Neil Somerville
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“The conditions for becoming a community amateur sports club are as follows: a club must be open to the whole community; be organised on an amateur basis; have as its main purpose providing facilities for and promoting participation in one or more eligible sports; meet the location requirement; and meet the management conditions.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are an estimated 37,000 volunteers in community sports in Northern Ireland, and a wide variety of sports are affected, ranging from football, rugby and Gaelic games right through to badminton, athletics, tennis, squash and sailing, to name but a few.”
“The arguments advanced in favour of this measure in 2011 still hold true today. The Bill that is currently before us has the same intent, and therefore I am happy to say at the outset that it will receive support from the Ulster Unionist Party.”
“In recent weeks, we have witnessed the unedifying spectacle of DUP Ministers signing in and resigning. We have had empty Benches as the Assembly debated waiting lists and autism, yet the DUP managed to turn up to protect the pay and conditions of its highly paid special advisers.”
“Currently, amateur sports clubs in Northern Ireland can, under article 31 of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977, qualify for a rate relief of 80%. This Bill would amend the 1977 Order to make them exempt from rates; a measure which would have been of great financial benefit to them.”
“This is not a massive figure in terms of the overall Northern Ireland Budget, and, bearing in mind the existing and projected costs to the health budget of diabetes and obesity, it would be money very well spent on prevention. <BR /> <BR />No doubt, the DUP will try to explain why it has chosen to vote this measure down.”
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Every one of 53 lines we hold for Neil Somerville, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 2.
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is a great honour and privilege to participate in the debate on behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party. This is my maiden speech, and, as is customary, I pay tribute to my predecessor, Tom Elliott MP, and the constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. I know all too well that Tom was a tireless worker for the people of the constituency. From Dungannon to Belleek, he was held in high esteem because of the work he put in and the results he delivered on behalf of all sides of the community. Tom received his reward in May when the voters returned him to Westminster as their Member of Parliament. I place on record how much I look forward to working with Tom and my council colleagues on behalf of all the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. <BR /> <BR />I was born and bred in Aughnacloy.”
“I am sure that the Minister already knows what my supplementary question will be. Is he aware of the serious concerns about the prospective closure of Enniskillen courthouse and the impact that that will have on access to justice, including delays across Fermanagh and South Tyrone?”
“The cost of the failure to introduce welfare reform this year is estimated at £114 million. What is the Minister's estimate of the cost for next year?”