Alan Chambers
North Down · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />A relatively recent piece of important character that was added to the village some years ago was the addition of a number of trees along Main Street.”
“It is my pleasure and privilege to present a petition signed by more than 1,500 people calling on the Department for Infrastructure to drop plans to chop down a number of mature street trees in Main Street, Groomsport. <BR /> <BR />Groomsport is a beautiful village with a strong community spirit.”
“Indeed, in the past week, it has been adjudged to be the best-kept town on the island of Ireland. It has many outstanding characteristics, including three lovely beaches with clean and pollution-free bathing water; a well-sheltered harbour that is reputed to have been first constructed by the Vikings; a modern children's playground; and t…”
“Minister, I sent a question for written answer in May 2025. You told me that your officials had identified a problem on the A48 in November 2024 and that a works order had been issued.”
“The Department's approach to the problem, however, has been to fire up the chainsaws. That is a shameful and unacceptably lazy plan. There are many engineering solutions that do not involve such crude environmental vandalism. Government policy, rather than to chop down healthy mature specimens, is to encourage more tree planting.”
“For many, the ability to start or grow a family is a major priority; for others, it is not a priority at all. When fertility problems stand in the way of that dream, the emotional toll can be immense. There has already been reference to the commitment in NDNA, which was one reason why my party very much welcomed that agreement.”
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“Using the safety and welfare of the people of Northern Ireland as some sort of bargaining chip is shameful. We need the certainty that a commitment to a full derogation will provide, and we need it now. <BR /> <BR />On numerous occasions, I have heard —”
“No, I need to finish. <BR /> <BR />My party has suggested a mitigating solution: that the UK Government legislate to place a duty on suppliers based in Great Britain to provide their goods to all regions of the UK internal market. We think that that would prevent a situation in which producers of medicines and medical suppliers decide, following a grace period, that they will supply their goods only to customers in GB. I know that the Minister and his officials are working hard to pre-emptively cover a range of outcomes brought about by the protocol, from temporary product shortages to major price increases. This is the result of a flawed political deal between the UK Government and European Commission and a clear illustration of why it should be scrapped.”
“It is money that could be better directed and better used to assist the much-needed restructuring of the NHS and its ability to tackle and reduce the unacceptable waiting lists, which were brought about by the curtailment of health funding over many years by parties in the House. For instance, new drugs to be used in the treatment of cancer could become available for use. While those will become immediately available to patients in Great Britain after professional assessment, the same drugs are not guaranteed to become available in Northern Ireland.”
“No matter what your opinion on Brexit or the protocol, no one should underestimate the potential impact on our citizens' health and, more importantly, on our NHS and the public's ability to purchase over-the-counter medicines, as we approach the end of the grace period on 1 January 2022 and in the years that follow. <BR /> <BR />The annual budget for medicines used in Northern Ireland is around £600 million. That figure does not include medical devices. Undoubtedly, the price of medicine will increase because of the protocol. Even a 10% increase in costs to the NHS would inflict a major blow to its budgets.”
“These products are no longer being brought into Northern Ireland because the supplier cannot justify the cost of relabelling the large number of food products in the range to meet EU regulations. That is just one example of the long-term damage being caused to the supply chain of goods coming into Northern Ireland. I could quote a number of similar stories around various products. There is not a single retailer or wholesaler in Northern Ireland that has not been negatively impacted on by the protocol. <BR /> <BR />This debate, however, is about the supply of life-saving and pain-relieving medicines and medical devices. This issue is extremely worrying.”
“No, thank you. <BR /> <BR />This opened the door for Boris Johnson to push ahead. By the time that the DUP realised the consequence of its initial welcome and began back-pedalling, it was too late to stop it. <BR /> <BR />My family have operated a village supermarket for nearly 50 years. We can already see the creeping effects and consequences of the protocol. A large, local wholesaler, which is part of a chain that operates right across Great Britain, previously stocked a huge range of own-label products covering just about every requirement that a shopper could have. Those were quality products with a budget price marking. A shopping basket filled with them would represent a huge saving on a family's weekly food bill.”
“The DUP leadership initially welcomed the concept of a regulatory border down the Irish Sea, describing it as a "gateway to opportunity".”
“This debate would not need to be happening if there were no protocol nor a regulatory border down the Irish Sea in place. It is worth placing on record that a number of parties in the Chamber were quite happy to run down to Dublin and go across to Brussels for smiling photo opportunities, and to call on both the Irish Government and the EU to implement the protocol without delay. They were unashamed cheerleaders for the protocol. Indeed, in a letter that the leaders of the Alliance Party, Sinn Féin, the SDLP and the Green Party signed and sent to the Prime Minister in April of last year, they advocated for an EU office in Belfast:”
“Minister, how much more difficulty does a one-year Budget present to your Department in dealing with the long-term challenges that you are trying to address?”
“This is a new approach that the Minister has already introduced for some other key services, so perhaps it is worth considering in the interim. <BR /> <BR />As I have said, I know that the Minister is acutely aware of the issues raised by this motion and the debate today. I am confident that he will be doing all within his power to seek improvement in delivery of autism services going forward. However, adequate, long-term and ring-fenced funding for our NHS has never been more vital than it is now. The Ulster Unionist Party will support this motion and the amendment.”
“<BR /> <BR />We are all agreed that there is an undoubted problem. The current model of autism services is wholly unsustainable. That is what happens when demand far exceeds capacity. This is something that I have heard the Minister speak of before, so I know that he is acutely aware of it. The interim strategy, earlier this year, will, I hope, help, but what we need most is sustained investment to recruit additional permanent staff in order to improve the waiting list position. In the meantime, noting the disparity across trusts, perhaps an interim step could be the facilitation of the assessment of children in some trust areas being undertaken in other areas where the service is not under such pressure.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is clear that autism services, like so many other services, fell victim to a decade-long period of underinvestment and lack of strategic direction. Of course, many people with a diagnosis of autism still live life to the full and reach great heights and potential. The challenge is getting that initial diagnosis. It is widely accepted that early intervention is far more cost-effective, but, even more importantly, it is beneficial for young people. Receiving a timely diagnosis can enable parents to better understand their child and ensure that they have access to crucial help and support. That is especially important because autism can often have a huge impact on family life. Delays often rob children and young people of the support that they need, and, if and when it does come, that support can be too little or too late.”
“These past 15 months have been a difficult period for us all, but the pandemic has brought particular challenges both for young people and older people who ordinarily would have taken comfort from daily routine and structure. There is no doubt that autism services have never been under as much strain as they currently are, like so many parts of our health and social care system. However, they were already struggling long before COVID, and this is an issue that has transcended the terms of many Executive Ministers. For instance, in September 2016, when the current deputy First Minister was the Health Minister, 2,325 children were waiting for an autism spectrum assessment. Whilst that was, obviously, lower than it is today, the reality is that it was four times the number waiting, only five years before, in 2011.”
“We cannot afford to make legislation that will have unforeseen consequences that may damage not only our agriculture sector but other areas of our economy. We must go forward together in common cause, and, to achieve that, we will need those meaningful amendments. I believe that there will be the will in the House to produce legislation that everyone will support and that will be achievable. We need to get this right. To that end, I will give a pledge to our agriculture industry that I will support all amendments to the Bill that will make that sector feel more comfortable with any resulting legislation.”
“That has reassured me that I have been engaging with people who are on the same page as the Assembly in recognising the dangerous reality of climate change. <BR /> <BR />I will support the Bill today because it is the right thing to do for the community that I represent. It is also the right thing to do for my grandchildren and everyone else's grandchildren. However, I have listened to our agriculture sector, and I recognise that some of their concerns are genuine and set firmly in reality. They want to reach the position of a zero carbon emission level. They support our aspiration to achieve that. That said, I believe that meaningful amendments will need to be tabled and timelines revisited as the Bill progresses.”
“I have a background in business, and I understand their concerns and recognise the need for certainty when making long- to medium-term investments. We all rely heavily on the financial support of banks when we embark on such investments in our businesses. The Bill may make banks nervous about long-term lending if there is any suspicion that forward financial and business planning could be disrupted by challenges thrown up by legislation. Some local farmers have called with me personally. Their approaches have been civil and heartfelt. From listening to them, I have been impressed by the steps that they are already taking on their farms to reduce carbon emissions and by how they carry out their work.”
“Many of their concerns are around large investments that they have recently made based on business plans that go beyond the Bill's timeline targets. Others are about to make investments but are concerned that family members who inherit the farm will be left with business plans that start to unravel, creating financial difficulties for them in the future.”
“Some were irate; others were very reasonable in setting out the challenges that they might face from any legislation that flows from the Bill as it stands. <BR /> <BR />The one common theme in all the emails is that everyone recognises that climate change is a reality. It is a reality that we must address in the interests of the welfare of our children and our grandchildren in the future. No one is in denial. The biggest fear expressed in the correspondence that I have received from those in the agriculture sector was about the timelines outlined in the Bill. Suggestions that herd sizes need to be reduced to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2045 are a major concern for the farmers who contacted me.”
“I do not believe that many Members, if indeed any, do not recognise that climate change needs urgent attention. It is not just an issue for Northern Ireland. Rather, it is a global topic that requires international action. <BR /> <BR />Today, the Assembly has the opportunity to debate the issue and to start to find a way forward that attempts to confront and mitigate the problem. However, it is equally important that we do not create legislation that presents severe and perhaps unachievable challenges for any of our citizens, especially those who may have their livelihood curtailed or damaged as a result. <BR /> <BR />Like others, in recent days, I have received a large number of emails from those in our important agriculture sector.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. England has created a similar fund of £30 million. Can the Minister commit to a proportionate level of funding in Northern Ireland?”
“What consultations have taken place with the pedigree societies in GB on issues involving the protocol, such as animals with a UK-prefix tag having to be retagged with one that has a Northern Ireland prefix?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, I, like you, certainly welcome the pension, not least because it is so long overdue. People will be deeply concerned if the Finance Minister is simply going to cut the budgets of some of the most important services in order to pay for it. What level of cut is the Minister's Department potentially facing, and what impact will that have on key health and social care services and, in particular, his recovery programme?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement, and I concur with his remarks about the fires in the Mourne Mountains. They certainly could have been a lot worse but for the efforts of the firefighters. <BR /> <BR />Minister, as outdoor hospitality opens at the end of this week, followed by indoor a few weeks later, there is a real possibility that a large number of people from the Irish Republic, many of whom are still not vaccinated, will cross the border to socialise. Does the Minister believe that the PSNI, and the guards especially, have a role to play in emphasising the relevant travel restrictions and public health advice?”
“It is all contained in the statement that he gave to the House. <BR /> <BR />I finish with this challenge: will all parties in the House support the Minister's road map?”
“<BR /> <BR />I look forward to the weeks ahead, as the Minister lays out even more detail on his plans to restore better elective services. Doing more of the same will just not cut it. We had appalling waiting lists before COVID, and they are even worse now. Unless we tackle the root causes, such as by better supporting our staff and addressing the extensive gap between demand and capacity, we will be doomed to repeat the failures of the past. As patients wait longer, not just for cancer treatment, there is a greater risk of them coming to long-term harm. I hope that the House commits to doing whatever it takes and spending whatever it takes to properly support our health and social care system. The Minister spelt out last week what we need to do.”
“It was in that context that heartbreaking logistic decisions had to be made that we can now pick over, if we wish, in hindsight. <BR /> <BR />Last year, the Department published a policy statement setting out its approach to the rebuilding and stabilisation of cancer services. The plan represented a major programme of modernisation and improvement, but it will not be cost-free. As the Executive sometimes grapple even to properly spend emergency funds from the UK Government, I hope that, this time, all Ministers accept that, whatever the recurrent costs may be, the programme will be delivered. Saving lives from cancer must now trump all other political demands and red lines. No other issue is more important than the health and well-being of our population.”
“<BR /> <BR />When we draw on hindsight to pass judgement on difficult and life-and-death decisions made during a deadly and unprecedented pandemic, it is easy to forget the millions who have lost their lives to COVID worldwide and the multi millions who have suffered life-changing illness. It is easy to forget the terrible images from Italy in the early days of the pandemic, with very ill people drawing their last breath as they lay on the floors of hospital corridors and their bodies being transferred to military vehicles that had been converted into temporary morgues. Indeed, it is easy to forget the clamour locally to secure additional ICU beds and to source the all-important PPE to be worn by our health professionals.”
“Our hospitals, from our consultants to the hospital cleaners, did their absolute best to facilitate and care for everyone, including treating the sickest patients quickest. The system responded in a way that, only a year or two ago, would never have been envisaged. Staff are now travelling the length and breadth of Northern Ireland to deliver care in COVID-light sites, and many patients agree that getting treatment now — when it counts — is more important than where the treatment is delivered. The damage that COVID has inflicted on our key services is undoubted and, unless we take swift action, will be very long-lasting.”
“Fortunately, no chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment has been cancelled in any trust, and both services have been maintained throughout the pandemic. <BR /> <BR />Of course, the best way to protect cancer treatments and operations was to drive down COVID infection rates. That was a point repeatedly made by cancer specialists. As the number of cases and hospitalisations grew over each of the waves, hospitals had to scale up ICU capacity. They could do that only by taking specially trained staff from other parts of the hospital. The health service has only one workforce, and it can be stretched only so far. Staff were under incredible pressure, and yet they stepped up once again.”
“I welcome the opportunity to debate this vital topic. Cancer is a callous disease that afflicts the young and the old. It has become increasingly common and is particularly cruel as it can develop and grow without any symptoms. That means that, by the time it is discovered, it, sadly, comes too late for some people. It is also a disease that thrives in any period of delay, and, sadly, despite the best efforts of clinicians to protect cancer services as far as was possible, the pandemic has undoubtedly stretched our already incredibly fragile cancer services. I pay tribute to the clinicians who have worked tirelessly over the last 14 months, and, whilst there have been some delays, I also welcome the fact that many key services were protected.”
“I welcome this extremely significant statement from the Minister today. It is important and proper that it has acknowledged that the patients and families affected are more than mere statistics. The Minister will be aware that I have spoken with him previously about a constituent's treatment for spinal fluid leakage. There was previously a suggestion from a clinician that the ongoing inquiry may have proved a barrier to the treatment being available. Will the Minister confirm that, in fact, all trusts locally are providing a blood-patch service?”
“I welcome the proposed use of those premises. Will the Minister give an anticipated timescale for the premises to come back into meaningful use?”
“It is to their credit that they had that commitment to build women's football to where it is today. <BR /> <BR />The competition is a year away, and a lot can happen in a year, but what a boost the team's success has been for women's football. There will be lots of young girls looking at it. They will be coming into the game, and, with the competition being a year away, some of them may well break through into that squad, if they have the talent. That is a wonderful prize for all young girls who are coming into the game to aspire to. As other Members said, with the competition being a year away, we have to offer the team every help and encouragement that we can to make sure that it makes a huge impact in July 2022.”
“Football has given me a lifetime of pleasure, both playing it and watching it, but, being a Glentoran supporter, it has broken my heart on many occasions. <BR /> <BR />I watched the last three or four games of the women's national team that were televised, and I was not watching a women's football match: I was watching a game of football that was being played to a very high standard of technical ability by highly committed players, supported by an excellent back-room staff. I listened to an interview with Julie Nelson, and she said that, in recent years, those on the team had to make do with hand-me-down gear from the IFA. They had to wash their own training gear, because they had only one set, and they had to pay their own way to go to matches, including to overseas matches.”
“Is the Minister planning any additional bids to the Minister of Finance for financial support schemes to assist businesses in the wedding sector in their financial recovery from the impact of COVID-19?”
“Nevertheless, in the meantime, can the Minister confirm that his Department and the Health and Social Care Board are utilising the interim COVID funds to increase capacity as much as possible, including in the independent sector, both inside and outside Northern Ireland?”
“I certainly welcome the comprehensive statement from the Minister this morning. During the pandemic, a phrase that kept coming up was "we are in this together". If ever there were challenges facing the House, where we need to be in it together, they are the challenges that the Minister highlighted this morning. Going forward, party political considerations need to be set aside. <BR /> <BR />Tackling our waiting list position should be a key objective for the entire Executive. To put our system on a long-term sustainable footing, it desperately needs financial certainty of more than a 12-month budget.”
“I add my thanks, Mr Speaker, to those of other Members to you for facilitating this tribute. <BR /> <BR />Nothing much can be added to the heartfelt and touching tributes that have been paid to the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, in the House today. He was a faithful and loyal royal consort, a husband, a father, a grandfather and a war hero. He never tried to overshadow the Queen. Nevertheless, he used his position to do so much for the nation, for the Commonwealth and, in particular, for generations of young people. My personal sympathy and the sympathy of all those whom I represent in North Down go out to our grieving Queen and her family at this sad time.”
“I cannot sit down without placing on record a reference to the fantastic roll-out of our vaccination programme. It has been a brilliantly organised and very welcome programme. I thank all who are involved with it.”
“The full opening of businesses should be an urgent action once the medical and scientific evidence supports it. <BR /> <BR />The main role of the regulations has been to try to reduce the pressure on hospitals. We stood at our doors on Thursday evenings and clapped in support of our front-line staff. The greatest acknowledgement that we can offer those heroes, who risked their own health and well-being and made huge sacrifices, is to continue to respect the regulations and reduce the pressure on our hospitals even further. The Ulster Unionist Party certainly backs the regulations. <BR /> <BR />We also have to remember that there have been other heroes: our shopworkers, our transport workers and a range of people who have tried to keep day-to-day life flowing for us all.”
“Over 2,000 of our fellow citizens have fallen victim to this dreadful virus, but the regulations around funerals and wakes have applied to all who have passed with conditions unrelated to the pandemic. Many of the restrictions and regulations have appeared contradictory at times, and maybe it has been hard to understand the logic behind them. However, at all times, the Executive have worked and acted in the best interests of the public. <BR /> <BR />The business community has had to pay a huge price for the sacrifices that it has had to make. I appreciate that some have slipped through the net of government financial support. Being part of the Union has permitted Ministers to be as generous as possible in difficult circumstances.”
“The public have had to make sacrifices that involve families being separated from elderly relatives who are in residential care. That hurtful sacrifice extended to the families of loved ones who were hospitalised. The pandemic has also curtailed the joy of new arrivals in our maternity units. It would be remiss of me not to acknowledge the impact that the pandemic has had on our schoolchildren, on their education and their mental health and well-being. <BR /> <BR />One of the biggest sacrifices has been the restrictions applied to laying our deceased to rest. Not being able to attend the funeral of a friend or workmate does not sit easily with the people of Northern Ireland, who want to be part of a tradition of supporting grieving families.”
“I thank the Minister of Health for coming to the House yet again. He said that he wanted to begin his contribution by reflecting on an unprecedented year of challenge for all of us. It has been a challenging year that is worthy of thoughtful reflection by us all. It is appropriate that we had a moment's silence to remember those who have fallen victim to this dreadful virus in the past year and their families. <BR /> <BR />The Minister said that all Ministers had had the challenging responsibility of maintaining a delicate balance between protecting the health of our most vulnerable people and vital health services and citizens' livelihoods. In fairness, the Executive have faced those challenges without the assistance of a textbook or any experience of managing such a deadly pandemic to help and guide them.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I did not speak in the House yesterday.”
“Minister, thank you for bringing forward the care partner scheme. It is an extremely emotive issue. All parties involved want what is best for care home residents, as you do, Minister. Can the Minister tell the House of some possible reasons why some residents have not been able to set up care partner arrangements with their families?”
“The immediate advantages as a result of the Bill will be consistency of decision-making and the delivery of services across the board. The Bill is a small but significant step in the transformation of our health and social care system. My party has had a policy for some time of bringing the work of the various health trusts under one umbrella in the interests of efficiency, better deployment of resources and the enhancement of services to patients. I wonder whether such a move is on the Department's radar at this time.”
“It appears to have been quite robust, and the responses received have been given considerable consideration.”
“The Minister said that the Bill is relatively straightforward in its objective, although it is quite technical in nature. I certainly welcome the Bill at this time, with the certainty that it will bring to staff, given that it has been on the books since 2015. The Minister stated that staff engagement has been, and continues to be, a fundamental part of the process and that consultation with staff and their representatives will be a key part of the development and operation of the transfer scheme for staff. Again, we should welcome that, and we hope that staff will be able buy in to these changes and understand and support them. <BR /> <BR />There was quite a robust consultation, back in 2015-16, as the Minister outlined.”
“If the Minister were to make a decision to commission and fund a new abortion service without Executive approval, he would be in clear breach of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Northern Ireland ministerial code. I suggest that those pointing the finger towards the Health Minister need to take further advice on this matter before they continue with their misleading attribution of blame to Minister Swann. I was amazed to hear two Sinn Féin members of the Executive demonstrating today that they seem to be unable to grasp the workings of the ministerial code. Other Members made similar erroneous statements today. Please check the facts. In the House, there seems to be an attitude that, if something is said often enough, it can become the truth. Sinn Féin is well-practised at that.”
“I understand that the Health Minister brought before the Executive a number of options for an early medical abortion service but that there was no agreement. Since then, he has tried on a number of occasions to have the issue discussed and agreed to at the Executive, but with no success. <BR /> <BR />The Health Minister is bound, under the ministerial code, to bring the matter of the future commissioning of abortion services to the Executive to discuss and agree before it can proceed. That is a legal fact. Given the ongoing lack of political consensus, a decision about the scope of abortion services is likely to be regarded as controversial.”