Jonathan Buckley
Upper Bann · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Sinn Féin's representatives in the European Parliament voted against proposals aimed at strengthening the management of illegal immigration and facilitating the return of failed asylum applicants — those who entered countries illegally — to designated return hubs outside the European Union.”
“Last year, Sinn Féin, alongside the open-border brigade of the Alliance Party and the SDLP, voted against my motion in the Assembly that called for action to address concerns about illegal and uncontrolled immigration.”
“People want an immigration system that is controlled, credible and properly enforced whilst ensuring that the genuine, heartfelt, lived experience and concerns of local citizens are at the heart of the debate. That is not an unreasonable position to take.”
“I highlight yet another example of a political party claiming to represent the views of people across the island of Ireland yet taking a position that is fundamentally out of step with the concerns being expressed by a vast number of people across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and, indeed, the rest of the United Kingdom, and t…”
“The Minister is aware and is, in fact, on record as having suggested that organised drug crime is happening in prisons. I have previously raised that matter in the Assembly.”
“Minister, I am sure that you agree that we cannot continue to leave residents in limbo. There has to be some progress on the matter. A number of unfinished developments have been lying stagnant for a long time, but the number is so small that it would not require that great an amount of money to ensure adequate facilities for residents, e…”
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“Obviously, this is the first time that we have operated using the new guidance for three-minute speeches. If a Member has taken an intervention, should the Principal Deputy Speaker not decide that they will receive an extra minute? My intervention was made at two minutes and 56 seconds.”
“On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. He talks about the respect of all communities. The Belfast Agreement put at its heart cross-community voting in this place. Does the Member not have any concern or, indeed, remorse about the fact that there will be no cross-community vote on the democratic scrutiny motion in the coming weeks?”
“— and a UK-wide approach to dealing with the issue.”
“"Category A" is the most depraved and revolting. It is absolutely despicable. Just yesterday, the 'Daily Telegraph' reported that a paedophile convicted of sexually assaulting his stepdaughter had been allowed to remain in the United Kingdom because a judge ruled that deporting him to Africa — this is truly shocking — would breach his right to a family life under the European Convention on Human Rights. Has sentencing not gone mad in this place if we cannot collectively deal with such issues and ensure that those offenders are put behind bars?”
“I will give three examples of sentences that, in my view and that of many of our constituents, were wholly and totally inappropriate. Huw Edwards, on whose phone 41 indecent images of children were found, received a suspended sentence: no jail time. The man who supplied those images got no jail time. Yet, across the UK, we see an attempt to target people for the offence of even putting up a Facebook post. Maybe they have offended somebody: they get jail time. When we look at cases like that, we see that how we treat our children is totally abhorrent. <BR /> <BR />Another case: just last week, a trainee teacher was let off a prison sentence. He was found to have shared hundreds of images of babies, yet there was no prison sentence. That 26-year-old distributed and received more than 1,000 of the most serious category A films and images.”
“Alexander McCartney was a global sexual predator: a vile paedophile who targeted hundreds, if not thousands, of young girls across the world. He blackmailed and exploited them, ultimately resulting in the deaths of a young girl and her father from the United States. The test of any society is how it treats its children. Since becoming an elected representative, I have become increasingly concerned by public attitudes towards paedophilia, which is a difficult subject for anybody to debate and talk about. <BR /> <BR />It was revealed in 2021 that, in Northern Ireland, one third of those convicted of child sex offences avoided a prison sentence. What has been going on in our society is absolutely abhorrent. It is happening across the United Kingdom.”
“There is huge potential with biomethane, and it is encouraging to see such innovation in the mid-Ulster area in particular and further afield. Does the Minister anticipate any clauses in the new regulatory Bill that will come forward from the Department that will deal specifically with the direct injection of biomethane into the grid?”
“Under business and trade matters at the plenary meeting, was there any discussion surrounding the chief executive of Invest NI's comments that there is no evidence that dual market access had attracted any foreign direct investment? Do those comments, coupled with the continued barriers to trade east-west, confirm that dual market access does not actually exist and bust the myth that it does?”
“— and I hope that, in the near future, the Minister will explain the reasons for that trend.”
“In the past five years, 2,341 sexual assaults have happened in accident and emergency units and on the hospital estate across Northern Ireland. That is hugely concerning to us all. In the past five years, there have been 37 sexual assaults in the Western Trust and 1,482 in the Belfast Trust. The number has trebled. In the Northern Trust, there have been 255. In the Southern Trust, there were 333, and, in the South Eastern Trust, there were 234. There is huge concern —”
“Northern Ireland has a great history of interaction with US presidents, with no fewer than 20 of Ulster-Scots descent coming from this place. Whether they were Democratic Party presidents or Republican Party presidents, Northern Ireland had a special place in their heart, and I hope that this second term can continue in that vein. <BR /> <BR />Mr Speaker, I congratulate you on a fitting and dignified Armistice Day service yesterday in the Senate Chamber. For all Members to pause and to reflect on those who paid the supreme sacrifice is hugely befitting of this place. I congratulate you for that. <BR /> <BR />Also, I want to raise a worrying statistic that was revealed to me just yesterday, via a question for written answer to the Health Minister.”
“It is also a victory for everyday Americans, some 75 million of them, who chose not to be blindly led by celebrity endorsements but followed the convictions of their heart to elect President Trump for a historic second term. <BR /> <BR />History will record that, in his first term of office, President Trump showed a warm affection for the United Kingdom in spite of some very derogatory terms that were put his way by some senior politicians in the United Kingdom, so it is my hope that President Trump will continue in the vein of having a strong, warm relationship with the UK in his second term of office. <BR /> <BR />May I be the first in the Chamber to extend an open invitation to President Trump to come to Northern Ireland?”
“I associate myself with the congratulatory remarks to President Trump on securing a historic second term in office. Although I was convinced that President Trump would win the election, the scale by which he did so came as a shock. It was a decisive victory at the electoral college: some 312 votes, compared with Kamala Harris's 226. That represents a historic victory, in spite of a liberal media elite that attempted to deride his campaign and a worryingly corrupt legal system that attempted to have him removed from the campaign.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I know how personal the issue is to him, and I commend him on his private Member's Bill. He mentioned Lynsey Courtney. She was not only my friend but my constituent. Does the Member agree that the way in which those families have had to fight has compounded the grief that they have experienced through the loss of a loved one?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. From my time on the Committee with him, he knows that we are both extremely passionate about this issue. I agree that the fight that the Roberts family has had to go through has been nothing short of disgraceful. Does the Member agree that the current system encourages cover-up rather than transparency?”
“Minister, what has been the impact of the subsidy cap, and will it be raised or removed?”
“The deputy First Minister will know that yesterday marked a significant day for many of us who attended acts of remembrance. Last night, I attended the UDR Association act of remembrance in Mountnorris Presbyterian Church, where I joined UDR widows, including my great-aunt, who lost her husband in the Glenanne army barracks explosion many years ago. Most of the victims have experienced much hurt and retraumatisation but no justice. Will the deputy First Minister assure the House that there will be nothing on the site that will hurt victims and survivors of terrorism?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer and her invitation to visit the facilities, to which I have replied. Minister, I am sure that you will agree that, on the face of it, an investment of £13·3 million in a kitchen and cafe seems excessive. How confident is the Minister that that will deliver value for money? Is she in a position to outline the detailed specification and a breakdown of the cost? The issue is of huge concern, particularly given the huge budgetary restraints that we have across government at this time.”
“Does the First Minister stand over the release of the statement in the manner in which it was released?”
“In the interests of transparency for victims and survivors, just last week, the First Minister's party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, faced calls to correct the record in the Dáil after she appeared to have misled the House in relation to the age of the victim of former Senator and former Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Belfast Niall Ó Donnghaile who was the subject of inappropriate texts. For the purpose of clarity, will the First Minister tell the House the age of the schoolboy involved?”
“Minister, the headline in the statement is that you will legislate to ensure that children will remain in education or training until they are 18 years old. Are there specific case studies that the Minister or, indeed, the independent review panel looked at to suggest that that delivers the best outcomes? Will the Minister estimate how many young people would be affected by that change?”
“I do not need to bear on the point. We will have seen in today's media that the PSNI assesses that the 2015 assessment of the status of the Provisional IRA is unchanged and that the army council continue to oversee Sinn Féin activity, so I reiterate the call of Breege and Stephen Quinn. <BR /> <BR />The gardaí have launched another investigation and an appeal for information, so I say to the Benches opposite that people are sick of the cover-ups and the denials. Help that family to get justice. To anybody who conceals information about the acts of those involved in the murder of Paul Quinn or any other murder, I say come forward and give those families the justice and respect that they deserve.”
“Imagine a member of the cartel having the audacity to tell anybody that they were up to their neck in criminality. Reporting in 2007, John Grieve of the Independent Monitoring Commission stated:”
“Seventeen years ago, 21-year-old Paul Quinn was lured to a farm just over the Monaghan border and brutally set upon by what appear to have been 10 to a dozen men. They beat him with iron bars and nail-clawed pieces of wood, breaking every major bone in his body from his neck down. Members in the House will have been introduced to and met Paul's mother and father, Breege and Stephen, on previous occasions. Their campaign for justice for their son, some 17 years on, is truly heartbreaking. <BR /> <BR />Many comments have been made since Paul's passing. The most disturbing of those comments were made by our now Economy Minister shortly after the brutal and barbaric killing of Paul. He claimed that everybody knew that Paul was up to criminality anyway.”
“Early detection saves lives, and timely treatment gives hope.”
“I am well aware of the communities and charities in my constituency that offer so much support to those who have had a cancer diagnosis. We have many organisations and many people — they may have experienced it themselves and are giving back — helping women who find themselves in the most difficult circumstances. I have no doubt that, as they continue to give their time to help those in much need, they will provide an open door to the Minister in respect of any review, in order to ensure that services are adequate for those who are suffering. <BR /> <BR />I again thank Diane Dodds for securing the Adjournment debate. Each of us is aware of the scientific advances in breast cancer treatment. It is time that we stand together and advocate for change that will, ultimately, save lives.”
“I welcome the recent announcement by the Health Minister of new initiatives to address the unacceptable waiting times for breast cancer services. It is absolutely necessary that we address any inadequacies in regional waiting lists and give women access to the earliest appointments that are available to them across the Province. In keeping with that, it is my hope that a wider review of breast cancer services can be completed by the Department as soon as possible. That is a point that all Members who have contributed mentioned.”
“My colleague Doug Beattie mentioned one of them, and a particular one is cervical cancer screening. Anybody who listens to the testimony of those families cannot but be totally moved by the journey that they have been on. There is a lack of confidence there. I am interested in whether the Minister recognises that confidence issue in the local community, and I want to know what steps the Department will take to deal with it. <BR /> <BR />Members, every one of us recognises that funding is a vital part of improving our health service, but that funding must be considered and underpinned by plans put in place for reform in order to ensure that strides towards early detection and efficient treatment can take place.”
“The quarterly Health and Social Care report revealed that only 14 women were treated within 62 days of an urgent GP referral, a statistic of which, collectively, we should be ashamed. Some 25 women were treated beyond 62 days of an urgent GP referral. That is just one example of the failures to ensure timely, efficient treatment. <BR /> <BR />I say to the Minister that we are not here to be alarmist. Our health service, by and large, performs a fantastic job across Northern Ireland. I can recount stories of people who have accessed the system having nothing but praise for the professional service that they received. <BR /> <BR />I say gently to the Minister, however, that there is a growing concern in the Southern Trust area and, in particular, in Craigavon, where some of the major issues with screening arise.”
“I am sure that Members across the Chamber can recount such circumstances, whether it be of family members, friends or constituents who have had that early detection and have been able to receive appropriate treatment and who, in many cases, are now living a full life because of it. <BR /> <BR />Reports have consistently shown that women in Upper Bann and those being treated in the Southern Trust area wait longer than they should for breast cancer screenings, test results and follow-up appointments. In considering that, we recognise the devastating potential that delays can have on patients' physical health and, indeed, their mental and emotional well-being throughout their cancer journey.”
“I thank in particular my colleague Diane Dodds MLA for bringing the matter to the Chamber. It is an issue that she has championed and sought to raise awareness of during her time as DUP health spokesperson, a member of the Health Committee and an MLA for Upper Bann. <BR /> <BR />As Diane rightly points out, there is an issue of urgent concern for our community in Upper Bann. Unfortunately, in our constituency, there has been a worrying trend of delays being faced by those seeking timely diagnosis and treatment. As we are all well aware, early detection of breast cancer is critical to having successful outcomes. That story has been repeated so many times.”
“Day by day, each statement that is made, whether in Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, brings with it more questions about the serious issue of safeguarding at the heart of the government in not only Northern Ireland but the Republic of Ireland.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. We have just been informed that the former Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Belfast and Senator, Niall Ó Donnghaile, has been removed from his party and charged with having sent inappropriate messages to a person under the age of 18. That is another serious safeguarding issue. <BR /> <BR />Following Niall Ó Donnghaile's resignation from the Seanad, the First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, thanked him for his diligent service. I suspect that the First Minister was aware of the serious safeguarding issue at that time. I therefore think that it is appropriate to ask the Speaker to provide time for the First Minister to return to the House to give a fulsome statement of the facts of what has happened.”
“There are Members in the Chamber who believe that, just because they are now elected representatives, their heinous terrorist acts and convictions are in some way justified. History records that the Nazis had a similar ideology. <BR /> <BR />To get back to the substance of the issue, I ask the Minister what work is being done to support working-class Protestant boys who continue to feel the worst impact of social deprivation and educational underachievement in Northern Ireland.”
“The entire McMonagle saga has exposed serious failings in Sinn Féin's child safeguarding policies. What is even more concerning to the House is that the failure to notify the Assembly and return Mr McMonagle's security pass for the Building also compromised the Assembly's child safeguarding policy. Does the First Minister accept that, and will she set the record straight and apologise to the House?”
“I thank the junior Minister for her answer. In just the past 24 hours, the Yellow Door deli in my constituency closed its doors on Portadown high street, citing spiralling costs. That is not an isolated issue; it is happening in towns and villages across Northern Ireland. With that in mind, will the junior Minister outline who is coordinating the cross-departmental approach that needs to be taken to deliver on the high street task force report?”
“I wish to raise a point of order under Standing Order 65, following last week's disturbing developments regarding child safeguarding and the former Sinn Féin press officer Mr Michael McMonagle. We have been made aware of his continued access to this very Building. Every answer that has been given so far raises further questions. In the interests of full transparency, will the Speaker confirm when Sinn Féin notified the Assembly and terminated Mr McMonagle's Stormont access pass? Has the Assembly's safeguarding policy been compromised as a result of Sinn Féin's not notifying the Assembly? Further to that point of order, will the Assembly confirm which Sinn Féin MLAs employed Mr McMonagle, and whether they include the First Minister, Michelle O'Neill?”
“FDI is crucial to any local economy. On that point, I pay tribute to the dedicated members of staff at Invest NI who have delivered thousands of jobs and millions of pounds of investment into Northern Ireland over its many years of existence. The aspiration for regional balance is a noble principle, but as it is harder to attract FDI to local economies as the labour markets and production methods have shifted, how can the Minister assure the House that the drive towards regional balance and a targeted approach will not stifle the overall ability to attain FDI?”
“As we lay him to rest later this week, I, on behalf of the Portadown people, give thanks for his life. It is true that some people do shine too brightly ever to be forgotten. Thank you, Tony Kennoy.”
“In the early hours of Sunday morning, Portadown lost one of its national assets: not a celebrity sports star or a celebrity businessman but a unique, warm and loveable character in Tony Kennoy. <BR /> <BR />Tony came to Portadown many years ago, through the care system. He brought with him a smile and a laugh that very few people can bring to a community. Following his passing, there has been an outpouring of love and grief over the impact that that special man had on so many people. Protestant, Catholic, neither, young, old: Tony loved them all. <BR /> <BR />At times like this, I am very proud to be a Portadown man. Tony was a vulnerable adult, and the manner in which the people of Portadown took him in as a member of their family, fed him, looked after him and kept him safe is truly incredible.”
“Tourism is important to our city. For buses to be able to bring tourists into the city and access hotels, it is important that DFI works in conjunction with private bus companies. I was informed today that DFI has put a ban on private bus companies allowing their passengers to get off at the Europa Hotel, which is forcing visitors to have to cart their bags through the city centre. Will the Minister commit to looking at how that regulation is impacting on tourists coming to our city? The Europa Hotel, the most bombed hotel in Europe, has not only survived but is now thriving. Let us not let it die from DFI over-regulation.”
“The wider issue surrounding Hillsborough has been long in the press as to the severe traffic congestion that it faces, particularly as a rat run for many large heavy goods vehicles. I know that the Department has looked at the issue: is there any further update that the Minister can provide to the House?”
“I appreciate the Minister's update on the A1, which also travels through our constituency of Upper Bann. There are huge implications for life and safety along that route.”
“— and committed to delivering for every —”
“For those who perhaps felt that he had moved on with time, around 2006, he said that he was "proud" that he took up arms. What hypocrisy have we heard from the Member today? <BR /> <BR />What about Sinn Féin? In 2021, the PSNI assessment of the IRA army council's relationship with Sinn Féin maintained that it remained unchanged. Perhaps the party should take the plank from its own eye before it casts aspersions on Members who are committed to the rule of law —”
“<BR /> <BR />However, Members, even that did not spare the blushes of the bold Mr Sheehan. He was not quite done at that stage with insulting victims, and, around 2010, he described the Northern Ireland conflict as "probably quite civilised". In one chilling intervention, he said:”
“Well, I have news for the House: the DUP will not leave behind its working-class, loyalist communities. Regardless of where they come from, like every other citizen in this place, they deserve the right to educational attainment. <BR /> <BR />Many parties have questioned the rule of law. Dare I remind the House that it was the DUP, in 1998, that opposed the release of prisoners on to our streets? That is why today's comments from Mr Sheehan are particularly alarming. Let us look at his history. In 1978, Pat was sentenced to 15 years in jail for trying to bomb a cash and carry. Mr Sheehan was released from prison in 1987. In 1989, he was sentenced to 24 years for leaving a bomb at a Belfast security checkpoint. He was released under the terms of the Belfast Agreement.”
“Hypocrisy is never far from this place. We had a fresh dose today from Mr Sheehan. He questioned the priorities of an Education Minister who, since taking office, has hit the ground running in tackling the priorities that affect everyday citizens in Northern Ireland. Meeting over 70 schools since taking office, the Minister has set about an approach to tackle the huge childcare bills that face everyday constituents, to settle teacher pay issues, to create an additional 1,400 places for children with special needs and, yes, to tackle educational underachievement. <BR /> <BR />The House should be ashamed of its track record on that last issue. Sadly, working-class Protestant boys have borne the brunt of educational underachievement in this country.”
“Minister, you will know that school capital investment is crucial not only to local schools but their communities. My constituency of Upper Bann has a large cross-section of schools in which the investment is much needed, but the Minister will know that Portadown College has been of particular interest to me. Is the Minister in a position to update me on progress on that school's capital investment?”