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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“I thank those who have contributed to the debate. Franklin Jones once observed:”
“I thank the Member for giving way. As someone who can hear from his home the bile and hate that comes from the last night — the rebel night — at the fleadh, I assure him and the House that the last night at the Ardoyne Fleadh is in no way a cross-community event. No one could seriously argue that that is the case.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Will he agree that, clearly, when the police prepared the first file that went to the PPS, what he said was done was simply not done? I have doubts that it was done on the second occasion.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. Given what was said by the Druids, after a long list, as Mr McCausland said, of speeches like that being made on the final night, the rebel night, of this fleadh, does the Alliance Party believe that there were serious breaches that CRC, DCAL and other funders need to look at?”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. Does he agree that questions also have to be answered by CCMS and the trustees of Holy Cross boys' school? I do not think that any comment has been made about the continuation of that school facility being used for such hate-filled events.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. He mentions the BBC. Given the resources the BBC put into the 'Spotlight' programme and the fact that investigative journalists worked on it for months, why did it not come in front of the Social Development Committee?”
“For me, he is a great athlete, a great sportsman and a great role model for any young person, particularly a young person growing up in working-class north Belfast, and he is now a great world champion. As I said, we in north Belfast are hugely proud of his achievements. His success is now there for the world to see. This young man spent his childhood in Tigers Bay, and, now, across north Belfast, this country, this kingdom and the world, we talk about Carl Frampton, the world champion. I wish him well in the future as he defends his title and, as he may well do, fights to merge other titles with it.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said at the start, I congratulate Carl, a young man who started his career at seven years old and progressed to be a world champion. I think that we should all, in this city and across the country, be immensely proud of his achievement. I also congratulate his family, who have been there to support him through the years: his mother and father, Flo and Craig; his wife, Christine; and, of course, his young daughter, Carla. Their love and support will have been invaluable to him throughout his career, particularly his professional career. <BR /> <BR />When you listen to Carl being interviewed on the TV or radio, you are left in no doubt that he has very much gained the love and interest of the people of our wee country.”
“He was guided and moulded as an amateur boxer by Billy McKee MBE, as so many boxers in north Belfast have been. On Saturday evening, at the purpose-built stadium beside the Titanic Quarter, some 16,000 people went along to the bout. I suggest that Saturday evening was almost a throwback to the 1980s and McGuigan's great fights in this city. I commend Barry McGuigan and his wife Sandra for the way that they have managed Carl since he turned to professional boxing. They have managed his career and promoted him, Belfast and Northern Ireland in such a positive way. Carl was at a training camp for 16 weeks: four months of hard work and dedication. The hard work, dedication, commitment and professionalism have now paid off, with Carl becoming our latest world champion.”
“On the back of the Commonwealth Games and Rory McIlroy's exploits over the summer, Northern Ireland has had a terrific weekend in sport: Ulster's last-minute securing of a point away to Scarlets; the Shankill's own Marc McCullough winning his fight easily on Saturday night; the green and white army having a great victory in Budapest last evening; and, of course, on Saturday night, Carl Frampton, north Belfast's own, becoming the world champion. I congratulate Carl on behalf of the people of north Belfast on a great win. He certainly caught the mood of the people of the city and the country — all the people — with over 1,000 people attending the weigh-in at the Ulster Hall. <BR /> <BR />Carl started his career as a young boy of seven.”