Maurice Bradley
East Londonderry · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“The proposal to establish formally the post of Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses of Crime, which is efficiently held in designate form by Geraldine Hanna at the moment, has the potential to provide victims with a stronger voice and ensure that public bodies are held to account for the services that they provide.”
“Good intentions alone are not enough. <BR /> <BR />I would argue that victims must never become an afterthought in our justice system, whether that be when considering road traffic offences, violence against women and girls, child criminal exploitation, hate crime or sentencing reform.”
“I will speak as a DUP member of the Justice Committee on the Second Stage of the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill. For me, the Bill is not simply about creating another office or changing another piece of legislation; it is about people.”
“<BR /> <BR />As the Bill progresses through Committee Stage, I will approach its policy objectives with an open mind. I look forward to hearing directly from victims' organisations, witnesses, legal professionals and criminal justice agencies. Where the Bill can be strengthened, it should be strengthened.”
“One of the comments that I hear most often is not about what happened but about how people felt afterwards. They felt forgotten, left in the dark and like just another case number moving slowly through a system that they did not understand. That should concern every one of us. Justice should not end when an offender is charged.”
“Minister, you have partially answered my question, but it was really about the fact that, when services are centralised in the greater Belfast area, services are denied to those elsewhere in the Province. There has been a continued reduction in services across Northern Ireland because of their centralisation in Belfast.”
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“<BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to the staff, the Minister and the Committee for the hard work that they have put in.”
“After Brexit, UK tariffs and trade policies on animal welfare and environmental standards could influence where food comes from, its cost and how it is produced. Most importantly, the Bill ensures that farmers will endure no financial burdens as the UK makes its transition from the EU common agricultural payment structure. <BR /> <BR />Looking to the future, I feel that the farming community is the main custodian of the land and environment. UK contributions to the common agricultural policy are greater than the amount that UK farmers receive. That additional funding should be ring-fenced for agriculture and redirected to delivering greater efficiencies, increasing profitability and delivering high environmental and animal welfare standards.”
“As agriculture is a devolved matter, it falls upon us to ensure that farmers and the farming community are equipped with the proper finances to ensure sustainability and growth. The Bill enables current EU legislation that covers CAP direct payments to become part of domestic law. <BR /> <BR />Without that support, many of our farms would not have made a profit, so its continuation is vital to the industry. The Agriculture Bill, which will return to the Commons tomorrow, moves towards a new system that rewards farmers for enhancing the environment and for producing food in a sustainable way. The legislation enables direct payments for farmers for 2020, giving clarity and certainty to farmers and food producers as the UK leaves the EU on 31 January.”
“I, too, congratulate the Member on his maiden speech. <BR /> <BR />The Direct Payments to Farmers (Legislative Continuity) Bill gives devolved Administrations across the UK powers to administer direct payments to farmers for 2020. The Chancellor's announcement confirmed the same level of funding for direct payments in 2020 as in 2019. <BR /> <BR />The Agriculture Bill will provide a new system of farm support towards an approach whereby farmers are paid public money for the goods they produce, and it includes environmental themes such as enhancing air and water quality, tackling climate change and improving animal welfare. Leaving the EU means that we take back control of our agricultural policy and fund our farm payments domestically.”
“Thank you for your patience, Mr Deputy Speaker.”
“— we can live together. I support the suspension of the consultation until there is further clarity.”
“In closing, I stress the importance of the centre. It has helped young people to open their mind and stretch their personal horizons far and wide. It is a shared educational facility, meeting the criteria to enjoy shared education from learning in a cross-community setting. If we can play together —”
“Indeed, the Bushmills centre has had to turn away bookings during peak periods. <BR /> <BR />The centre in Bushmills offers a broad range of services. It is capable of generating income at weekends, but it is not permitted to do so. Groups wanting to avail themselves of its activities would have to travel over 100 miles to the nearest equivalent centre, which is in Newcastle, County Down. Therefore, there is no duplication of services in the area at all. The centre not only provides positive educational experiences for organisations but plays a vital role in training youth workers and teachers in a wide range of outdoor activities, providing positive educational experiences and opportunities to develop interpersonal and practical skills.”
“If this centre closes, the nearest centre is Woodhall at Kilrea, over 30 miles away. It has only 40 beds available and, I believe, is fully booked, so where is the overprovision?”
“I will not hold it against him. <BR /> <BR />I have completed the survey online, and I have used both comment boxes to register my opinion on the proposed closure as opposed to answering the questions. One question makes reference to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and it says, "Where deemed appropriate". There is no guarantee that anything will be guaranteed. <BR /> <BR />Understandably, when we think of education, we think of schools, given the role they play. However, we must also acknowledge that education ought to take many forms and include the vital contributions that the Youth Service and outdoor education make. Outdoor education provision accounts for only a small portion of the overall education budget, but it provides unique learning opportunities and skills development for around 150,000 children and young people every year.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. He has stolen my thunder and taken my last paragraph.”
“While it is easy for some to blame the Minister, this recommendation is from the Education Authority, and I encourage as many users and supporters as possible to take part in the consultation by using the comments box.”
“I thank the Member for bringing the debate to the Chamber. I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the valuable contribution made by outdoor activity centres like Bushmills to the development of our young people and children across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The news of the consultation has caused concern not just in North Antrim but in East Londonderry, and, as we have heard tonight, in all other constituencies. I stress that I am not placing any criticism on the Education Minister; I know that he is fully committed to delivering for young people. The consultation and the proposals have come from the Education Authority, and I stress this is a consultation process — a consultation process that I believe to be flawed.”
“The First Minister mentioned the wealth of sporting talent in the Province, and we are contributors to the service as licence payers. Are there any plans to challenge the BBC?”
“Is the Minister satisfied with the level of engagement with the UK Government on Brexit?”
“I thank the junior Minister for his answers so far. He referred to the problem of food waste here in Northern Ireland. What specifically is being done by the industry to tackle the issue?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for that answer. Given the connection that we have in Coleraine and the opportunity to sell Northern Ireland plc across the IT sector, I am hopeful that Coleraine could play a role in adding to the sector and attracting much needed investment into the area. Are you aware of any firms interested in investing in the Coleraine project?”
“That is what the people have said, and, while the House might be divided on the issue, no amount of political point-scoring will change that. Our national Government have guaranteed farming subsidies until 2020, in line with current EU policy. Beyond that, whether we are in the EU or not, the future remains to be determined. However, we must all ensure that our farmers and agri-food workers are not left behind.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our First Minister, my party leader, the Rt Hon Arlene Foster, has, since 23 June, been about putting Northern Ireland first in this debate. As a result, with the appointment of a new Prime Minister, she has ensured that Northern Ireland will play a key part in the negotiations that lead to us leaving the European Union. That is welcome and demonstrates that we are not shying away from responsibility to our farmers and other agri-food sector workers. We all want the best outcome for Northern Ireland, and, in order to ensure that we get that outcome, we must all work together to achieve that rather than use the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union for political ends. <BR /> <BR />The United Kingdom is to leave the European Union.”
“East Londonderry is a beautiful constituency that stretches inland from Coleraine to Dungiven and includes the beautiful coastal stretch from just beyond the mouth of the River Bann to Lough Foyle. It is a vibrant and friendly place, rich in culture and history, Coleraine being the first known human settlement in Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Members are only too aware of the importance of agriculture to our economy. Food and farming are worth £4·8 billion a year to Northern Ireland, and the sector employs some 70,000 people. My party, which holds the Ministry responsible for agriculture, knows only too well the importance of securing the best for farmers in Northern Ireland. That is why our Minister, Michelle McIlveen, met the farming Minister, George Eustice, back in October to ensure the best possible deal for our agri-food sector post Brexit.”
“I have worked in the newspaper industry since 1969. I have been active in local football as a player, coach and legislator, and I am a founder member of Coleraine FC Academy. I also served as a councillor, alderman and mayor on the old Coleraine Borough Council for almost 19 years. I am proud to have been elected at the May Assembly election, along with my colleagues, Adrian and George, to represent East Londonderry for the DUP. It is a tremendous honour, and I thank all those who voted for me and the DUP, which retains its pole position as the leading party in the constituency, having the first three candidates elected at the count. I am fully aware that the electorate has put a great trust in me, and I know that there is a great responsibility to represent them on issues such as this one concerning agriculture.”
“It gives me great pleasure to speak on the motion today. While this is my maiden speech, I do not intend to digress from this important issue too much, as it is an issue of importance to the people of East Londonderry. I ask Members to bear with me and afford me the opportunity to make a few comments about my journey to this place. <BR /> <BR />First, I pay tribute to Gregory Campbell MP, my predecessor. Gregory is a well known political figure, especially in East Londonderry, which he continues to represent in Parliament. I am honoured to follow his footsteps into the Assembly, a place that he has been very familiar with since being elected to the 1982 Assembly. Gregory will, no doubt, be missed in this place for his wit and ability as a Member as well as a former Minister. <BR /> <BR />I ought to say a few things about me.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. As he knows, we will host the Open golf championships in 2019, which is an opportunity to sell Northern Ireland plc. We need thriving town centres to showcase and, hopefully, entice our visitors to come back. I welcome the Minister's answer and look forward to his response in the near future.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I do not want to put the Minister on the spot, but would she consider visiting the Causeway Hospital in the near future?”
“Does the Minister agree that the Causeway Hospital is an integral part of the north-west's health infrastructure and that many tourist-based events, such as the North West 200, need the support that the hospital lends for the success and safety of such events?”
“Minister, fishing is very important to the Northern Ireland economy. Have there been any discussions over the summer months regarding pollution, and can the Loughs Agency help in any way to alleviate pollution?”
“Thank you, Minister, for that response. You partly answered the next question. How soon will work on the new prison start? How long will it take you to build it? You have no idea, have you? How long is a piece of string?”