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 the Minister for his answer. I also condemn the evil attack on the prison officer in east Belfast last week and wish him a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with his family and colleagues at this time. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the measures that the Minister has outlined, but, difficult though it may be to recruit from the communities addressed in my question, and to which the Minister referred in his answers, what more can be done to get recruits from areas such as North Belfast, which I represent? These evil people must never be allowed to win — they cannot be seen to win. All that can be done to attract representatives from across the community must be done by the Northern Ireland Prison Service to ensure that it is indeed reflective of society.”
“Will the Minister join with me, since we share a constituency, in congratulating Carl Frampton on his great victory on Saturday night in uniting the IBF and WBA titles in Manchester? In relation to regional stadia, does the Minister envisage government money being used to upgrade the Brandywell Stadium in Londonderry?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Has a route been identified for north Belfast, and what is the likely timescale for its operation and implementation?”
“Can I ask the Minister for his assessment of the effect that the reduction in corporation tax will have on helping manufacturing in Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement and his answers so far. I share the regret and sadness of other Members at this devastating news for those who will be made redundant at Bombardier. Indeed, I took the opportunity to speak to a senior official from Unite the Union on Saturday.”
“For too long, working-class communities have been not part of the arts but apart from them. <BR /> <BR />I thank everyone for their contribution. I commend the work that has been done and the 22 recommendations in the report. I welcome the report, which is comprehensive, wide-ranging and inclusive. It is a report for all. If we are serious about building a united community and a tolerant society, the implementation of this report is essential.”
“Indeed, when I heard of the Ulster Orchestra and the Arts Council making approaches to organisations on the Shankill in my constituency, practising in schools and working and rehearsing in the Spectrum Centre, I knew that a nerve had been touched. <BR /> <BR />Going back a number of years, significant investments were made in the culture and arts infrastructure of this city by regional government and Belfast City Council. That includes the MAC, the Lyric, the Ulster Hall etc. It is important that all our people have the opportunity to benefit from these multimillion-pound investments. I hope that this inquiry will ensure that those living in areas such as Ballygomartin, Ballymacarrett, Ballymurphy, Shankill, Woodvale, Ardoyne, New Lodge etc will have access to these facilities on an ongoing and regular basis.”
“Again, on that note, I appeal to the Minister to restore funding for instruments for marching bands. <BR /> <BR />I congratulate the MAC, the Lyric, the Ulster Orchestra and Flowerfield in Portstewart on their work in connecting with the community and encouraging people to get involved using various routes to reach out to working-class communities and young people in those communities. When I initially called for this inquiry, I was criticised by some of the great and the good in the arts world. I was criticised by some key arts organisations in this city. However, I have met and spoken to others who were very supportive and most encouraging.”
“I pay tribute to Michelle McIlveen, our former Chair, and thank her for her support when I approached her about this work. I thank the Committee for supporting the work as we went forward. <BR /> <BR />A number of contributions from practitioners who came in front of the Committee stood out for me, which suggested that we were doing the right thing. East Belfast Arts talked about people not wanting to cross the river to attend venues in the city centre. <BR /> <BR />New Lodge Arts talked about people from that area in the lower part of north Belfast feeling detached and needing transportation to go to the MAC. Bobby Foster from the Spectrum Centre on the Shankill talked about the Protestant community not recognising its culture as arts but recognising it as culture.”
“He mentioned the Ulster Orchestra and how important it was. <BR /> <BR />Mr McCrea talked about how the arts unite communities and enhance tourism, and he made a clear pitch for more tickets for Members to attend events. He said that there was cross-party support for the arts. <BR /> <BR />The Minister said that the arts should be part of everyone's everyday life and that the inquiry was helpful in its inclusivity. She welcomed the Committee's recommendations and said that she would do all that she could to make them happen. She talked about rural proofing and the need to be accountable for publicly owned art by putting it on display. She talked about the inclusion of arts in the curriculum. <BR /> <BR />I will make some remarks as a member of the Democratic Unionist Party.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mrs McKevitt talked about rural proofing and about the lack of transportation being a barrier. She talked about libraries being important in the cultural approach to including all in the community. <BR /> <BR />Mr Cree talked about the recommendations, and he, too, mentioned, the barriers to participation in the arts. He also talked about professional arts practitioners. <BR /> <BR />Ms Lo talked about libraries and schools and said that a full consultation, joined up with local government, was necessary. <BR /> <BR />Gordon Dunne welcomed the report. He talked about the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and gave us a virtual tour of north Down, including Culture Night in Holywood. Basically, he said that, if you were not going away on holiday this year, you should holiday in north Down.”
“The Chairman, Mr McCausland, talked about the term "working class". We were determined at the outset that working class would be used in this work. He said that the arts should be part of everyday life for all people, that exposure to the arts at an early age was key and that public access to the arts, because much of it is hidden, was essential. He talked about the democratisation of the arts and appealed to the Minister to restore funding for musical instruments for bands. <BR /> <BR />Ms McCorley endorsed the report and raised the issue of being unable, along with two colleagues, to ask questions about their concerns about marching bands. From my perspective, the view that the majority of members of the Committee took was that the line of questioning being pursued was not relevant to the work of the Committee or this report.”
“I leave that to the expert, Basil. <BR /> <BR />The Committee found that funding was a key issue, particularly the short funding cycles that make the development of project legacy difficult, and believes that there should be tiered funding periods that take into account levels of deprivation in the target community and the need for legacy work. <BR /> <BR />The Committee suggests that an Executive arts and culture strategy supports the development of funding and in-kind relationships between business and arts and culture organisations, particularly those in disadvantaged communities. Invest Northern Ireland should encourage participation in those relationships when providing foreign direct investment and other grants to their clients. <BR /> <BR />I would like to reflect on Members' contributions.”
“It is the Committee's belief that an early introduction to the arts and culture is essential for our young people. That introduction should be sustained by the school curriculum at all Key Stages. Education has a key role to play in any Executive arts and culture strategy. <BR /> <BR />Once our young people have developed a taste for the arts and culture, it is important that they are provided with clear pathways to careers with that focus through the expansion of existing apprenticeships and the creation of new ones. We must examine creative ways to use digital technology and gaming, the bodies that promote the application of technology and the existing activity in the creative industries here to further develop employment in the sector.”
“A coordinated strategy for the arts and culture must see a better, more considered partnership being established between central and local government and between the councils themselves.”
“Schools and libraries would make excellent exhibition spaces, as would arts clubs and cultural hubs. I will throw in there that hospitals would also be a very good location for art to be placed. Partnerships can be created between museums, schools and libraries to bring arts and culture to all our young people. It is clear that theatres and theatre companies must work with disadvantaged communities to support their inclusion in the arts. However, that work needs to be properly resourced and should have agreed outcomes. Community groups have a vital role to play in the development of the Executive arts and culture strategy. <BR /> <BR />On many occasions, the Committee has considered the important role of councils and what they can do to bring arts and culture to disadvantaged communities.”
“I know that the Committee will work hard with the Minister to ensure that all 22 of its recommendations are implemented. <BR /> <BR />I want to make a few points about the inquiry. The Committee Chairman is absolutely right to state that the Committee believes that the best way to ensure that working-class communities are included in the arts is through a comprehensive arts and culture strategy that is owned, supported, facilitated and resourced by all the Executive Departments. It should operate in a similar way to the Programme for Government, with coordinated targets, key performance indicators and a monitoring and review process. <BR /> <BR />Another key point to stress is the need to bring publicly owned art to places where disadvantaged communities can enjoy it and be inspired by it.”
“I have looked to the side of the House, and the colour of Mr Hall's face suggests that it is not "tarts". <BR /> <BR />I am pleased to make the winding-up speech on this Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee debate on its inquiry into the inclusion in the arts of working-class communities. I start by thanking Committee members for their contribution to today's debate and throughout the process over the last year and a half. I also thank the Minister for responding to the debate. It has been a measured, constructive and most useful debate. I also echo the Chair's remarks in thanking the Committee Clerk and his team and, of course, Dan Hull, the Committee's researcher. Thank you very much to Mr Hall and his team. <BR /> <BR />It is clear that the Committee's inquiry has proved to be very valuable work.”
“— it is important that the school should be on the current site.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. My colleague Brian Kingston and I had a meeting with the chief executive of the Education Authority on Friday, and she confirmed that. I thank the Minister for the announcement of the investment in the area. <BR /> <BR />The Minister mentioned that this will free up space in Glenwood Primary School. He knows that I have raised that issue with him before. Will he advise the House when work might start on the extension and refurbishment of Glenwood Primary School? It is the hub school for the greater Shankill area, and the work is much needed, as the Minister will know. In the view of the governors, teachers, local politicians and, of course, parents —”
“I thank the Minister for his answer, although I am disappointed by it. I have had conversations with those providers on the practicalities of delivering and positively changing lives, and I do not think that is being maximised. I urge the Minister to consider a review of it as we come up to April and the annual review, and I extend to the Minister a warm invitation to visit Impact Training, Shankill Job Assist and Shankill Women's Centre, where he can hear at first hand the concerns and views of people on the ground.”
“Can I ask the Minister to join with me in congratulating the Northern Ireland national manager, Michael O'Neill, on being awarded coach of the year at the Sports Personality of the Year awards, which were very successfully held in Belfast recently? I am pleased to hear what the Minister said about funding not being given to football grounds outside this jurisdiction, and we will watch that closely. Does the Minister agree that, if that were to happen, it would fly in the face of the policy that Sport NI has embarked on of not providing funding for boxing clubs affiliated to the Northern Ireland boxing association?”
“As a supplementary question, can I ask the Minister how many people have attended the accident and emergency unit in the Mater over the last number of years?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I also thank the Minister for the meeting that he facilitated last week between party colleagues and me and trustees from the Mater Hospital.”
“I thank the Minister for her answers so far. I encourage everyone in the House to visit the new Discover Ulster-Scots Centre in Belfast. It is an excellent experience, and congratulations to those who established it. <BR />A disparity exists between Ulster Scots and the Irish language — a disparity in funding for the agency and Foras na Gaeilge of 8:1, and the Minister's pet project Líofa has made a £1·1 million investment in the Irish language. What is significant in the statement is what is not in it. Where is the work that is supposed to be going on for the equivalent of a Líofa for Ulster Scots? Where is the parity and equality that was promised for Ulster Scots?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. From speaking to others and from my own information, I am aware that applications seem to be down. If they are down, and significantly so, what help can the Department of the Environment and the Minister that leads it give to local councils?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. It is only families who are affected by children who are born with complete loss of hearing who know the full impact that it has on such children and the wider family. I have a very dear friend whose child is profoundly deaf, and I know the difficulties that that child has had to endure, so I welcome the statement. The Minister talks about a strategy for changing the position. What is that strategy?”
“I thank the Minister for his response and welcome it. I make one point to him: it is very difficult for principals. As I said during listed questions, we have met the local principals to do planning when they do not have the places available to facilitate the young people who are being drawn from across Belfast because of the lack of state secondary schools.”
“Is the Minister prepared to give greater resources for the retention of the extended schools programme, which is so hugely needed in constituencies like North Belfast, inner East Belfast, South Belfast and West Belfast?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I also thank the Minister for the interest he has taken in education in the greater Shankill and north Belfast area. <BR /> <BR />The Minister will be aware of the children and young people's zone in greater Shankill. He will also be aware of the recent report by the Equality Commission that presented inequalities in education based on data from 2011-12. Recently, my colleagues and I met Alan Logan and Emlyn Wright from the two Model Schools. Will the Minister join with me in congratulating the principals of those schools, and of Hazelwood College in north Belfast, on the leadership that they are giving?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Northern Ireland is obviously a small country, and the development of elite players is essential. The Minister will know that the Northern Ireland senior team has qualified for the Euros next year, but the under-19s have also qualified for the elite section. Therefore, the establishment of a national training centre is a huge decision and an important development. Will the Minister assure the House that money will be divided across Northern Ireland on an equal basis, to ensure the development of facilities across Northern Ireland? Where should the national training centre be sited, and can she update the House on that issue?”
“I thank the Commission member for his answer. Further to the communication of the dates on which the Building is lit up, other Members may have been approached, as I was, about it being lit up in the colours of the French tricolour after the appalling massacre in Paris recently. It is important that the message gets out to the public that there was no response because the system currently does not allow for the Building to be lit up in three colours. Will the new system allow that to happen?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer so far. I welcome the funding to the arts sector. The money that was withdrawn from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland did not come from Tory cuts; it came from Sinn Féin cuts in that £900,000 was transferred to the Minister's pet project, Líofa. What is the Minister doing to reinstate the £100,000 that was taken away from marching bands? She promised to bring that back in a monitoring round.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that, in an ideal world, Governments would not spend any money on defence and, indeed, that every Government would be neutral? Given the week that is in it, every Government have the duty to defend their people; that is their first duty and responsibility. It would be anything other than wise for Her Majesty's Government not to invest in armaments to protect the people on this island and on the mainland, and, indeed, to protect us from world terrorism. Does the Member agree?”
“I welcome the consultation announced by the Minister this afternoon. The statement refers to the principle of equality and states that it should be fundamental. In the interests of equality, inclusivity and social inclusion, why does the arts advisory forum, which the Minister established, not include representatives from the Ulster-Scots community, the Orange community and the marching bands fraternity?”
“<BR /> <BR />Alliance and my party are the only parties that have been consistent on the issue. Alliance is voting for this because it realises that, if we do not have this agreement and do not vote it through, the realpolitik is that we will not have the protections in place and will have unmitigated Tory cuts imposed here over the heads of the Assembly, the people of Northern Ireland and the people they elected to this House. That is the reality we face. Finally, does the Alliance Party support the package and the protections of benefits in it?”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. He talked about the last five months, but does he not agree with me and other Members that we have been debating this for three years? As Assembly Private Secretary to two Ministers, I have listened intently to the speeches and the contributions — mostly positive — that the Member has made during that time. The Member made the point that he is voting for this, despite his reservations, to stop sliding back. Considering the cost of the financial penalties that we face paying in Northern Ireland and the protections and mitigations that have been negotiated to protect the people out there — some of the most vulnerable people in this kingdom — surely that is the right thing to do, despite the reservations.”
“I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. As a member of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee, I can assure the Minister that — colleagues from across the House will bear this out — when business people, business organisations and investors come before the Committee, the message is consistently the same: there needs to be political stability in Northern Ireland for people to come and invest. Indeed, we heard that again only this morning.”
“— and Republic of Ireland economies can go only so far. Remember that IDA and Invest Northern Ireland will compete for inward investment across the globe, and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board will compete with Bórd Fáilte to get people to come and stay in Northern Ireland. I have much more to say, but I will conclude by saying that I oppose the motion.”
“One positive that has come out of a negative is the once-divisive issue of the cultural mix of our city. Diversity is now a positive. More than 50% of tourists who travel the world are cultural tourists. That positive is something that Belfast has exposed in its most positive way. The good relationship between Northern Ireland, the Government of the Irish Republic and the councils that straddle the border is positive and of benefit to the taxpayer in both jurisdictions. In economic growth, health, tourism, transportation and energy, it is positive. However, economic cooperation and benefit between the Northern Ireland —”
“Obviously, I am very sad to hear about anyone losing their job. I am not over the detail that the Member has talked about, but I am sorry to hear about anyone losing their job. I am sure that the Minister may well touch on that when he comes to respond to the House. <BR /> <BR />To maximise growth and investment, we must have a clear, joined-up approach. For example, in tourism in Belfast, hotels, bars, restaurants, shops, retail, tourist attractions and of course transportation are key. They represent thousands of jobs and hundreds of employers. The joined-up approach by Invest Northern Ireland and the new Tourism Northern Ireland are essential. The marketing and promotion of Northern Ireland are key. Belfast and Northern Ireland are dealing with a reputational and perceptional problem because of the Troubles and terrorism.”
“Compare the investment that there has been in north Belfast with that in west Belfast or east Belfast. North Belfast has received significantly less investment, and I ask the Minister to address that when he replies to the House. The reality of investment in this city is that people need to be mobile. Therefore, the upgrade of transportation and infrastructural improvements to facilitate that mobility are key for our workforce.”
“Belfast is a key economic driver. Investment, whether it be by local, regional or national government or the private sector, does not simply benefit the ratepayer and taxpayer in the city of Belfast. Those who work in the city, those who visit it, particularly those who stay overnight in the city's hotels, those who invest in it and those who live in its suburbs and satellite towns all benefit from investment in Belfast and its regional economy. <BR /> <BR />The rising tide, as Mr Girvan said, must lift all boats. This is consistent with DRD's regional development strategy and the independent review of economic policy. City and town centres should be recognised as catalysts for economic growth. In large towns and cities, that investment can vary significantly.”
“The target of improving Northern Ireland's economic growth, with a particular focus on export-led economic growth, is, I believe, key. <BR /> <BR />As Members will know, I am a Belfast Member. However, it is critical that the focus is on Northern Ireland, holistically. Belfast is a huge subregional economy in terms of its population, commerce, tourism, transportation, industry and finance.”
“I took an interest in what the Minister said earlier about the work that he will do and the work that he will undertake with colleagues to try to ensure that employment and investment are brought to a town that has been deeply affected in the last year, as we all know. <BR /> <BR />Economic conditions continue to improve. Unemployment is down, the number of jobs has increased by 30,000 in three years, to March of this year, and growth in economic activity continues. We continue to witness growth in the rebalancing of the economy, which is essential, in the private sector, which is vital and, of course, in exports. It is essential that the Northern Ireland Executive continue to review, update and refocus their economic strategy for growth and rebalancing the economy.”
“I oppose the motion. I was appalled at its narrow, party political and, indeed, sectarian nature. I was appalled, too, at how it was moved by the Member from Fermanagh and South Tyrone. The nature and way in which he did so did no service whatsoever to the people of west Belfast and north Belfast whom I represent. In fact, he took away from the point that, I think, he was trying to make. Funnily enough, he also failed to mention the investment made in the west of the Province, in the constituency of Foyle, and, indeed, the huge investment made in the city of Londonderry — and it is Londonderry. <BR /> <BR />It has been a bad week. We have lost 860 jobs. That is a hammer blow for people in Ballymena, in particular, and in the basin that surrounds that town in County Antrim.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. I listened intently to what he said about educational attainment in working-class areas. I recently spoke at the opening of an extension to a primary school in my constituency of North Belfast: Springfield. I made the point to those gathered that parents valuing education is a key element of raising the educational attainment that we are talking about, particularly in working-class areas of north and west Belfast. The issues that face young Catholics in Ardoyne are very similar to those that face young Protestants in Woodvale just across the Crumlin Road, where I live.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. He will be aware that, in my first question, I raised the issue of Glenwood Primary School, and he will know that I have raised the issue before. I, along with my colleague Nigel Dodds MP, recently met the principal and the chair of the board of governors on the issue. We as a party are very keen, as are the principal and the governors, to see a new school put in place for Glenwood in the very near future. Can the Minister assure the House that there will be no impediments to that and that a new school will come to fruition for the benefit of young people in the greater Shankill and their education?”
“I ask Members, when considering the report, to remember what their party stands for and is committed to and to get on with doing it so that we get the investment that we need in Northern Ireland to provide the infrastructure, rebalance the economy and provide jobs, certainty and financial security for our people.”
“Sporting excellence such as that in the Northern Ireland football team is very important.”