Ross Hussey
West Tyrone · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“For years, I have been asking the police for information on weaponry that has been recovered and its history. For some reason, that information has never been released. Why? Can that weaponry be traced back to the IRA? Is there a possibility that groups that were IRA took their weaponry with them? Of course there is.”
“In my constituency of West Tyrone, and in the neighbouring one of Foyle, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has recovered many weapons and explosives, all belonging to terror groups that do not have the guts to give themselves a name or, at times, call themselves the "Continuity IRA" or whatever.”
“I begin by passing my best wishes to the police officer who was seriously injured last night and to his colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland.”
“I thank the Minister for her response. Previously, I asked the Minister for details of prison officers who had retired as a result of injury on duty and was informed that the information could not be provided, as it was confidential. Can the Minister advise me why it is confidential?”
“I met Mencap yesterday, and we discussed the problems associated with adults with learning disabilities in West Tyrone. The figure is not £8 million: we are possibly talking about £110 million or more that has been underspent in West Tyrone and the Western Health and Social Care Trust.”
“I apologise to the Minister for not being here for the start of her statement, but I have read your statement and was paying attention as you spoke. You referred to paramilitarism and also to forensic services. Clearly, in the Republic of Ireland, quite a few explosive devices and arms caches have been found.”
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“So much for history. The question is this: where are we now and where are we going? <BR /> <BR />Magee has grown in recent years from a nadir of just 273 students in 1984 to over 4,000 undergraduates now. The Ulster University has lobbied the Executive for an additional 1,000 full-time undergraduate places with a target of 6,000 students at Magee in 2017. Then we have the One Plan published by Ilex nearly five years ago. It has a more ambitious target of 9,400 places. <BR /> <BR />However, since the debate that we had last September, we have had severe cuts to further and higher education in the draft Budget for 2015-16, ameliorated, but only partially, in the revised Budget agreed by Sinn Féin and the DUP. We have had media reports that the Ulster University is having to cut back over 50 courses in total across its campuses.”
“<BR /> <BR />However, for those Members who are interested in the detail of what happened in the 1960s, rather than simply accepting the story of a historic wrong and unionist discrimination, I invite them to read the book by Gerard O'Brien, 'Derry and Londonderry: History & Society', chapter 26, which is entitled, "Our Magee Problem: Stormont and the Second University", and is available on the CAIN website. Page 685 states:”
“I remind Members of that because some of the rhetoric used by nationalists in previous debates involved stating, as if it were a historical fact, that the establishment of UUC was a sectarian decision. <BR /> <BR />One of the most iconic pictures of that era is that of the Lord Mayor of Londonderry leading a protest parade to this Building in favour of the siting of the new university in Londonderry. That mayor, flanked by nationalist leader Eddie McAteer and the future SDLP leader John Hume, was Commander Albert Anderson, an Ulster Unionist. Plenty of unionists were in favour of expanding Magee into Northern Ireland's second university in the 1960s, but the matter is, to coin a phrase, somewhat academic now.”
“<BR /> <BR />Since 1953, Magee has had no denominational affiliation and provides a broad range of undergraduate and postgraduate academic degree programmes. In the 1960s, it was hoped by many that that university college would become Northern Ireland's second university. However, as we all know, a committee under Sir John Lockwood, an English academic, published a report on 10 February that recommended a greenfield site at Coleraine for a new university and for Magee College to be closed down. Clearly, that recommendation was not fully accepted or implemented, because Magee was not closed down by the Stormont Government. Instead, it was incorporated into the two-campus New University of Ulster in 1969.”
“It might be instructive for Members to be reminded of some history. The Ulster University at Magee, formerly known as Magee College, is the campus of the Ulster University located in Londonderry, which first opened 150 years ago as a Presbyterian Christian arts and theological college. It took its name from Martha Magee, the widow of a Presbyterian minister who, in 1845, bequeathed £20,000 to the Presbyterian Church of Ireland to found the college for theology and the arts. It opened in 1865, primarily as a theological college, but accepted students from all denominations to study a variety of subjects. As a Presbyterian, I am delighted to point out how generous that church has been in establishing seats of learning and handing them over to the state to benefit the wider society. Perhaps others should take note.”
“Suffice to say that the Ulster Unionist Party has been consistent in wishing to see higher education expansion in the north-west but, at the same time, that has to be done in a planned and fully costed way. That is particularly so in light of the reality of the budgetary constraints that many in the Chamber were content to support in the voting Lobbies.”
“It is a pleasure to speak again on another motion relating to the north-west, in particular on Londonderry and the expansion of the Ulster University at Magee. It may be 150 years since the establishment of Magee college and 50 years since the Lockwood report, but it seems that about 50 minutes have passed since we last discussed Magee. One could nearly suggest that there is an election coming up. <BR /> <BR />I am tempted to repeat what I said about Magee in the debate that we had on 19 January. However, to save time, I simply invite Members to consult Hansard from that date, Hansard from 16 September 2014, when I spoke in an Adjournment debate on the Magee expansion, and Hansard from 17 September 2013, when my colleague Sandra Overend spoke for my party on the issue.”
“I thank the Minister for his response so far. Given the clear growth in public transport usage that has been overseen by him, will he undertake not to sanction any Translink proposals to reduce the frequency of local bus services without public consultation on them? Will he take cognisance of the outcome of any consultation?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. He is correct that, legally, there is no valid equal pay claim, and he has made that clear in many responses. However, the Civil Service staff concerned clearly believe that they have a valid claim. Will you advise the House if and when you think the matter will be resolved? Will it be resolved in the life of this Assembly? There are civil servants in distress that the matter is ongoing some five years after the initial claim.”
“I thank the First Minister for his response. I, too, like members of my party, am very concerned to see that people who were injured as a result of terrorist activity are compensated through a pension. How many people have been identified in the initial soundings as requiring a pension?”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I apologise unreservedly for not being in my place when called at Question Time. I apologise to you and your staff for any inconvenience that that may have caused.”
“I thank the Minister for his comments so far. You referred to the period before Christmas. I would like to know what discussions you have had with the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister about the issue since the dispute began.”
“Although Omagh is not included in the proposals that are being debated today, the same process is required in all the council areas affected. Let us put our wares on display. Let us show what we have to offer to tempt jobs and, indeed, to decentralise jobs to the relevant district council areas.”
“<BR /> <BR />Finally, the Sinn Féin amendment on the decentralisation of jobs is interesting. Coming as I do from Omagh, I know that we have not seen much sign of any decentralisation towards Tyrone into either Omagh or Strabane, which are, of course, the two major towns in my constituency of West Tyrone. I want to see jobs in the west, and I want to see Omagh thrive. I want to see the entire region thrive, but we have a major mountain to climb, and we seem to have a major river to cross. West of the Bann is still a no man's land in job creation, and we need to see support for our constituents in Foyle, West Tyrone and East Londonderry. <BR /> <BR />There are many surplus buildings in the area. The area plans need to be updated and supported. For example, the master plan for Omagh is being written.”
“I commented in that debate that Members should note this exchange and consider how much more pertinent it is one year on in the context of a Budget that is now more broken than stretched. The Minister stated last year that incremental growth can continue. In December 2011, he stated that an extra 700 undergraduate places would be made available in Northern Ireland by 2015, and, at the same time, the University of Ulster stated that the 322 extra places being awarded to it would all be allocated to the Magee campus. Today, given the mass of potential consequences of the reduction to higher and further education indicated in this draft Budget, it would be useful in summing up at the end of this debate if the Minister for Employment and Learning brought the House right up to date.”
“In response, the Minister, Dr Farry, who I am pleased to see here today, said:”
“That bomb caused extensive damage to the commercial heart of the town. That context always needs to be restated when we talk about the historically high levels of unemployment in parts of Northern Ireland. It is completely proper for MLAs from the north-west to highlight problems and to push hard for improvements in areas such as infrastructure. However, I urge Members to show restraint in the language that they use. <BR /> <BR />The motion refers specifically to the expansion at Magee. On 16 September last year, I spoke in an Adjournment debate on the expansion of the Magee campus of the Ulster University in Londonderry. In that debate, I quoted my colleague Sandra Overend, who had made the point in a similar debate on 17 September 2013:”
“Limavady had about the Northern Ireland average from 1997 to 2007, the year in which all of Northern Ireland, including the north-west, had the lowest claimant count. Strabane and Londonderry have always been above the average. <BR /> <BR />If we look back to 1992, we see that the figures were much worse than they are today, despite the worldwide recession. In 1992, average unemployment for Northern Ireland was 10·7%, with 15% in Londonderry, 15·3% in Strabane and 12·7% in the Limavady district. I remind the House that, in 1992, Northern Ireland as a whole was still subject to a terrorist campaign that included IRA attacks on what it termed "economic targets", which included bombings in cities and town centres. For example, the IRA exploded a large van bomb in the centre of Coleraine on Friday 13 November 1992.”
“The existence of persistently higher levels of unemployment in the north-west, including the Strabane District Council area, which I represent, is an undeniable fact. The latest NISRA stats on claimant count show that Londonderry has the highest rate at 8·6%, Strabane has the second highest at 7·7% and Limavady has the fourth highest at 6·9%. The Northern Ireland average is 5·4%, and almost half the council wards in the three districts are ranked in the top 20% of the most deprived wards in Northern Ireland. If we look at the interactive maps on the NISRA website, we see that it is clear that, over the 30-plus years that the claimant count has been used as a standard measurement of unemployment rates, fluctuations in the north-west have closely mirrored Northern Ireland trends.”
“I accept that the trust changed its plans, but, as I said at the time, the plans were moronic. You cannot put palliative care in with stroke rehabilitation. It was a silly idea, and it would never have made sense. I cannot understand why the trust made such a proposal. It knew that it would be pooh-poohed by everybody in West Tyrone. It was a silly idea.”
“The Member will be aware that, with the closure of Spruce Ward, more people with mental health issues and living in rural areas are going to be more isolated because that service is no longer available. Would he agree that that could also lead to more referrals back to hospital and cause more stress for the families who have to look after those individuals?”
“I am not going to give way, Minister. I am going to finish my comments, and you are then going to answer anyway. <BR /> <BR />I have asked several questions of you about the trust. I accept that it has difficulties. What consideration was given to the fact that we are in rural Tyrone? Mr McElduff always makes reference to rural proofing. Was this rural proofed? Were the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) figures taken into account when the decision was reached? <BR /> <BR />I will not go beyond your patience, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. Thank you for your time.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our coronary care unit in Omagh is excellent. I was sent there by my doctor, and I am pleased to say that my health was OK. That unit is first class. There will be a 25% reduction in palliative care. Are fewer people dying in Tyrone? Do fewer people need to use the rehabilitation unit? The answer is no. Minister, you are going to come back to me on costs, but regardless of costs, let us look at the people who need the service. It is supposed to be the Western Health and Social Care Trust, but there is no care or trust being shown.”
“Families were not consulted, because they were present the day that I and others from Omagh District Council met the nurses in Ash Villa. It is causing me great concern that all those qualified staff will be distributed throughout the trust. I will stop on that particular issue because of limited time. <BR /> <BR />Look at what happened to palliative care and the stroke rehabilitation unit in the Tyrone County Hospital. Those are two entirely different areas. Someone thought that it would be a wizard wheeze to bring those two together. I said that that decision was moronic, and I stand by that. It was moronic. When you have people dying and when friends of theirs, who are probably recovering from an illness, see their friends dying in another room, that is hardly the best solution for health.”
“<BR /> <BR />I understand that the unit in the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital was to receive an award from the University of Stirling because it achieved a benchmark that showed that it was using best practice to deliver care in the hospital. However, that ward was chosen to be downgraded. I accept the point that others made that Ash Villa is not closing; it is being reconfigured. <BR /> <BR />The consultation was a waste of time. The people who were not consulted were the families of those with challenging behaviours. I asked the Minister questions about that, and I am told that various people were consulted. I am told that the Alzheimer's Society was consulted, and I would like to know what its response was.”
“A couple of days ago, as I was travelling towards Belfast, I heard 'Thought for the Day' on the radio put it clearly when it said that dementia is one of the most common forms of mental ill health and is growing. That is still here, but those with challenging behaviour is a very difficult subject. When I spoke to the nurses, I also decided to speak to somebody else. I contacted a psychiatrist and spoke to him about patients with challenging behaviour. He agrees with me that those with challenging behaviour should not be in the same unit as those who do not have challenging behaviour. It is understood that those with challenging behaviour can disturb ordinary dementia patients to the point where they develop challenging behaviour.”
“<BR /> <BR />I went to Ash Villa on a Sunday afternoon and spent an hour and a half listening to the nurses. My late father was a psychiatric nurse, as was my brother. My nephew is a psychiatric nurse. I listened to the concerns of those in Ash Villa who deal with patients who have dementia but who also have challenging behaviour. The staff in that ward had over 300 years of experience between them of dealing with patients with challenging behaviour. We can draw a line between patients with dementia and those with challenging behaviour.”
“Thank you Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank Mr McElduff for bringing this subject to the House, and I thank the Minister for being present. Mr Byrne and I had also tabled a motion on the issue because, again, it is something that causes us concern in west Tyrone. <BR /> <BR />At the outset, I ask my colleagues to remember the late David McKee, Stanley Millar and Julia McGinn, all of whom were hospital campaigners in our time. Health issues are one thing that bring all of west Tyrone's politicians together. The Minister asked what we were going to do about it. Well, Minister, when you sat on these Benches on this side of the House, you often barracked Ministers and asked them for their solution to the problem, so that is what we will do here today.”
“I accept fully that you would never want to attack the Minister, and I accept fully that the A6 is an issue of great concern in the north-west. I accept that without reservation.”
“All that Sinn Féin has to do is work with the Finance Minister, who it has the ear of, and secure conventional capital to move the project forward. Mr Campbell made reference to the fact that this is the sort of thing that could be done. Of course, the Finance Minister is the Minister who holds the purse strings. If Sinn Féin were to get such an arrangement and agreement with the Minister, perhaps this could start next year, but that is in the hands of another Department. For that reason, I will leave the Minister for Regional Development alone and I suggest that you direct your other solutions to the Minister of Finance and Personnel.”
“The Executive are currently in a resource-funding crisis, such that the Finance Minister had to go to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and get a loan. Without detracting from the merits of the road upgrade, the signatories to the motion would be well served by addressing their minds to how it will be financed. The capital picture is not all that rosy, and the DUP/Sinn Féin-agreed draft Budget makes no provision for funding a single element of the A6 project. <BR /> <BR />My colleague the Minister for Regional Development has moved the Randalstown-to-Castledawson section beyond procurement-ready to shovel-ready from early next year. An opportunity exists to start this section in the next financial year.”
“I was often on that road through Dungiven, although the roads seemed to be clear when I went there. They must have known that I was coming. <BR /> <BR />A shift to electric vehicles would possibly reduce and ultimately resolve the problem of air pollution, but, of course, that is going to take time. Promoting a bypass based on reduced congestion and positive impact on the town will still provide a favourable solution, even in an electronic vehicle age. <BR /> <BR />The motion urges the Minister to get on with funding the entire A6, but that fails to place the 2011-2021 investment strategy in context. The investment strategy suggests that the A6 will be funded by alternative finance, such as some form of loan or PPP serviced by resource funding repayments.”
“You have? Well, there you go. It is great to travel widely and extensively. <BR /> <BR />Unsurprisingly, Dungiven does not feature in those statistics. According to some reports earlier this year, Oxford Street in London is the most polluted street in Europe, in particular for nitrogen dioxide pollution. Dungiven does, however, properly feature as an air quality management area monitored by Limavady Borough Council. We do, and we all should, welcome the important role undertaken by the local council in actively monitoring air quality trends in the town and particularly in Main Street. I will declare a bit of an interest in that, in my previous life, working for Pearl Assurance, I was responsible for the entire area from Larne to Londonderry.”
“In the last couple of weeks, the European Environment Agency published statistics on the most polluted cities in Europe. Bulgaria and Poland featured heavily, as we would have expected, as did towns in Italy and Slovakia. I am sure that those are not places that Mr Dallat has been to on his recent holidays, but they are the sort of places that would attract —”
“I readily accept that air quality is an issue in part of Dungiven, but I do not accept that Dungiven has an air quality issue that means it can be described as one of the most polluted towns in western Europe. Even if I did, if I were from that town, I would not be advertising such a fact in the way that the sponsors of the motion are doing today. I would probably want to see hard medical evidence and facts of the impact of existing pollution before I made it the central plank of my argument. <BR /> <BR />A more positive argument is that of the reduced congestion and positive economic impact on the town that would come about by virtue of the construction of a bypass. Again, I have a problem with the comment that the western end of Main Street has an issue, making it amongst the worst in western Europe.”
“I will begin by offering my support for capital road improvement work, in particular on the section of the A6 between Randalstown and Castledawson. This element of the A6 project has, in my view, the greatest capacity to contribute economically and reduce congestion. <BR /> <BR />The motion that Sinn Féin has put before us today states that we should further recognise:”
“Does the First Minister agree that the history of the Irish language is associated very closely with the Presbyterian Church? In fact, the Presbyterian ministers kept that language alive. Does he agree with me that such an attack on Mr Campbell would make the support for the Irish language within the unionist community step back because of what they see as terrorism being associated with the Irish language?”
“<BR /> <BR />In response to this report, the Department of Finance and Personnel committed to updating its guidance on the use of grant in procurement to ensure that all records of procurement associated with grant awards are retained in line with public procurement policy. Also, Departments and arm's-length bodies will be required to obtain written confirmation from a centre of procurement expertise that procurement guidelines have been met and that a contract represents value for money before a grant recipient is permitted to award that contract.”
“<BR /> <BR />DCAL accepted all the PAC's recommendations and has taken a number of actions. It now requires all capital projects to follow best practice project delivery arrangements as set out in 'Achieving Excellence in Construction'. It has revised and updated a service level agreement with the Central Procurement Directorate of the Department of Finance and Personnel, formally documenting roles and responsibilities. DCAL also intends to develop procedures to ensure that local operating agreements are put in place with the Central Procurement Directorate for all major capital projects and programmes.”
“<BR /> <BR />A number of unexplained adjustments were made to the tender submissions. Despite £413,000 being stripped out from one of the tenders, that cost was later paid in full. The tendering documentation to support the tender decision was destroyed promptly after the tender evaluation meeting. The sponsoring bodies — DCAL and the Arts Council — or their technical advisers — the CPD — had no oversight of the tender evaluation process and were unable to assure the Committee that it had been completed in accordance with good practice. Finally, we discovered that the preferred bidder provided a donation of £150,000 to the Lyric Theatre. In light of this sequence of events, the Committee stated that it was left with a strong impression that the outcome of the tender process had been manipulated, and it remains of that view.”
“Despite having a lack of experience and expertise in delivering capital projects of this scale, DCAL failed to seek technical advice at the appropriate time and provided grant recipients with too much autonomy in making key decisions. This is clearly unacceptable: public bodies must seek technical advice and use it to inform key decisions. All key decisions on projects of this scale should be authorised by the public body in consultation with technical advisers. <BR /> <BR />There was something of a furore when the Committee's report was published. Many took exception to the Committee's conclusions. It may be helpful if I emphasise a number of completely unacceptable departures from long-established principles of good practice that were made in awarding the Lyric Theatre rebuild contract.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee was concerned that despite the availability of extensive guidance, public bodies continue to make the same mistakes around planning, governance, project management and procurement that the Committee has observed and reported on over many years. <BR /> <BR />Approvals for projects were based upon business cases that were not robust and were overly optimistic about what could be delivered. That resulted in projects being re-scoped, which contributed to the significant cost increases and time delays. There is a clear lesson here that public bodies must ensure that robust project management arrangements are put in place so that projects can be delivered on time and within budget. <BR /> <BR />In total, £87·4 million — 84% of the £103·4 million investment — was provided by the public purse.”
“This resulted in the delivery of a number of capital projects, including the Grand Opera House, the Ulster Museum, the Crescent Arts Centre, the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, Tollymore National Outdoor Centre, the MAC and the Lyric Theatre. <BR /> <BR />The projects have undoubtedly enhanced culture and arts provision in the local economy. However, this has come at a significant cost to the public purse. The projects cumulatively ended up costing £103·4 million, 32% more than the original estimate of £78·5 million. The projects also encountered significant delays.”
“I begin by paying tribute to the Clerk and Committee support staff for their assistance throughout the past year. My party colleague Michael Copeland, an active member of the Committee, is absent due to ill health. I am sure you will join me in wishing him a speedy return to good health and thank him for his participation in the Committee in recent years. <BR /> <BR />I wish to address the report published this year by the Committee on DCAL's management of major capital projects. <BR /> <BR />In the period 2008-2011, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure had an unprecedented target to deliver £229 million capital investment in the Northern Ireland culture, arts and leisure infrastructure.”
“May I remain seated, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I also welcome his comments on the old railway station in the Waterside in Londonderry. Will he detail the work that is being carried out by his Department under Horizon 2020?”
“In the earlier debate, I am sure that the Member listened with interest as many of the Sinn Féin Members commented on people in Donegal and Louth and other counties in the Republic. Do you share my concerns that Sinn Féin and the IRA sent rapists to the Republic of Ireland to get them out of this jurisdiction?”
“I declare an interest as a member of the Policing Board and of the aforementioned panel. The fact that a Member of this House made public representations whilst the committee was meeting and the interviews taking place was, in my opinion, an attempt to politically interfere with the appointment process. Would you agree with me that that was the case?”
“Thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. In relation to dissident activity, will the Minister advise the House of whether he has any knowledge of weaponry with Provisional IRA history that was used by these republican terror groups? Will he also confirm that he condemns unreservedly attacks on Orange halls, which are being masterminded at times by dissident republicans?”
“I hope that that is not me being wider that you are talking about.”