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 />The same applies to other sports. Last week, the Irish Bowling Association was before the Committee. Its representatives made the same point about attracting young sportsmen. That is something that we need to do. We need to attract young sportspeople, and we need to ensure that they are trained and that the facilities are available for them to develop and compete on the international stage. We also need to retain those sports personnel.”
“She said that it is important that the Commonwealth Games Council get the support for a bid. I absolutely agree with that. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland has a great legacy from the Commonwealth Games. If we look back at Mary Peters, Mike Bull, Philip Beattie, Davy Larmour and a list of boxers and bowlers, we see that we have a tremendous legacy from the Commonwealth Games. However, it is limited to a small number of sports. I follow the Northern Ireland football team but not just at full international level. That is a point that Ms Lo made. I follow them at youth level, under-19 level and under-21 level, because the development of young players is very important. As they move through the age groups, they get the experience to develop as players, enabling them then to compete on the full international stage.”
“He also mentioned accommodation, particularly in the city of Belfast, that would host the athletes as they arrived from across Her Majesty's Commonwealth. He said that there is considerable experience here of delivering events and that there is great pride in achievement. He also referred to the comments that the Minister made about that. <BR /> <BR />The Minister said that the bid would have to be made by the Commonwealth Games Council, with, from an Executive point of view, it coming from the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment through the global events bidding group. She talked about athletes, their skills, their achievements in the recent Commonwealth Games and the legacy of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team from recent competitions. She talked of the achievements of the past and about reaching out.”
“She talked about the Sport NI review of the Commonwealth Games that had been discussed by the chief executive of Sport NI. She also said that it is important that coaches be given the recognition that they deserve. As well as that, she talked about how sport can be important in tackling obesity and in dealing with health issues. <BR /> <BR />Nelson McCausland said that we must use the next seven years to prepare. He talked about Northern Ireland's profile being increased internationally because of events such as the Commonwealth Games and others that have been held. He said that much of the infrastructure is either in place or is being put in place and that there are other announcements to follow.”
“She said that they would provide a great opportunity for Northern Ireland and that competing in the likes of those games would well prepare young athletes for the full Commonwealth Games as they develop as sportsmen and sportswomen. She also said that sport increases confidence and discipline. <BR /> <BR />Mr Hilditch talked about the importance of legacy. He said that the Executive and DCAL should have a development plan put together and be working on the bid now. He also talked about volunteering and how important that is. He said that 2021 had to be the target and that we had seven years to work towards that goal. <BR /> <BR />Ms McCorley talked about the commitment and training of not only the athletes but their coaches.”
“She mentioned world events that Northern Ireland has hosted, the Giro d'Italia and the World Police and Fire Games, and said that continuing investment needed to be made in sporting facilities, particularly boxing. <BR /> <BR />Leslie Cree mentioned the 12 medals that Northern Ireland won in the Commonwealth Games in 2014, which placed it fifteenth in the medal table. <BR /> He also talked about the lottery funds and said that £17·5 million is in place. He talked about Sport NI's sports facility strategy. He said that he looked forward to welcoming many young athletes from across the Commonwealth in 2021. I hope that you are about to do that as well, sir. <BR /> <BR />Anna Lo talked about the youth games.”
“She said that our sporting infrastructure and facilities had been greatly improved and that hotel accommodation had been put in place. <BR /> <BR />Mr Ó'hOisín talked about the boxers and the success that they had attained in 2010 and in this year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. He also mentioned the successes delivered in lawn bowls and judo. <BR /> <BR />Mrs McKevitt said that she hoped that the success realised by the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games team this year would be replicated in 2018. She mentioned how important it was to have proper training facilities in place and coaching to support that. She also talked about the economic benefits that would flow from the Commonwealth Youth Games being held in Northern Ireland.”
“I thank the former Chair of the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, Michelle McIlveen, who, on her comeback, moved the motion so enthusiastically. During her contribution, she pointed out that those who take part in the Commonwealth Youth Games have to be between 14 and 18 years of age and that the first youth games were held in Edinburgh in 2000. She also said that Northern Ireland boxers such as Michael Conlon and Joe Fitzpatrick had taken part in the games and delivered success. She also mentioned that Northern Ireland has successfully hosted the MTV awards, the Irish Open, the World Police and Fire Games, the Giro d'Italia and the recent Carl Frampton fight. She told us that the games had to consist of at least of six sports and possibly up to eight, two of which need to be team sports.”
“I begin, Mr Deputy Speaker, by condemning those who attacked police officers last night in north Belfast. They have no place in society, and I hope that anyone with information will pass it on and have those people removed from society. <BR /> <BR />The Minister talks about front-line services. Given the budgetary pressures and the pressures on the police, does the Minister agree that the full implementation of the National Crime Agency in Northern Ireland is essential? What progress has the Minister made in his negotiations and conversations with the SDLP and Sinn Féin to ensure that that happens?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Does she believe that Northern Ireland has the necessary skills and infrastructure to attract new companies to invest in Northern Ireland?”
“The Minister will be aware that the nation remembers this week. We should also remember the contribution of HMS Caroline in the First World War, particularly in the battle of Jutland. Can I ask for an update on the role of that vessel, which is so important to the people of Belfast and Northern Ireland as we move forward?”
“I thank the Minister for her answers. In relation to the Milk Cup, which was mentioned as part of the question, can I ask the Minister why, after the evidence given by the Milk Cup organisers only a few weeks ago at the CAL Committee, her Department did not give any funding to the Milk Cup? It is internationally renowned, attracting thousands of spectators each year, with hundreds of players coming from across the world, and DCAL was unable to sponsor that event. Why is that?”
“Can the Minister correct what the questioner asked in relation to the Ulster Orchestra? Will she confirm that it is a regional orchestra that belongs not to Belfast but to Northern Ireland? Can she also confirm that, quite rightly, Belfast's council has supported the Ulster Orchestra? Has she met other councils to try to secure funding and a joined-up approach to secure the future of the Ulster Orchestra for this region? Given her initial reply about the management, how much will her Department put forward if her concerns are addressed?”
“What does the Minister believe the Executive can do to reduce the number of people working in the public sector if he believes that it is overloaded?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement and appreciate the work that he has done on behalf of the people of Northern Ireland. It is sad that we have parties in the House that are financially and fiscally illiterate, as is continually exemplified by the SDLP —”
“I thank the Minister for his answer, and, obviously, I welcome the investment in north Belfast. Is the Minister concerned that some of the FTC available will not be spent?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer so far. What will be the impact on the Tourism Ireland budget, given the cutbacks in the Department's overall budget?”
“I thank the Minister for her answers thus far. She will be aware of Ardaluin Regeneration Trust, which does great work in Ardaluin House in Newcastle, County Down. Many kids from constituencies such as ours have travelled there and will continue to do so from right across Northern Ireland. If there are any extra moneys available in her Department, extra funding — or indeed funding — for equipment or capital investment it would be very much appreciated by the trust because it is pretty much a voluntary activity. People give of their time and talents.”
“During the Committee's recent visit to County Fermanagh and Waterways Ireland's lovely offices that cost £13·5 million, the chief executive admitted to the Committee that she is having to make choices as to whether to fund some of the jetties that are about to collapse into the lough. What influence can the Minister have — or the tourism Minister, but I ask this in specific regard to your own portfolio — in ensuring that we have investment in the proper infrastructure for those who are tourists, especially those tourists who travel to Northern Ireland to fish and use our waterways?”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. He is not frightened of debate, and I welcome that. You talk about resources being applied to dealing with the issue before the House. The last time we debated the issue in the House, the SDLP said that it had concerns — I understand that you are articulating them now — about accountability. You were going to have meetings with the Secretary of State and with the Justice Minister. I ask you this, in all sincerity: how regular have those meetings been? Are you making progress in dealing with the issues that you are concerned about?”
“I asked her whether she missed out on the opportunity to compete in the Commonwealth Games and whether she would have wanted to. She said that she would, but, sadly, Northern Ireland does not send a team. It is time that that was addressed. I support the motion.”
“Two other players from Northern Ireland, Ian Sloan and David Ames, have declared for England. They will not play international hockey for three years to enable them to become eligible to play for England. We are missing out on an opportunity; and some sportspeople whom we are developing here are not participating for Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games. That needs to be addressed. Angela Platt, the executive manager of Ulster Hockey, was in front of the Committee last week. Members of the Committee will know that I asked her a question.”
“You can swim for Ireland or GB and take part in the Commonwealth Games; and you can box for Ireland or GB and take part in the Commonwealth Games for Northern Ireland. However, you cannot play hockey for Ireland and play for Northern Ireland in the Commonwealth Games; and you can play rugby for Ireland, but you cannot take part in the rugby sevens at the Commonwealth Games. It is about time that the Irish Rugby Football Union, whether in Dublin or the Ulster branch, and the Irish Hockey Association addressed that anomaly. <BR /> <BR />Sport NI produced a document at our Committee meeting last week, and on page 67, Iain Lewers, a great hockey player from this wee part of the world, is mentioned. He now plays hockey along with Mark Gleghorne for England. He is a GB player.”
“If we are ever to do that, we will need a joined-up approach. Realistically, we need DCAL, Sport NI, local councils, universities, education and library boards and private clubs and their facilities to come together to be in a position to host the Commonwealth Games or any such major international sports event. A considerable amount of investment is required. <BR /> <BR />I appeal to the governing bodies of hockey and rugby. I am proud to be a part of the Northern Ireland green and white army and to support our wee country in international football. I am saddened when a player opts not to play for Northern Ireland, but it is his or her choice. I made this point in Committee on Thursday, and I make it again in the House today.”
“Sadly, however, some of them are not able to compete. <BR /> <BR />Mr McGimpsey mentioned two sports — rugby sevens and hockey — which I referred to last week in Committee. Northern Ireland is not able to take part in those sports at the Commonwealth Games, which is a huge regret. That is politics with a small "p" interfering in sport, and that should not happen. <BR /> <BR />I, too, support Northern Ireland hosting the games, but much has to be done with our infrastructure and facilities. Ravenhill is completed; Windsor is under way; there is development to come at Casement; and we have the Aurora swimming facility in Bangor, the Dub and the Odyssey. We have many great facilities, but we still do not have a velodrome, and considerable improvements are required at the Mary Peters Track.”
“On Thursday past, Sport NI was here to discuss the same issues. Participation in the Commonwealth Games is vital. When the representatives of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council appeared in front of the Committee last year in the Sports Institute at Jordanstown, we were very sympathetic to what they were saying. Clearly, they wanted to do much more. I am sure that the Minister wants to do much more but has a very restricted budget. I pay tribute to the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council. The development of athletes for international competition is absolutely vital. We will maximise the potential that Members talked about only if we maximise our participation. It is great that we have the facility down at the Sports Institute, but we need people who train and work hard for four years.”
“I thank the Members who tabled the motion, and I will speak in favour of it. The names of Michael Conlan and Paddy Barnes now stand alongside those of Philip Beattie, Mike Bull, Davy Larmour, Mary Peters and Barry McGuigan in Northern Ireland's Commonwealth Games hall of fame. I congratulate all our athletes who took part in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and commend all the officials who went along to support them. <BR /> <BR />I watched the opening ceremony when at scout camp on the Isle of Man, and the reception that our team got as it went into the stadium was second only to that of Scotland, the host nation. Two weeks ago, with party colleagues from the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, I met representatives of the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council to discuss a range of issues.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. In the SDLP's talks with the Prime Minister, the Chancellor or the Treasury, what wriggle room has the Member seen for renegotiating a greater deal for Northern Ireland?”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. For terrorists such as ISIS, one of the key income streams is from holding hostages to ransom. Does he agree that it is very important that the international community gets an agreed position on hostages and ransoms? Some nations are paying ransoms and therefore threatening the citizens of other nations that do not.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way and I appreciate the thrust of his speech so far. Economic sanctions can be used to apply pressure on governments. How does the SDLP believe that economic sanctions against ISIS or Boko Haram would have an effect? These are people who absolutely despise democracy and have no role in the international community.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. In the past, our nation or the United States have intervened in countries acting on information that transpired to be incorrect and whatever. Given the situation that Mr Wells has set out, which we all know exists, how does Sinn Féin feel it should be dealt with?”
“On the theme of working across government, I ask the junior Minister what steps he and his Department have taken in working alongside the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer, brief though it was. Given the appallingly sectarian, racist and hateful remarks by the Druids' singer at the Ardoyne Fleadh, does the Minister agree that those bigoted remarks have caused damage to community relations in north Belfast and have caused great offence to the unionist, Protestant and Orange community? What sanctions does she plan to put in place on funding for the fleadh next year?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I welcome the cooperation between the police in this jurisdiction and the police in the Irish Republic. <BR /> <BR />The Minister will be aware that sex offenders, human trafficking, fuel laundering, tobacco smuggling, drugs and paedophile activity are huge issues facing Northern Ireland. I have written to the Minister on a number of occasions about the National Crime Agency, and I also raised the issue with the Secretary of State on a number of occasions. The SDLP today raised the issue of paramilitary activity, and Sinn Féin raised the issue of sex offenders. What progress is the Minister making with both those parties on getting their agreement to the installation and extension of the National Crime Agency to Northern Ireland?”
“— that is the reality in north Belfast, across this city and across Northern Ireland. I commend the motion.”
“— around the issue. A party delegation from the DUP will meet the Chief Constable on Thursday, because confidence in the police and in the Public Prosecution Service has been undermined by this debacle. It is very clear and Members can live in an ideal world all they want, but, on the ground, —”
“Serious questions must be answered by the police and the PPS —”
“<BR /> <BR />On behalf of the DUP, I have to say that we will accept Mr Allister's amendment, because, despite what Mr Maginness said, the debacle around the original file produced for the PPS was a disgrace. Only when pressure was applied from party colleagues of mine and others was a second file put forward to the PPS.”
“Well, we will see what actions it takes in the coming days and weeks. <BR /> <BR />The fleadh's final night is something that I have witnessed and listened to for many, many years. The sectarian bile that comes from the so-called community festival is just disgusting. For years, grossly offensive, sectarian, racist speeches have peddled hatred and division against my community and wider society in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, this event has proven through repeated breaches of rules and through more recent events that it does not merit public funding, whether from council, Government here or, indeed, a foreign Government. I commend the motion to the House.”
“<BR /> <BR />In the context of a community like mine where Orangemen are, daily, being denied their legitimate rights, it does not take a fool to understand just how incendiary those remarks are. Having lost ground to the dissidents in Ardoyne for some time, I suspect that senior members of Sinn Féin were actually pleased about the opportunity presented by the Druids. After all, they got to say offensive things about Her Majesty's forces that perhaps Sinn Féin has decided, politically, not to say in recent years. <BR /> <BR />Serious questions have to be asked and answered by DCAL, the Community Relations Council, the Department of Foreign Affairs in the Irish Republic and CCMS. The Community Relations Council's role in Northern Ireland is to promote a peaceful and fair society based on reconciliation and mutual trust.”
“They said sorry for the comments in so far as they related to Orangemen but defended them in so far as they related to Her Majesty's forces and soldiers. What about Orangemen who are soldiers? Does the apology apply to them? Why apologise for comments about Orangemen when the comments are actually much broader than that? What the performer actually said was, "Orange comrades". That is a much wider category of people than members of the Orange Institution. It encompasses Orangemen, the Orange family, their friends and supporters — 750,000 of whom are out on the streets across this country on 12 July. In other words, the entire Orange tradition in Northern Ireland.”
“No. <BR /> <BR />Those of us who live in north Belfast know that the SDLP has been, in recent years, seeking to out-green Sinn Féin, but what of Alliance? Why does a party that preens itself in public on its cross-community credentials vote in City Hall for such a thing to happen and agree the licence? I hope that the Alliance Party will review its decision when the licence is before the committee next year. <BR /> <BR />It is not for today to hear the usual sermonising from Alliance Members about both sides being as bad as each other. The fact is that the Druids would not have been on stage had Alliance and the SDLP not voted to give the licence. The response to the ensuing uproar over the Druids' comments from organisers and Sinn Féin was the classic political non-apology.”
“What sort of message does it send out when Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance vote to agree the licence anyway? It is no surprise that Sinn Féin is backing Mr Copeland and his committee — birds of a feather flock together — but questions do have to be asked of the SDLP and Alliance. <BR /> <BR />Then again, I listened to Mr Lunn's summing-up speech for Alliance in which he said that it is a mainly cultural event and that this is not a big deal really. I will tell you that for the people whom I represent and the community in which I live, it is a big deal.”
“I thank the Member for that contribution. How are we on these Benches — those of us who live in or represent north Belfast, or anyone else for that matter — to take seriously the assertion that this is an event that is about building community spirit rather than directing hatred to Protestants and unionists, Orangemen and British soldiers when the organisers, point blank, refuse to condemn the attack on Her Majesty's forces who live here, many of whom are local people protecting communities? <BR /> <BR />Members of Belfast City Council's licensing committee asked the organisers who, incidentally, have held the event illegally, without a licence, for years, if they were prepared to turn the sound down or to end the event earlier in the evening.”
“I will come to the Alliance Party in a moment. Emotions are extremely raw within the Protestant community in north Belfast, for a variety of reasons, ranging from the ludicrous determination of the Parades Commission through to the sectarian decision to remove the nation's flag from the City Hall, which you played a part in. The performance of the Druids was merely the latest in a long line of calculated insults on rebel night and acts of aggression to emanate from this particular quarter. <BR /> <BR />What message does it send to the people I represent? Mr Maginness talks about the chairman. Who is the chairman? Is Eddie Copeland the chairman? That is the same Eddie Copeland who unveiled a memorial plaque in Flax Street to the murderer of the nine people who were killed in the Shankill bombing.”
“I know the reality of what it is like on the ground in the constituency. The hurt that Mr Attwood talked about is absolutely palpable. People are coming into my office, and people are stopping me on the street. Members across the way can laugh, but that is the reality. If you are serious about building an Ireland of equals, you should listen to what I am saying.”
“The truth is that it is merely a symptom of the much wider, undiluted, unrestrained and unreconstructed hatred towards the Protestant community that emanates from certain sources within that community. It is chiefly directed at the Orange Institution by groups with dissident connections such as GARC. <BR /> <BR />Having listened to this debate, we have tacit endorsement from Sinn Féin and the SDLP for these actions, because there is refusal to have sanctions applied to those involved in organising it. Already, I can hear the holier-than-thou commentators and politicians asking how dare I make such comments about the community in north Belfast. Unlike most of those commentators and politicians, I live there. I happen to live in north Belfast and have done so all of my life.”
“I have spoken to the grand secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, and I know that he is pursuing the issue because of the offensive remarks that were made towards those of us who are Orangemen. To think that my Orange culture is branded as being intolerant. <BR /> <BR />Since the comments became available online, the organisers of the event have been at pains to point out that they do not represent the views of the republican community, as articulated by Mr Maginness and Mr Kelly, in that area. As others have said, the enthusiastic cheering and hollering that took place as those remarks were being delivered in a school's grounds by the thousands of people surrounding the platform do not bear that out.”
“Many Members made reference to the speech and the direct words used by the so-called entertainer. They were anti-Orange and anti-British; they were sectarian, hate-filled, racist, bile remarks, and they should be, and have been, condemned. Let me make it very clear: I am a proud Ulsterman; I am a proud Orangeman; I am British; I am from north Belfast; my community and I are going nowhere. <BR /> <BR />There are those who talk about Her Majesty's forces being in Northern Ireland. I have to say this: there is a certain irony in this whole thing when those people come from the Republic of Ireland. Her Majesty's forces are garrisoned in Northern Ireland, as they are across the kingdom — as they should be — to protect people from terrorism, the very terrorism that was being glorified at this event.”
“The recent performance by the Druids as part of the Ardoyne Fleadh showed that such a proposition would not be possible for a Protestant or unionist living in north Belfast in the vicinity of the event. Indeed, the performance on the stage made it clear that those so-called entertainers thought that the unionist community of that area, along with the soldiers and those who are Orange brethren, should clear off and take their Union flag with them.”