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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“I will consider those options, but I have taken on board what the Member and many others have said. I look forward to bringing forward proposals.”
“Yes, that is absolutely the case: intimidation points are being looked at. That is one of the two points that were not progressed in the previous mandate. The previous Minister had asked for additional information, and that research is being carried out. Under the current scheme, those who are subject to intimidation receive 200 points. I think that we can all agree that intimidation, whatever form it takes, is unacceptable, as is the impact that it can have on the wider community. I assure you that the immediate personal safety of the applicant will always be addressed first and foremost. <BR /> <BR />Independent research is being conducted on the matter. It is due to be competed in March, with a view to producing a series of options for the future of those points.”
“Implementation of 18 of the 20 proposals to change the housing selection scheme is ongoing. It is being carried out through a four-phase approach by the Housing Executive, with support and oversight from officials in my Department. The aim of the proposals is to make the allocations process fairer, more transparent and, ultimately, to enable it to work better for people in need. Stage 1 was implemented on 31 January 2023. Stage 2, which contains the next five proposals, is almost complete. I will provide an update on that stage in due course.”
“I will have to come back on the second part of his question, but, yes, my sense is that we have support from all parties around the Chamber. That should make it easier to get the legislation through, and I look forward to support from across the Chamber.”
“Yes, absolutely. One benefit, if we can call it that, of being a little behind other jurisdictions is that we can learn lessons from their experiences. We can look at what has worked and what additional work is required. For me, it is really important that we listen to the deaf community in Northern Ireland and hear their concerns, and I intend to do that as part of an extensive consultation process.”
“Yes, I completely agree with the Member that this has affected many people. It has affected their educational attainment and their economic prospects. There are steps that we can take to ensure that we make that provision and improve those outcomes for people. Northern Ireland is, I suppose, unique in having users of British sign language and Irish sign language. That is broken down as roughly 3,500 British sign language users and 1,500 Irish sign language users. Those are separate languages, of course; they are not just visual representations of English and Irish. Yes, provision will be made for both languages in the legislation.”
“I am grateful to the Member. I share her frustration at the time that it has taken to progress this. In the past number of years, we have seen sign language legislation introduced in the rest of the UK, and there is provision in the Republic of Ireland. I believe that the legislation could have a significantly positive and hugely beneficial impact on the deaf community in Northern Ireland, and I look forward to delivering that for those across Northern Ireland who will benefit. It is certainly one of my priorities for my time in office.”
“I also intend to seek the resources to put in place the infrastructure necessary to deliver on the intent of the legislation.”
“My officials are also exploring options with the Centre for Translation and Interpreting at Queen's University in order to provide an academic route to qualification as an interpreter, further increase capacity and expertise and future-proof a sustainable supply of interpreters. <BR /> <BR />On legislation specifically, my officials have been engaging with key stakeholders, which include the deaf community and their representatives, to develop the policy to inform the drafting of clauses for legislation. As a result of that consultation, I am pleased to confirm that I intend to seek Executive approval to introduce a sign language Bill to the Assembly at the earliest opportunity.”
“<BR /> <BR />One of the most pressing issues to be addressed in order to ensure accessibility and fuller social integration for the deaf community in Northern Ireland, therefore, is an increase in the supply of professionally trained and appropriately accredited interpreters. In order to address the current need for more British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpreters, my Department is funding Foyle Deaf Association, which is a deaf-led sign language teaching centre in Londonderry, to provide an interpreter training programme to boost capacity.”
“I am committed to ensuring that members of the deaf community have the same rights and opportunities as those in the hearing community and are able to access services in their own language. I am aware that profoundly deaf people consider themselves part of a cultural and linguistic minority group rather than a disability group and that they view their sign language as their language of need. Sign language users, like many other minority language users, cannot necessarily read or understand information on government websites, printed leaflets and various types of literature.”
“There are, obviously, a number of issues to consider before we get to that stage. The Member will be aware that there are still outstanding issues in the quantum of funding that will be required and the quantum of funding that will be made available. Those are outstanding issues for the Department, and we look forward to hearing more about them in due course.”
“I do not think that anybody in here will be surprised by some of the issues that have affected Sport NI over the past number of years, particularly with regard to budget allocations. It is important that all those issues are addressed, and the review will look into them as well. We need an organisation that is able to deliver the support that is needed to sport and to those grassroots facilities. I look forward to that review, and we will see what further action needs to be taken.”
“I thank the Member for his warm words of welcome. I have a meeting in the diary to meet the UK Sports Minister very soon, as set out in the Government's Command Paper. I look forward to that meeting and to discussing some of the issues that have been raised, because all of us in the Chamber are aware of the underfunding of sports facilities right across Northern Ireland and all sports. I am looking forward to having that conversation in order to ensure that we get adequate resource from the UK Government's funds so that we can have new sports facilities and improve existing sports facilities in Northern Ireland.”
“First, Mr Speaker, I will endeavour to keep to the two minutes, because I am sure that when you were a Minister, you would never have dared to go over that limit.”
“The aim of that review is to identify and understand the cause of governance and control issues so that they can be addressed and the organisation can be stabilised. My Department has engaged an independent strategic partner to carry out the review, and the draft report of findings is expected before the end of the financial year. I will take time to consider the report's findings and assess what further action by the Department is required. In any event, the findings of the strategic review will assist Sport NI to identify and address a number of governance concerns. It will also help to inform the Department of the approach required for future review work, as set out in the New Decade, New Approach agreement.”
“This year, Sport NI plans to invest £7·1 million of National Lottery funding across 40 sports governing bodies, with the ambition of boosting that figure to almost £8 million next year. <BR /> <BR />In addition, in November 2022, my Department and Sport NI published a partnership agreement, following the launch of the Northern Ireland code of good practice on partnerships between Departments and arm's-length bodies. That was the first such agreement between my Department and an arm's-length body and demonstrates the commitment of both bodies to deliver for the sports sector in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />At the request of Sport NI last May, my Department has agreed to carry out an independent strategic review of the organisation.”
“Although Sport NI is one of the Department for Communities' arm's-length bodies (ALBs) that has been identified for review, that has not yet been taken forward. <BR /> <BR />As the sponsor Department, Communities continues to work in partnership with Sport NI to support the board and the executive team to deliver the necessary changes to the organisation that will allow it to deliver effectively for the sports sector in relation to its core functions and within a proper governance framework. <BR /> <BR />Over the past three years, Sport NI has issued Exchequer funding of almost £39·4 million and lottery funding of just over £17 million. That funding consisted of grant awards to over 1,900 organisations.”
“The Sports Council for Northern Ireland — Sport NI — is a statutory body that was set up under the Recreation and Youth Service (Northern Ireland) Order 1986. There are no plans to undertake a reform of Sport NI. However, the 'New Decade, New Approach' document stated:”
“I am not aware of when that will be delivered. As the Member indicated, it is not a responsibility of my Department. If any responsibilities fall under the Department for Communities, I will, of course, look into them and see what can be done. <BR /> <BR />I again place on record my sympathy with those who have been affected. The flooding may have been on the news for only a few days, but we understand that the impacts last for a long time, and, where possible, we want to help those businesses to get back on their feet as soon as possible.”
“Yes, it is obvious that £1,000 will not, in the vast majority of cases, provide the assistance that is required. That is why everybody should have insurance. The payment is not meant to be a compensation scheme or to take the place of insurance. It is there to ensure that a one-off payment can be made within, hopefully, a short period to help with the initial costs that some people face. That is why we encourage people to have home insurance, and it is why the programme, a joint initiative between insurers and the UK Government, is in place.”
“I recognise that that is an issue of concern, especially for people whose homes have flooded in the past, and the difficulty that there can be in securing flood insurance. To that end, Flood Re is a joint initiative between the UK Government and insurers, which will run until 2039. That programme exists to improve, as the Member said, the availability and affordability of flood insurance for people who live in properties in flood risk areas. Every insurer that offers home insurance in the UK pays a levy. That money is used to fund the flood element of the policy and help to keep premiums down. The Member, or, indeed, any constituent, will be able to check online for eligibility, and I encourage those who are affected in that way to do just that.”
“I have not made a decision. I am simply reiterating the support that is available for householders. I completely understand the frustration that many of the Member's constituents and others feel as a result of the flooding issues in her constituency and others in recent months. Unfortunately, my Department and I can operate only within the available scheme, which does not provide any additional support for the uninsured properties that the Member mentioned. Any changes to the scheme that would require additional financial support would necessitate legislation and Executive approval.”
“My Department's finance support service is available for people who find themselves in financial crisis, including those who are experiencing financial difficulty as a result of disaster, such as flooding. The service provides financial support through discretionary support, social fund and universal credit contingency fund payments. In addition, householders can contact my Department's Make the Call service to ensure that they get all the money and supports to which they are entitled. Make the Call offers a telephony service and has a team of community outreach officers who work from regional locations across Northern Ireland to conduct home visits and provide face-to-face assistance and support with benefit claim completion.”
“As the House will be aware, the scheme for emergency financial assistance was introduced by the Executive in 2007. Its purpose is to provide immediate financial support to households that have suffered from flooding. It is not a compensation scheme and does not purport to be one, nor is it intended to replace or displace the assistance that households should receive from their insurers. An immediate payment of £1,000 was made via district councils in order to provide eligible households with assistance to make their homes habitable as quickly as possible. <BR /> <BR />In the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area, assistance was provided to 119 households during the flooding event in October 2023.”
“I confirm that I am willing to take up the office of Minister for Communities, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.”
“Those are characteristics that will serve her well in this new role, and they will also serve all of us. This Executive need to be marked by delivery. There is much work to do for the people whom we represent, and now is the time to get on with it.”
“With your indulgence, Mr Speaker, I want to say a little about Emma Little-Pengelly. I have known Emma for almost 20 years. I have worked alongside her in many different capacities, and certain things have become apparent to me over that time. She has a very clear love for Northern Ireland. She loves its people, and she is passionate about the future of this place. She already has a record of delivery, especially through her previous role in the Executive Office. I think of the Together: Building a United Community programme, the numeracy and literacy initiatives that she took up, the Urban Villages programme and standing up for the innocent victims of terrorism. I know that she is determined, resilient, compassionate and is often late for meetings, but I also know that she wants to make a difference.”
“I congratulate you, Mr Speaker, as you take up your new role. I know that you will do an excellent job on behalf of the House. Secondly, I thank Mr Allister for the reminder that we have had from him today. Every time he speaks, he reminds us why he is the sole TUV Member on that Bench. He has absolutely nothing to offer the people of Northern Ireland. He has no plan, strategy or record of delivery for the people of Northern Ireland. I am pleased that we are able to be here today to get on with the job at hand. <BR /> <BR />I recognise the significant role that Michelle O'Neill and Emma Little-Pengelly have taken on today. We want them to succeed because we want what is best for the people of Northern Ireland.”
“Our negotiations with the Government have made real and significant progress but will continue until arrangements are agreed that unionists, as well as nationalists, can support. That is our goal, but it should in no way prevent the Secretary of State from providing the money necessary to ensure that public-sector pay awards can be made. We urge him to do that today.”
“Our public-sector workers have not had the pay increases that they deserve for years. There has been an ever-growing squeeze on their incomes due to inflation and cost-of-living pressures. In our discussions with the Government, they have recognised that. They claim to have secured the money, albeit for one year, so they need to release it and get on with that today. <BR /> <BR />In addition to that stable financial foundation, we need a stable political foundation. The arrangements from the Northern Ireland protocol damage the basis on which power-sharing works and have prevented the formation of an Executive. Our goal throughout the process has been to restore Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market, as set out in our manifesto.”
“They do not like to hear it, but it was the DUP that raised and highlighted the issue, and it is the DUP that has been fighting for that money. While the extra money on the table is a good start, it is just that. What is presently on offer is a one-off package for public-sector pay in the current financial year. Without that being provided on a recurring basis, it is difficult to see how Departments could ensure that commitments to staff can be honoured in future years without significantly hampering the delivery of core public services. However, if the Secretary of State has the money ready, he should deliver it immediately. It is unfair on our public-sector workers to tie it to a demand for increased household taxes, more revenue raising or the restoration of the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />We all know how important the issue is.”
“The barrier to public-sector pay increases has not been the lack of an Executive; it has been the lack of finance to properly fund it. We should not forget that the Department of Finance was able to progress a range of decisions on public-sector pay over the last year. Those powers still exist. However, each decision had to be affordable under the Budget imposed by the Secretary of State, and that is where the crux of the problem was and is. The cake simply is not big enough. <BR /> <BR />Much has been made by some of the other parties of the additional resource offered by the Government. That resource would not be on offer if it were not for the DUP highlighting the issue in the first place. The extra money on the table —”
“It told the public that the Government's household energy payments could be quickly delivered by local Ministers. It was wrong. In truth, the fastest and simplest way for that to happen was for the Government to do it. As we found out last week in the High Court, Sinn Féin does not like the truth.”
“It has been done in an attempt to make the public believe that the restoration of the Assembly today will lead to the cancellation of the strikes tomorrow. Sinn Féin knows full well that there is no prospect of a Speaker being elected today. It knows that there will be no Ministers nominated today and that, even if those things were to happen, the pay issue will not be settled today but will be subject to further processes that will, of course, take time. It is disingenuous to suggest otherwise. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin has form in that regard. Its disinformation is nothing new. Do Members remember when it told us that there were hundreds of millions of pounds sitting in a Stormont bank account just waiting to be spent if an Executive were to be restored? Sinn Féin was wrong, and, in truth, there was a huge overspend.”
“Before I begin my remarks, it would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the sad passing of our friend and colleague David Hilditch last year. David served his constituents in East Antrim with distinction for 25 years, and he is very much missed by them, by his friends, by all who knew him and, in particular, by his family. Our thoughts continue to be with them today. I am glad, however, that Ms Brownlee is in her place today. Cheryl will be a fantastic representative for the people of East Antrim, and I look forward to working with her. <BR /> <BR />This recall is much like the five others that came before it. It is a stunt. It is being cynically orchestrated to coincide with the industrial action that is scheduled across our public sector.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. He has spent quite a bit of money so far in what he has said, if only the Executive were back. <BR /> <BR />The Member said that energy is a devolved issue: it absolutely is. If that is the case, however, why has the energy price guarantee been delivered in Northern Ireland? Does he accept that the money that was originally given for the energy payments in February was given as a result of that money originally being a loan?”
“There is therefore a need for people to be straightforward and honest. <BR /> <BR />This sitting is a farce. Everybody knows it, but it provides us with one useful benefit: it provides us once more with the opportunity to say clearly to the Government and the European Union that the issue must be resolved. Threatening an election does not change anything and cutting salaries does not change anything. What will unlock devolution is getting the protocol sorted, restoring Northern Ireland's place in the UK internal market and removing the democratic deficit. When that happens, we will not be found wanting. We will elect a Speaker and nominate Ministers. We say to the UK and the EU, "The ball is in your court. The clock is ticking. Get on with it".”
“That has been well discussed. The Government said that they were going to deliver it. It is up to them to deliver it. We will continue to push the Government on that at Westminster, but what we will not do is say that we can deliver things that are not in our gift to deliver. We are not going to be like the SDLP, which has made people think that it is within its gift to deliver 1,000 litres of home heating oil to every home in Northern Ireland. I am not going to be like Sinn Féin and Michelle O'Neill, who repeatedly told us that there were hundreds of millions of pounds in a Stormont bank account just ready to go into people's pockets. Sinn Féin today still has not been able to accept that there are difficult choices ahead and that, if we were in an Executive right now, we too would have to make difficult decisions.”
“The time for dithering is over. They have the money, they have the systems, they have the capacity to deliver it, and they need to get on with it. I hope that the other parties will join us in calling for payments to be delivered as soon as possible, because the Government are the ones with the tools. That is key to the conversation that we are having today.”
“That scheme was devised and promised by Westminster and now needs to be delivered by Westminster as well. In the summertime, there was a way forward and a mechanism identified for delivery. Energy suppliers and the Utility Regulator worked hard to put that in place. At the last minute, the Government have started to consider alternative options. That is what is causing delay. That is a shame. They need to get on with delivering the scheme that they brought forward.”
“Absolutely. I agree that there will not be any shortage of funds or heat in Connolly House this winter. Of course, the Member neglects to mention the £10 million of public money that that party has received for its MPs not taking their seats at Westminster or many of the pension pots that Sinn Féin members will have built up during their time working for MI5 as well. <BR /> <BR />On the cost of living, the UK Government have been able to deliver additional payments for those who are low incomes, additional support for pensioners through the increased winter fuel payments, and the energy price guarantee, which, in some cases, has cut electricity bills by up to 50%. However, it is up to them to finally deliver the energy bills support scheme.”
“Those are not my words but the words of the former Finance Minister in a letter from him and his Scottish and Welsh colleagues to the former Chancellor in July.”
“On that, I agree with the former Finance Minister:”
“We believe that devolution needs a firm foundation to succeed. That foundation will never be in place as long as the issues around the protocol are unresolved. <BR /> <BR />I recognise that the sitting has a special benefit for Sinn Féin as it provides a useful distraction from proceedings at the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, where it has been alleged that Sinn Féin has used a criminal gang for money and votes. I am sure that many others will, like me, be surprised to hear that there could be connections between Sinn Féin and criminals, but, of course, there needs to be proper investigation to ensure that no gangland money is being used to influence politics here. <BR /> <BR />I recognise the dire situation that many people find themselves in. Many people are struggling with the cost of living.”
“The recall of the Assembly is nothing more than a farce. We know that it is a stunt. The public know that it is a stunt. The other parties know that it is a stunt as well; many of their members have told us so privately. So it should come as no surprise to the House to hear that the DUP will not support either of the nominees for Speaker.”
“We said that we would not return to government here unless those issues with the protocol were dealt with and dealt with once and for all. I simply say this: we made a promise, and we are going to keep it.”
“I can confirm to the Member that not only did they not recall the Assembly, not only did they not call for the exclusion of Sinn Féin, but, when there was a recall debate, they did not even turn up. I think that that shows you where their priorities lie. <BR /> <BR />We do best here when we are working together — when we have a firm foundation on which to build stable devolution. We do not have that solid foundation right now, but I hope that we will. That is where the barrier is coming from. <BR /> <BR />Let me make one more point before I finish. There is a lot of cynicism in politics these days. That is understandable, but my party went into the last election on a very clear manifesto and with very clear pledges.”
“— because we have legitimate concerns, and those concerns are going to be listened to. It has always been the case that devolution has worked best when we have that buy-in and consent from unionists, nationalists — and, yes, from others; I acknowledge that. That is when it has worked best.”
“I am more than happy to direct my remarks through you, so I will say it again: we are not going to sit down and shut up —”