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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“I rise to speak about the dire state of many elements of the Department for Infrastructure. That Department has rightly been dubbed "the Department of Backlog and Delay". How many of us have received correspondence from constituents who are unable to book an MOT test? How many constituents have contacted us because they are unable to get a driving test? How many major planning applications have been delayed in the system, some for over 200 weeks? Rural roads are unsurfaced because of continual legal disputes between the Department and contractors. There is a backlog of taxi drivers and HGV drivers looking to access the system because they are unable to get through the complex testing system. In short, service users are not getting the service that they deserve and, more importantly, that they pay for.”
“The investigation by 'The Nolan Show' goes to the heart of how we as a society treat and, indeed, provide care to our fellow citizens. I was alarmed when I listened to the accounts of many individuals who were not even offered the continuing care option. There is a moral obligation on the Department to follow up on those cases to ensure that there is retrospective provision. <BR /> <BR />How does the Minister respond to the allegation that the policy is more about closing a loophole and cutting costs than about a fair or evidence-based approach to long-term care? Why was the matter not brought to the Executive? It is significant, controversial and cross-cutting.”
“Recently, at my request, the Health Minister met one of the families directly affected by that. Will the Minister guarantee that the Department of Justice will feed into those conversations with Department of Health officials to ensure that we can help to eradicate this scourge, which is, sadly, claiming too many lives?”
“The Minister may be aware of the dangerous rise in online self-harming websites, which prey particularly on young people and the most vulnerable in our society.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. The issue of the PHA and testing is one that he has raised on numerous occasions. <BR /> <BR />Far from dismissing their concerns, I can reassure the Member and the House that listening to teachers' concerns was a priority, and, given the COVID workload that they had highlighted, it was vital that that be addressed. We have now gone some way to addressing that by moving to the PHA for contact tracing. <BR /> <BR />Does the Member agree that the PHA messaging is an area of serious concern for many teachers and parents and that, if we are to deal with that issue going forward, capacity and information must be free-flowing? Does he further agree that the Committee for Education and the Committee for Health should come together to scrutinise the PHA's work on that?”
“— but we must be calm and rational when dealing with issues —”
“Minister McIlveen has not added a voice of hysteria on this sensitive matter; instead, she has got on with the job, in lockstep with the Minister of Health, to provide a calm and reassuring voice. Yes, there will be problems, and I have no doubt that we will revisit the subject —”
“If it is good enough at entrances to emergency departments, for daily use in care homes, for plane travel in the common travel area and for businesses, concerts and football, why not in schools? We have to recognise that a PCR test is an extremely intrusive way for our young people to find results for COVID-19. I know some young people who have been traumatised when they have got a day two test and have had to wait for day eight. We need to bear that in mind. A lateral flow test is less intrusive and quicker. It is time to have a managed and rational debate around testing. <BR /> <BR />The Minister has not risen to the political baiting from some in the Chamber.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will refer to one thing that has not been mentioned today. Teachers and parents have raised with me the constant cycle of testing. It is important to note that our schools are safe. Many of those who are isolating at home are at home not because they have COVID but because they have been sent home, whether they have been part of an isolation block or whatever. They do not have COVID, and it is important that we instil a bit of confidence in our parents and teachers that that is not the case. That is why I say that we need to look at the use of lateral flow testing to see whether it can give confidence. Some Members will shake their heads and say that it is not as accurate. I accept that it is not as accurate, but the NHS website talks about it having 99.9% accuracy.”
“I will say — Mr Sheehan will not be new to the topic — that there is some concern about capacity in the PHA. That will have to be scrutinised by both the Health and Education Committees if we are to find an amenable way forward. I want the teachers to be able to teach. Removing the requirement to test and contact-trace is essential to that. <BR /> <BR />The PHA's messaging was also mentioned. One principal described it to me as "terrible". There has been a constant lack of information flowing to teachers and an array of messaging that meant different things to different people. We need clear, simple messaging, and that goes to the heart of what the Chair of the Education Committee is talking about regarding that communication chain. Teachers also talked about the availability of testing. We need to consider that.”
“That is why it is so important that we be careful with the language used in the House. Mr McCrossan's "angry man of education" will get him only so far. It may help him get the air waves, but it will do nothing to provide solutions to parents, teachers and young people; in fact, I will go as far as to say that it raises our parents', teachers' and pupils' anxiety. It is time to calm the rhetoric. Some of the comments today have been irresponsible. <BR /> <BR />From meeting with local teachers, as I have done, and listening to parents, as we all have done, the messaging has been clear. First, teachers and principals were talking about the COVID workload. I recognise that, as the Minister has. Through deliberations and through contact with teachers and the Health Minister, that issue has been addressed by giving responsibility to the PHA.”
“I do not have an extra minute, so no. <BR /> <BR />It has been a difficult time for them in the classroom and, indeed, for many parents. <BR /> <BR />My position and that of Minister McIlveen and my party is clear: I want to see a continuous stream of our young people in our schools and classrooms getting the face-to-face learning that they so desperately need. You would forgive me for thinking, listening to some of the Members' comments, that they did not remember the devastating impact of a lack of face-to-face teaching in the past 18 months. Did they remember the rise in domestic violence, anxiety and mental health issues? We all know the benefits of face-to-face teaching. We know that it is essential for our young people's physical and mental well-being that they get that classroom, face-to-face learning.”
“It has no doubt been a difficult time for them, both in the classroom —.”
“As I begin to speak on this important matter, I pay tribute to teachers, principals, staff, parents and, indeed, pupils.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does she recognise that the agreed position of the Executive was to carry out testing in schools and that that was agreed by all parties, including hers, which is well represented at the Executive table? If Sinn Féin, including the Member, felt that it was such an important issue, why did it not raise it at that stage?”
“The Committee will follow closely the review of planning policy as it is a key priority area for it. While I recognise that area plans will allow councils to rightly tailor plans to local needs, which was the primary purpose of those powers, will the Minister look into whether planning powers that were devolved to councils have been operating efficiently and effectively for the constituents whom we all serve? Many in the planning system are frustrated by the long delay in planning applications, not in any particular area but across the board. Will the Minister look at that in a review?”
“While I welcome the Minister's response, and I know of the pressures that are on Northern Ireland Water and of the need for continued investment to allow development to continue, the Minister will know about my continual plea on behalf of residents of uncompleted developments that still cannot be connected with road and water infrastructure because of problems with legacy developers who are no longer on the scene. I think of Birchwood Manor in my constituency, for which I have repeatedly lobbied. Has the Minister engaged with NI Water about ways in which it can help to connect those forgotten developments so that citizens there can benefit from the full infrastructure that they deserve in their developments?”
“Measures include an urgent review of the taxi fare tariff and working with her Executive colleagues to see what other measures can be initiated, including a review of sector support for operators. We all recognise the problem and know that support is needed. That is a good place to be, and we must recognise that. Politicians are united in their desire to help the industry, and we must now get to work and ensure that that happens. I commend the motion and the amendment to the House.”
“The industry has offered solutions on what those interventions could be, and the Committee has lent its support to those in the Chamber today, collectively with one voice. <BR /> <BR />The call for an urgent review of fares is not unreasonable. The current taxi fare tariff is tantamount to a 10-year earnings freeze. It is a huge disincentive to joining the industry, as is the complexity of taxi driver testing with set test periods, both practical and theory. I thank the Minister for her indication that she recognises the inequalities in that taxi fare system and the need for a fair fare system. <BR /> <BR />The contributions in the Chamber today have acknowledged those areas of concern and echoed the calls for action. Therefore, we urge the Minister for Infrastructure to recognise those factors and take the action that is required.”
“That is something that we have to grasp because, as we emerge from the pandemic, we undoubtedly face a lack of workers in the industry. It is not only impacting on the taxi industry; I hear concerns from road haulage drivers and other industries that are vital to Northern Ireland and its functioning that we have to be really live to and aware of in the days ahead. The Committee for Infrastructure heard calls from the sector about how it is in need of support to mitigate the decline in driver numbers, and it is for that reason that today's motion was brought to the Chamber. There is clear evidence from the sector to suggest that an intervention or a stimulus is needed to reverse the downward trend and assist in the recovery not just for the benefit of the sector but for the wider economic recovery of Northern Ireland post COVID.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have heard rehearsed the reasons why, during the pandemic, taxi drivers stopped working because of the drop in demand for their services and to keep themselves and their families safe. That led to many having to cancel their insurance and even return their vehicles as they were unable to maintain payments without the necessary income, which, in turn, impacted on their ability to access some of the packages that were in place. <BR /> <BR />Now that lockdown is easing and the world is beginning to reopen, taxi drivers and the vital services that they offer are needed more than ever. Yet, we find that many drivers do not wish to return to the industry, and few new drivers are being coaxed into joining it.”
“We have also heard much about the impact of COVID and how it has further driven down numbers so that post-COVID economic recovery in the industry is now being supported by around only 5,000 drivers. That a totally unsustainable situation. That is a shocking figure. It is less than one third of the number in 2013. <BR /> <BR />We have also heard that drivers are self-employed and thus are responsible for the cost of insurance, vehicles, training and the personal cost of unsociable hours that many work to provide a service to society. That service not only benefits our hospitality sector, reduces drink-driving and contributes to wider economic recovery but assists the health and social care sector and the education sector by ferrying individuals back and forth for various appointments and by taking children to school.”
“There was also a desire to see a collaborative approach taken across the Executive, with a clear lead taken by a designated Minister, to ensure that the Committee can scrutinise actions for the industry and, indeed, give some reassurance to the industry and to Members. <BR /> <BR />It is clear that there is no disagreement about the dire situation facing the taxi industry. Everyone here today recognises the concerns of the individuals and organisations involved and the impact on their lives and those of their families. We have heard that this is an industry that has been in decline for a number of years: since 2013, in fact, when it provided employment to approximately 16,000 drivers. Year on year, however, that figure has dropped, until, by 2020, only around half of that number remained.”
“They also highlighted the legacy difficulties that need to be addressed, which are fare structures as a priority and the taxi licensing complexities, albeit there were different views on how far and how quickly we could move on that. It is a welcome start, however, that there is a recognition that there is an issue that must be looked at. Members highlighted the need to encourage younger drivers into the industry to revitalise it in a post-COVID environment and the need to incentivise work in unsocial hours through bespoke policies and financial packages. That would recognise the need that our economy has for taxi drivers to work sometimes very unsocial hours to provide safe and practical solutions for the general public.”
“I thank Members and the Minister for their responses. We have heard much today about the issues affecting the taxi industry, both drivers and operators, and I thank all those who have contributed to the debate. There will be many listening in who will take much encouragement from Members' words, but, as I said in my opening comments, we must now move beyond words. Action must soon follow. <BR /> <BR />Collectively, Members spoke about how vital the industry is to our broader economy and to our community, both rural and urban. Members reiterated how the COVID pandemic had worsened the issues affecting the sector.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. It is a vital point. I, too, have been lobbied heavily about the inequalities faced by those who run wedding car businesses. Does the Member agree that red tape and bureaucracy are not only stifling their businesses but preventing part-time work? Many people who have retired from their day-to-day jobs look to that industry for part-time income to support their families.”
“Drivers and operators under the remit of the Department for Infrastructure feel let down. For our road haulage, bus, coach and taxi operators and drivers, the continued passing of the buck and the blame to other Ministers will no longer cut it. Kind words of thanks and pats on the back will no longer cut it for those key workers, who have kept this wee country moving in difficult times. They have been met with a closed door from the Department for Infrastructure. It is time to step up and deliver for those drivers. I commend the motion and the amendment to the House.”
“The taxi operators issued the Committee with warnings of an increase in drink-driving, of an increase in lifts in illegal and uninsured taxis and of the requirement for a greater police presence in our town centres at closing times to prevent antisocial behaviour due to increased numbers waiting for taxis. <BR /> <BR />I hope that, in the time that I have had, I have been able to give Members a sense of the abandonment felt by the sector and the challenges facing it, the proposed solutions that the Committee for Infrastructure has put forward and the concerns of the sector. Our economy and our communities simply cannot stand by without taking action. <BR /> <BR />I will make some brief comments as DUP spokesperson for infrastructure. Minister, the industry is struggling.”
“<BR /> <BR />I urge the Minister to return to the issue of financial support for this delicately balanced and economically and socially vital sector. The sector's health and viability is your responsibility, Minister. Therefore, the Committee calls on Minister Mallon to take the lead and work with Executive colleagues to provide the support that the sector needs. To date, there has been no financial support from DFI for operators and only general support from other Departments for a small number of operators. The demand for taxis may be high, but, without the drivers to fulfil that demand, there will be greater implications when lockdown restrictions are completely relaxed.”
“The Committee for Infrastructure calls on the Minister to urgently implement measures to ensure that the taxi tests are less of a bottleneck in getting drivers into the sector. Prior to 2015, taxi drivers required a normal driving licence, a medical and Access NI clearance. The taxi operators who briefed the Committee advised that the number of applicants to take the taxi theory test last year was 111, which is much lower than the number needed to take the places of drivers who simply will not return. Pre 2015, it took six to 10 weeks to get people into the industry; under the current system, it takes between four and six months and, sometimes, much longer. That situation is simply unsustainable.”
“Although operators were told that the review was carried out by the Department, no rise was given. The next review was in 2019, and, again, no rise in tariffs. Then, when the pandemic happened, work on this was set aside. Operators are calling for an urgent review that will address the differences between days, evenings and weekends. <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, operators told the Committee that the current taxi driver licensing requirements are inhibiting entry to the industry, which is exacerbating the decline in driver numbers. Complex, lengthy and difficult licensing arrangements are an impediment to our taxi industry and must be grasped if we are to go forward and support the industry.”
“<BR /> <BR />The stimulus that operators seek, which the Committee for Infrastructure's motion endorses and supports, is an urgent review of taxi fare structures and the suspension, for the time being, of the practical and theory tests to become a taxi driver, to coax younger people into the industry and recognise it as a viable job. <BR /> <BR />The current tariff was calculated on 2011 prices and implemented in 2016 and has not changed since. That is tantamount to an earning cap for the past 10 years, making it a huge disincentive to those considering joining the industry. The fare structure that was introduced was based on a 2011 cost review. It was to be reviewed in 2018 under the Taxis (?Taximeters, Devices and Maximum Fares) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2015.”
“Another operator said that 425 of his 800 drivers were back at work. He said that he knew of 100 who would not be back and another 150 who were unsure. <BR /> <BR />The operators' request is for a stimulus for their sector to bring more drivers into the industry. They see a need to incentivise drivers to come into the sector and to work the unsociable hours during which taxis are most essential. Drivers are self-employed for a reason. They choose their hours and do not have a fixed work schedule. Operators point out that many have chosen to work Monday to Friday during the day so that they can spend more time with their families and friends in the evenings and at weekends. That, the operators highlight, means that passengers find it increasingly difficult to get a taxi during peak busy hours.”
“The operators told the Committee that they estimate that they are trying to deliver services to Northern Ireland with around 5,000 active drivers. One said:”
“The operators said that there were a number of reasons for that. Some drivers have left the industry, and some have yet to make up their mind about whether they will return. Sector representatives quoted figures that showed that driver numbers have dropped by approximately 1,000 each year, from 16,000 in 2013 to around 8,000 now. They believe that there has been a further 30% decline because of the pandemic.”
“However, at our meeting last week, taxi operators wanted to highlight with the Committee their concern that taxi drivers are simply not returning to work.”
“<BR /> <BR />Due to the pandemic, taxi drivers stopped working. The reasons for that are obvious. During lockdown, there was very little available work, and drivers were trying to avoid infection for the sake of their own health and that of their families. As there was very little work, many drivers were forced to cancel their expensive insurance as they were unable to earn enough pay for it. Some even returned their cars, unable to maintain them. <BR /> <BR />Now that lockdown is easing and the world is opening up, taxi drivers are once again needed not only for the benefit of our hospitality sector and wider economic recovery but for the health and social care sector to ferry individuals back and forward to appointments.”
“The Committee for Infrastructure has used every opportunity to champion the need for financial support for the taxi industry and to ensure that it is adequate and fair in its accessibility. <BR /> <BR />For the past year, the Committee has received briefings from the Minister and her officials and sought to find solutions to the problems faced by the industry during the pandemic and endeavoured to hold the Minister to account. Despite our best efforts, the pandemic has taken a toll on the taxi industry, and it faces a number of challenges in coming out of lockdown. <BR /> <BR />At its meeting on 23 June, representatives of taxi operators appeared before the Committee to bring to its attention the issues facing the industry and its proposals on what the Executive can do to help.”
“I commend the motion and the amendment to the House. I stand as Chair of the Committee for Infrastructure to speak on this issue. The Committee has long been a strong advocate for the taxi industry, for taxi operators and taxi drivers. The Department for Infrastructure has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry. To that end, the Committee has had close contact with its various representatives and has taken every opportunity to listen to their concerns and to advocate on their behalf. <BR /> <BR />During the pandemic, the Committee has doggedly promoted the issues faced by the taxi industry with the Minister for Infrastructure, her officials and her colleagues in the Executive.”
“It is up to us as Members to look at the NHS model and do what we can to ensure that the NHS success is our community's success and that we build on the vital work of those who save lives not only during the pandemic but in the recovery from COVID that will be needed. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Matter of the Day and thank Mr Beattie for bringing it to the House.”
“While the award will be so welcome to so many and it is right and fitting to bestow it on them today, we must also recognise them with better pay and conditions and safe staffing levels. We must recognise that they have been through huge turmoil this year, and we, as elected representatives, and our community must get behind them. How sad is it that we still have attacks on our NHS staff? How sickening. It is up to us to right those wrongs. <BR /> <BR />I will raise one more fundamental point. The values of the NHS and what it brings to this part of the United Kingdom are clear, but the fundamental building block of the NHS — that it is free at the point of need — is under threat.”
“The George Cross is the highest award bestowed by the Government for non-operational gallantry. Put in place in by Her Majesty's late father, it is an award with which Her Majesty The Queen has huge personal affinity. As has been mentioned, it has been awarded on a collective basis only twice: in 1942, to the island of Malta for its efforts during World War II and, in 1999, to the Royal Ulster Constabulary for its gallant efforts against terrorism in Northern Ireland. There is no doubt that this is a fitting award for the people who make up our National Health Service. In Northern Ireland, we have the added advantage that those who work in the social services can share in this great accolade. <BR /> <BR />We need to look after our NHS staff.”
“I congratulate the National Health Service on the accolade of being awarded the George Cross. The honour will be hugely welcomed across the health service. From doctors to nurses, management to midwifery, clinicians to cleaners and ambulance teams to porters, our health service staff is made up of a wealth of individuals who have all played their part, particularly this year as they fought COVID-19. Throughout the 73-year history of the National Health Service, many in our health service — they come from our communities, regardless of background — have supported our citizens in their hour of need.”
“I thank the Minister for his action plan. One of the most startling elements of the statement is the estimated 32% increase in mental health referrals due to COVID and the restrictions. It is fair to say that it is not just legacy restrictions; current restrictions are having a terrible impact on the mental well-being of many of our citizens. Last week, I saw a distraught constituent who could not visit their gravely sick mother because of restrictions in the hospital that she was in. That was not the first instance that I have had. Will the Minister intervene to end the visitation fiasco that is having such a devastating impact on the mental well-being of many of our citizens, who are already in a difficult situation regarding the health and well-being of their loved ones?”
“Following on from Mr Chambers's question, I ask how concerned the Minister is, and, indeed, how bothered his Southern counterpart is, about the harmful and selfish implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol and its impact on medicines and medical devices coming into Northern Ireland, given that 98% of such items come from the UK mainland. Is there a recognition that an extension of the grace period, as welcome as it is in the interim, will not cut it as a long-term solution to that vital issue?”
“Will the Minister explain further the review of Waterways Ireland's finance function, as outlined in the statement?”
“Even if it meant having uncomfortable conversations, Gordon had to tell you what he thought. When you left that room, however, Gordon was always your friend. I will never forget him for that. <BR /> <BR />To his wife, Gillian, his children, Andrew, Stephen and Amy, his wider family circle and his close group of friends, I say, "Farewell, brother Dunne. This world's loss is heaven's gain".”
“It was incredible. If I had a pound for every time Gordon Dunne mentioned the World Rally Championship coming to Northern Ireland, I could fund it myself. He was an incredible lobbyist for the causes he loved and was passionate about. Whether he was standing at a pothole in North Down, fighting for people on the Health Committee, which he served on over many years, or fighting for a business, Gordon Dunne did not take no for an answer. He kept going. What a wonderful legacy that man leaves in this place. The stories have been incredible. <BR /> <BR />Perhaps Gordon was the greatest example of how people in this country should treat one another. There were differences of opinion, but there was never anything personal. Gordon always told you how it was.”
“He had some laugh telling us the stories he had. There were some very unusual stories about people of very different political persuasions, but he took great joy in that. His son Stephen was able to tell me that, when Gordon announced that he was retiring from this place and the tributes started to pour in from across the country, he sat down with his dad and they scrolled through the stories. He said that there were tears of joy and there were laughs. Stephen and the family have been incredibly touched by the many personal stories that have been told and the tributes that have been paid from people from across the House and the country to their dear father, Gordon. <BR /> <BR />Gordon had some fantastic hobbies and interests. How many of us got to know about Gordon's love for motor sport, which has been mentioned today?”
“Days like this are never easy. I rise to pay tribute to my friend Gordon Dunne MBE. Gordon gave a lifetime of service. He has been described in the House as many things: man of faith; man of integrity; man of service; man of honour. He was all those things and much, much more. He selflessly served his constituents for 36 years, serving his community and country with compassion and conviction combined with a warm smile and a big heart. He was rightly recognised for that service by Her Majesty The Queen with the MBE, which was a fitting tribute to a life of service. <BR /> <BR />How can I describe Gordon's character? He had a warmth of character; it was infectious. He had a smile that could light up a room and a laugh that instantly put people at ease, regardless of their background. Many Members can tell a story of Gordon Dunne.”