Members about the treaty's implications for our health provision may also be considered by that Committee. <BR /> <BR />I also heard from Anna Lo MLA, in her capacity as Chair of the Environment Committee, who set out its priorities for 2015.”
“He also stressed the priorities of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee for the year ahead to look at the European Investment Fund, banks, SMEs and energy supply security and, indeed, emphasised the work to be done on the integration of a single energy market, carbon reduction and the importance of research and development to improving our energy supply in Northern Ireland.”
“She also mentioned the need for EU funding to be accessed and how vital it is for jobs and growth, in particular for CAP, the European social fund, peace-building investment in Northern Ireland and INTERREG for our businesses. She also mentioned the European Commission emphasis on delivering sustainable development and tackling climate change and how important it is for our Executive to contribute to those goals. <BR /> <BR />Patsy McGlone MLA spoke in a private capacity and as Chair of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, challenging Eurosceptics to remember the importance that the European Union plays in promoting and celebrating diversity among and across our countries and stressing the significant net benefit of European membership to Northern Ireland, which was £2·4 billion between 2007 and 2013.”
“I thank Brenda Hale for her comments and her advocacy that we need greater Northern Ireland Executive cooperation if we are to benefit fully from European Union funding and policy in some of the key areas that we have set as Programme for Government targets, in particular Delivering Social Change in our community, assisting our children and young people, tackling poverty and ensuring that our fishermen and farmers get the best deal possible. <BR /> <BR />I also thank Bronwyn McGahan, who stressed the importance of EU membership to Northern Ireland and encouraged the Executive to increase our engagement in EU matters to ensure that a Northern Irish voice is heard clearly in Europe.”
“I welcome the debate on Assembly Committees' European priorities. I am pleased to be able to make a winding-up speech on behalf of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. It is clear from Members' contributions that there are a wide range of European issues for our Committees to scrutinise in the year ahead. I thank the Chair of the OFMDFM Committee, Mike Nesbitt, for setting out our Committee priorities for scrutinising policy on labour mobility, migration, the European Convention on Human Rights and subsidiarity, and for highlighting the fact that our Committee will continue to scrutinise the drawdown of EU funding by the Executive and its delivery of our Barroso task force inquiry recommendations.”
“What message do the Executive have for our world-class artists — poets such as Michael Longley, writers such as Glenn Patterson and young actors such as Jayne Wisener — who say that the scale and level of reductions applied to the arts in Northern Ireland are wrong? What, if anything, can she do to help the organisations whose very existence seems to be threatened by the scale of those reductions?”
“I welcome the fact that British, Irish and Northern Irish Ministers are working together on social inclusion. I welcome the publication of the Spend to Save report, which looks at best practice in supporting older people, and that carers are going to be focused on at the next meeting. However, I have to be honest; I am none the wiser as to what actual policy proposals or actions are going to be taken as a result of this particular piece of work. Why is the next ministerial meeting not scheduled to take place until 2018?”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. I think that that is an extremely helpful clarification about the shared use of our roads and footways. That contribution in the Committee's report may reflect an isolated individual's view of the strategy rather than the view of every member.”
“I commend the Minister for his investment in the Active School Travel programme and Sustrans for the delivery of the project. Will the Minister be able to maintain the current level of funding for the programme, which I understand to be around £1 million a year, and extend on-road cycle training to all P6 pupils?”
“I guess that we have seen the priority that the First Minister gives to the issue; he cannot even answer the question. Given how late his office will be in calling for and awarding minority ethnic development funding for the 2015-16 financial year, which is just upon us, will he consider extending the current level of funding for another year to allow a proper system to be put in place?”
“I give the First Minister my reassurance that it will take an awful lot more than anything the DUP has to throw at us to rattle the nerve of the Alliance Party at this stage.”
“I also welcome the recommendation that Translink should establish targets in its corporate plans to increase the number of bicycles accessing trains and buses for integrated transport, and that a Cycle to Work scheme be compulsory in the Northern Ireland Assembly. <BR /> <BR />We also need to see a baseline showing the precise current value of cycling to the economy. The benefits and opportunities of cycling to transport, the environment, health, sport and the economy are many. There is a gathering momentum behind the growth of cycling and a clear need for action and investment to meet the increasing demand for improved and imaginative cycling provision in Northern Ireland.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. Yes, the Members are in agreement: I think they both support the use of disused railways without losing any further railway provision in Northern Ireland. The disused greenways have an important contribution to make to the advancement of cycling in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />All roads should be designed to protect all users. The report recommends that, where cycling provision in urban centres is being considered and designed, there should be an emphasis on providing some form of segregation from other vehicular traffic. We need to see much better plans in relation to the York Street interchange than are on the board at the moment.”
“It also makes an important recommendation about connecting the existing greenways, and I support the DRD vision of focusing on linking the Belfast greenways to Newry canal through Portadown up to Derry, through Omagh and Strabane and down through Enniskillen to the west as an all-island strategy that is crucial to unlocking EU funding to get the investment that we need to really move cycling forward.”
“Cycling has been seen as marginal for too long, and the report establishes that cycling spending has some of the best payback on transport expenditure. The report sets out a positive vision for cycling in Northern Ireland where people from all sectors of the community cycle for transport and enjoyment. It also recommends that we set targets to allow for meaningful measurement of the success or otherwise of the bicycle strategy and of progress against other important Executive commitments, such as a reduction in obesity levels and in greenhouse gases. It also makes clear that we need to see ring-fencing of appropriate levels of funding for the strategy's delivery and to establish the scale of expected cost-benefit return for the provision.”
“Some of the recommendations that we submitted to the inquiry on bike ownership were on the improvement and enhancement of the bike-to-work scheme. We said that there is some inconsistency in employer participation, a lengthy application process and only one bike per applicant. We also suggested that access to more affordable bikes would be a step in the right direction, as would bike storage and access to bike maintenance and repair. On infrastructure and safety, we emphasised the need for appropriate infrastructure provision for cyclists in Northern Ireland and mutual respect between road users. Where weather and misconceptions are concerned, we wanted to see improved access to changing facilities and perhaps, indeed, radio traffic updates to include cycling-related information. <BR /> <BR />I will move to the report's recommendations.”
“We have fantastic organisations in the community like NI Greenways, the Fréd Festival and the plethora of cycling clubs across our community doing excellent work. <BR /> <BR />As Mrs Overend mentioned, the all-party group on cycling presented to the inquiry into cycling. As part of Bike Week 2014, we facilitated a round-table discussion that Sustrans assisted with and facilitated. I am extremely grateful for the support that it has given to the all-party group, as well as other organisations like CTC and NI Greenways, to mention a few. I am grateful to the Minister for Regional Development for his engagement with the group. <BR /> <BR />The session identified three key barriers to cycling: bike ownership; infrastructure and safety; and weather and misconceptions about cycling.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak today in favour of cycling provision. Alliance strongly supports investment in sustainable and active travel, and, as Chair of the all-party group on cycling, I have facilitated engagement with a wide range of organisations to promote awareness and the development of effective cycling policy and provision in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />We have seen an increasing momentum behind cycling in Northern Ireland. The Active School Travel programme is doing excellent work. The Giro d'Italia put cycling on an international stage here in Northern Ireland. Indeed, we have a Giro legacy plan that it would be good to hear more about today. The Belfast bike scheme is ready and waiting to go. We have legislation passing through the House on 20 mph speed limits.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I find his contribution even more misrepresentative and negative than usual. There is a one-page draft piece of legislation available for the general public to view and read. That is what we based our conclusion on. Indeed, organisations like the Evangelical Alliance have said that the current proposals raise legitimate concerns for the LGBT community about discriminatory treatment across a wide range of goods and services. So, do not try to caricature us when other people across the community have legitimate concerns about the draft legislative proposals on these issues.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he have insight into how likely it is that OFMDFM will be able to bring forward an equality Bill for an open and inclusive consultation process on these issues?”