David Hilditch
East Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I certainly welcome the statement. I do not want to dilute Mr Givan's joy, but, as you know, East Antrim has four schools on the list compared with his three. It is certainly a good day for the education sector in my constituency of East Antrim in general and in Carrickfergus in particular.”
“<BR /> <BR />Crown Court cases take twice as long to complete in Northern Ireland as they do in England and Wales and at a much higher cost. One particular concern is the lack of effective partnership working among key organisations in the justice system despite numerous attempts to remedy that.”
“It is an honour to work with the Committee as it examines public spending with the benefit of hindsight. It allows us to highlight good practice and poor value for money and to recommend improvements to the stewardship of taxpayers' money.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department of Justice accepted the Committee's recommendations with some qualifications, including a clear plan to reduce backlogs to the Crown Court, modelling the financial impacts of delaying cost savings from reform and a cross-agency strategy with long-term high-level performance standards.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will touch on some issues in the report on speeding up justice, which described a justice system that moves too slowly and is hindered by ineffectiveness and significant financial wastage. It is essential that all cases that enter the justice system are completed as quickly and efficiently as possible.”
“<BR /> <BR />One of the most worrying findings is that there has been little apparent effort to reliably establish the cost of processes in the justice system or the financial impact of delay and inefficiency.”
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“With many thousands of people engaged in the hospitality and service industries in the constituency, there are many more opportunities for further employment and business creation around the heritage and cultural developments at Carrickfergus, with the Gobbins path coming on stream and with improvements in the coastal towns of Whitehead, Glenarm and Carnlough leading to the Causeway costal route and the scenic beauty of the glens. Local government and central government must seize the opportunity for the tourism industry. <BR /> <BR />Infrastructure is crucial to any industrial investment in the area.”
“We will, hopefully, begin to witness an upturn in business growth with the new super councils of Causeway Coast and Glens District Council and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. They will have to be ready to hit the ground running next month and ensure the continuity of the business support, particularly in the coastal area, with a key priority of building a strong and vibrant economy. An opportunity in mirroring Belfast's success in leveraging European support exists and should be grasped. <BR /> <BR />The further development of the tourist industry is also important in moving forward towards a better economic climate.”
“Those local economic development units are playing a critical role not only in supporting existing businesses and industry in east Antrim but in encouraging the smaller indigenous family-type start-ups that came to the fore during the inquiry into the creative industries.”
“Until my departure from local government, I was the chairman of Carrickfergus Borough Council's economic development committee. That gave me an opportunity to work closely with the LED unit at Carrickfergus Enterprise and LEDCOM in Larne. Supported by Invest NI and in conjunction with the North East Partnership, those units have delivered a large range of programmes that have supported local businesses and industry from Whiteabbey to Moyle, including in raising finance for small firms, procurement, efficiency, energy, digital, build your business, step up to export and, importantly, family business programmes.”
“While I would normally acknowledge the Member who brought the topic of the Adjournment debate to the House, when I saw this one listed, I was not sure how wide or narrow it was intended to be. Sometimes a little prior engagement on these matters is good. <BR /> <BR />Having done some research, I noticed that Mr McMullan raised an issue in the 'Larne Times' last October on tackling underinvestment in the Causeway coastal corridor and questioning the role of Invest NI in the lack enterprise or business parks north of Larne. The criticism of Invest NI by members of Sinn Féin is nothing new. While it was levelled during the creative industries inquiry by the same Member, it was clear that Invest NI was playing a crucial role. <BR /> <BR />One area that I would like to cover is the work of the local economic development units.”
“I welcome the Minister's answer. STEM is a major theme in the science festival. I understand that there seems to be under-representation of females. How can encouragement be given to females to participate and increase representation?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Given that, are you hopeful that the rate of VAT for the hospitality sector will be reduced?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and acknowledge the challenges that he has ahead. There will be a knock-on effect from the loss of places at the higher education level, which will impact down through the colleges. Can we give any protection to the vulnerable in our communities, where the colleges do a lot of work and programmes?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers. We learned at the Committee recently that there is a chance to try to offset the college budgets by equalising fees. Given the differential, how could that work?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. There are indeed pilot schemes and programmes about at the moment, and I know that Mr Simpson has been involved in one in your constituency. Have you had a chance to study any of those? Could they be used across the education sector?”
“Yes, so it is a very timely question. Will designated stadia throughout the Province receive any priority because of the government regulations under which they have to act?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. It is a timely question, because I learned this morning that a club in my constituency may be interviewed under police —”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I think that we will look favourably on that. <BR /> <BR />It is crucial that the Executive affirm their support for the sectors to place Northern Ireland to the fore and give it a competitive edge. I support the motion and the amendment.”
“While the emphasis is on passing exams and graduating, training in the soft skills of the workplace is also necessary. Timekeeping, behaviour, attitude and simply dealing with other people can sometimes be a struggle. I know that the Department is also keen to deal with that.”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome the recent response paper from Colleges Northern Ireland, which gives an overview of the further education sector in the Province and the important role that it plays in supporting local business and industry. Further to that, colleges provide crucial support to local schools and communities, helping to tackle social deprivation, the NEET category and the key area of STEM. Some 43% of students are from the most deprived areas, yet high percentages of retention and achievement rates are obtained. For many, further education is a lifeline. It gives them a second chance of achievement, plays a crucial role in their intellectual lives and gives them opportunities to engage socially, economically and culturally. <BR /> <BR />The development of the soft skills is also important, and the sector can play its part.”
“I feel the institutions have more to bring to the table, other than the bland message we received on one occasion: "Reinstate the funding, or the student fees rocket." <BR /> <BR />I fully appreciate the role that higher education has played in working with Invest NI in attracting foreign investment and in the successful period of job creation that there has been over the past two years, coupled with the many spin-out companies that have helped support local business and industry. I also appreciate the planned capital developments over the next decade, which will create thousands of construction jobs. Sustainability of the sector lies with all stakeholders.”
“<BR /> <BR />As 2014 drew to a close and the extent of the budgetary pressures facing the Department in particular, and the Executive in general, became clearer, a lobby began with the Committee, mainly involving the higher education institutions. Serious conversations took place regarding funding, which, I believe, must be extended to all stakeholders as we look for long-term solutions in an attempt to close the significant funding gap in the sector in Northern Ireland, compared with the rest of the United Kingdom.”
“I further acknowledge steps taken by the Minister which will, hopefully, reduce the impact and, potentially, safeguard the success of further and higher education in Northern Ireland, and I support those establishments as, collectively, we attempt to grow a sustainable economy in line with the cross-cutting priorities contained in the Programme for Government. Therefore it is with a great deal of interest and anticipation that, as the Chair said, we look forward to the attendance of the Minister at tomorrow's meeting of the Employment and Learning Committee to get a better grasp of his overview of the landscape.”
“Indeed, it is when you sit down locally to discuss the various projects and local initiatives that you are given a flavour of the challenges facing those in the sector who are responsible for the front-line delivery, from staff contractual issues through to overly cumbersome procurement matters. <BR /> <BR />The motion comes with a backdrop of a substantial budget reduction, although it is a little better than the original 10·8% that was initially expected, thanks to the recent budgetary settlement that was reached after intense negotiations. Nonetheless, I acknowledge the difficulties faced by Minister Farry, the Department and those in the structural pyramid who are responsible for delivery in the further and higher education sector.”
“Like others, I support the motion. I will take cognisance of the amendment as the debate progresses. It is a fairly generic motion and wide-ranging through the sector, and it should receive wide support across the Benches. I doubt if there are many Members who would not acknowledge the key role that our further and higher education institutions play in growing the local economy and, more importantly, delivering on the Programme for Government and its cross-cutting priorities. <BR /> <BR />I declare an interest as part of the management of the Michael Hughes Academy, which, in partnership with the Northern Regional College, delivers a sports/academic initiative with the Newtownabbey campus.”
“I welcome the statement. Foras na Gaeilge appears to be launching two new online publications. The Committee received evidence on difficulties facing the printed newspaper. Has there been any review of the problems and why it did not work? Was it due to figures?”
“I welcome the statement this afternoon. I am looking at the blueway product and the development of that. Can the Minister give us any more information on that? Will there be any benefit here in Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Clearly, and as other MLAs have said, there have been strong representations from local schools about concerns and fears. How is the situation being communicated to educationalists, unions etc?”
“Does the Minister plan to further test the financial support service in other offices?”
“On a point of order, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. I offer my sincere apologies for having been absent during Question Time. I was not in my place due to an oversight on my part.”
“On the back of the Cherry Tree case, I commend that document as someone who has, over the last few years, garnered the utmost respect for whistle-blowers. <BR /> <BR />Again, I thank Mr Dickson for the Adjournment debate and look forward to the Minister's response.”
“<BR /> <BR />The section on whistle-blowing in the Cherry Tree case is of particular interest to me, as I wear another hat as Deputy Chair of the Audit Committee. On a number of occasions over the last couple of years, I have raised the very issue of whistle-blowing, and I have had to deal with whistle-blowers directly. I am concerned about their treatment, how they are regarded and the timeline involved in dealing with issues. This can be a very stressful time for people who have done the right thing and brought to their employer's attention practice that is simply wrong. It is something of a coincidence that we are discussing whistle-blowing at Cherry Tree House today and the report of the Northern Ireland Audit Office — 'Whistleblowing in the Public Sector: A Good Practice Guide for Workers and Employers' — is issued today.”
“I turn to the 'Independent Review of the Actions Taken in Relation to Concerns Raised about the Care Delivered at Cherry Tree House, Carrickfergus'. The review was published in July. It sets out a chronological sequence of incidents, reaches a number of conclusions and, more importantly, makes recommendations that must be acted on. It is crucial for the wider sector, as well as for Cherry Tree nursing home, that confidence be restored. The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority — the health watchdog — must not lose sight of the criticisms directed at it for the handling of the whistle-blowing complaints and its lack of robustness towards the owners of Cherry Tree nursing home.”
“Let no one doubt the strength of feeling in the local community or the depth of knowledge about the situation.”
“Cherry Tree nursing home is placed very centrally in the community and is on one of the main arterial roads in Carrickfergus. In that community, it is almost impossible not to know someone involved at the home among the management, staff or residents. Locally, there was much thought, concern and passion for those innocently caught up in a situation at what must have been a very distressing time for everyone involved. My involvement began when the matter became public, and my office was contacted by people who indicated how relieved they were that the allegations were now, in their words, "being taken seriously". One person, who was a relative of one of the residents, said that she had been vindicated, having previously reported incidents on several occasions only to be treated as though she and her family were some sort of troublemakers.”
“How shocking it is, then, to read the report on Cherry Tree House. Mr Dickson summed up well the catalogue of horrors. <BR /> <BR />When the then Minister ordered a review of Cherry Tree nursing home, some eight years after a whistle-blower first made serious allegations of dreadful neglect and practices in the home, it really struck at the heart of the community.”
“At the outset, I acknowledge Mr Dickson's efforts in securing the Adjournment debate and the damning report telling us about the situation at Cherry Tree House. <BR /> <BR />Many of us will, at some stage, have to deal with the issue of care in nursing and residential homes, but mainly on a personal level as we seek to secure the best way forward and options for a family member. For that relative, we would seek the best quality care, delivered in a professional manner with skill and compassion in surroundings and facilities that give us confidence in our decision-making. Those who have gone through the experience will realise the complexities involved and how families place their trust and confidence in those who provide nursing and residential home facilities for their loved ones.”
“We are all aware of how our divided communities rally behind our sportsmen and sportswomen, which adds a potential legacy to any event. <BR /> <BR />While our sporting experts will determine the six or eight sports and the two team sports of any bid, what an attraction it would be to the other Commonwealth countries to come to some of our well-known locations. Athletics and swimming could be at the Mary Peters Track and the Bangor Aurora respectively. Cycling could be in the Mournes or the Antrim coast area, sailing on the ideal waters of Belfast lough, rugby sevens at Ravenhill, and boxing at the famous home of amateur boxing, the Ulster Hall. Who could resist such a bid?”
“I have no doubt, however, that many in our sporting communities could step up to the plate and deliver, in conjunction with government organisational structures and using existing skills from previous events, like administration, finance, marketing and event infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />Another strength is our record of volunteering in Northern Ireland. While 2021 is still some time off, a lot of our experience gained from the likes of the World Police and Fire Games has been a valuable contribution. Hopefully, the enthusiasm of volunteers would be repeated and built on in the future. <BR /> <BR />What an opportunity 2021 would be for our young people. Many who are now just starting to participate in organised sport could look towards 2021 as a target on their ladder of achievement. It could be a goal for many to strive for.”
“However, while the youth games are a small-scale version of the Commonwealth Games, there is no reason why the Executive, and, in particular, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, could not set in motion a development plan and devise a strategy that could lead to a future bid to host the Commonwealth Games. <BR /> <BR />While I stated that the youth games are a smaller version of the Commonwealth Games, it would be no mean feat if a bid were successful to host the event, with the potential of over 1,000 athletes competing in a packed programme over seven or eight days.”
“Here is an opportunity for the Executive to develop a bid to host a major international event, which can really connect at a local level and involve grass-roots sports, with the potential to leave a lasting legacy in our sporting communities, complementing the work of the professional bodies like Sport NI and the great work and contribution that the Northern Ireland Sports Forum, which is a voluntary association, makes to our society. Its membership consists of some 84 governing bodies in the Province. <BR /> <BR />The main thrust of the motion is to host the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2021. That is a reasonable target, physically, through our existing sporting infrastructure, and financially, as, having looked at the concluding reports of some previous hosts, I think a realistic figure can be achieved to deliver the project.”
“I, like others, support the motion. It was only a few weeks ago that we celebrated and acknowledged the success of many of our sportsmen and sportswomen who had returned from Glasgow having represented Northern Ireland so proudly and who showcased their individual sports, reaping the reward of years of hard work, dedication and commitment. I certainly share the view that the time is right to look at the long-term future and to start setting goals and targets more in line with how our sportsmen and sportswomen plan their careers and futures. <BR /> <BR />The Executive have, to date, a fairly decent record in the delivery of international events, should they be sporting, political summits, music or the arts.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement this morning. The Committee was keen that officials explore international best practice. Was that a useful exercise? What was gleaned from it?”
“I thank the Minister for that response. What help or guidance is available to the victim of a prisoner who is about to be released?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Will she, along with the Minister for Employment and Learning, do everything to ensure that the skills at JTI are not lost to the Northern Ireland economy?”
“I thank the junior Minister for her answer. The East Antrim area probably did not benefit terribly well from the capital projects. Will there be opportunities in the future to avail of the social investment fund, particularly given the financial difficulties we face, now and in the future?”
“The Minister then gave an account of the interaction with the Northern Ireland team; highlighted the success in boxing, without mentioning any investment for it; made a commitment to review performances along with the governing bodies; and gave a commitment to the terms of the motion. <BR /> <BR />We look forward to the Minister putting some meat on the bones of any review at a later date. We thank everyone who made a contribution to the debate and commend the motion to the House.”
“Again, he raised the Sandy Row boxing issue. Ms Anna Lo highlighted the public interest in the games and potential venues, which would need a lot of work. Mr Humphrey listed some past medallists and highlighted recent progressive meetings that have taken place on future opportunities. He also mentioned rugby, hockey and representation issues. Mr McMullan outlined commitments from Sport NI and the sports lottery issues, including funding. Mr McCausland highlighted the Northern Ireland brand and the showcasing opportunity that the country has on these occasions. He also mentioned additional participation in rugby and hockey. Mr Bradley said that sport was a unifying force. Mr Basil McCrea, whilst indicating that we were deluding ourselves, highlighted some structural issues and the benefits of upping the ante in the process.”
“<BR /> <BR />Turning to the debate, all Members who spoke and the Minister offered their congratulations to the participants in the games. Mr Campbell ably introduced the motion and listed the medallists. He linked future improvement with health issues and the need to tackle obesity and to get greater participation generally. He also sought a strategic plan and used the Scottish model as an example. <BR /> <BR />Ms McCorley paid tribute to the coaches and the families and friends of the athletes for their support. Again, she linked sport to health and female participation. Ms McKevitt commended all athletes for their commitment and dedication and noted other recent sporting achievements. Mr McGimpsey used his experience in health promotion and talked of the potential in sports like rugby and hockey.”
“We can look closely at our neighbours in Scotland and, as was mentioned, how they have maximised their resources with community sports hubs. We are too small a country to provide facilities for individual needs. We must look at bringing together different strands of participation, from elite to community and leisure. <BR /> <BR />To that end, it is crucial that the new councils and the local government structure have an important part to play. With the new councils in place from next April, a joined-up approach is needed. I will leave it to the experts to decide whether Sport NI will be the conduit to lead that or whether a strategic group will need to be set up with various partners. That is a pending priority as we try to develop our sports facilities.”
“This year, 16 years later, he helped to lead Carrick to an unprecedented four-trophy haul, including the all-Ireland National Cup, the Ulster Senior League Section 1, the Ulster Shield and the T20 Trophy. Ryan has been an inspiration to local cricketers and is typical of the dedication, enthusiasm and will to succeed shown by many of our sportsmen and women. That is a story that could be repeated in many of the towns and villages across the Province, as those unsung heroes build that legacy. <BR /> <BR />It would be remiss of me to not revisit the issue of community sports hubs, which has been raised many times before, if we are looking to resource our facilities. I have stated before that sports provision impacts on health, education and the social economy.”
“We have many unsung heroes in our sporting community, and not everyone gets the chance to fill the back pages, lift a trophy or covet a medal. There are hundreds who work away in the background, are dedicated to their sport, contribute to a lasting legacy and encourage others to follow. <BR /> <BR />Today's motion reminds me of a link between the Commonwealth Games and my home town. In 1998, cricket was introduced as a one-off to the games. Northern Ireland entered a side, even though cricket is usually played internationally on an all-Ireland basis. One local lad from Carrickfergus, Ryan Eagleson, was given the opportunity to compete in the games. That added to his experience and career, and he went on to represent Ireland in 65 internationals. He became a cricketing development officer, and he is now manager of the under-19s side.”
“Unfortunately, we are having financial difficulties outlined to us daily. Yesterday, I attended a departmental briefing to the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee on the monitoring rounds. Perhaps, our expectation of delivery and our confidence in the ability to deliver resources and facilities are not as high as they should be. However, we must look beyond the barriers, and, setting aside the Commonwealth Games targets, we cannot lose sight of sport as one of the vehicles that constantly breaks down barriers in our society and has a major effect on other Departments, such as Health and Education, as Members mentioned. <BR /> <BR />We must remind ourselves that over half of our population is involved in sports-related activities. That covers those with disabilities, elite performers and those who wish to spectate socially.”
“We seem to have that in-built psyche and DNA for cultivating talent, whether it be in amateur boxing or professional golf. Today's debate has again highlighted that. Indeed, there are many Monday mornings in the House on which the Matter of the Day is on a sports-related topic, where credit has been given and Members have spoken with pride. <BR /> <BR />It is a quick turnaround to the next games. Three and a half years of preparation can fly by, and today's motion certainly places the Department and the current Minister in pole position to ensure that the appropriate training, resources and facilities are in place to maximise any medal haul in 2018.”
“I add my support to the motion and acknowledge the many positive contributions made by Members this afternoon. I join in the congratulations to all who were successful, compliment those who came close and sympathise with the participants where situations and conditions may have gone against them on the day. <BR /> <BR />The achievements of the boxing team certainly carried Northern Ireland in the medal table. It was perhaps a wise strategy by the Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council not to announce targets prior to the games, thus not pressurising athletes and building expectations. The Northern Ireland medal haul improved from four years ago in Delhi and was only three short of that from the Edinburgh games in 1986. <BR /> <BR />As a country, we have notably produced talented sportspeople.”