Keith Buchanan
Mid Ulster · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Minister, we watched a gentleman having his head nearly removed on the street. That is a problem, whether you think so or not. I referred to it as being like something that I witnessed in the slaughterhouse in my previous job. We have to address it. I am not radical; I am just a normal MLA who talks to normal people in the street.”
“It is always a privilege to celebrate sporting success in mid-Ulster. Today, we congratulate Nigel Davidson, a proud Cookstown businessman, on his outstanding achievement at the Hyrox world championships in Stockholm. To see him compete and succeed on the world stage is an achievement that makes all of us in Cookstown incredibly proud.”
“Minister, I was contacted on Friday by a lady whose brother was in Muckamore — a lady who did not tell her story. Now the report has come out and sparked a degree of need for her to speak. I use the word "need", but that is maybe not the best word. What can that lady do now?”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. We are starting to see the impact of investment into local communities through funds from the Ulster-Scots Agency and the Arts Council. In the past, Sinn Féin has been critical about your priorities, complaining recently that consistent funding for Ulster Scots and bands was for "vanity projects".”
“Last Friday, I had the privilege of walking alongside the Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland, his dedicated team and veterans as they completed a six-day journey: the Somme 110 walk. The final day coincided with the 82nd anniversary of D-Day.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Battle of the Somme is not just a story from the past but one that lives on in families, regiments and the hearts of those who continue to serve. It stands as a stark reminder of the sacrifice, suffering and bravery of those who fell and fought. Those men faced unimaginable conditions so that others might know freedom.”
The complete record
Every one of 761 lines we hold for Keith Buchanan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 2 of 16.
“On reflection, and having had time to breathe, would you say that your comments about the 7 October attack were right or wrong?”
“Where are their social media posts, their statements and their public encouragement? Where is their willingness to stand up and say clearly and confidently that policing is a noble profession of which the community should be part? Their voices are silent. <BR /> <BR />Leaving the burden of promoting recruitment to local officers certainly is not leadership. If we want to see change, we must all be prepared to stand up, speak out and actively promote policing as a valued and vital profession. If we want a safe, stable and confident Northern Ireland, we must invest in the people who protect it. That means predictable, long-term recruitment and ensuring that policing remains an attractive career. It means each of us using our voice and our platform to encourage that, and not all of us in the Chamber are doing that.”
“If we want a police service that is representative, resilient and rooted in the communities that it serves, those communities must feel encouraged and supported to step forward. Let me be absolutely clear: encouragement cannot be left solely to local officers or neighbourhood policing teams, because they already carry enough on their shoulders. The responsibility belongs to us all: community leaders, public representatives and politicians. <BR /> <BR />I have done my part. I have used social media, community forums and my public engagements to say openly and without hesitation that I support the PSNI and encourage young people in Mid Ulster and further afield to consider a career in policing, but I must ask this: where is the leadership from other political representatives across Northern Ireland?”
“<BR /> <BR />Every section of society and every political representative in the Chamber has a responsibility to encourage and support recruitment into the PSNI. We cannot call for better policing while failing to promote policing as a respected, viable and valued career. We cannot demand improved response times, greater neighbourhood visibility or enhanced community engagement if we are not prepared to champion the very people who deliver those services. <BR /> <BR />The deadline for recruitment passed last Wednesday. In past recruitment campaigns, including those in my constituency of Mid Ulster, the number of applications has remained lower than average. That should concern every one of us.”
“I welcome the opportunity to address an issue that is central to public confidence, community safety and the long-term stability of policing in Northern Ireland: the urgent need to restore and strengthen police recruitment and our collective responsibility in that. I am a member of the Policing Board. At many Policing Board meetings, concerns are raised about the decline in officer numbers and the pressure that that places on the PSNI. Those concerns reflect what communities across Northern Ireland already know: our police service is being stretched beyond what is sustainable. We want to build a society in which people feel safe in their homes, confident in their communities and supported by a visible, responsive and representative police service.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Minister, in the past, your Department has introduced 20 mph speed zones outside schools, and I am a big advocate of that. However, will there be any opportunity to look at that and, rather than having 20 mph signs, use SIDs to indicate the speed that people are doing? It is OK to have two flashing orange lights to denote a 20 mph zone, but the SID tells you what speed you are doing. Is it a possibility, if you are rolling out 20 mph zones, that you will look at SIDs as an option instead of having a 20 mph sign?”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I apologise for not being in my place to ask my question. I popped out for longer than I had anticipated.”
“Minister, I welcome any changes to save lives, and, no doubt, this is a positive move. We learned about it on 'Good Morning Ulster'. Having been a member of the Infrastructure Committee in the past, I think that it would be good to give the Committee its place. <BR /> <BR />This is a good-news story, but it is not going to improve the condition of our roads. I am meeting people on the wrong side of the road every day of the week. This good-news story will not hide the bad-news story. When you are you going to fix the roads properly?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I will stay on the theme of planning consultations. Shared Environmental Services (SES) is simply not responding to consultations — it is just not doing it; it has stopped — and that is, literally, killing agriculture, building and development. Minister, is it answerable to you, or is it following your guidelines? What is happening with that organisation?”
“They are sometimes begging for services that should be guaranteed, not gambled for. <BR /> <BR />We have a responsibility not just as policymakers but as a society to ensure that the transition to adulthood is not a moment of fear but a moment of opportunity. That means properly resourcing adult services. It means ensuring the continuity of care. It means supporting respite provision, employment pathways and community programmes that give people dignity, purpose and independence. Most of all, it means recognising that every young person, regardless of disability, deserves the chance to thrive.”
“When her son first left children's services, the family suddenly had no overnight respite; a lifeline simply vanished. <BR /> <BR />Those young people are no different from any of us. They are hopeful, nervous, funny, brave and full of potential, but they face challenges that most of us have never had to consider. When we left school, we moved on to further education, training or work. Those young people do not have the same post-school or education options. Their pathways are narrower, more fragile and too often dependent on overstretched services. Too many families face a cliff edge at 18. Too many young people lose the structure, support and stability that they rely on. Too many parents are left fighting — as was mentioned, it is a fight — to get whatever support is available.”
“<BR /> <BR />For most teenagers, leaving school marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter, but, for many young people with learning disabilities and their families, that moment brings not excitement but anxiety, uncertainty and a profound sense of loss. When those children turn 18, their lives are transformed overnight. They move from child services to adult services, which is a shift that brings new social workers; new respite arrangements, if they are available; and a complete change in routine. For those young people and their families, those changes are not administrative adjustments; they are deeply disruptive. Claire Knox, the mother of a young man who has been through that transition, still speaks movingly about the hopes that she has had for her son and the fears that she felt and still feels as vital support fell away.”
“I thank Emma for bringing the topic to the Chamber today. It is timely. It is a matter that has been discussed in our office many times. The transition from childhood to adulthood for young people with learning disabilities and complex needs is an issue that is deeply human and profoundly important for the future of our society. It is not a new problem: families have been trying to navigate and highlight the challenge for many years. In 2012, one of my members of staff, Claire Knox — I have permission to mention her name — recorded a programme with the BBC entitled 'Special Me'. The concerns raised then are the exact same concerns as families are raising today.”
“Minister, on the A29 at Cookstown, you are delivering a £430,000 active travel scheme that is being built as we speak. Like others, no doubt, I could point to loads of areas where that money could be far better spent. I want you to tell the people of Cookstown why we are building a £430,000 active travel scheme to literally nowhere when the state of the roads is absolutely atrocious and there is no money to fix potholes; I hear that day and daily from your engineers. What do you say to the people of Cookstown who ask me, "Why are they building that?"”
“When you look at your children or grandchildren at Christmas, tell them what you did; tell them the coward that you were to kill absolutely innocent people. If tragedies happen to you, your family or your community, have a good, long think about what you did and what you inflicted. It will come back on you. <BR /> <BR />Today, we remember with respect eight decent men whose lives were stolen: Gary Bleeks, Cecil Caldwell, Robert Dunseath, Oswald Gilchrist, David Harkness, Bobby Irons, Richard McConnell and Nigel McKee.”
“<BR /> <BR />To those who carried out the attack and fled the scene, I say this, and I want you to listen and listen clearly: you may have evaded earthly justice, but you will never escape justice on the weight of what you did. Every day, you will think about what you did. You will think about the sight of that minibus coming down that road and how you pressed the button. You know who you are. To the people who rang to tell them that the minibus was on its way, I also say, "You know who you are". You have evaded justice here, but you will never evade it in the next world. That is fundamentally clear. Not a day will pass when the memory of your actions does not return to haunt you — it will — and there will be a reckoning beyond this world that no one — absolutely no one — can avoid.”
“I say "cowards" — claimed responsibility, attempting to justify the unjustifiable by labelling the men as collaborators. That narrative was as false then as it is now. <BR /> <BR />To this day, no one has been convicted for that atrocity — no one. That continuing absence of justice deepens the pain for the families left behind. There must never be a hierarchy of victims. Every life taken during the Troubles deserves truth, accountability and remembrance. I again urge anyone with information about terrorist activity during that period to take it to the police. Silence only protects those who inflicted suffering on their neighbours.”
“The past weekend marked another anniversary of one of the most harrowing atrocities of the Troubles: the Teebane bombing on 17 January 1992. On that winter evening, eight Protestant workmen were murdered and five others injured when a massive IRA roadside bomb destroyed their minibus at Teebane crossroads between Cookstown and Omagh. They were tradesmen — tradesmen; nothing more — ordinary, hard-working individuals returning home after a day's work at Lisanelly army barracks. They were targeted solely because of the contracts that their employer, Karl Construction, undertook. Their murder was an act of pure brutality. The blast was heard for many miles; indeed, it shook the windows of my home. The Provisional IRA's Tyrone brigade — "brigade"?”
“I thank the Minister for her part-answers so far. Minister, have you misled the House by omission?”
“<BR /> <BR />The Assembly must send a clear message that we will not allow our older generation or any generation to be preyed on. We need to strengthen awareness, improve legislation and give law enforcement the tools to fight the threat. Our elderly citizens deserve dignity, safety and peace of mind. Let us decisively act to protect them.”
“Victims often feel betrayed, humiliated and fearful, especially in isolation. It is shameful that older people are targeted because of their increased vulnerability and lack of technological awareness. Indeed, as others mentioned, some younger folks are maybe not that savvy either, and I include myself in that. <BR /> <BR />It is shameful that criminals exploit trust and innocence for profit. We must recognise that scams do not only inflict financial trauma. Every week in Northern Ireland, around 100 scams are reported. Those are the ones that are reported. Those are 100 families who have been disrupted and 100 crimes that must be stopped. Technology such as AI and deepfakes have made scams more sophisticated. What began on social media is now being used in bold frauds against individuals and companies.”
“The Democratic Unionist Party believes that our older generation and, indeed, every generation must live in safety, free from crime, abuse and exploitation. That is not just policy; it is a moral duty. Fraudsters today are organised, sophisticated and global. We have pushed for fraud and cybercrime statistics to be broken down by age so that the scale of the problem facing older people is clear. Along with others in the Chamber, I was horrified to read about what happened to 82-year-old Eddie, whom my colleague referenced earlier, who was tricked by a fake AI-generated advert. He trusted what looked like a real company, only to be defrauded. It is shameful that criminals target older people's vulnerability and exploit their trust. Scams cause more than financial loss; they leave deep emotional scars.”
“Thank you. <BR /> <BR />Finally, the Minister touched on the fact that the agriculture sector is a strategic asset. He talked about the import of fruit and veg into Northern Ireland, and veterinary medicines — something on which he is working with DEFRA. We will see where that goes. Obviously, time is running out on that. To be fair, he provided a degree of clarity on SES and NIEA issue more broadly for planning. I will leave it at that.”
“He also said that energy costs here reflect directly on to business costs. That is a fair enough point. John Blair touched on the just transition fund, veterinary medicines and the sewage discharges into Belfast lough, not all of which, to be fair, point to the agriculture sector. I sometimes question the 62/24/12 figures and where they have come from. I think that some of them have been dreamed up, but I do not want a response on that one. Modelled is one thing, but actual is another. John Blair also said that climate and agriculture are two sides of the same coin. I do not really know what that meant, but I wrote it down anyway. John, thank you for that.”
“I am not sure what he voted for or did not vote for. I will leave that there. He also talked about veterinary medicines. <BR /> <BR />Sian Mulholland talked about food banks and their impact. Robbie talked about planning paralysis — everyone covered that more broadly. He also talked about the emission targets. Patsy wanted investment to improve productivity. That is fair enough. He talked about blue-green algae and new farming practices, but he did not mention the impact of NI Water. The impact that NI Water is having on Lough Neagh is widely known in the Chamber, but maybe some Committees do not really understand the impact. Maybe they need to own up to that. He also talked about veterinary medicines and planning issues. <BR /> <BR />David Honeyford talked about food and drink and said that we punch above our weight here.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will briefly go through some Members' comments, if I may. Michelle McIlveen, who moved the motion, talked about Northern Ireland producing 25% of the UK's food, which is an awful lot for a place the size of Northern Ireland, and said that 77% of the food produced here is sold outside Northern Ireland. She also talked about the veterinary medicine issue, which a lot of Members covered. <BR /> <BR />Declan McAleer said that the agriculture sector is a growing part of our economy. He talked about other cheaper imports at lower standards. If our production in Northern Ireland is reduced, where will the produce come from, not necessarily to feed Northern Ireland but to feed the UK mainland? Where will that produce come from, and what standard are you going to get? He voted for "breakfast", not Brexit.”
“I declare an interest; I have two brothers who are farmers. Why would you ever want to be a farmer when that is looming over you every single day? <BR /> <BR />To be fair, there is only so much that we in here and the Minister can do; I appreciate that. However, as we have heard, the world trade price of milk will have another detrimental impact on farming. We therefore have to try to do what we can here not to make it difficult for farmers, who are willing to work with us, as we have heard before. We cannot rely on complex fixes. We must restore certainty, fairness and unfettered access across the UK internal market. Northern Ireland deserves nothing less. <BR /> <BR />Those are not abstract risks; they hit animal welfare, food security and consumer costs. This is not just a transition; it is a direct attack on food security.”
“The planning logjam from ammonia controls, as has been touched on, is strangling investment, especially in poultry. Farmers are willing to adapt, but they cannot do that if the Minister and his agencies contradict one another, and we have already covered that. <BR /> <BR />We all want sustainability, but it cannot prevent progress. Current climate targets would slash livestock numbers. Looming over all those issues are other external threats. A farmer today, who is trying to make a living at the side of the A5 or, indeed, the A32 and who has had part of his land taken, leaving it in devastation, also has to deal with TB; bird flu; planning issues; bluetongue; inheritance tax; the weather; costs; negative press, with people who do not even know what they are talking about; veterinary medicines; and world trade prices.”
“Thank you. It is good to hear that, Minister. It is important to put yourself in the shoes of those farmers, because they are pulling their hair out — what is left of it. <BR /> <BR />Ambition is important, but ambition without realism risks undermining our economy and our environment. Rural communities and major infrastructure projects cannot be sacrificed to satisfy the overly ambitious and impractical climate agenda that risks undermining economic growth and the livelihood of farmers. What is needed is a balanced approach. I do not think that you will get any argument about that from the farming sector. There needs to be a balanced approach that promotes sustainability without imposing disproportionate burdens on the rural community.”
“Farmers are stuck between SES and the NIEA. They need some clarity on where to go. Farmers are trying to improve their business, but, as they cannot get any direction from either organisation, they are stuck.”
“Having worked in the food processing sector for 22 and a half years — I will not go into the number of days, minutes and seconds, because that would bore people — I have seen exactly what farmers and food processors do daily. <BR /> <BR />The Minister needs to work alongside the DUP — the DUP has been referenced a lot today — to establish realistic and achievable climate change targets that safeguard the future of our agriculture industry while ensuring environmental protection. I deal weekly with farmers and landowners who are stuck between Shared Environmental Services and the planning legislation. They are stuck in the middle of that, and they are not getting clarity either way. If they had clarity, at least they would know where to go. I appreciate that the Minister has already made his comments.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland's agri-food sector is the backbone of our economy. It deserves clarity, support and respect, which I have not heard much of in here today, to be honest. Let us back our farmers, protect food security and ensure that that world-leading industry continues to thrive. It is estimated that Northern Ireland feeds approximately 10 million people. Food production is not just a business; it is a strategic asset. Our farmers are world leaders in many innovations. It was noted in a briefing by Invest NI that 35% of the businesses in the Mid Ulster council area, which is in my constituency, are agriculture.”
“Without decisive intervention from both Ministers, public safety will suffer, and vulnerable people will not receive the specialist care that they deserve.”
“<BR /> <BR />As cases rise and services stall, the strategy needs to be accelerated. Let us be clear: as a party, we will support any measures that improve treatment and support for people who are experiencing mental health challenges. It is incumbent on us all to continue to press the Government for more funding so that we can tackle those serious issues.”
“<BR /> <BR />The crisis in mental health in Northern Ireland is deeply worrying. Rates of ill health continue to rise year-on-year, and mental health services are becoming ever more stretched. It is regrettable that Northern Ireland spends less per head on mental health services than the rest of the United Kingdom, despite its having some of the highest rates of mental health cases in the UK. It is imperative that the Health Minister works to prioritise funding for those vital services. Expediting a new regional mental health service would also support a more consistent approach to care across Northern Ireland. The Health Minister should continue to progress the mental health strategy. Progress has been made on a number of actions, but there is still more to do.”
“<BR /> <BR />If we continue to underfund the PSNI, we risk breaking the backbone of public safety in Northern Ireland. There must be a review of the PSNI budget. We must provide the resources that our officers need, and we debated that in the House last week. We must ensure that the police service remains a police service and not a stretched substitute for the health service. <BR /> <BR />While I recognise that the Department of Justice and the Department of Health have acknowledged the overlap in responsibilities, acknowledgement is not enough. The Minister of Health and the Minister of Justice must move beyond discussion and deliver a properly resourced system in which health professionals lead in a health crisis and police officers can focus on keeping our communities safe.”
“It is unacceptable. <BR /> <BR />During a briefing to the Policing Board, it was noted that the PSNI responded to around 500 ambulance calls when the Ambulance Service could not attend. In just three months, officers spent over 4,500 hours in hospitals supporting people in mental health crises. They dealt with more than 21,000 mental health-related calls. <BR /> <BR />The PSNI is not only keeping our community safe, but it is increasingly acting as a substitute health service. That is not its role. Without proper funding, the PSNI will face impossible choices about what it can and cannot do. That means slower response times, fewer officers on the ground and communities left vulnerable. Policing is not optional; it is fundamental.”
“Our officers are being asked to do more than ever before, with fewer resources than ever before. <BR /> <BR />In March 2024, the Chief Constable, Jon Boutcher, put it plainly when he said:”
“Yet, through no fault of their own, officers are being diverted into roles that they are neither trained for nor resourced to carry out. <BR /> <BR />Every day, police officers are deployed to around 100 concern for safety calls. That is not the most appropriate use of policing resources. It is neither safe nor sustainable. The statistics provided by the PSNI are staggering. Officers spend an average of 14 hours in A&E waiting with individuals who require a mental health assessment. That is time taken off our streets when neighbourhood policing numbers are already critically low. <BR /> <BR />Since 2010, spending on public safety has risen by just 8%, while the Health budget has increased by 88%. In that same period, the PSNI budget has fallen below £900 million.”
“Thank you. For the record, Mr Deputy Speaker, I declare that I am a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. <BR /> <BR />We welcome the motion tabled by the Alliance Party. Nobody disputes that the issues that it raises are serious, unacceptable and must be addressed. Police officers are under immense pressure, and the public rightly expect us to act. Our amendment adds to the motion. It makes some small tweaks to add to it, but it does not take away from its importance or the motion more broadly. <BR /> <BR />Underfunding has reduced our police service's capability in recent years. The public rightly expect their police service to focus on keeping communities safe, preventing crime and responding swiftly when danger arises.”
“Thank you for your statement, Minister. You said that the outbreak may have been the result of midges. We are speculating on that. There remains a risk from importing animals from other parts of Europe. Given that it appears that bluetongue is now a reality in Northern Ireland — hopefully, it is not, but let us say that it is — will you now look seriously at implementing restrictions on animal movements from Europe?”
“Our officers put their lives at risk daily. They deserve not just gratitude but the resources to do their job properly. There is no time for delay. A fully staffed police force is in all our best interests. The Assembly must make that case with one voice.”
“<BR /> <BR />The facts are stark. Between 2010 and 2022, police budgets in England and Wales rose by 20%. In Northern Ireland, the PSNI budget fell slightly and, in real terms, declined by 36% due to inflation. Despite the Northern Ireland block grant's growing since 2010, the police budget has dropped from £903 million to £892 million. That erosion of priority inevitably comes at a cost to services. The PSNI has statutory obligations to protect life and property, maintain law and order, prevent crime and bring offenders to justice. It also faces the ongoing threat from dissident republicans. Without adequate resources, those obligations cannot be met. <BR /> <BR />We stand with the Chief Constable in his call for investment to rebuild officer numbers and secure a visible, accessible, community-focused service.”
“That principle is fundamental to fairness and public confidence. Whether it is for tackling violence against women and girls, as previously mentioned, and as stated in amendment No 2, safeguarding vulnerable people, fighting organised crime or maintaining community policing, we commend the Chief Constable's detailed workforce recovery plan for those things and others, but approval is not enough; funding must be delivered. Since the restoration of the Executive in 2024, police numbers have continued to decline. Chronic underfunding has real-world consequences. Crime becomes harder to tackle when officer numbers fall. The Chief Constable rightly took his concerns to the Prime Minister. As accounting officer, he is entitled — indeed, it could be argued that he is obliged — to seek resources at the highest level.”
“We are united in our determination to build a Police Service of Northern Ireland that is open to every section of society. However, let us also be honest: the ombudsman's recent report makes harrowing reading. It lays bare the tragic consequences of under-resourcing our Police Service. A prolific abuser was able to operate online, and a young child lost her life. That failure must never be repeated. <BR /> <BR />The PSNI cannot do that alone. It must work with the Executive, the Secretary of State, the National Crime Agency and others. However, collaboration without capacity is meaningless. Staffing remains a fundamental issue. Without sufficient officers and staff, the PSNI cannot meet public expectations. Recruitment must be based on merit. It must be based on ability, not religious background, gender or orientation.”
“Thanks for that answer, Minister. I mentioned that there is a big disparity. Some of the farmers are being offered £16,000, £17,000 or £18,000 per acre, yet it costs close to £30,000 to replace that land. What would you therefore say to farmers or landowners in the A5 area? There are over 300 of them, and they have inheritance tax and the land take from the A5 looming over them. As I said, there is a massive disparity in the figures. Something has to be done, because it is not possible for them to run their business and also replace land, based on the figure that they might get to do so.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, in May 2025, you initiated the regional breast cancer assessment system to reduce times. When do you envisage that that will meet the 14-day target?”
“First Minister, in the period between 2011 and 2015, 150,000 people claimed to be asylum seekers. In the period from 2021 to 2025, there were 400,000 such claimants, which is a massive increase. In your opinion, as First Minister for this region of the United Kingdom, is there a problem?”
“Thank you for your answer, Minister. You indicated that you will make some form of decision at the back end of this year. When will the implementation of that decision be rolled out? What is the timeline for people on the ground seeing a cost reduction? A bit of a process is involved. When therefore will increased socialisation of connection costs hit the ground so that people can see savings?”
“The Infrastructure Minister previously blamed the issue with waste water capacity on Tory austerity, and now she is blaming it on British Government austerity — there has been a change in the line there. Does the Minister agree with the assessment that it is the Government's fault?”