Steve Aiken
South Antrim · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, as well as the move to reduce the cost to the Assembly of vacant non-domestic properties and to increase liability so that we will not have so many vacant properties, you will be aware of the Dilapidation Bill and of the conversations that have been taking place in Wales and Scotland about…”
“Instead, that most dysfunctional Department, under the most inept Sinn Féin Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly and a series of grossly over-superannuated permanent secretaries, gave the money back.”
“We know that her Department spends more on legal cases, fighting judicial reviews and being chastised by judges for legal ineptitude and on vesting land and ripping out hedges and fencing and then trying to unvest it and paying even more money to put back the fences and hedges that it took out.”
“We can hardly blame the current permanent secretary, as she has just taken up her post, but, surely, her predecessors must bear some accountability or responsibility, especially considering the senior civil servants' salary scale of between £146,000 and £163,000, with, of course, their taxpayer-funded pension contribution of 34·2% — £218,…”
“It must be said that £181·3 million is a lot of taxpayers' hard-earned money. It is money that is raised from local commuters, vehicle owners, farmers, local businesses, logistics companies and, above all, our constituents — those vital people whom we are elected to represent.”
“The Minister will be aware that, under the public appointments guide published by the Executive Office, it is clear that she is supposed to take independent advice before appointing board members. What independent advice did she receive, particularly about the board members selected?”
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“I support the motion. Along with the others you have heard from, I add my concerns for the many people on waiting lists. Indeed, any delay in a cancer diagnosis has a significant impact on an individual, their family, their workmates and society as a whole. However, when our cancer services work, they can work well. In my case, I did that most unusual thing for a husband and listened to my wife, who told me that I had to go to my GP. The process for the investigation, diagnosis and surgery for my bowel cancer two years ago met all the NICE guidelines. While I understand that many have concerns about the level of care that they have received in hospitals, my care, which was delivered fully through the NHS, was first-rate.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your reply. Many of the points were raised by the previous Member to speak, but I would like you to re-emphasise whether you will give a public commitment that the findings will be put to us as soon as possible through the Assembly and not leaked to the media or any other forum, which seems to be the purpose of this Government at present.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I would like you to rule on the issue of whether it is appropriate for important documents that will have influence on debates in this Chamber to be released to the Assembly first, rather than to 'The Stephen Nolan Show' this morning, as was the letter from the Prime Minister, dated 14 October, to the First Ministers. It was not made available to the Assembly but could have influenced the debate yesterday.”
“Will there a be a capital investment to go along with the area plan or will the proposals be based on financial cuts?”
“Can the Minister provide an update on the level of rates arrears across Northern Ireland? Furthermore, can he detail how much of the debt has been written off over recent years?”
“Therefore, despite supporting many of the issues, unfortunately we will not be able to support the motion.”
“It is also disquieting to note that the avenue of influence to Downing Street is not through the Assembly and not even through our Government, as the Secretary of State has been assiduous in gathering his own information. It has become clear to major businesses and interest groups that the best way to get through to the Brexit Committee is through the NIO and the SpAds rather than the telephone calls — is it two? — that the First Ministers' offices have had with the Cabinet Office. Maybe Marlene does not even have a direct line. <BR /> <BR />We as a party have a well-established position on recognising the result of the EU referendum given by all the British people and the legal status of the United Kingdom. While we appreciate that other parties are seeking to change the result, we cannot support the motion.”
“No, not just at the moment. <BR /> <BR />As well as building a strong relationship with our counterparts in Scotland and Wales. However, to address your question, we do not believe that that would require specific change in the legal status of Northern Ireland. We do not wish to see a border that goes down through the middle of the Isle of Man or the Irish Sea. <BR /> <BR />Indeed, in the Assembly, we should be able to debate and help inform these decisions. However, it seems that the openness and transparency agenda that the co-First Ministers and David Gordon seem to be following will mean that unfortunately, like Parliament, our options for influencing our Government will not be heard or, indeed, acted on for the good of all our people.”
“We could look to the special trading areas in China and trading relationships with the EU, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey et al, all of which employ a coordinated approach that would require an understanding, as outlined by Sir Jeffrey, with the Government of the Republic of Ireland —”
“Thank you very much indeed. <BR /> <BR />The obvious question raised by both the DUP and this motion has to do with the form that these special arrangements will take. Do we, as in our vision document, look to create an agreed access to the single market based on our unique geography and economic circumstances, our specific needs for energy, agriculture, health and education, and a variety of other North/South and east-west dimensions? <BR /> <BR />We have also called for looking at making an all-Northern Ireland enterprise zone, which could have elements of free trade areas and agreements. Indeed, I am grateful for the Economy Minister pointing out the relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council and Singapore.”
“I would welcome, as part of establishing a plan — any plan — the DUP taking these ideas, which Sir Jeffrey obviously took from our document, and incorporating them into our negotiating position with the Prime Minister.”
“<BR /> <BR />As a party, we released a discussion document on a vision for Northern Ireland outside the EU, based on Northern Ireland becoming a gateway to the EU. We have been particularly pleased to receive very favourable responses from across the political and business spectrum, in Northern Ireland and beyond, for our approach. In particular, noting in the motion the need for a unique status for Northern Ireland, we were intrigued to listen to the views of the DUP put forward by Sir Jeffrey Donaldson as he put down his glass of champagne at the Tory party conference this year:”
“I will begin with a note of clarification for the record. My fellow MLA from South Antrim spoke about Northern Ireland's trade figures. Northern Ireland trades most with GB, secondly with the European Union and then globally. I think she indicated that we were trading mostly globally first. I just want to change that for the record. <BR /> <BR />The motion looks to provide a degree of clarity about how we in Northern Ireland can best position ourselves to prepare for the UK leaving the EU in 29 months' time. Regardless of your perspective on the referendum, that is an event that will have profound implications for everyone across these islands. We also believe that the Assembly should be asking the hard questions of our Government. What is the plan?”
“— of air passenger duty (APD) and the improvement of road and rail links?”
“Would the Minister like to see how the aviation sector could be appropriately incentivised, given suitable business cases, to encourage the establishment of additional air routes, particularly to North America and Europe? I welcome the news about the Middle East. While he is doing that, I would also like the Minister, along with his Executive colleagues, to urgently investigate what many consider to be the unfair and uncompetitive practices that are now being adopted by the Dublin Airport Authority. In supporting increased global air links, will he support the scrapping —”
“The key here is the World Trade Organization. If anybody here thinks for one moment that the World Trade Organization will be easier to deal with than the EU, they are very sadly deluded. We need to get the best trade deal we can, and we must be able to do so by getting the most sensible deal we can, whether that is with the EU or going forward.”
“Thank you very much indeed. I am sure the Member is probably aware that, if we were not part of the single European market, trying to deal with the World Trade Organization would probably be just as bureaucratic or even harder. Would the Member care to outline some alternatives, therefore, if we are not to deal with the bureaucracy of the World Trade Organization going forward in our trade discussions?”
“That challenging target, even with the resultant corporation tax, would allow Northern Ireland to be well placed to meet the challenges of the forthcoming decades.”
“We will need to ensure that we build economic and trade relationships with the Irish that are as strong as possible. Secondly, we need to grow Northern Ireland's manufacturing sector to achieve 20% of our GDP and boost our exports outside the Republic of Ireland to at least £10 billion to £15 billion. Our target within 10 years must be an export-driven economy that achieves, in 2016 terms, at least £20 billion in exports per annum.”
“However, in view of the overall export figures of £6·7 billion measured against the overall figure of UK exports of close to £300 billion, our exports should be in proportion. They should be at least £10 billion to £12 billion. Again, when measured against Programme for Government targets, Invest NI's performance seems impressive, but we have no benchmarking against what UKTI, Scottish Development International or even Enterprise Ireland or IDA Ireland achieve. Those figures would be very useful for all. We have called several times for Invest Northern Ireland to be benchmarked. I would like the Minister to take that for action. <BR /> <BR />What, going forward, would be worthwhile targets? First, let us achieve 10% of all cross-Irish Sea trade.”
“Despite a plethora of initiatives, including the hard work that Invest Northern Ireland and, to a much lesser extent, InterTradeIreland have been involved in, we have no great push to raise the export figure to a more representative one, such as 10% of the current inter-island trade, which is a target of around £5 billion. <BR /> <BR />We cannot just rest on growing trade to the Republic of Ireland, as we already stated. We must seek to grow all our global exports over the next decade and beyond. We need to work constructively with organisations like UKTI and others to achieve that. In Invest Northern Ireland, we have an organisation that exceeded all its Programme for Government targets.”
“When any two highly successful economic zones meet, particularly with the EU economic zone being the world's largest economic market, which is not going to change any time soon, and the UK being the sixth or seventh largest economy, there is normally great opportunity. However, as many in the Assembly will be aware, the trade across the Irish Sea is currently worth some £52 billion/€52 billion looking at today's exchange rate. That taken, £2·1 billion is slightly more than 4% of that trade. That is probably a bit of an indictment of our failures to effectively promote that trade.”
“<BR /> <BR />We also have to recognise that there will be considerable impact post-31 March 2019, which is fewer than 29 months away. I was going to make a cheap joke about the length of time it takes for the office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to answer an FOI request, but I will not. We will be out of the EU. Worryingly, it is possible that we will also be out of the single European market. We note with interest that our largest export market is the Republic of Ireland. At a value of £2·1 billion, it is double our next largest export destination, which is the US. It will also, post-Brexit, be the UK's only land border with the EU.”
“<BR /> <BR />When looking particularly at our pharma sector, which has over 258 excellent companies, including the great company of Randox in my constituency, we can see that a combination of a highly skilled workforce, linkages to research and development-driven universities and a supportive financial sector and legislative system can, when properly marshalled, produce world-class and globally leading results. That has all helped Northern Ireland exports to rise to the value of £6·6 billion. Indeed, as pointed out, our manufacturing and services sectors outperform, per head of population, those in Wales and Scotland, although our productivity is considerably behind that of the key English regions, such as the south-east, the Midlands and the Northern Powerhouse, and also, worryingly, that of the Republic of Ireland.”
“I support the Alliance motion, and to work in such a constructive manner, I will point out some ideas to help to boost trade and exports, which is what we are looking for in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />First, let us celebrate, because we do not do it very often, and pass on our thanks to our companies that have helped to achieve a much-laudable 9·5% growth in our exports since 2015. Of particular note, as we talked about, is the growth in sales to the United States, which grew by 74%, and the importance of our life sciences sector, which has grown its export value by 56·3%, rising to £1·5 billion. It is also pleasing to note that we exported over £1 billion-worth of agricultural products and that our manufacturing sector exported over £2·3 billion-worth of products.”
“No, I was just saying about the FT. <BR /> <BR />I fully support this, but one of the things that we should also do is invite the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce to be involved in this dialogue. The promotion of small and medium companies, as well as medium companies, throughout Northern Ireland by the Chamber of Commerce has been first-rate. That is one of the key things that we need to do to develop exports.”
“Thank you very much, Minister. I am delighted that an MOU will be signed. However, I am having some difficulties in South Antrim and wish to facilitate a meeting with the CEO of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. I understand that there are some issues with the visit being cleared through your office. I would appreciate it if that meeting could be facilitated as quickly as possible.”
“I thank the First Minister for her remarks. Has she a view on the Prime Minister's recent comments about initiating article 50 by 31 March 2017 and about a Great Repeal Bill? Has she received any written response to the co-First Ministers' letter dated 10 August, which raises several issues that would directly bear on triggering article 50 and the Great Repeal Bill? Would she ensure that, in the spirit of openness and transparency that her Government are well known for —”
“We recognise that some banks, in particular the likes of Ulster Bank, have introduced mobile banking, but that is not enough. It is no substitute for proper banking facilities and where they are located. Bank closures in small towns and villages have hit our communities hard in recent years; it is an island-wide phenomenon. We all understand that individual banks will make their decisions on bank closures for their own commercial reasons, but for some of us it smacks of issues around profit. This debate will have been worthwhile if it raises understanding of the issue. It would be helpful if the Minister, in summing up, could clarify what role the regional Government can and will play in mitigating the effects of bank closures, particularly in rural areas.”
“Over 16 years ago, the British Bankers' Association published an academic report entitled, 'Banking without Branches: a study of how people conduct their banking business without a local branch', which stated:”
“However, we should have a word of caution for those who say that Internet banking is wholly the method of the future and face-to-face banking in a physical building, interacting with trained clerical staff, a thing of the past. <BR /> <BR />The recent report from the Federation of Small Businesses in Northern Ireland highlights the problems for small businesses. There is the time spent physically to travel 50 miles or 60 miles on a round trip and the time that that takes out of the business. There are the security aspects of transporting large volumes of cash and cheques, and the impact on rural communities, villages and towns of the lack of footfall when a bank branch closes. <BR /> <BR />On the issue of online accounts, the question many people will ask is about security: "How secure is my account?".”
“This is not an issue for just County Antrim or even Northern Ireland; it is a much wider issue that goes across all these islands. However, we in Northern Ireland are particularly hard hit because of the dispersed and rural nature of our towns and villages and the generally poor nature of our rural broadband Internet coverage and 4G mobile coverage. <BR /> <BR />It has been said that technology changes and it is a sign of progress that bank branches have been thinned out and closed. It has been said that, in the age of superfast broadband, the Internet and smartphones, the need for local bank branches has diminished to a point where they are virtually extinct.”
“I commend the SDLP for tabling this important and wide-ranging motion, which we will, of course, support. <BR /> <BR />Rural bank closures affect all our constituencies, urban and rural. Most acutely, however, in rural constituencies like South Antrim and our adjoining constituencies of East Antrim and North Antrim, bank closures have had a considerable effect. I quote Rachael Cray, head of money affairs at the Consumer Council of Northern Ireland:”
“Will the Minister outline the work being done by Sport NI in conjunction with the great Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to promote a joint approach to sport and physical activity? Will he look specifically at the need for more facilities in the rural areas of Ballyclare, Crumlin and Randalstown?”
“Given the recent resignation of the paediatric pathologist Dr Gannon over the interventions by Northern Ireland's Attorney General on issues surrounding fatal foetal abnormality, does the Justice Minister believe that the Attorney General's beliefs may have interfered with his professional impartiality on the issue, thus rendering his position, based on this judgement, untenable?”
“I thank the Minister for his comments. I am delighted that the smart card is to be rolled out, but why will it take until 2018? In the Republic of Ireland and in the rest of the United Kingdom, Leap cards and Oyster cards were rolled out within a much shorter period. In particular, I note that many Northern Ireland companies are involved in the development of Leap card, smart card and Oyster card technology. I would like the Minister to assure us that everything is being done to improve the timescale for delivery of this project, because, as I am sure the Minister is aware, by 2018, technology will have moved on.”
“— has been conducted — listen — within the correct employment and equality legislation and that, as a member of the Government, he will be appropriately security-vetted as he will have access to classified and commercial-in-confidence documentation? Will the deputy First Minister confirm to the Assembly that the appropriate due diligence has been carried out?”
“Yes. Can the deputy First Minister — thank you for those words — give an assurance that the appointment of David Gordon —”
“Consider the record over the last nine years of Sinn Féin/DUP majority government and consider whether they are ready to get the best deal for Northern Ireland or even whether they have a plan. <BR /> <BR />We ask the Assembly to endorse and adopt the approach in 'A Vision for Northern Ireland outside the EU' because, frankly, the people of Northern Ireland deserve a plan and the consideration of our Government to doing something. Our vision is the best and only framework to achieve that.”
“We have had a troubled and uncertain history with the Republic of Ireland that has been changed to a positive and growing relationship that has been hard-earned. We can, with sufficient imagination and will, create a dynamic that prevents hard borders in Newry or Cairnryan. Achieving those goals will help us, as proud unionists, maintain the United Kingdom in a manner that avoids our proud nation slipping into xenophobia and isolationism. <BR /> <BR />You also hear from at least 50% of our Government that it is too early to begin planning because article 50 has not been triggered, they have a special relationship with Downing Street, things are not so bad or the falling pound has significantly improved our economy and the manufacturing sector is strong.”
“We should invest heavily in R&D, again using the borrowing potential created by large-scale quantitative easing. I can already hear the harping: "You've always complained about creating more debt" and, through the Executive's new spin doctor, "Is the money coming from the magic money tree?". Well, guess what? After the referendum, we are in an entirely new dynamic. The so-called £350-million-a-week tsunami and the so-called savings from our EU contribution are not going to go far. New ideas about funding will be needed, many of which will involve QE going to infrastructure, potentially through long-term infrastructure bonds, which are being discussed across the UK but, again, unfortunately, not here. <BR /> <BR />It is not about just economics.”
“— we need to build a more positive vision. The border between two great economic groupings can provide considerable economic potential. We have a strong case, if made properly, to become an enterprise zone that could harmonise EU/UK trading positions. It was good to see — unfortunately, he is not here — the DUP Chief Whip's support for an enterprise zone around our great International Airport last week and Mervyn Storey's continued support for the enterprise zone in North Antrim. It is an idea that needs to be explored, and it already has the support of many business groups here. <BR /> <BR />We would also use any stimulus package to build up our infrastructure, an approach already being taken across the UK, except, of course, here.”
“We export 38% of our brightest youngsters per annum. We have the second highest costs of energy in western Europe. We have appalling infrastructure. Now, we have no plan for Brexit. <BR /> <BR />Rather than being negative —”
“<BR /> <BR />We as a party do not want to be accused of doing Northern Ireland down, but, instead of sticking our collective head in the sand, we need to face the reality of what is likely to occur. For a start, we are ill prepared as it is, without facing a shortfall of £500 million — perhaps closer to £1 billion — per annum in post-exit funding. We sell Northern Ireland as a great place to do business, which it can be, by pointing out that we have a highly skilled workforce, while conveniently forgetting that most CFOs read the 'Financial Times' and Bloomberg, and, when they do due diligence, which is something that at least half our Government have a problem with, they discover that our universities are underfunded to the tune of £55 million and are dropping like stones in the global rankings.”
“— we are answering your question — into the economy, which staved off the immediate crisis. That was done by adding a quarter of a trillion to our national debt, which is a moot point. However, according to the 'Northern Ireland Economic Outlook' that was published by PwC this week, growth in Northern Ireland for 2016 is forecast to be 1·2% and is expected to slump even further to 0·3% in 2017. That is worse than the overall UK rates, which are expected to remain at 1·8% in 2016 before dropping to 0·7% in 2017. As the learned members of the Government are or should be fully aware, broad economic modelling of our economy shows that Northern Ireland GDP normally lags around 1% behind that of GB.”
“Not quite yet. <BR /> <BR />It pumped £250 billion of quantitative easing —”
“Thank you for that. <BR /> <BR />As a responsible Opposition, we now offer a vision and a set of key asks to help prepare Northern Ireland for the forthcoming challenges and potential opportunities ahead. It is also useful at this stage to state what those challenges are likely to be. Indeed, as the Member for South Belfast so regularly and graciously points out, we have not yet fallen off the economic cliff into recession. It is good to note that the early action of the Bank of England, which pumped —”
“While the Ulster Unionist Party recommended remaining, we acknowledge that we must now accept the democratic wish expressed by the people to leave the European Union.”
“Not yet. <BR /> <BR />There are no public discussions, debates or grand committees, or even an understanding of the scale of the issues involved. Instead, we have a divided Government, pretending to give a facade of unity but still with no proposals or plans. That is why, in the vacuum that is the Government's response to the most significant event to affect our country in over 20 years, we had to take the lead and to publish our vision. <BR /> <BR />We recognise that, in Northern Ireland, our fellow Opposition party, half of the Government, the Alliance Party and the Green Party still hope that the decision to leave can be halted by the courts.”
“<BR /> <BR />A blank sheet of A4, unfortunately, is a good representation of what has been achieved so far, and our people continue to ask, "What is the plan?". There are no public discussions —”