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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“The judgement, in referring to the Executive Committee (Functions) Act 2020, said that the Infrastructure:”
“The Minister will be fully aware of the considerable pressures facing the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that have resulted in considerable, continuing backlogs in MOTs and driving tests. The Department bid for £8 million for DVA costs and pressures, and it has received nothing. Will the Minister outline whether a case was made for DVA to address MOT and driving test backlogs?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. On that point, does he recognise that the overwhelming body of evidence that was received by the Infrastructure Committee, with the exception of evidence from Belfast City Council, the geographical location of which meant that it was dealing with very few applicants in that regard, was negative about the PAN's release? Does he agree that it will be important to have adequate consultations with rural councils to ensure that we have an informed rural and sustainable policy going forward?”
“I welcome the Minister's statement on Friday evening that the Department now intends to undertake that stakeholder engagement, whether it be with local authorities or other stakeholders, to ensure that we get a sustainable policy that helps rural dwellers and takes into consideration their needs and aspirations. I support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />One of the things in the Committee evidence that I found most alarming was that the last stakeholder engagement — there was no public consultation on that PAN — was carried out in 2016, five and a half years ago. I did not find that acceptable. If we look at the past five and a half years, we see that so much has changed in the realm of planning. Councils have taken on planning powers to a degree, but their experiences were not taken into consideration. That concerned me, as Committee Chair, and other members. If we are to look at rural planning policy, there needs to be in-depth stakeholder consultation.”
“I thank the Member for her intervention. She is absolutely right: there is no doubt that there is a psychological impact on people who cannot develop and live on the farms they have grown up on or cannot even stay local and have rural connectivity. The Member represents a very rural constituency, so she will know full well the benefits of being able to help on a family farm or be near elderly relatives. That policy would, in effect, have had a great impact on that. <BR /> <BR />We received some interesting statistics and information from the Rural Community Network that showed that, over the past five years, there has been little change in trends and uplift in the number of applicants under the policy. That begged this question from the Committee: why have the PAN in the first place?”
“I am glad that, following representations from those organisations, we have been able collectively to find a desirable outcome. <BR /> <BR />It was not just the councils. There was strong representation from the Ulster Farmers' Union on the effect that it would have on young people and their mortgages and, indeed, on the impact it would have on farming families who wanted to stay in the rural landscape and their local area. We also received a strong representation from the Rural Community Network.”
“That type of representation was a running theme throughout many of the councils' responses to the Committee's call for their experiences. This is what troubled me most: while we were hearing from officials and, indeed, the Minister that there was no policy change, clearly, the interpretation by councils was that that change had occurred. It had occurred with CTY 8 of Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 21. No one can point us to a situation where, as the Minister and officials say, there was no change. CTY 8 makes no distinction between different types of buildings yet the PAN attempts to exclude from the term "building" certain types of building, and that, evidently, is a change. The Committee had considerable concern about that.”
“<BR /> <BR />The work that has been done on the motion and on its subject — the PAN — is an example of strong cross-party working in Committee. The Committee sought from the very beginning to engage, gather evidence from relevant stakeholders and scrutinise, and both the Minister and planning officials appeared before the Committee. The Committee carried out its duty thoroughly when approaching the matter, and, on Wednesday past, it also supported a motion to rescind the planning note. <BR /> <BR />It is important, however, that we in the House recognise the body of evidence there was against the PAN. Ms Sheerin mentioned some of it. There was strong representation from our councils on the issue, particularly Mid Ulster District Council. Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council said that the PAN”
“To say that this is a bizarre debate would be an understatement. I think that it is the first one I have been to where we have achieved the outcome before we have debated the motion. Having said that, I agree with and support the sentiment of the motion. There is undoubtedly an element of embarrassment on the part of the Department on the issue, because, despite continual calls to rescind the PAN, we were told by the Minister and officials that it could not happen. Nonetheless, I welcome the fact that there has been a change in thought, because the issue has caused great hassle not only to Committee members across parties but to councils and constituents. I welcome the change in policy. It is now an important moment to step back and see what we can do to ensure sustainable development in the countryside.”
“<BR /> <BR />We must redouble our efforts to address the issue through reform. Look at some of the recommendations in the proposal: a full review of the children's health system; the appointment of a deputy chief medical officer dedicated to children's health; and the establishment of a single point of entry in our health service for children. Those are things that we can all get behind. The solutions are there, but we need to grasp them now and tackle the cancer crisis head-on to ensure that we deliver the best service for the people whom we represent.”
“The Assembly has to address a number of factors. One is something that some Members and representatives of health professionals do not like to talk about, and that is the lack of face-to-face GP appointments. That is having an impact on our current cancer crisis. I remember when the health chiefs briefed the Committee. They talked about people arriving at A&E and about how late presentations in the midst of the severe lockdowns were having an impact. Unfortunately, for many of those who presented late, their inability to get the appropriate treatment then led to very difficult conversations. Just last week in my constituency, I attended the funeral of a one-year-old who, unfortunately, died of cancer-related illness. There is nothing more touching than a child who is suffering and in pain because of a condition such as cancer.”
“I was accused of scaremongering when I called it a cancer crisis, but I stand by that remark. The figures show that we are at crisis point. We need to deal with the issue through the recommendations that were made for reform.”
“I thank Mr McGrath for tabling this Matter of the Day on what is a very sensitive issue that deserves to be debated on the Floor. I thank the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People for conducting the review of child waiting times. Sadly, the state of our cancer services will send a shiver down all our spines. I spoke on the issue of cancer waiting times and what I saw as being a pending cancer crisis in Northern Ireland, in the midst of the very severe lockdowns. I was concerned, because I had constituents from all age groups coming to me, including young people who were unable to get the treatment that they required, because they were really suffering as a result of a close down of many aspects of our health service due to COVID-19.”
“Dennis Hutchings has been let down by the very state whose people he undertook to protect.”
“Mr Hutchings was an elderly man, a veteran, a former soldier, a man who had served his country with distinction and run into the face of danger to protect people. He was brought before a court when unfit because of kidney dialysis and heart trouble, as was mentioned. It is clear that Dennis Hutchings should not have been in Belfast before the court; he should have been at home with his family. In the days to come, questions will undoubtedly arise for the PPS. How did it come to the decision? Where was the new information? Did it assess Mr Hutchings's health? Did it understand the serious pressure that it placed not only on him but on his family? <BR /> <BR />I salute that former soldier. Today, I say this to the veteran community: I understand that you are hurting; I understand your pain. This can never be allowed to happen again.”
“The sad news last night about the death of Corporal Major Dennis Hutchings will leave an impact on many in Northern Ireland. First and foremost, I pass on my deepest sympathies on his sad and tragic passing not only to his family and friends but to our veteran community, who have been really touched by what they have seen over the past months, when Dennis showed the true and lasting qualities of a solid old soldier when he tried to clear his name. He was an honourable man who came to Belfast to stand trial and clear his name, not only for him but for his regiment. <BR /> <BR />As many Members have said, while I recognise the understandable desire of the Cunningham family for justice, was justice best served?”
“Their actions to date certainly do not fill with me great enthusiasm about their real desire to see change and to see the east-west barriers lifted and to restore economic and constitutional sovereignty to Northern Ireland. That, my friends, is the way by which we can get to a lasting place where we all can get back to normality.”
“While Europe told us that the protocol could not be renegotiated, while Ireland said that the protocol could not be renegotiated and while the SDLP, Alliance and Sinn Féin voted in the House for its rigorous implementation, we now have the parties coming to the Assembly to welcome the progress that has been made by means of the European paper and say that they were calling for action in relation to the programme. What hypocrisy we have heard from the Members opposite on the issue. <BR /> <BR />The European paper that is on the table falls well short of the fundamental change required, and forthcoming negotiations will represent a real opportunity if Europe is serious about addressing the issues that arise from the Northern Ireland protocol. My party will watch closely how Europe and indeed its partners engage in the conversation.”
“There is no unionist consent to the Northern Ireland protocol, so the fine and delicate balance that the Belfast Agreement attempted to construct and attempted to intervene on is flawed on the premise that the Europeans, through means of the protocol, overrode the Belfast Agreement and threw aside the needs and concerns of the unionist community. <BR /> <BR />Here we are today with an attempt by Members opposite to whitewash their rhetoric on the protocol over the past months and years.”
“I rise to speak on the protocol, not for the first time. It is good to see that we have the opportunity on a Monday afternoon to debate it, after Sinn Féin's insistence on a potential recall. I am glad to see that other parties saw a need to stand back, maybe, and assess what was on the table and give the House the opportunity to discuss it this week. <BR /> <BR />I think that it is finally dawning on Members in the Chamber that the imposition of the protocol has indeed harmed the balances created under the Belfast Agreement. It has harmed Northern Ireland economically, and it continues to cause harm constitutionally; indeed, the societal impact and reverberations last to this day.”
“— are there first and foremost to serve the community. The tragic murder of Sir David Amess will not stop me or other colleagues from doing just that.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank the police, but I will say this: my priority when I was elected, and still is today, is to serve my constituents, many of whom live in very vulnerable settings. We can never, ever ignore the fact that, as public representatives, we —”
“His colleagues ran from the council chamber to come to his aid, but, sadly, his life was taken by cruel and cowardly terrorists. <BR /> <BR />There is no doubt that Northern Ireland has paid a heavy price, and, today, its representatives put their lives on the line in order to represent and serve their constituents. As the debate moves towards security arrangements, I thank the Police Service for contacting me — I am sure that they have done the same for other Members — to talk about my personal security arrangements and to review and assess how those are working, not just for me but, more importantly — I am sure that it is the same for other Members — for my staff, who often act as the buffer when Members are targeted by abusive constituents and those who want to harass them.”
“We all know how close we can become to individuals as we walk the political path with them, how difficult it is and how we need a shoulder to lean on. They have lost a friend. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland is no stranger to the targeting of elected representatives. We have had to walk that difficult line in times past as well as now. The names have been mentioned: Robert Bradford MP; Edgar Graham; Jack Barnhill; Senator Paddy Wilson; and Sir Norman Stronge and his son, James Stronge. It was not just our MPs who were targeted, and it did not happen just in this place. It also happened to our local councillors. I think of the late Charles Armstrong, who was the mayor of Armagh city. He left a council meeting and was blown up by a terrorist bomb under his car.”
“It is appropriate that we start today's business with tributes to Sir David Amess MP. As has been said, he was without doubt a gifted and experienced parliamentarian who was committed to the needs and aspirations of his constituents. He was a man who attached himself to noble causes, and, most notably for me, he was a fervent champion of the right to life of unborn children. <BR /> <BR />Sir David stood head and shoulders above the cowardly terrorist who took his life on Friday past. Today, however, I want to say that, among all the things that David was, he was a family man, a loving husband, a loving father and a valued friend, as is evident from the tributes that have been paid to him. What an impact this must have had on his colleagues.”
“for those in the profession. Although I recognise that more work needs to be done to see how screening will be implemented, we must hold fast to that. It is the collective will of the House, so it is something that, collectively, we can all push for. <BR /> <BR />In closing, I thank Mr Hilditch for tabling the motion, and I thank Members for their support. In times of vulnerability and helplessness, firefighters risk their lives to help us. It is, I believe, time for us to help them.”
“Members acknowledged that. I know that the Minister responded to the debate, but the motion also:”
“All Members recognised that. The motion also recognises:”
“Given the data and evidence that have been compiled, we should not hesitate to provide a framework to manage and monitor the health status of firefighters. <BR /> <BR />I will not prolong my comments. We have all spoken proudly about our firefighters and the Fire Service, but it is clear that the motion is about much more than words. My party, including Mr Hilditch, welcomes the amendment, which strengthens the motion. The motion has a very clear ask, and we, as Members, must follow up on that. The motion:”
“Although I welcome the steps that have been taken to minimise their exposure to harmful chemicals while on duty and the ongoing research that is being conducted on a national level to explore the health risks and effects from contaminated equipment, we must acknowledge the growing body of research over the past decade, as mentioned by Mr Hilditch, on the occurrence of cancer in firefighters. <BR /> <BR />In 2010, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the United States of America began a multi-year study of nearly 30,000 firefighters. The resulting evidence was that cancer diagnoses and cancer-related deaths were notably higher among firefighters than in the general population, particularly for forms of respiratory, digestive, urinary and oral cancers.”
“To that end, the Health and Safety Executive continues to monitor the progress of all current research that seeks to improve the working environment of firefighters. <BR /> <BR />Members right across the House talked about the challenges that our firefighters face, whether they be time pressures, the circumstances and dangers, PPE, or their mental well-being. Firefighters encounter such a range of issues. It is important that appropriate steps and mechanisms are put in place to protect them.”
“Thank you, David, for your dedication and the continuation of your fight to protect firefighters across this country. <BR /> <BR />Firefighters, while on duty and enduring the elements, can be exposed to chemicals that are currently classified, as Members mentioned, as definite or probable human carcinogens. First and foremost, it is essential that exposure to those harmful toxins is minimised and that the Fire and Rescue Service carefully control risks to the health of its employees from exposure to hazardous substances. The risks are currently minimised by the provision and maintenance of suitable PPE, the facilitation of storing and cleaning equipment, and the provision of training for employees on all risks.”
“I pay special tribute to my friend and colleague Mr David Hilditch for tabling today's motion. Many will know of the very personal circumstances in which he does so. David has always, in the time that I have known him, been a vocal advocate for firefighters across this country. We have all looked on in admiration at how he has conducted and carried himself following the very difficult, sad and tragic circumstances of Stuart's passing. Stuart proudly and diligently served in the Fire and Rescue Service. Unfortunately, like so many other firefighters, he was diagnosed with cancer and lost his battle. Many of us know of similar circumstances. I am sure that our colleague Robbie Butler can also testify to that happening to colleagues whom he served with.”
“I thank all the Members who contributed to today's debate. It is fair to say that there is unanimity in the Chamber in our appreciation for, and recognition of, the selfless effort that is made by the Fire and Rescue Service in pursuit of protecting lives. Those brave, brave men and women are the first line of response to fires, road traffic collisions and specialist rescue incidents, and we call on them in the most volatile and compromising scenarios imaginable. Sometimes, when one is winding on a motion, it can be difficult to reflect and summarise in full Members' thoughts and feelings across the political parties, but it is quite easy for me to do so today because Members are unified on the need to step up and support our firefighters.”
“Does the Member recognise that, alongside the very personal nature of the issue for Mr Hilditch, it is equally important that, as Ms Hunter pointed out, the needs of our firefighters have reached the global stage, taking into account the tragedy and the devastating scenes that firefighters in the United States rushed to following 9/11?”
“There is hypocrisy in this question for urgent oral answer. Where was the question for urgent oral answer from the Alliance Party regarding previous High Court rulings about numerous parties? There is hypocrisy in the words of the Members opposite who are from a political party with convictions that would make Al Capone blush. <BR /> <BR />Does the First Minister agree that there is a way that this can be resolved, which is by the European Union engaging constructively to ensure that it removes the east-west barriers that it helped to create, which are damaging to the Northern Ireland economy and its people?”
“I thank the Member for giving way on that point. Would he care to make reference to and elaborate on the fact that, while many in the House have articulated that this would apply only in a health trust setting, the wording of the Bill makes it much more vague and that its open and vague nature means that this could, in effect, spill out into other areas across towns and villages in Northern Ireland.”
“Does he agree that that seems merely to be an afterthought, given the functions and provisions provided for in clause 6?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. On that point, does he agree with me about the vague and open-ended nature of the Bill? He has articulately pointed out the Bill's contradictory nature, given that clause 9(c) refers to:”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Will she accept that those who, in principle, disagree with the Bill are suggesting not that the crimes that she has outlined are not wrong but that there are alternative means by which the law can be applied, a point highlighted and, indeed, strengthened by Mr Allister?”
“The Health Minister is, of course, right in that regard. As for me and my party, we respectfully say that we do not feel that the proposals set out in the Bill are the most effective means to deal with harassment. For that reason, we will vote against it.”
“<BR /> <BR />In a statement to BBC NI prior to this debate, Minister Swann said:”
“I will not at this stage. I have given way quite generously. <BR /> <BR />The content of the Bill is what I am interested in, and I see that content as fundamentally flawed. We have to ask ourselves whether the objective of affording patients and staff appropriate protection would be best served, not by writing a blank cheque or by introducing what is, in my view, a regressive Bill that limits and restricts hard-fought basic freedoms and values that are as old as time, but by enhancing existing tools, including the law on harassment. Such an approach would have an established foundation and would not require either the extensive lead-in time or the costs that the Bill's arrangements would incur, nor, indeed, as was highlighted by Mr Allister, would they run the risk of duplication.”
“In times past, we have seen some very dangerous protests outside PSNI recruitment centres, where dissident republicans have made death threats against potential PSNI recruits. We have to get back to the potential far-reaching consequences of the Bill rather than trying to pit one section against another.”
“I thank the Member for her intervention. The Bill sponsor may come on to that point, but I am not aware of any PSNI representations in relation to the Bill. In fact, the original consultation on the Bill goes back to 2016; I am not aware of anything more recent than that, but the Bill sponsor can come on to that. <BR /> <BR />On the Member's second point, I will say this: please do not misrepresent what I am saying here today. We have to realise that the Bill, in itself, has potential far-reaching consequences for fundamental freedoms and values. It is not about pitting one section against another, whether that is to do with cancer services or other such hospital services, or, indeed, in other settings.”
“I will in a moment. <BR /> <BR />Experiences from other jurisdictions indicate that the Bill's arrangements are likely to be wrapped up in litigation from free speech activists for many years. That would place an extra strain on the public purse and would be a key consideration as the Department of Health aims to chart a course towards recovery and reform. <BR /> <BR />I will give way.”
“Those should be any Member's first port of call, rather than a Bill of this nature, which, to my mind, would have dangerous and far-reaching consequences. <BR /> <BR />On a practical level, there is a risk that establishing buffer zones may only have the effect of displacing public order concerns away from the immediate vicinity of public or private premises to other access points at key junctions. What then? <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, the Bill is unlikely to ease operational pressures facing the PSNI as a result of any protest activity. Instead, in all likelihood, it would create further training requirements that are associated with new offences. Experiences from other jurisdictions indicate that the Bill's —.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. It is almost as though he had prior sight of my speech, because I am coming on to that point about responsibilities. <BR /> <BR />On the offensive nature, as he deems it, of the pro-life position and what those people argue for, the Member has to equally realise that many people from a pro-life perspective are deeply offended at the termination of the unborn. They feel so passionately about the issue that they believe it is their duty to stand up for the unborn, be it in democratic settings like this and in the community. <BR /> <BR />On the Member's point about rights and responsibilities, of course free speech is not an absolute. There are limitations prohibiting speech that incites violence, constitutes harassment or is defamatory, but there are laws to deal with that.”
“I will in a moment. I want to proceed at this stage, please. <BR /> <BR />Everyone has a right to free speech under the law. That right should never be taken for granted and must always be protected. Many Members, some of whom I have allowed to intervene today, say things I do not agree with, and I am sure they could say the same about me. We will have differences of opinion, but we must always protect the legitimate right to express that opinion. <BR /> <BR />At this point, I will give way to Mr Carroll.”