Colin McGrath
South Down · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“Minister, regardless of where people stand on the exact figure, surely we can all agree that a health service cannot function without the doctors whom it trains.”
“Minister, climate change is happening, and extreme weather events are taking place. We saw that in Downpatrick a number of years ago when the town centre was ravaged by flooding, and it has taken the businesses affected many years to try to get over that flooding.”
“Minister, given that capital funding is, generally, being decimated, the extent of which may increase as a result of the Executive's not agreeing a Budget, what impact will that have on any final road maintenance strategy, and are any contingencies being put in place to manage that?”
“<BR /> <BR />Since March 2025, the parliamentary excellence programme has delivered dedicated sessions with the Executive Office on the strategic framework and its delivery plan, enhancing Members’ understanding of the cross-government approach and their role in scrutiny, legislation and constituency engagement.”
“<BR /> <BR />More broadly, the Assembly Commission supports Members and Committees in carrying out their scrutiny functions, including in relation to the Executive Office’s work on that framework.”
“As the Member mentioned, one example is the Assembly's Women's Caucus, which has a particular focus on supporting women in public life and highlighting the increasing challenges that women face in the digital sphere, including online abuse.”
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“That has caused major issues for the sector, and many face unbelievable hardship. <BR /> <BR />As mentioned, nearly 20,000 are involved in the sector, and they definitely need support and assistance. I welcome the help offered by the Minister thus far, but, of course, this is the long game and could continue for the next year or so. The difficulty with much of the help and support that has been offered so far is that it is short-term to get people through the worst of the pandemic. Obviously, the issues could be with us for much longer, so we need to see how we can help the sector in the months and up to a year ahead and beyond that. Farmers will face problems that could stretch well into next year and beyond.”
“I welcome the debate and the opportunity to speak briefly to support the beef and sheep sector in the North and in rural communities such as mine in South Down. <BR /> <BR />The motion refers to the difficulty that hill farmers face, as their farms are often located in areas of natural constraint. I know of many farmers in the Mournes who face difficult conditions, with restrictions on their farming practices due to the additional tourism and natural beauty-related conditions. That makes their work more challenging and, indeed, more expensive. <BR /> <BR />The pandemic has seen a major impact on the supply chain for farmers and their product. Restaurants and cafes are closed, as are many takeaways, and opening hours are reduced, which means that the demand for their product is vastly reduced.”
“Yesterday, I met the chief executive of the Ambulance Service to discuss cases. On two or three occasions, people who were in dire need had to wait for 45 minutes for an ambulance. Will that form part of this review?”
“Thank you very much, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, for the additional questions. We are like kids being told that we have an extra 20 minutes in a sweet shop. <BR /> <BR />My question follows on from your last remarks, Minister. You talked about the reviews that will take place within the trusts. Is the Ambulance Service trust included? As the sixth trust, it is almost forgotten at times. It found that there was some easing of demand at the start of the process because people were not attending A&E in the same numbers. However, those numbers are starting to increase, and we are starting to see the ambulance corridors in hospitals backing up. You will know, being from a rural constituency, as am I, that our ambulances end up getting trapped in the cities and unable to move.”
“Only one emergency department in the whole of England, Scotland and Wales was closed as part of COVID yet we had three closed here, two of which are in and serve the constituency of South Down. Do you agree with me that reopening these services will help to get us back to normality, increasing and enhancing patient flow and enabling people to go to emergency departments and not clog up the other centres? If finance is an issue, would he consider scrapping the COVID centres, which the GP sector absolutely laments as a waste of time and money. Some of those centres see only three patients a day, yet they have cost hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pounds to maintain.”
“I begin by apologising to the Member for North Antrim, whom I walked in front of when he was making his point of order. When I entered the room, I did not see that he was doing that. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Minister's reference to providing:”
“I believe that we must stand with our brothers and sisters in Scotland and Wales — that means all of us, Leavers and Remainers — and counsel a response that maximises the chances of agreement and defends the interests of those whom we represent. We support the motion and the amendment.”
“Absolutely. I completely agree. I think that both contributions were eloquent on behalf of the motion that we presented today.”
“I am sorry. I could not hear you over here. I apologise. However, I am coming to the contribution that you made. You also detailed how many questions remain unanswered and how officials are contributing to the negotiations and not Ministers, but that it needs to be Ministers. I think that, in order to do that, we need to be able to take an extension to give us the extra time to allow our Ministers to make their contributions.”
“I am sorry; I did not hear you. Can you go again?”
“If there is a plethora of unanswered questions, let us take time to get answers to them; let us not go into the unknown. <BR /> <BR />Mr Blair's contribution focused on the imposition of Brexit on our ability to trade freely and that there is a lack of clarity. He also referred to the fishing communities and the uncertainty that they will face. Being from south Down, I absolutely get the point about our fishing communities. <BR /> <BR />Mr Frew discussed the process and theory behind Brexit. However, he missed the point: we are not here to rerun the debate about EU membership; we are here to say, "Can we have the extension to allow us to give our businesses and our communities the best opportunity to thrive?". That cannot happen if we are going into the unknown. Businesses need to go into the known.”
“<BR /> <BR />Martina Anderson said that Brexit is causing a reconsideration of people's views on a united Ireland. That is a point that does, indeed, frighten many of those opposite. If Brexit does lead to a referendum, I wonder how often we will hear then about the democratic will of the people and the mandate offered. Like others, she highlighted that Wales is calling for an extension, that Scotland is calling for an extension, that Europe is calling for an extension. It would be good to see that the majority of people here will probably call for an extension as well. <BR /> <BR />Mr Aiken highlighted that many questions about Brexit remain unanswered. With only a few weeks to go, it is one of the strongest arguments that I have heard in favour of asking for an extension.”
“We will stop at nothing to help businesses that will struggle; we will stop at nothing to help our food supply that will suffer; we will stop at nothing to help our communities that will suffer. However, we will not do so for partisan reasons, as he claimed. It is simply because we want to protect those businesses; we want to support those food supplies; we want to protect those communities. <BR /> <BR />He also highlighted the costs of the EU. Yet Northern Ireland is a net beneficiary of EU membership. The people whom we, in this Room, represent get more out of being in the EU than we give in. Yet people say that they want to exit the EU to save money. I am sure that the little Englanders will be delighted by your contribution, but we represent the people of the North.”
“That key point was articulated last week in evidence to the Executive Office Committee by the lead official from our Executive, Andrew McCormick. He agreed that the Department is, in all likelihood, not as ready as it could be because of the impact of Brexit. Officials have been working on other priorities, not Brexit. If they are not working on the preparations for Brexit, we may not be ready. Miss Woods also raised the significant issues that businesses will have to face. There are many, many unanswered questions, and an extension would give us the space and the opportunity to address those questions and concerns. <BR /> <BR />In his contribution, Mr Storey said that he will stop at nothing. I can take that sentence and say, "Do you know what? We will stop at nothing".”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I will, of course, mention fishermen later in my speech. All indications are that there is no deal and that a deal is not likely. The Assembly has the opportunity, here and now, to ask for an extension. That is what we want to put on record. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly holds the unique distinction of being a named party to the withdrawal agreement. We have a responsibility, above and beyond other devolved Administrations, so it is imperative that we exercise our role, and the power of our voice, to compel London to act in the interests of those whom we represent. <BR /> <BR />I would like to take a few minutes to discuss Members' contributions. Rachel Woods in her amendment, which we will be supporting, mentions the significant impact of coronavirus on the capacity to deliver Brexit.”
“<BR /> <BR />We already had significant concerns about the impact of Brexit on the economy. It is impossible to argue that the crisis that we face currently is immaterial to those concerns or will, in some way, be neutral. Renegotiating our relationship with our largest external trade partner at a time when the economy is about to enter significant recession on the back of the most significant public health crisis in living memory is not ambitious. This is not something that can be fuelled by the spirit of Dunkirk. It is dangerously irresponsible and will cost the livelihoods of thousands of people.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our proposal for an extension to the transition period is not motivated by a politically partisan approach. It is designed to seek consensus in a polarised atmosphere. In the tradition of Hume, I see institutions that respected the differences and diversity of a continent that was emerging from conflict and sought to bring warring people together in the spirit of common purpose and endeavour. However, I accept that mine is not the only outlook. I have listened for years to the points that have been made by other people. Whether you are a member of Boris's Brexiteer ultras or an 'Ode to Joy'-loving Remainer, the issue that is at the heart of the debate is whether your political objective cannot be reasonably achieved in the four weeks that are left before the opportunity to extend the transition period is lost.”
“There is real fear that many businesses will not survive. As I have said, coronavirus and its impact could not have been predicted. While people have begun to move a little, businesses have not. They have slowed up. Many have not opened up at all. If there were ever a need to stop, gather, take a breath and see where we are with regard to the economy, it is now. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP has always been and always will be, proudly, a pro-European party. We are not here to rerun the referendum debate — the people of Northern Ireland have had their say on that — but it would be remiss of me not to suggest that we may be at a better place politically if more public representatives gave weight to the counsel of people here than to the positions of voters elsewhere.”
“In the past number of years, there have been protocols, withdrawal agreements, the pantomime in Westminster and, eventually, Boris and his majority wading through the Brexit for which the people of the North did not vote. Yet, today, four years later, we are having our first substantive debate on the matter. That debate has not been led by the Executive, but by my party, the SDLP. <BR /> <BR />The confusion and concern that exists out there in communities and businesses is palpable. Not only are people scared of the pandemic and coronavirus, but businesses and other groups in the community are fearful of the impact of Brexit. They have heard much about how funding might dry up and how new trade conditions and regulations will add days to their processes and astronomical costs to their businesses.”
“I suppose that I have the easy task of trying to mop up all the views of this particular debate. I want to thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, for letting us have the debate, and Members for their contributions. I appreciate that the motion calls on the UK Government to act. However, the fact that no Minister from the Executive Office felt that they could attend to respond or offer their thoughts makes me wonder whether it is a case of out of sight, out of mind. In other words, if they pretend that they do not have their divisions on Brexit, maybe those divisions do not exist. <BR /> <BR />The vote to exit the EU was in June 2016, nearly four years ago. Article 50 was triggered in March 2017, just over three years ago.”
“Does the Member agree that, given the lack of clarity that she has just detailed, there is supposed to be a joint consultative working group within the structures that we have in the North but it has not even met? It is supposed to provide feedback, expertise and understanding on what the impact of Brexit will be through to the negotiations, so that a decision can be taken in a few weeks on whether we need to exit at the end of the year. There is a lack of clarity, and we need time to get that clarity.”
“I have been contacted by people who are shielding at home in one room because other family members are using the living rooms and kitchens, and they are moving inside and outside. Those people are in rooms, yet they have caravans or second homes in which they would have the run of the entire space on their own. Those homes and caravans might have small gardens that they could go out and tend to, and it would be much better for their health rather than subjecting them to lockdown in a room. I have written to the Department and asked for a relaxation on that basis. Does the Member agree that that would be worthwhile?”
“However, people feel that there are so many changes and they do not understand or take the time to know the detail of it. I continue to ask for an increase in clarity as the regulations are relaxed. <BR /> <BR />We are still on a journey with the pandemic. Already, we are discussing the "new norm" rather than returning to the "old norm", and that will be the mantra for some time to come. I appreciate and thank the Executive for the work they are undertaking in these difficult times. I am happy to support the relaxation of the regulations as detailed.”
“We have people who can meet outside but are told that their gardens are not outside, so clarity is needed there. Yesterday, we heard about hotels that can reopen, but can their bars and restaurants? Is it just their rooms? If it is just their rooms, how many of their rooms can they open? The questions go on and on. People need to be provided with as much clarity as possible when we relax the rules, so that they know exactly what they can and cannot do. <BR /> <BR />I suppose that some of that might come. The Minister has mentioned that we have allowed six people to meet outdoors, but now we see large groups of people forgetting that, although you can meet outdoors, you still need to maintain the two-metre distancing. If the relaxation means that you can go to certain locations, it does not mean that you leave your litter behind.”
“It is better to have a three-week delay until reopening or re-profiling your business than to be simply given 48 hours notice that you can trade again. I will continue to underscore the importance of a timeline, acknowledging that those timelines may change. This is something that we continue to want to see. <BR /> <BR />I also worry about the lack of clarity there can sometimes be in communicating the decisions and the changes that have been made. People need to know exactly what the changes mean. I have often said here that, when we relax the regulations, all of a sudden our inboxes increase with questions from people asking what they can and cannot do. For example, six people can meet outdoors: this may seem like a silly question, but are people's gardens outdoors? In our area, the PSNI do not think so.”
“I do not endorse fly-tipping, but, at the same time, I want to see the councils offering as full a range of recycling as they can. Will the Minister liaise with the councils to see if there are specific reasons why the recycling centres are not open to their full capacity? My understanding is that the majority of them are and only some are not. <BR /> <BR />The need for a timeline continues to be important. Businesses in our communities are struggling. They need to plan and prepare, and not having even an indicative timeline is tough for them. People are grown-up; they will cope with the fact that a timeline might have to slip. However, at least they will be able to have the preparation done, so that they can cope with a short wait.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. The point that I am making is that, in my constituency, there has been an increase in fly-tipping, but we have a council that does not have its full recycling capacity open. It only accepts black bag rubbish and is therefore not accepting the large items of rubbish that, all of a sudden, are appearing in increasing amounts in the area. I have no doubt that, if the recycling centre was open for those materials, they would end up there, not down country lanes. It would defy logic to drive past the recycling centre to dump something in the countryside, if you can leave it in the recycling centre. <BR /> <BR />The point that I was making is that our locations are being blighted by fly-tippers who are unable to access the recycling centres.”
“Some councils are not opening their centres to the full range of materials, and, as such, there is still unacceptable amounts of fly-tipping happening in our countryside. Many beautiful locations are being blighted —.”
“Many people, me included, have been able to avail themselves of online services, and that has been welcome. I know, however, that many people prefer to attend chapels, churches and other places of worship physically, and having that ability returned to them means so much to so many. <BR /> <BR />The change that allowed the opening of recycling centres is a very welcome move. Many wanted to see it, and I am sure that many Members here were inundated with contact from constituents who were desperate to remove their rubbish from their home and garden and dispose it. I worry, though, that not all councils are acting equally, as some permit only household rubbish and recycling materials.”
“I know that this is a technicality, but the fact that the regulations are decided on and enforced before agreement of the House is sought continues to feel somewhat back to front. I acknowledge, however, the extreme and difficult times that we are living in and understand that decisions need to be taken quickly. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge, and am thankful for, the changes to the regulations that specifically permit acts of worship and marriages where one of the individuals is terminally ill. I welcome those changes and recognise the specific nature of permitting the marriage of people with a terminal diagnosis. That is an incredibly heartfelt and human act, and it was very welcome to see. <BR /> <BR />In these times, many people have turned to prayer and worship as a way in which to get through the pandemic.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will now make the following remarks in my capacity as an SDLP MLA. I welcome the further relaxation of the regulations. It is, I suppose, an indication that we are challenging the pandemic, and that has been possible only because of the immense sacrifice that many in our community have made, not least those who are shielding and socially isolating at home, forgoing their opportunity to be out and about and to meet up with their loved ones. All of us in the House feel their pain and know what they must be going through. I am sure that everybody will send their support and thanks to them for the sacrifices that they have made. <BR /> <BR />I continue to note at each stage that new restrictions regulations are laid that I am still unhappy with the democratic process behind them.”
“<BR /> <BR />I know that other considerations come into play, such as the impact on wider society and the economy, but social distancing remains key. I do not want to go into the detail of the restrictions that have been lifted. That has already been covered. I do, however, want to take the opportunity to urge everyone to continue to be patient and to show discipline. We have seen in recent weeks evidence of more people out on the streets and roads. If their doing so is within the guidelines, that is fine, but if it is not, it is far from fine. We need to keep the R rate below one, and we can do that only if people remain compliant. On behalf of the Committee, I thank the Executive for their continued diligence in these new and difficult times and for the measured responses that we have seen to ever-changing circumstances.”
“I speak on behalf of the Committee for the Executive Office. The Committee very much welcomes the lifting of restrictions when the time is right. I look forward to hearing from the Chairperson of the Health Committee on the formal deliberations that took place in Committee on the legislation. There is no doubt that the restrictions have come at a cost to our citizens, our economy and, indeed, the lives that we once led. That is why any lifting of the restrictions is so eagerly welcomed. It would be very foolish, however, for anyone to think that the lifting of restrictions is happening because the virus has diminished in any way. The reason that the regulations can be amended is largely down to the impact that social distancing is having on the transmission rate of the virus, and that is because of the sacrifices that people are making.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. The fear that you see is that of someone trying to turn seven pages into a question, which would have been very interesting.”
“Also, many of the developments that the Housing Executive has reflect the old North, the Northern Ireland of the past, and are in segregated areas that do not look to the future that we want to see in the North. Only new developments away from contentious areas, away from flashpoints and peace walls, can embrace the new Ireland that we would like to seek. These new communities can live side by side with emerging communities, too. Again, all of that is underpinned by the capacity and ability of housing associations to be able to build new houses, new developments and new communities and create that future. The Housing (Amendment) Bill may not sound glamorous, but this is a Bill that unleashes the potential of the North, and, therefore, we support it.”
“We hear also, through processes like Bengoa, that the type of upbringing that children have can dictate their future health needs. One core element of how children are brought up is the roof over their head and the fact that it is a good, modern, high-quality home in a nice community that is well laid out and looked after. That will certainly give children a much better start in their life. <BR /> <BR />The quality of the existing stock is diminishing, too. Many of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive houses are getting old, and they are not able to build new homes. This means that the cost of repairs is increasing, and that is zapping up the budget of the Housing Executive.”
“In fact, the SDLP wants to see a stronger and higher target, and we also want to see the inclusion of the housing indicator in the Programme for Government, so we have not finished on that ask yet either. Such an indicator would be a clear indication from the Executive that they are serious about housing provision, and that that will be underpinned by the need for the all-essential cash. <BR /> <BR />There is real housing stress in our communities, and, as I have said, there is hardly one of us in his Chamber who is not contacted daily about housing. We are contacted about the need for a house, the need for an upgrade to a house or maybe the wish to move out of a particular area because it is bad for people's health, maybe bad for their mental health.”
“Last year, £150 million was handed back. Imagine if we could have directed that to our housing sector. Much of that which was borrowed funded co-ownership, which in the past two years has delivered 2,145 houses. What would our future be if we cannot deliver that level of housing? Over 2,000 families would be stuck in older housing, maybe in unfit properties and maybe not where they want to be. <BR /> <BR />Surely our measure as a society is our ability to deliver on housing. Without change, which the Bill proposes, we will be unable to get the much-needed finance into our housing system, and this will mean that we will be miss our target of 1,850 new-build properties a year.”
“The reclassification proposed in the Bill allows registered housing associations to borrow money. It is something that they have always done in the past, and the Bill aims to reverse a bad decision that was taken a few years ago that was more to do with what was happening elsewhere rather than here. That decision could have massive ramifications. For example, in 2019-2020, £146 million was borrowed by housing associations, and, with the change to rules implemented going forward, that would have resulted in a massive real terms hit to the budgets of housing associations. More importantly, it would have resulted in them not being able to build new homes and reach the target that the Executive have set for new build. <BR /> <BR />Much of the previous money borrowed was FTC, and we know what the perception is of that money being handed back.”
“The need for new homes is present in our community, and we must deliver on that need and remove barriers that are preventing the building of new homes. The Bill aims to address that. <BR /> <BR />The Bill has some imperfections, and the nature of it being accelerated concerns us. The Bill is not needed until 31 March next year. More time to have better scrutinised it would have been beneficial, if only to draw on the expertise amongst the housing sector that could have helped inform us and helped us make sure that the Bill was watertight and as good as it could be.”
“I begin by acknowledging the remarks already made regarding the death of George Floyd. In this place, we know the importance of civil rights and the implementation of them. The scenes from America are harrowing and a throwback to a time that we all hoped we had moved from. <BR /> <BR />The core of the Bill is the ability to deliver new social homes, of which there is already a distinct shortage in our community. How many of us are regularly contacted by people asking if there are social houses available, how they can get their name down for a development or when a new development in the area will commence? We also all know of the sterling work that is being undertaken on the streets of our towns and cities to manage homelessness, and we know of the many hundreds, if not thousands, more who sofa surf because of the lack of a home.”
“I ask the Minister for his Department's understanding and assessment of where, he feels, the preparations for the Departments are and whether an extension would be worthwhile. <BR /> <BR />Now is the time to begin our journey for a joined-up and strategic Budget. We have to do it now. This will be a year in which we have shown our capacity for compassion in how we have responded to the ongoing COVID crisis. I welcome the news today that there have been no recorded COVID-19 deaths in last 24 hours. Thank God for that. This can also be a year in which we distribute our resources, in a strategic manner, to the places that need them most. Now is the time for a Budget that works for people, for communities, for business and for the North as a whole.”
“I do not think that there is much evidence yet of such a coherent policy, and I am interested in the Minister's thoughts on developing such. <BR /> <BR />We also need to be prepared for the impact of Brexit. Departmental officials once cited that as being the matter of their sole attention and said that preparation being undertaken by them was consuming them in everything that they did. Obviously, that has stopped because of coronavirus. It has had to take a back seat and to become the number-two priority in Departments. It is folly to accept that, by not preparing for something properly, you are ready for it. By definition, it is almost impossible. We suggest that an extension should be sought. That does not require a compromise of politics; it requires the promise of using common sense.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have been hit by a worldwide pandemic, and I appreciate and understand the massive impact that it will have on the Budget process and the moneys that the Executive and Departments will have to spend. We need to see a joined-up, strategic Budget that is flexible enough to respond to emerging need but that also addresses priorities equally. A criticism of Budgets past was that allocations were disproportionate and favoured larger parties' Departments, and I think that that would be a crass move now; one that we, certainly, are not prepared to accept and will highlight and act on should we see it happening. We need to match our spending to a set of coherent policies. It is incredibly important that our Budget should be linked to a long-term vision for our public services and our economy beyond this crisis.”
“If one small, positive thing comes out of this pandemic, let it be the long-awaited recognition of the importance of those workers. Never again should they have to strike for fair pay and conditions. <BR /> <BR />I also want to make a point about mental health. Last week, the Minister launched the mental health action plan, and that is very welcome, but the strategy that has yet to be launched must be properly resourced. The Minister of Health, supported by Executive colleagues, must consider a pandemic payment in our mental health and bereavement services to deal with the looming crisis that will come as a result of coronavirus.”
“That is to say nothing of the fact that these institutions were felled for three and a half years, which left portfolios abandoned, vital projects shelved and, most shamefully, public trust in elected officials decimated. Now is the time to prove that these institutions can work and that they will deliver for the public. <BR /> <BR />I am also a member of the Health Committee and want to make a few brief remarks about the funding for our health and social care system. The health service has received an uplift in this Budget, which is not only welcome but entirely necessary. Our health service has suffered greatly from a decade of austerity, which we know was a political choice. Less than six months ago, our nurses and key workers had to stand in the rain for pay parity.”
“The scheme includes people from beyond these shores, so it should not be left to the North to pay out of its block grant. <BR /> <BR />I welcome, too, the fact that this year's Budget includes payments for those impacted on by historical institutional abuse. It is a travesty of our past, and one that is being addressed in a small way through payments from the scheme. I would welcome continued work to secure money from the institutions responsible for the abuse, as that would help the Department's balance sheets. <BR /> <BR />We are all too aware of the Budget cuts that have left our public services and staff in difficult financial hardship, and I believe that those who have been affected by those cuts could benefit from much-needed investment and financial relief.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will reflect on some of the spending that will impact on the areas that I have been following through some of my Committee work. The victims payment is an issue that is causing concern at present. It is mentioned in the 'New Decade, New Approach' document and, to date, has not been progressed, which is causing worry and concern for people on the ground. Those victims have suffered enough. We need to do the right thing and deliver the pension payment to them. They have already lost enough and made enough of a sacrifice in their lives. The legislation has been approved, but we need to see the delivery. I do not believe that it is a payment that the Executive should have to make on their own, but it is one that needs to be made. The British Parliament made the Bill, and the British Exchequer should foot the bill.”
“That reconciliation was sadly hindered by newspaper articles that appeared in the South this weekend past, and in GB, where it would appear that there is at least one Government aide who is ready to take the legislation surrounding COVID-19 into his own hands. <BR /> <BR />The people of the North need to have faith in their Government and to know that their Government have their best interests at heart. The people of the North need to have a sense of purpose, a job and some hope, in order to have their dignity afforded to them. Our response, our investment and our Budget cannot be for the benefit of one group of people but must be for all people: for all our healthcare workers, all our teachers, all those who are unable to work, all our emergency services and more. If the Budget is not for the benefit of all, we will have failed.”
“Thankfully, however, we are beginning to see a return to some sense of normality, be that just the new norm. <BR /> <BR />The context of the North is and has been for many years a divided one. We therefore need to see now more than ever a renewed sense of reconciliation. The Budget will play an essential part in addressing how we begin to put the North back together following years of stagnation, stalemate and disruption. <BR /> <BR />The architects and peacemakers of 1998 certainly understood that and that our response to the critical matters of the day in times of exceptional circumstances cannot be addressed by limiting response to their own constituency. We must always have the bigger picture in mind.”