Gordon Dunne
North Down · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />As has been acknowledged, stalking is a unique crime, and perpetrators often have obsessive behaviours that can develop over time and be difficult to deal with properly. They are often evolving behaviour traits that start at an early stage and can turn out to be very sinister over time.”
“I, too, welcome the opportunity to speak on the Second Stage of the Protection from Stalking Bill. The moving of this Bill to the Second Stage in its legislative journey is timely and complements the recently completed passage of the domestic abuse Bill.”
“That will support the PSNI and increase the tools available to it and will enable early police intervention, pre-conviction, to address stalking behaviours to protect victims from more serious harm. That intervention will equally be able to be made post-conviction to prevent further stalking.”
“I know from engaging with the PSNI in my North Down constituency that they very much share the view that additional measures and resources are needed to tackle the problem across our local communities. It is widely recognised that our laws in this area need to be strengthened.”
“Part 1 of the Bill rightly prioritises that to improve the operation of the justice system and, ultimately, to better support victims. It is important to ensure that stalking conduct does not fall between the cracks because of poorly drafted legislation or a lack of awareness by those responsible for its implementation.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I welcome your commitment on rates for businesses, which will continue into the new financial year. Will you take some responsibility for the build-up of underspend? Several bids from the Department for the Economy were undercut and not fully funded.”
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“They all attract many international competitors, spectators and their families, bringing people to these shores for the first time. They get a real sense of what this place is about and cannot wait to return. <BR /> <BR />The Budget presents real challenges as we seek to grow our economy. Last night, I welcomed the Finance Minister's commitment when he stated in the House that skills investment was vital to our economic development. I note that, in addition to the £5 million being made available to the new Department for the Economy as part of the 2016-17 Budget, £20 million will be made available for the area as part of the June monitoring round.”
“As has been mentioned by a number of Members, tourism is another key aspect of our economy, and I believe that it is a sector that has not yet reached anywhere near its full potential. The overall visitor figures confirm that Northern Ireland is now a must-see destination, with overall visitor numbers increasing by 9% in the 12 months to June 2015 along with other encouraging signs in external and business visitor figures. Northern Ireland is fast becoming a real destination for top sporting events. Funding streams such as the tourism events programme are crucial in helping to run top-class events locally. The value of international events, such as the North West 200, the Circuit of Ireland and the Irish Open, should not be underestimated.”
“We need to see real progress on the North/South interconnector to help reduce energy costs across the sector. That has been kicked around the Assembly for years. The extension of the gas network to other parts of Northern Ireland is also vital to keep energy costs competitive for all our customers.”
“It is crucial that the right skills budget is in place to align the work of DEL and DETI in attracting foreign direct investment as we go forward with the Department for the Economy, particularly the £5 million that is needed for the skills agenda. <BR /> <BR />Invest NI's mid-year performance for 2015-16 highlighted positive developments, and a £550 million investment in R&D reiterates the value of attracting jobs to Northern Ireland. There is no doubt that the 7·1% reduction in Invest NI's resource budget will present challenges. However, I believe that it is best equipped to deliver for Northern Ireland and, with the right support from the Executive, I have every confidence in Invest's ability to deliver. <BR /> <BR />Energy costs continue to be a challenge to growing our economy, no more so than in the manufacturing sector.”
“The Ulster University estimates that the 12·5% rate could create up to 32,000 additional jobs and help to grow our economy by an additional 10% over 15 years. However, we need to be prepared for the new rate. We need to ensure that Invest NI is given adequate resources and the budget required to ensure that we open the proper doors across the world, wherever they may be. The work needs to start now to maximise the potential for our economy and ensure that the skills needed are in place to support any new jobs. We need to invest now to ensure that we get it right on foreign direct investment to really grow our economy.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Second Stage of the Budget Bill as a member of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee. Our economy must continue to be a central priority for us all as we move forward. Over the last 12 months, our economy has seen challenges and opportunities. It is important that Northern Ireland continues to be positive about being open for business and a place that is welcoming and supportive of new business. We recognise the need to support Invest NI, which will continue to target inward investment, promote domestic growth, provide trade support, support the private sector in investment in R&D and grow our export base. <BR /> <BR />The planned reduction in corporation tax from April 2018 provides us with a real opportunity to grow our economy.”
“I thank the Minister for his answers. As Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, your job entails marketing Northern Ireland throughout the world, and I think that we all admit that you do that enthusiastically. What economic levers can you use as you travel to attract new business into Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer and the information that she has given today. Does she recognise the need for prompt action on the programme, given that farmers who are desperate to gain financial support see it as an opportunity to diversify and, in many ways, develop their supporting business?”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am assured that your visit has already paid off, but can the Minister clarify the actual start date for Queen's Parade? We would prefer it in writing, Minister. The project has gone on so long, and we would like to see work begin on site as soon as possible.”
“I too welcome the new Minister and thank him for his recent visit to north Down. We are looking for a lot of good things from him.”
“I, too, support the legislative consent motion. It is important that we allow the Secretary of State for Business to amend the Estate Agents Act 1979. I believe that the LCM is the most appropriate means of legislating in this area and will ensure that Northern Ireland is brought into line with the rest of the United Kingdom. This is a very important area of work, and it will lead to greater accountability within the estate agent sector, which will ultimately improve the sector for the agents and the public. It will also allow for the possible appointment of DETI as the lead enforcement authority for the Estate Agents Act. <BR /> <BR />As this is the most effective means of updating the legislation, I am happy to lend my support to it. I welcome this motion, and I am happy to commend it to the House.”
“I thank the Minister for his detailed statements. We are all very aware of the need to support businesses in research and innovation, especially our SMEs. Will he give us an update, in some detail, on the progress of INTERREG Va, the programme for 2015 to 2020?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Can he give us some assurances that Tourism Ireland is promoting Northern Ireland across the world as a visitor destination and not just promoting Ireland as one unit, with Northern Ireland losing out?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers, and we wish him well in his new post. As has been mentioned, we are very much aware of the voluntary exit scheme that has been in place for some time for the Civil Service. Will the Minister give us an update on the progress of reform in the public sector to date, and the implications of that?”
“It is somewhat disappointing. From here on in, will the Minister be looking for part-time teachers only?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Does he recognise that the proposed cuts — and I recognise that they are proposed at this stage — of 3·8%, which equates to approximately £72 million of the resource budget, is a real risk to the teaching profession and will involve the possible loss of teachers, making the management of schools a real challenge for boards of governors?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers to date. Can the Minister give us his assessment of the collaborative business network programme established by Invest NI and designed to help the industry sectors? I think we all recognise the good work of InterTradeIreland.”
“Credit unions are locally focused and run for the good of their members and according to their social mission, rather than for profit. This is in strong contrast to the payday loan sharks that are out there in such companies. <BR /> <BR />I believe that the three amendments will allow for the sector to flourish. Clause 13A is important for the sector, given that credit unions, for the first time, will be able to admit companies and incorporated associations into their membership. As this is new ground, the commitment to a review in two years is important to include that protection for credit unions. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the progress made to date. The Committee made a comprehensive input into the Bill, and I commend the work to the next stage.”
“Many of those who work in credit unions do so on a voluntary basis and make a valuable contribution to the local community in which they live. <BR /> <BR />Credit unions are, rightly, run on the principle that if you cannot afford to save regularly, you cannot afford to borrow. Saving is a basic skill that many lack today, and, hence, they get themselves into financial trouble. Credit unions protect such people from getting into financial trouble through risky payday loan companies that often exploit the most financially vulnerable and have greater resources and use attractive advertising to lure people into unrealistic agreements. <BR /> <BR />The key factor in credit unions' success is that they are locally based, working with and for local people in local communities.”
“I too welcome the opportunity to speak at Consideration Stage as a member of the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee. I recognise the role that credit unions play in providing financial assistance to people right across Northern Ireland. I welcome the progress that the Bill has made since it was introduced to the House on 23 June 2015. The Bill was designed to promote the continuing growth and sustainability of the sector, and I believe that we are on track to deliver that needed change through this tailored Bill. <BR /> <BR />The success and significance of the service that credit unions provide here is backed up by the statistics. Some 34% of our population hold a credit union account compared with around 5% in the rest of the UK, and membership has doubled in the past decade.”
“I ask the Minister for an assurance that funding for the promotion of local arts and culture is done on an equitable basis. Your record to date in relation to unionist culture has been at least very poor.”
“I put on record our thanks to all the agencies for their efforts throughout, especially over the Christmas and new year period. Will the Minister give us an assessment of the effectiveness of the floodline number? I have experience of using it: you dial an 11-digit number, sit in a queuing system and get answered by some lady in England. You explain to her that there is flooding in Holywood, but you then have to explain further that that is not in the USA but somewhere in Northern Ireland.”
“It will allow for a more efficient, effective and streamlined process and help to reduce delays in the completion of transactions involving complex insolvency cases, which will only benefit all parties concerned. However, it is important that those without access to IT equipment are not put at any disadvantage by this process. That is why I am glad that certain safeguards have been built in to ensure that that will not be the case. <BR /> <BR />The Committee held a number of evidence sessions, and a wide range of stakeholders was involved, all of whom were valuable in helping to shape the Bill. There was general recognition that this was a progressive way to move forward, and I am happy to commend the Bill to the House.”
“<BR /> <BR />Many similar measures have already been introduced in England and Wales through the Legislative Reform (Insolvency) (Miscellaneous Provisions) Order 2010. I commend the previous Enterprise Minister, Arlene Foster, for introducing the Bill, and my colleague, the current Minister, Jonathan Bell, for ensuring that it will progress through Final Stage today. <BR /> <BR />One of the Bill's main purposes is to allow for the electronic transfer of documents, which is a welcome step forward. The development that electronic documents will now have the same standing as hard copy documents is a positive step that will help to improve insolvency processes.”
“The Bill is designed to assist those who find themselves in the very unfortunate position of being affected by insolvency and to ensure that those who administrate insolvency procedures are able to do that in the most effective and efficient way possible. <BR /> <BR />Insolvency continues to affect quite a number of businesses and organisations in Northern Ireland. Therefore, it is important that measures are put in place to make the processes as simple and as effective as possible to ensure that we have a modern and fit-for-purpose system in Northern Ireland and that the most effective and efficient system is in place for all those affected by insolvency, directly or indirectly.”
“I, too, welcome the opportunity to speak at Final Stage. Considerable work has been carried out on the Bill since it was first introduced. We know that insolvency is a very complex and technical issue, and I think that all Committee members realised that over the last number of months. I commend all those involved in the Bill for their substantial work, including the Committee staff and DETI officials, as well as the many who took part in the consultation process. <BR /> <BR />The purpose of the Bill was always to update, amend and modernise some of the insolvency legislation, much of which is very detailed and specialised in nature and some of which had become outdated, and to ensure that, where possible, there is parity with England and Wales.”
“I thank the Minister for his answers. I think that we all welcome his decision to progress towards dissolving the Health and Social Care Board and the projected savings that will flow from that. Can he see potential for change before the legislation is put in place?”
“I, too, thank the Minister for her answers today and welcome the ongoing review of commercial rates. Will the Minister assure us that she has looked at the option of extending the rates concession to recently vacated properties?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers. Can he give me his assessment of how we can address all the real challenges related to manufacturing, such as, obviously, the cost of energy, labour and transportation?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement, which is somewhat overdue. <BR />With regard to strand 3, will the Minister indicate how she reckons that £3 million will be sufficient for championship clubs? I understand that up to 30 clubs could be looking for potential funding to a maximum of £500,000. How will that be sufficient in trying to address the long-standing funding issue? Clubs like Bangor Football Club have waited a long time for this announcement, yet there will be disappointment that possibly only six clubs will get something from the pot. Surely £3 million is insufficient in trying to address the IFA championship club problem.”
“I thank the Member for her answer. Considering that the breach occurred in May this year, as I understand it, does the Member agree that it is important that we get to find out how such a breach occurred and that measures are put in place to stop a recurrence? I am sure that she will agree that it is important that we keep the proper flag flying here.”
“I thank the Member for her answers. Can the Member explain why the service was changed from a service to an act of remembrance, contrary to what happens across the rest of the United Kingdom?”
“Firms such as Thales, which leads on defence research and development, and Caterpillar, among others, are major local employers that are involved in the defence supply chain. Indeed, the Prime Minister, as recently as yesterday, responded in the Chamber to a question from my colleague Sammy Wilson MP about how local firms, as well as sustaining and promoting jobs, can engage through the Defence Growth Partnership and ensure that we continue to play a pivotal role in the sector. The DUP has consistently pressed for the Government to spend 2% of GDP on the defence budget. It is without doubt money well spent. I urge the House to vote against the motion and ensure that our United Kingdom is safe and secure for many years to come. The way to maintain peace is to prepare for war.”
“We must make sure that we are prepared to tackle the ever-changing threats in the most effective and efficient way possible. <BR /> <BR />There remains some variance in estimated costs associated with the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons programme, with a number of different figures being put forward. However, we must not put a price on our national security. Many jobs are linked directly and indirectly to the Trident programme, and they must be protected and secured as we move forward, with jobs to peak at 6,000 during the build phase from 2016 to the late 2020s through the £40 billion replacement scheme. The defence industry sustains thousands of jobs across the United Kingdom, including jobs in Northern Ireland.”
“We in Northern Ireland continue to live with the price of the terrorist campaign that this country endured for over 30 years. That reinforces the need to be prepared in all possible ways to ensure that terrorism of any form cannot threaten the relative peace and stability that we all enjoy across the United Kingdom today. Having a Trident system in place that is fully operationally and independent of the US or any other state is crucial to our national security, and, indeed, it acts as an insurance policy in what is a dangerous, uncertain and ever-changing world. I welcome the strategic defence and security review announced yesterday in the House of Commons by the Prime Minister. He outlined how the UK will be equipped to tackle terrorism and how £178 billion is to be set aside for military equipment over the next 10 years.”
“I, too, welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion today. It is a very important matter for everyone in the United Kingdom. <BR /> <BR />The core issue of having a nuclear deterrent programme in place is to deter an attack on the UK, its vital interests and its allies. Nuclear weapons would only ever be used in extreme circumstances of self-defence. Having a nuclear programme in place deters the re-emergence of a major direct nuclear threat and the use of weapons of mass destruction by a rogue state. It also acts as a deterrent to state-sponsored acts of nuclear terrorism and as insurance against emerging threats to the UK's vital interests. <BR /> <BR />Sadly, we were all reminded of the devastation that terrorism can cause as recently as just over a week ago with the events in Paris.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Can the Minister assure us that the strategy includes an equality impact assessment to ensure equality of funding for festivals and events, particularly in unionist areas?”
“I, too, thank the Minister for the positive news here today. Does the Minister see real benefits for the construction sector flowing from what we have heard today? It is a sector that has suffered so much in the recent downturn in the economy.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Can she give us some indication of when the project to widen the Sydenham bypass will get under way, which will deal with the problem at the entrance to Belfast City Airport as well?”
“The new councils must take a proactive approach in helping those areas by working in a joined-up way to set real and ambitious job creation targets. <BR /> <BR />We must all redouble our efforts to grow the private sector, rebalance the economy and get people into work. With a joined-up approach involving councils, schools, colleges and all agencies, we have an opportunity to continue the work of helping this country to grow and develop. The devolution of corporation tax, which has been mentioned many times in the Chamber, is another lever that would help to make this a more attractive place to do business and enable us to compete with the Republic of Ireland, mainland UK and, indeed, countries throughout Europe.”
“Now that the 11 new councils are in place, there is the opportunity for work to really get under way, through their new community planning powers and the levers now available to councils in partnership with Invest NI and central government to ensure that areas are tailored appropriately to attracting inward investment and job creation. <BR /> <BR />Despite the challenges to our economy, not least in the manufacturing sector, as, sadly, we have seen in recent days, there are growth areas, including the agrifood and tourism sectors. Many of the areas mentioned are areas of need, particularly those west of the Bann, but they have rich tourism potential and a thriving agrifood sector that must be fully exploited.”
“They must continue to make the growth of our economy the number one priority, as it is that of the Northern Ireland Executive. Look at the evidence from Invest NI for 2013-14. The figures that we have been given are that, in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, which was mentioned earlier, 637 jobs were created; in the Foyle area, there were 434; in Mid Ulster, 495; and in Newry and Armagh, 371. However, in my constituency, North Down, which suffers from its proximity to Belfast, only 128 jobs were created in 2013-14. The evidence confirms that a good spread of jobs is promoted and created outside the Belfast area. <BR /> <BR />Much of what the motion contains is already work in progress through the Executive's regional opportunities ministerial subgroup. That work is being done by the Department and Invest NI.”
“I concur with the point that the honourable Member has made. <BR /> <BR />Such variations are due not least to geographical realities and the physical and infrastructure variances that exist across the Province. There are many issues: we need improved road access and broadband provision, and we need more energy to be provided from renewables through the use of gas etc. Although challenges exist, we see our economy continuing to recover from the global recession. In the year to September 2015, benefit queues shrank at their fastest rate in the past 15 years. Those are the most recent figures. <BR /> <BR />Much of the work to grow our economy has been led by Invest NI and the good work of our Enterprise Ministers, Arlene Foster and, more recently, Jonathan Bell.”
“We cannot deny that there are regional economic imbalances across Northern Ireland. The figures show that some areas here suffer higher unemployment than others. That is not a situation unique to this country. Naturally, there will be variations in economic activity in any country, and they are seen across the world.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak against the motion. Whilst there is no doubt that we continue to live in difficult financial conditions, which are seen all over the world, we have a lot going for us in Northern Ireland, with a highly skilled, educated population combined with our rich industrial and entrepreneurial heritage.”
“I thank the Minister for his answers today. Does he recognise — I know that he has mentioned it — that Bombardier is leading in cutting-edge technology in composite engineering? Does he recognise the good work that Bombardier is doing in looking at alternative energy sources, especially in the renewables sector?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Does he fully recognise the need for new-build schools in Holywood? I appreciate that, some time ago, he visited Priory Integrated College, Holywood Nursery School and Holywood Primary School. Once again, I reiterate that the five schools in the town are all over 50 years of age. Does he recognise the need for investment to address how they have been under-resourced for many years?”
“I must say that I find it unacceptable that the Minister uses a phrase such as "dodgy dossiers" in relation to the selection procedure. Does the Minister agree that, in the main, the system works extremely well because we do not have education authorities or boards involved in it? The fact that they are kept out of it means that the system works extremely well, and, in the main, Protestant and Catholic parents are happy with it.”
“In relation to Casement Park, does the Minister recognise that the management of the project has been a disaster and that the capacity of 38,000 is totally unsuitable for the area in which it is proposed? Will she assure us that there will be open consultation with the local residents on this application? That did not happen last time, and the matter ended up in court.”
“Energy costs remain a real challenge for the development of our business sector. It is important that, come 2017, when the opportunity arises, the Executive moves forward with a lower rate of corporation tax to make Northern Ireland a very attractive place to do business.”