Danny Kennedy
Newry and Armagh · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />I know the circumstances that we are in, but my hope is that departmental officials will continue to explore these issues and find solutions so that, at the earliest point, those solutions can be delivered to my constituency and to the people who have such frustration with the lack of service.”
“This situation is also prevalent in other rural areas of Northern Ireland. People in areas such as Lissummon, Ballygorman, Cladymilltown, Altnamackan, Loughgall, Mullaghglass and countless others, unfortunately, all of which are located in my constituency, find themselves in a position currently where they are provided with little or no e…”
“I, with others, receive regular contact from my constituents on this issue. It is abundantly clear from the representations that I receive that the lack of broadband provision, particularly in rural areas, impacts in many ways on families and businesses that reside in various locations across the constituency.”
“Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I thank you and the Business Committee for affording me the opportunity to debate the issue of broadband provision directly relating to my constituency of Newry and Armagh. I also place on record my good wishes to you as you leave the House, and I wish you well for the future.”
“The lack of high-quality broadband, for instance, has an impact on the ability of many rural businesses to function efficiently, placing them clearly at a disadvantage to other competitors in their particular field.”
“I could continue to detail many more circumstances, but I want other Members to contribute and to hear what the Minister has to say. I take this opportunity to make an impassioned plea to the Minister to pursue, within a quick time frame, the network improvements that are so clearly required.”
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“They have done excellent work in removing tons of rubbish from those beaches. It is impressive that, for example, in places such as Rostrevor, volunteers have given more than 140 hours and collected over 100 bags of litter. The excellent work of schoolchildren in particular is an inspiration. It clearly shows a commitment from local people and children to simply not allow their local beaches to be polluted. More support and guidance should be given to groups such as those, and I commend their actions wholeheartedly. <BR /> <BR />However, we should not have to rely on the goodwill of volunteers to keep our beaches clean. It is vital that cooperation is fostered between all relevant organisations and agencies.”
“Therefore, it is depriving the local economy of its fair share of revenue from that source. Equally importantly, the waste is damaging Northern Ireland sea life. Plastic bags, bottles and other waste cause the death of fish, seabirds and other animal life that are vital to the environmental health of Northern Ireland generally. We should not stand idly by and watch our bountiful sea life be degraded in such a manner. <BR /> <BR />South Down's beaches are important and historical. Therefore, action must be taken to ensure that they are not allowed to degenerate further. I want to take a moment to commend the hard-working volunteers who are seeking to improve the situation; for instance, the Ardglass Festival Association, the Kilbroney Residents Association, McDonalds in Downpatrick and St Patrick's Primary School near Tyrella.”
“There are great infrastructural needs across the water industry throughout Northern Ireland, not least in coastal areas. However, that needs proper funding, and my experience, particularly in recent years, has been that that funding has been denied and not provided by the Executive and, indeed, by the Assembly. So there are questions for all the political parties when they begin to apportion blame for the lack of money spent. <BR /> <BR />The importance of the issue should not be underestimated. The litter and damage to the environment is very serious. Tourism is discouraged, as a dirty beach is unlikely to bring people even from close by, never mind from other places, including other parts of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland and beyond.”
“It is worrying and of concern that places such as Ballyhornan have been allowed to fall into the state that they are in now. It is unbelievable that more than 20,000 items of litter were found per square kilometre in that area, and over 9,000 per square kilometre on the beach at Tyrella is equally concerning. I am pleased to read that there are much better figures for other beaches, including Rostrevor, but, even then, over 2,000 items per square kilometre is hardly a record to be overly proud of. <BR /> <BR />Previous Members to speak have referred to the contribution that is expected from NI Water. There was a suggestion that I should speak on behalf of NI Water, which I am no longer qualified to do, but I have some insight.”
“This is an important debate. Although I do not represent South Down, I spend quite a lot of leisure and holiday time in the south Down coastal area, including at some of the very beautiful beaches there. It is undeniable that the beaches do not belong just to the people of south Down, they belong to all of us. The value of these magnificent areas of natural beauty is that they are a vital resource, not only for people who live in the immediate area but for all the people of Northern Ireland and tourism generally. <BR /> <BR />The beaches from Warrenpoint to Ballyhornan offer a space of relaxation and enjoyment for everyone; thankfully, all free of charge. I was gravely concerned to read about the worrying levels of litter on those and other beaches in the marine litter survey published by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Will the Speaker, in conjunction with the Business Committee, give consideration to arranging the Question Time sequences so that those Departments that have not been subject to Question Time in recent weeks can now be?”
“I welcome the Minister's remarks. Can he outline the steps and measures that he is prepared to take to ensure that in legacy inquests at the Coroners' Court there will not be an exclusive and unfair focus on the state and security forces? How does he intend to address the concerns of a great many of us that there are those in political parties and other groups who seek to use the coronial system to simply rewrite the history of the Troubles?”
“I am grateful to the Minister for her answer. She will be aware of concerns from a great many of my constituents in Newry and Armagh, not only about the appeals process but the outcome of the revaluation. Is the Minister prepared to meet me to discuss these issues?”
“I am grateful to the Minister for his replies. Will he undertake to review staffing levels at the new Newry, Mourne and Down council area? I am aware of significant pressure of work, which means that some assistance is needed to deal with the significant delays that are now occurring in the planning process?”
“You would be willing to be dragged, would you not?”
“It is no secret that the Ulster Unionist Party remains unhappy with the changes that were made to the election of the First Minister and deputy First Minister at St Andrews. Those changes served only to promote sectarian headcounts. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, we remain totally committed to seeing the introduction of a mechanism to allow an opposition to be formed in the House. We also support the reform of the Assembly and the Executive and raising the level of accountability of elected Members. We look forward to contributing positively to the debate as the Bill proceeds through the House.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have concerns at this stage about the proposals for technical groups and the potential that a mechanism designed to enhance democracy could end up working against that principle. We remain unconvinced about the need for official titles for those in the opposition. We would point to the example of the Scottish Parliament, where each party in the opposition has a leader and spokespersons without the need for formal titles. On the issue of salaries, it is our view that the opposition should be formed on a cost-neutral basis. We would, instead, encourage a look at restructuring how current resource is allocated. Again, I am sure that we can look at that in more detail during Committee Stage and Consideration Stage. <BR /> <BR />We have noted the fundamental proposal to rename OFMDFM.”
“Let us not forget that the Stormont House Agreement promised formal opposition structures by March 2015; here we are in October and still there are no opposition rights for parties that are not in the Executive. <BR /> <BR />I will turn briefly to the Bill itself. It raises questions for us, and we look forward to interrogating further a number of other areas at Committee Stage. I want to touch on a couple of areas of the Bill, but it has quite a way to go yet, and we will have the opportunity to scrutinise it and debate all aspects of the Bill further in the coming weeks and months. We will want to look in detail, for instance, at who qualifies for membership of the official opposition. We are largely of the view that there should be a threshold.”
“Having a formally recognised opposition and everything that would come with it, such as enhanced speaking rights, supply days and Committee roles, could help to revitalise the Assembly, offering the opportunity for effective scrutiny of the Executive, rather than the Executive being left, largely, to scrutinise itself. <BR /> <BR />Mr McCallister referred to the efforts made by the Ulster Unionist Party in the form of Lord Empey of Shandon, who tabled amendments to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 in another place to put measures in place for opposition structures. Our preferred option has also been to enshrine the right of the opposition in legislation because we believe that simply changing Standing Orders leaves the future existence of the opposition in the hands, potentially, of the largest parties in this or any future Assembly.”
“We recognise the important role that they play in holding the Government to account and offering voters an alternative. If we are really serious about transitioning from an institution that staggers along from one mandate to the next to one that delivers for the people of Northern Ireland, it is vital that we put in place a mechanism to ensure that a party or parties form an opposition.”
“Mandatory coalition and five-party government were required to get us over the initial hurdles of devolution, yet, 17 years on from the Belfast Agreement, the Assembly has not evolved at the pace of a society that clearly craves an official opposition here in the Chamber. We cannot continue to deny the population the right to remove a party from power or to vote one into government. <BR /> <BR />Sadly, the structures created to draw as many people as possible into the democratic process now seem to turn people off. Voters' frustration at being unable to send a message at the ballot box grows with each election. We have only to look at and study the turnout percentages to see that. My party has long called for opposition structures to be created in the Assembly.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on this private Member's Bill. The Bill proposes the reform of a number of areas of the Assembly and the Executive, but it is true to say that it is probably the proposals for opposition structures that will receive the most attention during its passage. <BR /> <BR />Formal opposition structures are of course taken for granted in most democracies. Outside Northern Ireland, the power to vote a party in or out of government is taken for granted in other parts of the United Kingdom and in virtually any other democratic nation on the planet. However, we in Northern Ireland are still playing catch-up in the Assembly.”
“I am grateful to the Minister for her response. I hope that the Department will be able to handle the issuing of this year's payments in a swift and timely manner. What action is she taking to ensure that the provision of top-ups, which many local farmers will receive, will not delay the overall payment schedule for the basic payments?”
“I am grateful to the Minister for her answer. Given that the Newry and Armagh DARD veterinary offices consistently report the highest numbers of stolen or missing cattle, the proximity of the border to each office is clearly not a coincidence. Would the Minister support a National Crime Agency investigation into those organised crime gangs?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I remind him that this is not a survey; these are world rankings. The Minister will know that the QS world rankings are based on a number of factors, including evaluating research, teaching, academic reputation, staff-to-student ratio and the number of international staff and students. Will the Minister take all necessary steps in engaging with Queen's University and the University of Ulster to ensure that the worldwide reputation of the local universities can be maintained and protected?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers. Will he outline in how many and in which cases he personally intervened in order to grant additional places to a school via the temporary variation process, in doing so overturning the recommendations of his own officials?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Clearly, these are serious times not only for the dairy sector but for everyone involved in the agriculture industry in Northern Ireland, including a great many people in my constituency, Newry and Armagh. The Minister made reference to her engagement with the banks and the retail sectors. What concrete proposals and specific measures has she been able to agree with the banks and the retail sector to provide some measure of comfort to hard-pressed families as the crisis moves forward?”
“We do not need Saatchi and Saatchi to tell us that Stormont is not working. Stormont is not only damaged but broken. Trust is broken, and it needs major surgery to fix it. It needs the republican movement to prove by its words and, most importantly, its actions that it is on the same page not only as the Chief Constable but as the rest of us and that the IRA has finally left not only the political stage but the military and community stages.”
“Very few are in the Public Gallery showing any interest; the people are completely sickened and disaffected.”
“Surely the law-abiding population might have expected others to follow our lead. It is astonishing that there has been no response in respect of this from the DUP, the SDLP or the Alliance Party. Of course, the hope is that, even at this late stage, they will provide leadership and show some appropriate political courage. <BR /> <BR />The same, of course, can be said for the Secretary of State and Her Majesty's Government, who seem unwilling and unable to face up to their responsibilities. Perhaps they are afraid of the consequences for the peace and political processes. It stinks, and everybody knows that it stinks. What is more, the vast majority of the population knows that it stinks. This is the first day back after summer recess. Look at how many people are interested in events here at Stormont.”
“I condemn those murders. It is worth reminding ourselves of the assessment of the Chief Constable and his senior command: the IRA still exists, it is still a structured organisation, and it is clearly linked to the murder of Mr McGuigan. The truth is that, after all these years and after all the denials from the republican movement, the IRA is still casting a long dark shadow over the political process. The denials that the IRA still exists and the claims of Sinn Féin that the IRA was not involved are words that, yet again, ring hollow; they continue to justify and, in some way, allow the IRA to contaminate the entire political process. Surely it is not just the Ulster Unionist Party, as a party in the Assembly entitled to seats in the Executive, that cannot tolerate this situation.”
“Mr Speaker, thank you for calling me in this important debate. At the outset, with your indulgence, because this is the first occasion since my resignation as Minister for Regional Development, I simply want to pay tribute and put on record my appreciation to all the officials who helped and assisted me during my period as Regional Development Minister. There is linkage; it was the recent murders of Mr Davison and Mr McGuigan that ultimately led the Ulster Unionist Party to the correct decision to leave the Executive. I believe that to be a correct course of action. I also believe that it has now given, at long last, a proper focus on the problems of the Executive and the Assembly. That, hopefully, will serve well as we seek to resolve all those issues. <BR /> <BR />The resignation came on foot of the very cruel and dastardly murders.”
“I am very pleased and optimistic, as Members pack up and prepare to get their buckets and spades ready for summer recess, that we have at least left this place on a positive note tonight for the potential for cycling. I thank everyone for their contribution.”
“He has been an enthusiastic champion for cycling not only in East Belfast but has been encouraging to me, as Minister for Regional Development, as we seek to carry forward a Northern Ireland-wide strategy. I thank him for that. <BR /> <BR />Mr Hamilton made important points about Comber and how it can be developed and assisted. I certainly have no doubt that cyclists and walkers contribute significantly to the local economy there. I think that is important for tourism and other matters. Ownership and who might best be responsible for carrying forward such things have to be addressed. <BR /> <BR />I want to give some careful reflection to the ideas that we have heard, such as those about a master plan that will move things forward not only for the Comber greenway but for cycling generally.”
“Mr Newton mentioned the potential for a flagship project of which Comber greenway would become the jewel in the Crown, and I see opportunities for that, working with the local authorities and other government agencies. The benefits of cycling are not just environmental or in health; it is down to lifestyle, and that touches on a number of Departments within the Executive as well as local government, so opportunities have to be opened up there. Mr Lyttle reminded us of the letter that was received in the constituency office highlighting the need to, at that point, protect the Comber greenway. We have done that, and I think that we have done more and need to continue to do more. <BR /> <BR />Mr Douglas is a noted cyclist and coffee drinker, particularly in Comber. I hope that the First Minister was paying; that is all I can say.”
“I believe that, in the various arms of central government and local government, we can usefully provide a regional strategic direction to the development of greenways, including the Comber greenway. I set up the greenways working group last year to work with other bodies to give an overall sense of direction in order to bring individual local projects together and develop a regional greenway network across Northern Ireland. Alongside that, I have looked at opportunities to secure funding, not only from the Executive but from elsewhere, to deliver those projects and I am delighted to have secured opportunities for EU greenway funding through the INTERREG programme. So, I think the opportunities are there. <BR /> <BR />I am conscious that, in the contributions of Members, everyone is positive towards this and I very much welcome that.”
“<BR /> <BR />Let me say that the Comber greenway is a well-used cycling route that continues to attract walkers and cyclists. I want to build on that. I assure Members that developing the Comber greenway will be a key part of my proposals to develop a cycling network. The construction of the new cycle bridge across the Ballyrainey Road by my Department in partnership with Sustrans and Down Rural Area Partnership, referred to by Mr Hamilton, is a small example of my commitment in that regard. <BR /> <BR />My remit and that of my Department covers the public road and being substantially off-road provision, I see the development of greenways as an area where there is an opportunity for a local authorities to take ownership. That point was well made earlier in the debate. We must create partnerships as we move forward.”
“Its purpose is to outline my ambition to develop eight key high-quality radial cycling routes for Belfast, one from each of the principal points of the compass to the city centre. The plan will set out what we need to do to improve the existing infrastructure and develop new continuous and coherent infrastructure to bring high-quality cycling routes within the reach of most people in the city. I propose to consult on this plan later this autumn. I believe that the Comber greenway will form the eastern route. <BR /> <BR />I was very happy to listen to the proposals made by Members and the suggestions made this evening for the improvement of Comber greenway. I will continue to bid for the resources to deliver an ambitious plan of investment and I look forward to support in this Chamber in doing so.”
“However, we need to build on this and, to continue our journey, we need to extend the opportunities and benefits out from our city centres into our communities. That is the key objective that I have set for my bicycle strategy. The development of greenways, such as the Comber greenway, will be an important part of delivering that vision. <BR /> <BR />Over the last year, I have been working with key stakeholders to develop ambitious proposals for new cycling routes that will join up what we have and fill in the gaps. They will extend out from the centre and create real opportunities to promote cycling and link communities with key services. Members know that my Department is working on a bicycle network plan for Belfast.”
“That is no easy task, but, as I look back over my last few years as Minister and see what we have already achieved, it is a challenge that I am confident we are up to. Together — already, I believe — we have transformed the cycling environment in Belfast. Through Belfast on the Move and the Belfast bike share scheme, ordinary people increasingly have the opportunity and confidence to get on their bike. We see huge activity and huge benefits in the city centre. Despite the challenges of the economic downturn, Belfast city centre is an increasingly vibrant and dynamic place and an attractive place to be. Our cycling revolution has been a key factor in that transformation. <BR /> <BR />Of course, it is not just about Belfast. We see the same in other places, such as Londonderry and other towns and cities where we have invested in cycling.”
“The impact that cycling can have on the social and economic fortunes of communities is striking; in particular, dynamic local communities and vibrant economies, forward-looking communities with a clear sense of potential and inclusion. I want our communities to share in that, and that is why I want to promote and develop a successful cycling culture in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />My vision for cycling here is to give people the freedom and confidence to use the bicycle, and my ambition is to increase the number of people who walk and cycle in Northern Ireland. Clearly, it is a long-term project because change does not happen overnight. It requires all of us, whether in the House, in local government or in communities, to work together to drive that change.”
“Thank you. That is very helpful. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Member for tabling the debate. I also thank the other Members for contributing, and those other Members who attended — it is a considerable distance from North Down and, particularly, South Antrim — to come and listen to a debate on the Comber greenway. It is important, and I listened with interest to the comments and issues raised by Members. <BR /> <BR />On a general note, I have made very clear my commitment to cycling. I think that that is acknowledged by everyone. My commitment has been motivated by the benefits for individuals and communities that I have seen cycling deliver elsewhere. The health and lifestyle benefits are well understood. I note the attendance of the Health Minister, unusually called Simon Hamilton in this debate.”
“Mr Speaker, I am not clear as to how long I have to speak.”
“This has been a valuable opportunity to hear Members' views. I am pleased that the consensus has been positive — perhaps one siren voice — and supportive of the principles of the Bill. I commend the Bill to the House. I am grateful for the support that the Committee for Regional Development and Members have expressed, and I ask for your continued support as we move to the next stage.”
“I am committed to the Bill and I want to see the subsidy-paying water power extended to secure the ongoing delivery of water and sewerage services for everyone. I want to make sure that we reduce the unnecessary administrative burden on NI Water, and I believe that we have the power to allow NI Water to stop installing home water meters, not least because I intend to exercise it. I want to protect homeowners by making sure that developers have to construct sewerage to appropriate standards and to provide bonds before they can connect to the public sewer network. I also want to ensure that NI Water has more power to refuse surface-water connections. Furthermore, I want to ensure that we promote more sustainable solutions to reduce flood and pollution risk and to provide cost efficiencies.”
“We have had some discussions with legal representatives, contractors and the construction industry on how best that can be improved. We will seek to continue to do that. <BR /> <BR />On the question of meters not having to be installed, the Bill represents the best chance for that if it receives Royal Assent by the end of this mandate. The legal situation is that NI Water is, at this point, obliged in law to insist on the installation of meters even though it amounts to a nugatory expense in excess of £135,000 a year. That is money that would be better spent on other aspects of the water system. <BR /> <BR />I hope that I have addressed most of the points that were raised, and we will study Hansard for any other issues to be picked up.”
“Mr Flanagan took the opportunity to raise a couple of constituency issues, which we will attempt to address through correspondence, largely around what I term legacy issues around the economic downturn, when so many developers and house builders went under, largely through no fault of their own. However, in many cases, they left situations where poor water and sewerage connections meant a very unsatisfactory state of affairs in many places, not only in his constituency but in mine. I am cautious because we are talking about literally hundreds of millions of pounds to address those legacy issues, and that is money that I currently do not have. I suspect that the Executive do not have that money either. We will continue to look at those legacy issues.”
“One hopes that the Executive will move forward in discussions around these issues, but I think that it is unfair and not very politically astute of him to observe that it is my fault as Minister not to bring forward a solution to what will have to be a consensus, arrived at around the Executive table. Whilst I hear the criticisms, in practical terms I do not think that they bear substance because I have remitted that paper to the Executive for consideration. I have no doubt that these issues will be taken up and carried forward. <BR /> <BR />Mr Easton welcomed, I think, all aspects of the Bill as we go forward.”
“We allowed a very reasonable amount of time to listen to Mr Lyttle's contribution, and I am trying to address the points and some of the criticisms that he made. I do not know whether the Minister of Justice or the Minister for Employment and Learning have had time to brief Mr Lyttle on what happens around the Executive table and in the subcommittees. I will leave that to them, but they will know, if he does not, that I have produced a paper to the Executive's Budget review committee outlining full proposals or alternatives and setting out the scope and all the options considered.”
“It seems to have accepted the Executive decision on that, but then he continually criticises me and the Executive for our failure to, in his words, bring forward plans to change that. He was short on detail on whether he or the Alliance Party would like to see privatisation or a form of mutualisation. <BR /> <BR />As Minister —”
“<BR /> <BR />We then had the contribution from Mr Lyttle, who pretty much sought to rain on our parade. It is the time of year, I suppose. My difficulty with Mr Lyttle's contribution is that it was fairly lengthy in its criticism of me — I have grown used to that — the Department, other Executive parties and every other political representative except the Alliance Party, which seems to have a monopoly on wisdom in all things, according to Mr Lyttle. But he would say that, wouldn't he? I think that it was short on giving alternative details. Yes, we know that the Alliance Party is broadly in favour of the introduction of water charges, although not in this mandate, it would seem.”
“He referred back to the report of the Regional Development Committee from a couple of years ago on sewer connections and other such issues. <BR /> <BR />I thank Mr Dallat for his positive contribution. I am very glad that we are, through this legislation, able to stop the practice of having to install meters when it does not make sense to provide them. I think that that is a very positive outcome that I hope everyone can share. Mr Cree reminded us of the Ulster Unionist Party's 2011 election manifesto commitment, which we have managed to honour and carry forward. He made an important point, saying that Northern Ireland Water needs to strive to do better and to further improve services, cost-effectiveness and cost efficiencies. Certainly, I am very much seized of that.”
“In addition to securing the subsidy-paying power, the Bill will make significant progress on important governance and environmental issues and will, I believe, benefit everyone in Northern Ireland. There are a number of contributions that I want to refer to. Mr Clarke, as Chair of the Regional Development Committee, welcomed the Bill and its scope. There was useful work and engagement before we reached this stage of the Bill's life in briefings with him, the Deputy Chair and members of the Regional Development Committee generally on what we were seeking to do. I think that that has been sensible, and it sets the scene for very positive engagement at the Committee Stage of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Mr Lynch welcomed the Bill and indicated widespread support for it, particularly those aspects that will address red tape.”
“I thank the Chair and members of the Regional Development Committee, as well as Members of the House, for all their contributions to the Second Stage of the Water and Sewerage Services Bill. I am genuinely pleased to present the Bill to the House, and I am grateful for the attention that Members have given it. I think that it is of very considerable importance that the Bill obtains Royal Assent before the end of the mandate, as my Department's power to pay the NI Water subsidy is due to expire in March 2016. That is one of the key reasons for the legislation, but there are other important aspects of the Bill, which Members rightly alluded to. <BR /> <BR />I know that Members appreciate the importance of the issue.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill progresses important reforms in the provision of water in Northern Ireland, and it reflects my commitment not to introduce domestic charges. My Department’s officials have already briefed the Committee for Regional Development on the contents of the Bill, and the response was favourable. I look forward to working with the Committee on the Bill and to expediting its progress.”