William Humphrey
North Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I listened intently to all the contributions in the debate, and I have to say that there was a fair degree of hypocrisy in some of the things that I listened to.”
“On this Commonwealth Day, I commend the Minister, in her absence, for her programme. Earlier today, we planted a tree to mark Her Majesty's platinum jubilee close to Lord Craigavon's tomb. Are there plans for the jubilee celebrations across our education sector to be extended to uniformed organisations?”
“I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. I thank her for her candour to the House today in setting out clearly and very explicitly the dangers that this bad, and badly drafted, Bill will have for education in Northern Ireland and the ramifications for our young people.”
“Thank you very much. Only last night, I had a conversation with the chair of a board of governors. I have also met school teachers and principals. Quite frankly, I am rather perturbed by what the Member is saying.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. He and other Members have made the point that the Bill will lead to discrimination. Does the Member agree that there is no such thing as positive discrimination?”
“The Member makes a very valid point. Earlier today, we debated the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill. A number of people who opposed the Minister's Bill made the point that it took so long — over two years — to get to today, yet they want to rush this Bill through. The same parties that made those points have accepted that this Bill is flawed.”
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“<BR /> <BR />This city is the travel and transportation hub for Northern Ireland. It has a huge and growing number of hotels. That is important as we continue to sell Northern Ireland as a tourist destination. I welcome the investments that were announced over the summer by local hoteliers in the private sector to further invest in more hotels, and I give credit to the government agencies that have been working hard to do that. Rebalancing the economy and addressing those issues is absolutely vital. There have been events such as the Giro d'Italia, the World Police and Fire Games, the Tall Ships, the City of Culture and a wide number of other sporting events, and there has been, indeed, sporting excellence. I congratulate yet another of our rowers on becoming a world champion in the latter part of last week.”
“I congratulate all those who have been working hard to deal with the issues of perception and reputation. Northern Ireland has suffered because of the Troubles and because of terrorism, which is why we need to have those issues resolved once and for all. It has suffered internationally in its reputation and in perceptions, with people not wanting to come here on holiday and not wanting to come here to invest. Those are issues that we thought we had put behind us. Sadly, as the summer unfolded, that was not the case. We need to address those issues and to have that investment. We need to work and support Invest NI, Tourism NI, Visit Belfast, the Northern Ireland Executive writ large and Tourism Ireland in selling Northern Ireland nationally and internationally.”
“Paying fines to the national Government instead of having investment in education, roads, health, training and so on is an absolute crime. It is a shame. That is a false economy. That opportunity cost and that investment issue are things that Northern Ireland is suffering from. We need a more joined-up approach in the governance of this place, in the Assembly here at Stormont and in local government, as well as to work with the private sector, universities and colleges to try to ensure that that which is needed out there to provide skills for young people to get long-term and meaningful employment is exactly what we provide. I think we have been failing lamentably in the process of trying to do that. <BR /> <BR />The fastest growing part of the Northern Ireland economy is tourism.”
“Of course, the actions of the IRA over the summer, in the murder of Mr McGuigan, as well as the other murders that happened on the streets of this city, which have to be condemned by all right-thinking people, all indicate that that stability is not there. Work needs to be done in Northern Ireland to provide that surety to government and to deal with the issue — the cancer that is paramilitary activity and terrorism. <BR /> <BR />Rebuilding the economy, introducing corporation tax and welfare reform are hugely important. Parties need to demonstrate in the Executive and Assembly and to the national Government that they are fiscally and financially literate. We have seen some parties that have failed lamentably to do that in theory, never mind in practice.”
“Many of the issues that Members have spoken about have been addressed in the Stormont House Agreement. Had that been agreed, as it was by many of those parties that are now complaining about issues, and had it been implemented, perhaps we would be in a different place. People talk about the date and rate. We cannot get the date and rate if people are not prepared to recommend it to the executive of their party or are told by people in another country that their policy has to change, as happened with Sinn Féin. We also cannot have these things passed on and implemented to the devolved Assembly by the national Government if we do not have stability.”
“Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, can I start by asking the Minister whether he will join with me, when he comes to the Dispatch Box, in wishing Michael O'Neill, Steven Davis and the Northern Ireland team all the very best for tonight's international qualifier at Windsor Park, which could see us going to France next year? <BR /> <BR />I want to start off by congratulating the Committee Clerk and the staff of the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment for all the work that has been done in compiling this report. As colleagues have said, this report has been a long time in the making, but I think that it is a valuable piece of work. Investment is key to the Northern Ireland economy and how we get that economy to grow. My party has worked very hard to try to have that economy rebalanced, and I will perhaps return to that if time allows.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Carrying on from the answer that the Minister has just given, I ask her to expand on this phrase in her statement:”
“Although she may well have voted one way and I another on the Belfast Agreement in 1998, does the commissioner agree that Northern Ireland's constitutional position was settled; that the issue of the sovereignty of Northern Ireland was resolved; that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom; and that the Union flag is the flag of this part of the kingdom and the flag of this Assembly as a devolved Administration?”
“I thank Mr Ramsey for his answer. I appreciate what he said about health and safety, but, where security is concerned, can I ask the Commission member this: who had ultimate responsibility for the roof, and was that a breach of the contract?”
“I note the laughter from across the Chamber in relation to the question that was asked by my colleague. Indeed, I understand that some members of Sinn Féin were very light-hearted and relaxed about the idea of the Irish tricolour flying over this Building for 10 minutes. It is a pity that they would not take that attitude about a six-minute parade along the Crumlin Road in north Belfast.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I appreciate the work that he has done in relation to schools in the greater Shankill, not least Malvern Primary School, and I appreciate the decoupling of the Malvern and Glenwood schools. The Minister will know that Glenwood is the hub school for the greater Shankill, with more than 500 children, and is vital to the education of the young people in that area. Given its importance and the key role that it plays, can the Minister provide certainty to the school and its board of governors that the new build will go ahead, and that it will go ahead as soon as is possible?”
“I will not veer into asking questions about the investigation as a member of the Committee; I am doing that in Committee. Has the Minister recently held meetings with the residents immediately around the ground or with the Gaelic Athletic Association on the issue of emergency exiting from Casement?”
“Does the Member agree with me that one of the most consistent performers from the Northern Ireland team at the Commonwealth Games has been a Mr David Calvert? Over two decades, he has brought a number of medals back to Northern Ireland on behalf of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team. Does he agree that that is a perfect example of the point that he is making?”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. The Member talks about the Republic of Ireland Government and Administration. Does he agree with me that it was not until we had the foot-and-mouth disease that the border was sealed, which unionist politicians called for to protect people in Northern Ireland, whatever their religion or political background? That could not be done until we a situation with foot-and-mouth disease along the border.”
“— and shows dignity and decorum. I pay tribute to them. I urge the House to back the motion.”
“I am sorry that I did not get to include all the Members who spoke. I will just say in conclusion that the bands fraternity is important to Northern Ireland. It is important for building confidence. I absolutely have to say that the vast majority of bands in Northern Ireland are responsible, decent and honourable people who are about playing music in a way that is respectful —”
“Leslie Cree talked about the role of bands in local communities across Northern Ireland. Anna Lo said that the Alliance Party will support the motion and that over £500,000 had been awarded to reaching into the community. She said that that is important because many young people, especially unemployed males, have been reached by bands. David Hilditch referred to the confederation's presentation —”
“I am aware of that. Of course, the most popular tune that will be played by bands from all sections of the community is 'Star of the County Down'. As the Member knows, that will be played at nationalist parades and on 12 July. <BR /> <BR />I will turn to the debate. Nelson McCausland said that bands are one of the largest sections and sectors of our community with, as I also said, 25,000 members, and he urged the Minister to look at the proposal again. Rosaleen McCorley supported the general thrust of the motion and praised the bands forum in Londonderry. Karen McKevitt said that she hoped that a funding stream can be found and that her party wishes that parading will pass off peacefully this year. She also mentioned the work that she has been doing with the Commons Silver Band in Newry.”
“The Member will not be surprised to hear that I agree with him entirely. I watched those programmes. At meetings with the BBC that he attended with me, we pushed for equality in output from Broadcasting House in Belfast. Sadly, a band from County Tyrone that took part in a programme that I think was called 'Nolan and Hector Break for the Border' came out of that in a very negative way and had a very bad experience. I wrote to the controller of BBC Northern Ireland about it and subsequently met him. A local Church of Ireland clergyman had contacted me about the band issue. As a Presbyterian, I pay tribute to the Church of Ireland. The Church of Ireland, through the Zacchaeus project led by Sister Valerie Thom of the Church Army, has been doing tremendous work on Orange, Black, Apprentice Boys and band parades across Northern Ireland.”
“They are great, articulate and intelligent spokespersons for the band fraternity, and I pay tribute to them. <BR /> <BR />I was speaking earlier to my party colleague Nigel Kells, who is a councillor in Antrim and involved in Gortagilly Coronation Flute Band. That band has communitised to the extent that it has officers in charge of education and careers tuition in the band for young people for the 11-plus, Key Stage 3, GCSEs, AS levels and A levels. It also has members who advise the band and the wider community in the area about job application forms. That is an example of a band that is not just an organisation that people join and play instruments in; rather, it has absolutely communitised and is giving leadership, building capacity and giving confidence to that community in the south Antrim and southern part of Londonderry areas.”
“Just last year, I noticed some friends of mine taking part in the parade. They were walking with Baillies Mills Accordion Band. Skeogh Flute Band from outside Dromore and Hamilton Flute Band from Londonderry have also participated there. There are a considerable number of bands from Northern Ireland involved. The Pride of Ballinran Flute Band from Kilkeel will take part next year. <BR /> <BR />We must keep in context the positive role that bands play. Similarly, for the younger section of the community, they are the glue that holds it together. I pay tribute to the Confederation of Ulster Bands, which I mentioned earlier. The Committee heard earlier in the year from William Bradshaw, Valerie Quinn and Codie Murray about the role that they play.”
“We as a Committee have been touching on the detachment from the arts of working-class communities across this city and Northern Ireland. Bands absolutely fill a void in that area. <BR /> <BR />Bands are also intergenerational: they include siblings, parents, grandparents and so on. I attended the Festival of Marching Bands that was sponsored by my colleague Diane Dodds in the summer of last year, at which there was a perfect example of that, with a grandchild, father and grandfather in a band. That is an example, as the Orange family ripples out, of the involvement that there is in bands. <BR /> <BR />Ulster bands have played huge and significant ambassadorial roles in bands in the United States, Canada, Norway, France, Gibraltar and Belgium, and, of course, at the Lord Mayor's show in London.”
“The bands are varied geographically, and the communities they come from and their playing is diverse. They are also different in how they address issues. Many of them address social exclusion, isolation and poverty, as was touched on by Mr Hilditch. Bands contribute something like £19·3 million worth of charitable donations and social capital to community life in Northern Ireland. That is a huge amount of money being put back by the bands sector. The sector spends something like £8·2 million a year in the local economy on instruments, uniforms and transportation costs. Bands offer a structure for tuition, instruments and performance opportunities in many areas where there is no other engagement in the arts.”
“As others said, 25,000 people across Northern Ireland are involved in bands, and there are 660 bands in total. There has been, as I said, significant investment from the Arts Council and the Ulster-Scots Agency, but we have to put that in context. If you look at the cost of instruments, a concert flute, for example, can cost up to £15,000. A set of bagpipes can cost £750. An accordion — my colleague for North Belfast Mr McCausland is probably the most accomplished accordion player in the Chamber — can cost £1,500. For silver and brass bands, the cost of instruments goes up. Therefore, although £500,000 is no small amount of money in anyone's terms, 660 bands with 25,000 members puts it in some sort of context. <BR /> <BR />The Department for Social Development commissioned a study in 2013 that identified a number of things.”
“That has been my experience as a North Belfast representative in recent times and as an Orangeman sitting in West Belfast Orange Hall for all those years, as my father, grandfather and great-grandfather did before me. <BR /> <BR />I praise the role of the bands in the community. Other Members touched on that. I pay tribute to the Ulster Scots Community Network for the role that it has played in working with the bands to improve them, secure funding for them, develop them and be a voice for them alongside the Confederation of Ulster Bands. I will return to that organisation in a moment.”
“On 1 April 2015, the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure announced that, sadly, the musical instruments for bands scheme, administered by the Arts Council, would not be opening. That was a very retrograde step and was something that was hugely divisive for the community that has benefited so much from the award scheme and the funding that has come from the Department and one of its arm's-length bodies, the Ulster-Scots Agency. <BR /> <BR />As a member of the Orange and Black institutions — I have been an Orangeman for 30 years this year — I have walked behind bands that have been exemplary in their playing, deportment, discipline and decorum. I pay tribute to those bands.”
“The Minister will be well aware, since we share a constituency, as does Mr McCausland, that there has been dialogue, for example, around the impasse on parading on the Crumlin Road at Ardoyne for over 10 years. The point that I made in the intervention to my colleague from Londonderry was that an accommodation can be reached when people want to reach an accommodation. You will know that, in certain sectors of the nationalist community in north Belfast, the Twaddell initiative, for example, was dismissed out of hand.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. He makes some very salient points. Citing Londonderry as an example of how things should work across Northern Ireland is something that I have no disagreement with, but will the Member agree that, in order to get that agreement, those taking part in parades and those who would protest have to want to reach a solution?”
“The Member already articulated that serious people were to be coming here this week and that that has been jeopardised by the political inertia here. The message that will go out to Northern Ireland plc and offshore will totally undermine all the good work that is being done by Invest Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland internationally to try to sell this place as a serious place to invest.”
“Last week, the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee had the chief executive and chairman of Invest Northern Ireland giving evidence. They talked about the 18,000 new jobs for Northern Ireland, the huge investment that there has been in getting companies to come here, the wealth that has been created because of that employment, and the importance of setting the rate, date and time for corporation tax. All that is vital to the Northern Ireland economy. <BR /> <BR />I listened to the leader of the SDLP talk about jobs being created by the two Governments, although I do not know why the Irish Government would have anything to do with job creation here anyway. Those people also said that, when they go away internationally, they know that political stability is absolutely vital to creating jobs in Northern Ireland.”
“It is when those measures come into place and the protections are not there that people will come to their doors and those parties will have to explain why they have allowed that to happen. Does the Member agree?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. The Member makes a valid point that the political credibility of this place and its budgetary process will be damaged and tarnished. I would prefer that it were not a Tory-majority Government, as I think most Members would, but, as Mr Dickson set out, that is the reality that prevails in the United Kingdom. Does he agree that, if these powers have to be transferred to the national Government in Westminster, the protections that have been negotiated and the mitigations that are in place to protect the most vulnerable in society will not be there in that context and that, in fact, the people who claim to be protecting the most vulnerable people in Northern Ireland will have exposed those same vulnerable people to the worst type of Tory austerity measures?”
“Does the Member accept the point that, yes, many will lose, and because of the course of action that his party and Sinn Féin have set on tonight, along with the Green Party Member, the loss will be much greater? The mitigating measures that Nelson McCausland negotiated will not come into play. If the Tories take it on, it will be Tory cuts endorsed in Northern Ireland by your parties.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Given the point that his colleague from East Belfast made about a joined-up approach, will he agree with me that it is vital that the councils, as they now have a greater resource, work in collaboration with the Assembly and the community and voluntary sector to deliver a lot of these services?”
“Take two. The Minister will have heard that the Hastings Hotels group has acquired Windsor House and plans to turn it into a hotel. What is her Department doing to increase the number of hotels in Northern Ireland and in Belfast in particular? Does she believe that there is a need and demand for them?”
“I thank the Minister for her answers so far. She will have heard of the acquisition of Windsor House by the Hastings group. What is her Department doing to encourage the development of new hotels in Northern Ireland and in Belfast in particular? Does she believe that there is enough demand for them?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for his answer. What tangible and real difference does he believe the social investment fund will have, not just in my constituency of North Belfast but throughout Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer so far. I note what the Minister has said about her work with the MAGUS. Has she held scheduled minuted meetings with the Ulster-Scots Agency? Have there been action points from those meetings with the Ulster-Scots Agency with outcomes in relation to the establishment of an Ulster-Scots Academy across Northern Ireland and, indeed, the border counties?”
“I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. On that very point, does he believe that the Exchequer is taking that view simply because it prevails across the United Kingdom? I am sure that the Minister has made the point to the Exchequer that the circumstance of the land border with another EU country means that Northern Ireland has to be treated as a separate case on this issue?”
“What is the structure and process that will take forward the Ardoyne and Ballysillan urban village in my constituency, which I very much welcome?”
“I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. Would he agree with me that, however much concern a Tory Administration delivering Tory cuts would cause the House and those of us sitting on these Benches, the prospect of a Labour Administration, which got this country into the mess it is in, being propped up by the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the SDLP, which is fiscally and financially illiterate, would scare the wits out of all of us?”
“I thank the First Minister for his answer. I very much welcome the news that he has given to the House of the interest that has been expressed to him. Is there genuine interest from other potential investors to invest in Northern Ireland should we get reduced corporation tax?”
“I am sure that the Minister will join me in wishing the Northern Ireland football team well for Wednesday night's friendly against Scotland and the qualifier against Finland next week. I agree entirely with the Minister's comments about standout for Northern Ireland, and, following the Hunter review of tourism, what standout does the Minister hope Tourism Northern Ireland will be able to deliver, working with Tourism Ireland in marketing Northern Ireland internationally to tourists?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement to the House and her answers so far. I welcome the economic benefit that comes from Horizon 2020 and the trend of 16% as opposed to the European average of 14%. How many jobs have been protected and created due to this intervention?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. As he has already indicated, no amicable solution was reached on that day. Certainly, we, on these Benches, did not see it as amicable that the flag would be excluded from licences. There should be opt in. <BR /> <BR />Has the Minister arranged a meeting with the national Transport Minister, who, I understand, has written to him to seek a meeting with him to take this matter forward? Has he arranged that meeting? Has he been in contact?”
“<BR /> <BR />When I was deputy lord mayor of this city, I hosted a reception for his ninetieth birthday in the Lord Mayor's parlour. He was joined on that occasion by the former Archbishop of Armagh, because Jim was a great and committed Christian, a member of the Church Ireland and a lay reader in his parish of Killead. I, along with many of my colleagues, am deeply saddened at the loss of a true friend. Jim was an inspiration to me, as he was an inspiration and guide to people in the unionist community and, indeed, across Northern Ireland. His loss today is as absolute as it is sudden and tragic. I extend my sympathies to Agnes, Stephen, Ian and Janice, his nephews and nieces. Today, the community in Northern Ireland is weaker and sadder for the loss of James Henry Molyneaux.”
“He encouraged many of us on these Benches to give leadership when we were members of the Young Unionist Council, and I will never, ever forget that. <BR /> <BR />I regarded Jim as a personal friend, a political mentor, a true unionist and an outstanding Ulsterman. I shadowed him for three days at Westminster, and I could not believe that someone of his age was so energetic: he was constantly working for Northern Ireland and the unionist cause. Although he was, as we have heard, a quiet man of Ulster politics, he was a man with a great sense of humour. He was a great leader and a superb party manager, with absolutely outstanding personal skills. He campaigned for me in 2007 for the Assembly election in North Belfast, and I will never forget his encouragement.”
“He was one of the first soldiers to arrive at Belsen, and I remember him telling me about the smell and the sights that met him when he arrived there, which were to remain with him for the rest of his life, a life that sadly ended this morning, when he was called home at 7:30 am. <BR /> <BR />He was interested in gardening, motorcycling, military history and the Royal British Legion. He was a great encourager of young people, as Arlene said. Indeed, Arlene, Peter and I all benefited from his encouragement and, at times, cajoling, as chair of the Young Unionist Council. Although small in stature, Jim Molyneaux was a political colossus. When I was a young member of the Ulster Unionist Party in North Belfast, Jim Molyneaux encouraged me in a way that others simply did not bother to.”
“I am deeply saddened at the loss of a great Ulsterman and true friend, Jim Molyneaux. <BR /> <BR />Jim Molyneaux was a man of integrity and honour, a true Christian and a great friend and encourager. He was awarded a knighthood by Her Majesty in 1996, and the following year became Baron Molyneaux of Killead. That was fitting, because Jim Molyneaux, as someone who had high regard for the royal family, was in every sense a Queen's man. He was sovereign grand master of the Royal Black Institution for 27 years and a deputy grand master of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, of which he was also a trustee. He was most at home in the Diamond lodge at Aldergrove. He was a great Orangeman and a true inspiration to any young Orangeman. <BR /> <BR />He joined the RAF at the age of 21 and served this nation for five years during World War II.”
“The new super-councils are about to take authority next month. Given what the Minister just said, does the decision of councils like Newry and Mourne and Mid Ulster to have the Irish language first not damage the good community relations in those areas? The unionist community there feels that this is yet further damage to the areas' community relations. That is the very point that the Minister just made, yet his party is playing a role in it.”