Robbie Butler
Lagan Valley · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Officials highlighted that alignment was provided through existing EU-derived arrangements and that coherence with existing regulatory frameworks was identified as a main consideration.”
“I note that the Member for Strangford agrees: she understands the value of our fisheries in those areas. There are other complexities. The Isle of Man Government have now done a bit of a circle around that island, which makes it difficult for our fishers from Portavogie, Kilkeel and Portaferry to craft and graft a living from some of the…”
“The Committee took the opportunity to question officials on several issues and highlight matters warranting scrutiny at Committee Stage but was not limited to those areas.”
“As the Minister said, they have possibly been viewed as competing demands, but they are not competing demands, because clean water is part of sustainable food production.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am glad to see language in the Bill on the sustainability of the aquaculture sector, and I want to lean in a bit on that. Aquaculture pastimes have, perhaps, been underutilised, whether they relate to the angling fraternity or other river and water users.”
“Today, I want to talk about a very talented young girl from Lisburn called Freya Terris. Freya, who is 17 years old, attends Friends' School and studies the piano under former Lisburn resident Rory Dowse. Freya is an incredibly accomplished young pianist and has performed in the Ulster Hall.”
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“If we are looking for a cultural shift, this is part of it, but we need to look at the sexualisation and exploitation of our young people in its entirety and at the message sent out by moviemakers and cartoon makers. It starts at a very young age. That is the attitude piece that you talk about. You are absolutely right: it is a form of violence.”
“I absolutely do agree. There is much more that we can do upstream. This is not in my notes, but I will refer to it. We have a culture that is being fed from a young age. I remember my kids watching a Disney cartoon when they were young in which the young characters were twerking like Miley Cyrus.”
“Despicable. <BR /> <BR />Those in favour of pimping websites argue that they provide greater safety and security for women and girls. However, Valiant Richey, the OSCE special representative and coordinator for combating trafficking in human beings, told an inquiry by the cross-party group on commercial sexual exploitation in Scotland that an argument that he hears:”
“Disgracefully, to some of those who use the service, the purchasing of a woman online is no different from ordering a takeaway, yet, as Mr Kingston rightly pointed out, some would seek to push an agenda that legitimises prostitution as a form of empowerment for women and as a lifestyle defined by glamour and independence, which it is not. The reality is much grimmer and more devastating for the women and girls who suffer physically, mentally and emotionally. <BR /> <BR />Women and girls in prostitution are more likely to experience violence. A consultant gynaecologist who runs a sexual health clinic for sex workers and other vulnerable women in Edinburgh stated:”
“We have to be very clear, however, that the exploitation of women and girls is a form of violence. We must build on the legacy of the 2015 Act and ensure that women and girls are protected by every jot and tittle of legislation that the Assembly passes. <BR /> <BR />The experiences of women on adult service websites are often traumatic and distressing, and we need to provide adequate support in the meantime. Prostitution is an act of violence against women and girls. It inherently dehumanises women and reduces them to nothing more than a commodity. One study contrasted real advertisements for prostitution online with real reviews of women provided by sex buyers and quotes from women with lived experience of prostitution. I am going to read some of those into the record. One reviewer stated:”
“I thank the Members who have contributed. This is a sensitive and important topic. I remember being interested in and intrigued by the debate in 2015. I was not an MLA at the time, but I want to put on record my thanks to Lord Morrow for the work that he did on that legislation because it recognises the abuse, exploitation and experience of women and girls. The legislation sought to decrease the demand for purchasing sexual services and the consequent human trafficking. <BR /> <BR />Members have rightly highlighted that we need to be intentional about what we do but also ensure that we protect the vulnerable woman and young people who may be affected by this. The Act introduced new trafficking offences, and, as many Members have said, used the Nordic model.”
“We therefore call on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to publish the reports in full, to set out a fully funded and time-bound response and to clearly state their position on the reported recommendations for an independent public inquiry. We would like those steps to be taken sooner rather than later.”
“and — there is a helpful amendment, which we will support — expresses regret for the lack of meaningful engagement with victims and survivors since that time. I have stood — and sat — in the Chamber many times as we have said that that would be a priority. It is time that we put those words into absolute action. <BR /> <BR />I once again pay tribute to the survivors who have courageously shared their deeply personal experience of abuse in faith-based settings, often at great personal cost. In particular, I recognise one such person who has spoken very bravely: Margaret McGuckin. Her bravery in speaking out has helped force the issue into the light and has given voice to those who were silenced for far too long.”
“<BR /> <BR />Every Member in the Chamber has, as a legislator, a responsibility to ensure that what happened is fully exposed and understood and never allowed to happen again. Learning the truth is not an act of hostility towards faith; it is an act of justice for those who were betrayed by institutions that they trusted. As legislators, our primary duty is to defend the rights of victims and survivors and to pursue justice without fear or favour. There can be no loopholes for powerful institutions. There can be no hiding place in legal technicalities, internal processes or claims of autonomy when it comes to withholding evidence or reports. No institution, religious or otherwise, should be permitted to destroy, conceal or sanitise records that relate to the abuse of children. <BR /> <BR />The motion states:”
“However, it is not just the Catholic Church but every institution of faith that needs to look into this. As someone of faith, I say that churches in particular should be a haven for children, women and men. They should set the standard and not fall below that bar. Churches and faith-based institutions did not merely fail to act; in too many cases, they actively concealed harm. Abusers were moved between parishes and dioceses, warnings were ignored, evidence was buried and truth was treated by people in authority as an inconvenience rather than their moral duty. That silence magnified the pain of the victim. It told victims that their lives mattered less than reputations. That stain cannot be erased and must never be repeated.”
“One of my overriding reasons for going that day was my hope that the Pope would make a sincere and heartfelt apology and, more than that, outline what that Church was going do to redress the imbalance of evidence. That did not happen in 2018, and, sadly, a lot of those families and victims still feel that they are without justice.”
“The debate must begin and end with the victims and survivors of clerical child abuse and their families, who have carried the weight of that abuse for decades, at its centre. Their suffering did not end when the abuse stopped; for many, it was compounded by the silence, disbelief, denial and deliberate institutional protection of perpetrators. To each of those victims and survivors and their families, I offer my heartfelt support and that of my party <BR /> <BR />In 2018, the Pope paid a visit to the Republic of Ireland. I was the only unionist representative to attend at that time and was put under the microscope by a number of people.”
“I thank the Minister for engaging with the Committee on this important topic. I will ask the Minister about a specific, imminent threat. There has been a reduction by a figure of about 20 million in the production of chickens in the past three years. Producers say that it is the planning quagmire that is holding them back. Will the Minister commit to meeting planners in my area — there are applications to talk through — when we have the answers, which are based on betterment and tackling the ammonia strategy head-on?”
“The Committee understands that that, effectively, permits Scottish Ministers and DAERA to legislate in parallel with UK Ministers, under those clauses, to implement decisions taken at the BBNJ Conference of the Parties. The exercise of power by a UK Minister under those clauses must be carried out in consultation with Scottish Ministers and DAERA, where it will impact on devolved competencies. <BR /> <BR />Overall, the Committee welcomes the amendments to the Bill. They will provide more opportunities for the Assembly to scrutinise the development of regulation. At its meeting on 22 January 2026, the Committee agreed to support the Minister in seeking the Assembly's endorsement of the subsequent legislative consent motion.”
“The Committee was notified by the Department on 20 January that, at House of Lords Report Stage on 12 January, the UK Government had secured agreement to a series of amendments to insert six new clauses — clauses 10 to 12 and clauses 16 to 18 — which the Minister has outlined. <BR /> <BR />At its meeting on 22 January 2026, the Committee had before it a copy of the draft subsequent LCM and held an oral evidence session with officials. The Committee heard that the effect of the amendments — the six new clauses — will be to strengthen arrangements for implementing decisions that affect devolved matters by providing concurrent powers and a statutory consultation mechanism.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee is aware that this is a subsequent LCM for the same Bill and that it may be moved in accordance with Standing Order 42A(9). On this occasion, however, the Committee is pleased to note that it had the opportunity to consider the subsequent LCM at its most recent meeting, which was last Thursday, and hold an evidence session with the Minister's officials. For that we are grateful, as it was scheduled at short notice. <BR /> <BR />Members will recall that the Committee agreed to support the Minister in seeking the Assembly's endorsement of the first legislative consent motion, which was supported by the Assembly on 12 January. Members will have read the Committee's report, which was published on 12 December.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of the AERA Committee on the second legislative consent motion for the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill. The Committee had previously noted the broad aim of the Bill, which is to address the governance gap that exists in areas beyond national jurisdiction, and that it facilitates the United Kingdom's implementation of the international BBNJ agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. That convention covers marine genetic resources, area-based management tools and environmental impact assessments in areas beyond national jurisdiction otherwise known as the "high seas", the seabed and the ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.”
“There are people who want to do the work, and we need to find a way to recruit, support and remunerate them. <BR /> <BR />I am glad that we have a Health Minister who is absolutely committed and faces the right direction. That is not a party political point; it is why we wanted to take on the Health portfolio and those big challenges, so that we can find solutions that will bring a tangible answer and real change to those people who deserve it.”
“They need to move into the space where we can say that every person's life has value and every person should get the help and assistance that they need. <BR /> <BR />I return to the specific issue of respite and care. Emma Sheerin raised a really good challenge to the Minister about direct payment hours and how we allocate those. In reality, I have found that, when I try to represent my constituents, there is sometimes a workforce issue, and I know that the Minister will probably talk to that. It is one of those issues where we have to look at the workforce, value its members and recognise that a really special set of skills and a big heart is required to work with the young people and adults who need that care. I think of their families, and Emma painted an incredible picture of a mum who is an absolute warrior but who is on her knees.”
“Fewer than 10 years ago, people were still fighting to get a diagnosis of autism or some other neurodivergent condition for their child. All that people are looking for is a level playing field for their child. <BR /> <BR />It is an all-government problem, because people with learning disabilities, such as pronounced autism and all those conditions, face challenges in every aspect of life. You will be well-versed in Caleb's cause, which was established by Alma White and which looks at post-19 provision, and Ministers — the Economy Minister, the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education — have engaged with that campaign. We are having those conversations, but, at some point, those conversations need to move into answers.”
“That is not my being political; it is the reality for parents who are faced with a question when they are told, "We are sorry to tell you that your baby has a difficulty. An abortion is an option for you." That protection does not exist even before they are born. <BR /> <BR />When the child goes to school, it is worse. I was on the Education Committee when we were faced with outright discrimination and bias against children who needed a statement. There was what was described as a "stovepipe" of thousands and thousands of children across Northern Ireland who could not get a statement, which would have led to them getting the additional help that they needed. What was that down to? It was down to a cultural bias that existed in some places. I am talking about something in the past 10 years, not in the 1800s or 1900s.”
“I had the pleasure of acting as vice chair of the APG on learning disability for a number of years, and I am still a very active member of it. We need to put the issue in the full context of why those difficulties exist for our young people who have a learning disability, whether it relates to autism or ADHD, or who have complex needs relating to multiple diagnosable conditions. <BR /> <BR />The reality is, as Nuala McAllister rightly said, children face discrimination and difficulties from birth. Actually, they face difficulties even before birth, because we know — I do not say this to be controversial — that unborn babies with a disability do not enjoy the same protections as a child with no disabilities.”
“I thank Emma Sheerin for securing this important Adjournment debate. I go so far as to say that the subject deserves a full motion and that every party would face the same way in that debate. The difficulties that your constituents in the Northern Trust face are mirrored by those of my constituents in Lagan Valley. I have had some challenges with the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and have written to successive Ministers, including the one in front of me. He is currently my leader and boss, but I will not hold back in what I will say. <BR /> <BR />I chair the all-party group (APG) on disability and have done for a number of years, so I can evidence my passion for children, young adults and older people with disabilities and learning disabilities.”
“I am sure that the Minister agrees that interdepartmental working is crucial to the success or failure of the strategy. We previously had a statement from the Infrastructure Minister on inland waterways. It is undeniable that inland waterways will play a significant role in achieving the 30 by 30 target, because they uphold some of our most important biodiversity. What interdepartmental ambition do you envisage in delivering on targets such as those for the Lagan canal in my constituency as well as delivering on the prosperity of biodiversity and our communities?”
“I declare an interest as someone who is nearly 55.”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. A particular bugbear of mine when it comes to what we often term "pensioners' bungalows" is that they can no longer be bought by the tenant. We are not building enough of them; we have a desire to build more apartments and flats. Are we looking at single-storey dwellings for pensioners?”
“We have significant issues in our housing stock. It is the number-one issue in my Lagan Valley office, but I will be honest about what we can deliver in the rest of the mandate.”
“The idea that the scheme frees up social housing in the here and now simply does not reflect the reality on the ground. I know that, over the past 10 years, the rules have been changed to reflect that and fix what is an imperfect scheme. That is why, rather than a blunt moratorium, we would prefer the sensible course of action that is hinted at in amendment No 1. It is also right to recognise the positive steps that have already been taken. The Minister’s work on intermediate rent and an affordable housing model is welcome and should be expanded. Those schemes provide real options for the households that fall between social housing and the private rented market. We need more of that ambition. <BR /> <BR />I ask Members to reflect on what is deliverable. We must be honest with the people whom we represent.”
“The scheme is not beyond reform. Its original policy intent was sound. It had the legitimate aim of supporting long-term tenants to move into home ownership, providing stability for families. The issue is with how the scheme has worked in practice. Too often, homes sold under the scheme are lost from the social housing sector and not replaced with like-for-like homes. That point has already been made. At a time of acute housing need, it is a serious concern. The scheme can and should be strengthened so that, when homes leave the social sector, they are replaced. <BR /> <BR />We also need to be honest about what the scheme does and does not achieve. In the short term, most properties that are purchased are already occupied by long-term tenants who will remain in those homes whether they buy them or not.”
“I thank the Member for that. Perhaps the Minister can pick up on that. I do not sit on the Communities Committee, but it is a good question. Obviously, the Member, as a former Minister, has significant experience.”
“The pressure on rents is structural, not simply regulatory. Amendment No 1 also calls for a review of the house sales scheme, and that is both reasonable and necessary. When Members come to these non-binding motions, we need to remember that we have around 14 months left in the mandate and be honest with people about what we can deliver.”
“A rent adjudicator provides balance and gives tenants a clear route to challenge excessive or unjustifiable increases whilst allowing landlords to demonstrate where increases are reasonable and are linked to genuine costs. It moves us away from blunt instruments and towards independent judgement, transparency and fairness. That is the right direction of travel, but it cannot be a sop or a substitute for delivering an ambitious housing transformation programme. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 1 strengthens the motion by grounding it in absolute reality. It recognises that existing measures alone are insufficient, not because of one single failure but because demand continues to outstrip supply. It correctly identifies insufficient capital investment in social housing as a key driver of rent inflation, and that matters.”
“That is why a proportionate, evidence-based approach is essential. The Department's work on rent regulation makes it clear that there is no one-size-fits-all model that can simply be lifted from elsewhere and applied here in Northern Ireland. Crucially, it also warns that poorly designed rent controls in supply-constrained markets can reduce availability and investment, which, ultimately, could make things worse for tenants. It is kind of an inverse perverse incentive. <BR /> <BR />At the same time, it is equally clear that tenants need stronger protection than currently exists. We absolutely support that. Those two points should not be looked at as if they are in conflict, and that is why we will support the introduction of a rent adjudicator.”
“The private rented sector now carries far more of that weight in our housing system than it was ever designed to or has been asked to bear, and, sadly, that has not happened by accident. It is the result of a long-standing failure to build enough social and affordable homes. Successive Executives have not delivered at the scale required, and demand has inevitably spilled into the private sector. <BR /> <BR />Many landlords in Northern Ireland are small-scale. Very often, they are looked at as if they are some kind of monolith, but, often, they own one or two properties, sometimes linked to retirement planning or family circumstances, and there is no single landlord profile and no universal framework that neatly fits every situation. However, recognising that reality does not mean accepting unfair or unjustifiable rent increases.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion, and I intend to set out why we will support amendment No 1 from the DUP. <BR /> <BR />There is no dispute about the scale of the challenge that we face. Private rents across Northern Ireland have risen sharply, and, for many households, those increases are now matching or are ahead of their incomes. Like many Members, I see that regularly through my constituency office, and I reiterate the point that the number-one issue that comes through my door in Lagan Valley is housing-related matters. At a time when people are already dealing with rising energy bills, increasing food costs and everyday pressures, rent has become a major factor, pushing individuals and families into housing insecurity.”
“I thank the Minister for her fulsome answer. Unfortunately, some of the residents feel let down because they have seen numerous false dawns. The Minister will be aware of the increasing volume of HGV traffic in Hillsborough, which has been an ongoing challenge. It would seem a shame to miss the opportunity to address that next year. Will part of the discussions with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council be about addressing, once and for all, traffic congestion in Hillsborough.”
“I thank the First Minister for that. She is right to point out that there are multiple challenges facing the delivery of all and any of the commitments. However, there are suggestions that a number of papers are not being authorised for the Executive agenda. Will the Minister detail or outline any of the pressures in that respect?”
“The Committee then agreed that, in principle, it had no objection to the LCM moving forward. Furthermore, on 4 December 2025, the Committee again considered the LCM and a written briefing from DAERA's marine fisheries division. At that meeting, the Committee also had the House of Commons Library research briefing entitled 'Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill (2024-25)'. <BR /> <BR />On 11 December 2025, the Committee agreed to support the Minister in seeking the Assembly's endorsement of the legislative consent motion, and our report was published on 12 December.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mr Deputy Speaker, you should have declared an interest as someone who got closer to the marine seabed than most of us have.”
“That convention covers marine genetic resources, area-based management tools and environmental impact assessments in areas beyond national jurisdiction, which are defined as being the high seas and the seabed and ocean floor beyond the limits of national jurisdiction. <BR /> <BR />The Committee also noted that the Bill makes provision for the designation of marine-protected areas in areas beyond national jurisdiction in order to promote conservation and the sustainable use of marine biological diversity. The Bill aims to regulate the sharing and use of marine genetic resources, including marine DNA, and their use in pharmaceutical and medicinal research. Lastly, the Bill seeks to amend existing regulatory regimes and environmental impact assessment regulations in order to better manage significant impacts on the marine environment.”
“I will refer to it as the BBNJ Bill, because it is quite a mouthful. The Bill's explanatory notes are provided by the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. The Bill's broad aim is to address a governance gap that exists in areas beyond national jurisdiction. We noted that the Bill contains 26 clauses. The Minister provided some detail on some of them — clauses 2 to 9, clause 11 and clause 13 — and he engaged the LCM process in Northern Ireland, as the clauses deal with devolved matters, including scientific research and education, hence my nod to my young children. <BR /> <BR />The Committee noted that the Bill facilitates the UK's implementation of the international BBNJ agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs about the LCM on the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill. Members will have read the Committee's report, which was published on 12 December. On behalf of my three children, who are avid supporters of SpongeBob SquarePants, it is absolutely vital — all joking aside — that we look after our marine environment. Whether we have jurisdiction over it or not, it is incumbent on us all to take the legislative consent motion seriously. <BR /> <BR />We considered correspondence from the Department seeking the Committee's views on the LCM, which had been laid on 24 November. The Committee also had before it a copy of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Bill.”
“<BR /> <BR />At its meeting on 6 November, the Committee considered the SL5 and the draft SR. The Committee noted that there had been no changes since the SL1 was submitted to the Committee. Since then, the Examiner of Statutory Rules' report has been issued, and it did not draw the SR to the special attention of the Assembly. The Committee agrees to recommend that the draft Waste (Fees and Charges) (Amendment No.2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2025 be approved by the Assembly.”
“Officials explained that, in the main, the increase is due to the pay increases for civil servants, as most of the cost increases are staff-related. That, in turn, has pushed the regulatory costs up. Some members expressed concern that increased fees could have a negative impact on small-scale or community-led recycling initiatives and queried whether there are supports or exemptions available for them. The Committee also noted that the Department had felt that it was not necessary to conduct an equality impact assessment in this instance and asked for that to be reviewed in future. Officials responded that that may be undertaken at the next review stage of the current regulatory fees and charges policy. The Committee then agreed that it was content to support the SR as drafted.”
“<BR /> <BR />Officials advised that the SR to bring the waste management charging scheme into operation each year is usually laid by negative resolution, as outlined by the Minister here this evening. However, the regulations are made under schedule 4 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, meaning that they are subject to the draft affirmative resolution procedure, unless they are only altering a fee or charge to reflect changes in the value of money. The Committee noted that, as the fees and charges are being uplifted beyond a standard inflationary measure, the SR is required to be laid by draft affirmative resolution. We should be grateful for that. <BR /> <BR />The Committee then had a question-and-answer session with officials. I will not go over them all, but there were queries about the rationale for the increase of 6·19%.”
“Those activities are not subsidised by the taxpayer, and the fees and charges are uplifted annually. The Committee heard that fees are normally uplifted by the GDP deflator figure that the Treasury issues in December, but that, after careful analysis by the NIEA finance branch, it was proposed that the fee charges for 2025-26 should be uplifted by 6·19%. The Committee heard that, if the NIEA used the 2025-26 GDP deflator figure of 2·39%, it would lose an estimated £750,000 in fees and charges across all charging schemes. Those would have had to be paid by the public purse, a point that, as you will understand, the Committee was extremely interested in.”
“When the Committee for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs met on 16 October 2025, we received an oral briefing from DAERA officials on the SL1 regarding the draft statutory rule. The officials briefing the Committee were from the waste legislation branch and the environmental resources policy division. The Committee heard that the Northern Ireland Environment Agency operates an annual charging policy for its regulatory activities, covering eight separate charging schemes, one of which is the waste management charging scheme, and that legislation is needed to bring the scheme into operation each year. <BR /> <BR />The Committee noted that the NIEA charging policy is a model of full-cost recovery and is based on 'Managing Public Money Northern Ireland'.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. The Minister will agree that access to education is a fundamental human right. It is also underpinned by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). For children with complex needs and disabilities, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) will kick in, but value for money is also important. Will the Minister maybe look at the option that I was dealing with with Lagan Valley Rural Transport? There are options out there, but, fundamentally, access to appropriate education is the priority in everything that we do here.”
“<BR /> <BR />Just days after that, another fantastic team from Lagan Valley — Derriaghy Cricket Club Football Club — continued the golden run by lifting the prestigious Border Cup. Manager, Owen Forsythe, and my personal friend and chairman, Iain Webb, have built a side that reflects everything that is positive about grassroots football: commitment, discipline and pride. Goals from Lewis Higginson and Nick Beta sealed a deserved triumph and added to the club's growing legacy. <BR /> <BR />As we know, those football clubs are more than teams in our home towns and constituencies; they are pillars and a reflection of our communities. The volunteers, supporters and players give young people role models to look up to. They bring communities together, and they remind us all what local sport means. Lagan Valley could not be prouder.”
“That happened under the leadership of their manager, Gary Hamilton, who is being fantastically guided by chairperson, Stuart Thompson, and has the diligent and dedicated support of the directors, led by Philip Trimble. That cup win was a landmark achievement for a club that has transformed itself since I used to kick ball against it — I have many memories of playing at the Bluebell Stadium — and is now playing at a completely different level. <BR /> <BR />During the match, Ross Hunter's early goal led to Jordan Williamson's heroics in the penalty shoot-out. It was a victory built on teamwork and character. Above all, it was powered by the unwavering loyalty of the Ballymacash supporters who follow their club across the country through every high and low, and I suspect that there will be more highs than lows in the future.”