Gordon Lyons
East Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Implementing other recommendations will require further legislation that, I trust, will come in the next mandate, but I can confirm that 60 of the recommendations have already been separately addressed by either the Department or the commission. I hope that that answers his questions.”
“Yes, I do and am happy to share those. The issue has been raised in the Chamber and through Assembly questions. My position is that we want to make it simple and straightforward for people.”
“They also introduce greater flexibility in financial reporting, allowing requirements to be tailored more appropriately, reducing burdens on smaller organisations and ensuring that the system can adapt over time through secondary legislation.”
“If they want to constitute as a Northern Ireland-only charity, they are able to do that, if they believe that that will bring certain benefits.”
“That is similar to what we are trying to do with trustees. Even though you leave your position as a trustee or your position as someone who holds an office in a charity or who has employment in the office, the commissioner will still be able to make a determination that says, "Even though you have left, we are still making this order to t…”
“I do not believe that it was. That was maybe picked up wrong. We are happy to look at and explore that, but that is the information that I have on it. Again, we will have the Committee Stage of the legislation, so we can look into that then.”
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“The Member is absolutely right to raise the issue and, in doing so, to first make the distinction that people will be assisted into work. It is about helping, supporting and encouraging people, which is very different from the approach that the Labour Government have taken in their botched attempts to deal with those issues since they came into office. There will be huge benefit for the people who are helped into the programmes. We know the benefits of work. We know that it is important for people to get into work, with the impact that that can have on their physical and mental health and well-being and on their economic situation. That is why this is so positive.”
“Yes. I can confirm that disabled people have been part of the process at every stage and have been aware of the document. I draw the Member's attention to pages 8 and 9, where she will see endorsements from a number of groups that will be involved in this daily. The strong support that we have had from stakeholders and all those involved in the process is testament to how simple and straightforward it was to identify the challenges. There was no disagreement on those, nor was there much disagreement on what we need to do to make them right; I assure her of that. I emphasise again that the draft strategy is going out to consultation. I do not believe that it is the finished product. If we can make improvements to it, I absolutely want to see them happen.”
“Absolutely. That is part of the wider work that we will do with employers to give them confidence to hire staff who are disabled and to show them how they can help current staff. I have seen first-hand in businesses that I have visited how employers can be helped to make minor changes — reasonable adjustments — that come at no cost or a relatively small cost but that open up huge opportunity for better productivity and an improved workforce. <BR /> <BR />Broadly, we will help with what needs to take place for what is a culture change. Again, I do not see any of that as burdensome; rather, I see it as unlocking potential and opportunity for employees and employers.”
“Employment law is still in place, and employers will be required to make sure that they treat their employees fairly and pay them the proper wage for their job. The Member can be assured that making sure that that is the case will be a focus of ours, because it would be outrageous if someone who was doing the full job were to be paid less simply because of their disability. I am trying to help people into employment, but that is certainly not so that they can be taken advantage of.”
“I am grateful to the Member for his question. I understand the concerns that have been expressed about the Green Paper. Hopefully, Members across the Chamber will be aware of our efforts to encourage the UK Government to reconsider their proposals. While many of the initial proposals have been removed, the nature and impact of the remaining proposals are still unclear. <BR /> <BR />The disability and work strategy does not propose any legislative changes or welfare reforms, but it offers employability support on a voluntary basis to disabled people and those with health conditions. What is important is that we support people into work and give them a helping hand rather than pulling the rug out from underneath them, which is exactly what, I think, the Labour Government are trying to do.”
“If that target needs to be changed, it is certainly something that we are happy to look at.”
“That was a topic of extensive debate during the co-production process with those involved. That figure was landed at because people believe that it is ambitious but achievable. It takes us up to where the rest of the UK is. <BR /> <BR />I want to remove the disability employment gap entirely and ensure that everybody has the opportunity to thrive in work, but we have to be realistic about what is achievable. It is an ambitious target: for context, an additional 50,000 people in work is the equivalent of everybody in the Civil Service and the entirety of those working in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. That shows how ambitious the target is. It is something that those involved in the process were very supportive of. I highlight to the Member that there will be annual reports and that midpoint review five years in.”
“I will make sure that I put the funding in place, and I call on Executive colleagues to do the same not just because we will get that economic and financial return on it but because of the difference that it will make not just to the lives of disabled people across Northern Ireland but to wider society and to employers, who will have the opportunity to open themselves up to that incredible talent pool which, right now, is not being accessed.”
“I do not want to jump ahead of the consultation process that will take place. It is the same as with the anti-poverty strategy, which he mentioned: we genuinely want to hear from people about what they want to prioritise and what, they think, should be put in that may not be in there yet. <BR /> <BR />I give this commitment: I will fund everything that I am able to fund. I have already set aside funding and made bids for some of the actions that I can take. That is why I believe that it will make a difference. Some of it will require investment, but we will get a return on some of that investment as well. Much of it is also about a culture change that we need to see.”
“Together, we will deliver change that is felt in workplaces, communities and lives. Let us get it done, and let us make a difference. I commend the statement to the House.”
“The strategy is about matching your ambitions with real opportunities and creating the conditions for you to thrive, not just survive, in the workplace. You deserve nothing less. <BR /> <BR />No single person or organisation owns disability or employment. Real change will come only when we work together as government, employers, the voluntary and community sector and society as a whole, sharing the responsibility and pushing each other to go further. In bringing forward the strategy, I am committing to action. We will build on what works, change what does not and ensure that every disabled person has a fair chance to access, sustain and progress in quality employment. It is not just a strategy; it is a promise: a promise of progress, partnership and possibility.”
“It is essential that the resourcing bids are met in full, or we risk continuing to see many disabled people excluded from the labour market and deprived of the opportunity to fulfil their career ambitions. The support of my Executive colleagues and Members of the Assembly is essential to secure the necessary resources to deliver the strategy in full. <BR /> <BR />I sincerely thank everyone across the disability and work ecosystem who has contributed to the development of the strategy. Your insight, experience and commitment have shaped a vision that is ambitious, inclusive and achievable. To disabled people and those with health conditions across Northern Ireland, I say this: I see your talent, your drive and your aspirations.”
“Disability employment is not a challenge that my Department can solve in isolation. We have worked closely across the Departments to commit to actions under the strategy, and the Executive have given their endorsement, but, without additional resources to implement actions, we will not see the important changes that we all want to see or the wider positive impacts on economic inactivity, poverty, health and well-being, social inclusion and our economy. <BR /> <BR />Our forthcoming three-year Budget provides the opportunity to kick-start the momentum. I intend to include the resourcing requirements for the strategy in my departmental bid, and I encourage other action owners to do the same.”
“During the lifetime of the strategy, its delivery will be continuously monitored, with annual progress reports and a midpoint review to ensure that we are responsive to any wider influences and opportunities that may arise. <BR /> <BR />Today, I am launching a 12-week public consultation on the disability and work strategy. The wide-ranging conversation with society provides an opportunity for everyone to contribute their views and highlight any areas that can be strengthened further. As part of the process, we will host a series of roadshow events, and documents will be available in a range of accessible formats to make it as easy as possible for everyone to contribute to the consultation. <BR /> <BR />I will take a moment to stress the need for adequate resources to implement the strategy.”
“The theme enhances partnership working, drives and informs our activity, sets out commitments related to the public sector leading by example and delivers clear reporting and monitoring of progress under the strategy. <BR /> <BR />For the first time in our history, we are proposing a disability and work council for Northern Ireland, which will have oversight of delivery against our commitments. It will be tasked with coordinating and supporting delivery, engaging with disabled people and employers and co-producing interventions. Its membership will comprise a wide representation of expert partners, and, alongside my Department, it will be jointly chaired by a disabled person.”
“While employers play a crucial role in the agenda, we need to recognise that they, too, need support to help them to shape our workplace cultures and employment practices and contribute to more disabled people finding, sustaining and flourishing in employment. We will advocate for the benefits of disability employment, help build employer awareness of best practice and make it easier to navigate and benefit from the support available. We want to see workplaces where disabilities and health conditions can be disclosed with confidence and where line managers are supported to respond to the needs of their staff effectively. <BR /> <BR />The fourth and final theme consists of a range of actions that are deemed to be strategic and structural enablers.”
“<BR /> <BR />Under a second theme of inclusive skills, careers and educational transitions, we will ensure that skills provision and careers advice is accessible and tailored, that support is available for those who wish to pursue self-employment and that young people with special educational needs are supported during key educational transition points as they begin their employment journeys. We will continue to work closely with the Department of Education, the Department for the Economy and wider partners in the space to ensure a joined-up approach that removes cliff edges and delivers continuous support. <BR /> <BR />The strategy's third theme focuses on supporting and enabling employers.”
“So much good work is already being delivered by many dedicated and expert individuals across our disability and work ecosystem. The theme aims to build on those foundations to ensure that we meet the diverse needs of disabled people, whether through light-touch interventions or through more specialised, long-term and ongoing interventions such as the supported employment model. Our support must work for everyone. We will achieve that by having more and better engagement by our front-line teams; by identifying improvements and ensuring stability in our pre-employment and in-work supports; and by further integrating health and employability provision to create clear employment pathways for disabled people, working closely with the Department of Health.”
“The sector's insight and value cannot be overstated, alongside the contributions of all partners across the disability and work agenda. <BR /> <BR />We have worked with a diverse group of over 100 stakeholders, including disabled people, community and voluntary organisations, employers and their representative bodies, central and local government, academics and trade unions, each contributing their views, experiences and priorities to help inform and shape the strategy and its actions. That partnership working will continue as we move forward through detailed design, implementation and monitoring of interventions. <BR /> <BR />The strategy is constructed around four themes. Under a personalised support theme, the strategy recognises that each person has unique circumstances, needs and ambitions when it comes to work.”
“<BR /> <BR />The work intersects with a range of strategic agendas, such as the Executive's anti-poverty strategy, the skills strategy, the autism and mental health strategies and the review of special educational needs provision. Of course, it also aligns with our forthcoming Executive disability strategy, which I plan to bring forward in the coming weeks. <BR /> <BR />In co-producing the strategy, we have placed people with lived experience of disability at the centre, involving them at every stage to ensure that we have identified and shaped the change needed to achieve better outcomes. We have a wealth of experience in our voluntary and community sector, which has delivered close support to disabled people for many years.”
“Furthermore, disabled people who are in employment tend to occupy lower-quality jobs, earn less and find it harder to progress in their careers. Put simply, Northern Ireland’s performance in disability employment has not been good enough. I want us to do better. I am, therefore, bringing forward a new disability and work strategy for Northern Ireland. Co-produced by a wide range of partners, including those with lived experience of disability, the strategy sets out a clear commitment to see an additional 50,000 disabled people in the workforce by 2036 and a disability employment rate of 50% and growing. That will ensure that more disabled people and people with health conditions have access to, can sustain, and can thrive in quality employment in an inclusive Northern Ireland labour market.”
“I will make a statement to the Assembly on my plans to bring forward a new disability and work strategy for Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Disability influences lives in many unique and personal ways, and the issues that disabled people face can be complex and intersectional. Given that one in four working-age people in Northern Ireland is disabled, few of us are untouched by disability, yet many disabled people and people with health conditions face multiple barriers that can lead to poverty, social exclusion, inequality and disadvantage, among a range of other challenges. Employment can offer a means to help address and overcome many of the challenges faced, yet, despite the representation of disability across society, only 41% of disabled people in Northern Ireland are in work.”
“I am willing to get everybody in the room so that we can find a way forward. I will do that as quickly as I can, because I know that people have been waiting for far too long. At the very least, we need to get together to plot a way forward. That is my commitment to the House this afternoon.”
“I have listened to Members' comments and heard the passion with which many expressed them tonight. With that in mind, I can confirm that some meetings have taken place in the past number of days. It is now my intention to bring together all interested parties and make sure that we can sit down in the same room and find a way forward. I want those parties to include political representatives, Belfast City Council, other Ministers and the developers. It is important that we all get together so that the matter can be thrashed out. I do not pretend that it is exclusively my responsibility, but I am prepared to step up and make sure that the meeting happens. I am willing to stand up now, just as I have done in the past. I did so with the issue of defective premises when no one else was willing to take it on.”
“I will address that in my closing remarks. <BR /> <BR />North Belfast deserves better. The Tribeca site must not remain a symbol of missed opportunity and stalled ambition. My Department is firmly committed to playing its part in delivering a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable city centre that reflects the pride, potential and resilience of the city.”
“The precedent that was set by the Laganside Corporation offers a valuable reference point for how targeted public intervention can act as a catalyst for urban renewal and bring together public ambition and private enterprise to deliver real change. <BR /> <BR />In the coming weeks, my Department will continue its dialogue with Belfast City Council on the proposed regeneration and planning framework. We will also continue our engagement with Castlebrooke Investments to seek clarity on its intentions and timelines for the site. Importantly, as we move forward, we will work to ensure that any future development reflects the unique character and heritage of the Cathedral Quarter and surrounding areas. It is essential that regeneration delivers not only physical transformation but real and lasting benefits for the city and its communities.”
“Crucially, the framework must also address the financial realities of any proposed intervention. It must present viable delivery routes, whether led by the public sector, the private sector or a combination of both. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear: the status quo is not acceptable. I fully share the concerns that have been expressed by Members and the public. The current impasse cannot be allowed to persist. We are committed to working in partnership with all stakeholders to unlock the potential of this strategically important site. We are also open to exploring innovative and practical solutions. One such avenue is the potential use of financial transactions capital to support partial public ownership or partnership models.”
“Therefore, I have instructed officials in my Department to engage constructively with the council to help to identify and deliver a viable plan for the regeneration of the Tribeca area. However, let me be clear that it is a complex issue and will require time, resources and input from a wide range of professional disciplines and stakeholders in order to develop a fully costed and deliverable alternative. <BR /> <BR />Belfast City Council is preparing a paper for submission to my Department, seeking support for what is envisaged to be a regeneration and planning framework for the Tribeca site. That framework will aim to provide the basis for statutory intervention, be that through purchase or the vesting of lands in part or in full. It will set out clear steps for the delivery of a viable regeneration scheme.”
“However, despite early momentum and public anticipation, we are yet to see any meaningful construction activity on the ground. In recent months, Castlebrooke has withdrawn several planning applications for the wider site, citing concerns around commercial viability. That development, or lack thereof, has understandably led to growing frustration among key stakeholders, including Belfast City Council, local businesses and residents. The site remains largely derelict, and its current condition contributes to a growing sense of stagnation in the city centre. <BR /> <BR />Belfast City Council has publicly voiced its concerns and is actively exploring a range of options, including vesting or acquisition by agreement, either in whole or in part. The Assembly Rooms and adjoining properties, for example, have been a focus for such intervention.”
“As Minister for Communities, with responsibility for regeneration and heritage, I must express my concern at the lack of meaningful advancement by the developer. The continued stagnation of the site is not just a missed opportunity; it actively contributes to the deterioration of a key part of the city. That blight is undermining the physical and socio-economic recovery of the city centre and, by extension, the wider city. <BR /> <BR />The Tribeca scheme, led by Castlebrooke Investments, was originally heralded as a transformative £500 million regeneration project, spanning approximately 12 acres. Planning permission was granted in 2020 for a vibrant mixed-use development incorporating residential, office, retail, leisure and cultural spaces alongside the conservation and regeneration of listed buildings.”
“<BR /> <BR />The site, which I am scared to call the Tribeca site, because of the disapproval across the Chamber, is situated in the heart of our capital and represents a significant opportunity for economic, cultural and social regeneration. However, as Members around the Chamber and the wider community have rightly observed, progress has been disappointingly slow.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank Mr Brett for bringing the issue for an Adjournment debate, for his passion for his constituency and the city centre, and for outlining, clearly, what needs to be done. <BR /> <BR />He mentioned the extension of late-night public transport services. I am happy to confirm to him and the House that I have committed funding to that. I know that other parties are being asked for that as well. He can be assured of my support and the support of my party to ensure that the funding is made available, so that we can continue to ensure that the city centre is supported. I look forward to making a further, more detailed announcement on that in the time ahead.”
“We will take lessons from the pilot scheme, and, hopefully, we will be able to extend that out. I would appreciate Members' support in that.”
“What a good idea. Absolutely. We need to wait to see the evidence of need. We need to see exactly how much is needed, where that need is and how many applications we get etc. However, from the conversations that I have had already, from the response in the Chamber and from the numbers that have signed up — significant numbers of organisations are coming along to the information sessions right across Northern Ireland — I know that there is a huge demand for it. Those community halls, church halls, Orange halls and village halls right across Northern Ireland make a huge impact but are in huge need. <BR /> <BR />It is a pilot. We are testing it. I am doing what I can with what I have right now, but I would very much like to see it become a rolling programme.”
“Well, I certainly hope so, and I am very grateful to the Member for asking that question in the Chamber yesterday. When the Agriculture Minister left the Chamber, I bumped into him. I did not do it on purpose, but I just happened to bump into him as he came out, and I hope that he will not mind me saying that we had a brief conversation about it, and he committed, as he did in the Chamber, to working with me on it. It is important that proper support is provided in rural and urban areas. He clearly has a direct responsibility for rural communities, and I would be more than happy if he could assist me in what we are trying to do because it would benefit rural communities across Northern Ireland. I look forward to his support, and, in particular, I look forward to some financial support from him so that we can deliver even more.”
“I appreciate the fact that that point has been raised, because it seems that some in our society today think that the last acceptable form of discrimination is that against faith-based organisations. Many feel that that is OK and that faith-based organisations can be discriminated against. However, I can confirm for him that there is no lottery-sourced funding for the project. It is coming entirely out of the capital budget of my Department.”
“Yes. Again, that is almost unquantifiable, because, yes, we are releasing £4·3 million into local communities across Northern Ireland, but the impact of that will go on and on, not only through the extra work that the community facilities will be able to provide but in the stability that that will bring for many jobs, employers and employees and in the additional money that we will invest in our economy. In short, it is very difficult to give a precise figure, but there is no doubt that it will continue to have a ripple effect across communities.”
“Yes, of course. We engaged with Co-operation Ireland throughout the process. We appointed it because of its expertise, the established systems that it has in place and the trusted relationships that it has with the sector more widely. It is well positioned to provide the additional support that is available. Another reason is that it is the most cost-effective and efficient delivery route. That means that we can invest more in the community sector itself.”
“I am grateful to the Member for inviting me to see the work that goes on there. Sporting organisations are able to apply for funding for the community buildings that they operate, but they must be able to demonstrate the work that they do for non-sporting activities. I draw the Member's attention to the Olympic legacy fund that I announced last week. It is also there to help sports clubs that are in need of funding. I am sure that the Member will help the people in his constituency who need it. He should be aware of both of those funds that I have made available to clubs in his and, indeed, all constituencies.”
“Of course, we will look at that issue when it comes to the monitoring and reporting of the scheme overall. We will want to keep an eye on that, because I hope that we can bring forward the scheme on a rolling, permanent basis, and that information will be useful to demonstrate its positivity.”
“Ultimately, it will be down to the organisations that apply to source the quotes and source the people who will do the work. Given the small nature of some of the works that will be required in the grand scheme of things, local organisations and local employers will be able to benefit. Of course, we expect all projects to be costed appropriately and all project costs to be within an appropriate cost range for the type of works that are proposed. <BR /> <BR />Any works must be properly procured, and we need to make sure that the procurement exercises are fair, open and transparent, because public funds are at stake, and we need to make sure that there is value for money. There will be £4·3 million going into local communities across Northern Ireland, and that will be of benefit.”
“I will ensure that those from faith-based organisations are able not only to continue their work but to avail themselves of government support and funding where that is appropriate. I look forward to faith-based organisations being able to apply to, and take advantage of, a scheme that will help build community infrastructure so that they can continue to have an impact on the lives of young and old across Northern Ireland.”
“I am grateful to the Member for raising that issue. It is difficult for me to answer the question, because the community, social and economic benefits that churches and faith-based organisations bring to Northern Ireland are almost unquantifiable. They are often the unsung heroes. They put on events, run clubs and host youth groups that young people attend and at which their characters and futures are shaped. I am grateful to the Member for having raised in the past with me the approach taken by some organisations. The way in which they are prepared to exclude and discriminate against those who operate in faith-based environments is absolutely disgraceful. That will never happen when I am in this Department.”
“As I have stated, any community buildings that are operated by sporting organisations and are available as community venues for non-sporting activities will be eligible for funding. That is set out clearly in the guidance. It will be up to all organisations to demonstrate their need, meet all the criteria, explain why the funding is necessary and show that there is no other funding in place of which they can avail themselves.”
“I say this to all groups and organisations: answer the questions that are in front of you and provide as much information and evidence as you can. We are ensuring that the process is as simple and straightforward as possible. We are not trying to exclude anybody or trip anybody up. Rather, we are trying to make sure that people have the ability to articulate their needs, and the criteria of need will then be applied to assess the applications.”
“Yes, we are doing a number of things. First, we are putting the screening process in place at the beginning. That means that those who are not eligible, because they do not meet the basic criteria to start off with, will not then spend a lot of time and energy filling out an application form. Secondly, information sessions will be available online, during the day and in the evenings, and there will be sessions that people can go to in person, again during the day and in the evenings, to make sure that they have all the information that they need. Officials will be on hand to answer any additional questions that people may have. <BR /> <BR />We are not trying to exclude anybody. Rather, we are trying to help everybody.”
“First of all, I hope that the Member listened to the answer that I gave to Ms Brownlee, where I made it clear that there would be flexibility. More information on that will be available. <BR /> <BR />We are trying to make sure that we help people and facilitate improvements in a number of areas, such as the physical condition, accessibility and usage buildings. Applications will also be scored on energy efficiency and reduced maintenance costs, so, of course, those things will be taken into consideration as well. However, let us be aware that, in many rural areas, it is simply not an option to have any other form of heating system in place. All that needs to be taken into consideration. The Member specifically mentioned oil. Sometimes, oil is the only option that is available.”
“There will be flexibility, because we understand that some applicants may not have the capital available to be able to draw that down immediately, so we can work on a case-by-case basis with those who need additional help, and we will be happy to provide that at a further stage of the process.”
“There will be an opportunity as we assess the evaluation of the uptake, and you will have the opportunity to ask those questions at Committee. <BR /> <BR />As for his other question about how the assessment will be carried out, that will be done by Co-operation Ireland because of the experience that it has in those matters. That, of course, will be done against the assessment criteria. My advice to him and everyone else is this: instead of quibbling about the process, to make sure that you are aware of the process and can help to provide the necessary support to those who apply so that we can maximise our understanding of the need. I would like to see the fund rolled out further in the future, and that information will be useful.”
“First of all, a written ministerial statement was provided in June. On the back of that, the Committee asked for more information. I was happy to get that briefing organised, and it will happen shortly. However, I highlight the fact that all members of the Committee — indeed, all MLAs — were invited to the launch last week, where they would have been able to hear more about the fund. Unfortunately, the Committee Chairman did not make it. In fact, none of the Members on the other side of the House were able to make it to that information event. It would have been useful to have heard more about the fund. Ultimately, it is not the role of the Committee to decide policy; it is the role of the Committee to scrutinise and to assist me in the development of policy.”