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 thank the Member for giving way. I would like to respond to that point. I think that the Member was in the Chamber for the start of the debate, so he will have heard me say that Northern Irish councils have identified that 1,015 of the 3,595 non-domestic property vacancies would be suitable for residential conversion. As the Member well pointed out, that would go some way to helping with the housing stress that we are under.”
“I thank the Minister for his answers thus far. There is no doubt that the impending crisis around testing, accessibility and local capacity is important, and I hope that we can address those issues soon. The Minister will be aware of the ongoing issues surrounding the local testing centre in Craigavon, which is being used via the MOT centre, and the backlog that that has caused for MOTs and in holding up the decision to start driver vehicle tests. I wrote to the Minister some two weeks ago about this, and I was wondering whether he has considered any alternative sites, as indicated by his Department.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. While I welcome his initial comments about the need for housing space, particularly in our town centres, does he not note the intention and genuine spirit of the motion, which is to look at the thousands of vacant properties in our town centres and note that, without a scheme in place to support landlords who are already struggling, we will not be able to provide additional space in town centres to allow people to live and make our cities and towns vibrant once again?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. In reference to the report, does he agree that it is clear that the evidence and the analysis of a Living over the Shop scheme is there and in place and that it is now about getting on with the job and delivering practical schemes that support our town centres?”
“<BR /> <BR />I appeal to the House to support me in my desire to re-image and reimagine our town centres, as we react to one of the most affected periods in our time, the reaction and the response of government in tackling the decline of our high street, and to the demand for social housing in a post-COVID environment.”
“We are clear that there is a need for a comprehensive look at whether the current structures with regard to housing are fit for purpose. We must accept that there is a need to work together — holistically, but proactively — in the days ahead. It is vital that any future programme reflects the challenges of COVID-19 and market fluctuations, as well as the ideas of those who stand to be affected if it is to command confidence and, ultimately, realise its clear potential. We accept that that is not something that one Minister should be left to take forward on their own. The establishment of a high street task force would provide a useful vehicle to take forward the work in a timely and effective manner.”
“<BR /> <BR />With a vast array of vacant non-domestic properties in our town and city centres, there is a role for government to take the initiative in encouraging such plans to repurpose urban centres. Now is the time for action; now is the time to re-image our towns. I fully recognise that a Living over the Shop grant scheme cannot in itself address the challenges facing Northern Ireland's housing supply and regeneration of local communities, but it is a start, and it can help set the tone following the global pandemic that we faced in COVID-19. <BR /> <BR />As a party, we have, in the past, raised with local councils the prospect of town centre regeneration challenge funds, and the fact that chambers of trade, and others, could bid for annual money to help them develop a range of projects in town centres.”
“<BR /> <BR />With respect to behavioural change, we must recognise that there is less demand for retail space in our urban centres, and rather than letting high streets fall into urban decay, we can revive our urban spaces by repurposing them by replacing shops and offices with desirable and affordable accommodation. <BR /> <BR />Further provision of housing in our town centres has the potential to generate social and economic benefits, including increased investment and spending, and the creation of jobs. Following that path has the potential to curve behavioural changes and to broaden the appeal of our town and city centres. The case for the demand of such residential properties is compelling, and, in establishing a Living over the Shop scheme, we can grasp the opportunity to revitalise and re-image our town centres.”
“<BR /> <BR />That evidence very clearly raises profound questions about the future of our town centres, which must be scrutinised and addressed to prevent the continued decline of our Northern Ireland high street. If COVID-19 continues to accelerate the shift towards online retailing and service access, shop vacancy rates on the high street and in retail parks could rise rapidly, as stores inevitably become financially unviable. <BR /> <BR />With all that in mind, we must ask ourselves whether now is the time to seriously re-image and reimagine our approach to urban planning. In addressing the onset of the struggles we face with COVID-19 we must now be willing to reflect the changing role of town centres, from retail-led to multifunctional.”
“The knock-on effect of less footfall has been well-documented in Belfast in previous months. Offices adapting to a new normal and droves of staff working remotely have weakened retail and hospitality units that were heavily reliant on their custom. <BR /> <BR />In addition, the seismic shift in internet sales presents a real threat to the high street. Online sales have soared and now account for over a third of all sales across the United Kingdom, up from less than a fifth the previous year. Statistics produced by retail experts Springboard estimate that the footfall in our high streets fell by a staggering 79% in April 2020, compared with the same period last year.”
“The supply of smaller homes — one- or two-bed units — will be important in meeting demand, particularly as younger generations have smaller families, on average, and as older people seek to downsize from larger homes in their latter years. <BR /> <BR />Whilst this serves as evidence for the long-term challenges that we are set to encounter, we must also recognise the present task at hand in relation to COVID-19. The viral pandemic has already compounded the difficulties faced within many Departments, and we need to be realistic about how that will directly impact the high street. Emerging evidence suggests that lockdown is set to change consumer and business behaviour on a long-lasting basis, with a more permanent shift towards working from home and favouring of digital retail.”
“Northern Ireland's population is expected to grow by an estimated 8·6% by 2039, taking the total population to over two million. That increase, coupled with an ageing population and changing trends in home ownership and composition, places further pressure on the need to improve housing supply and stock across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Age-based demographics also tell us that Northern Ireland is projected to face the challenge of supporting an ageing population, with the number of people over the age of 65 set to increase from approximately 260,000 in 2016 to approximately 410,000 by 2039 — an increase of almost 60% over 23 years. A falling birth rate also suggests that the working-age population will decrease. That will have the same knock-on effect and implications for housing.”
“Another report commissioned by the Department indicated that, in 2016, the vacancy rate of non-domestic properties in 41 towns across Northern Ireland was estimated to be 22·3%, which is considerably higher than any other UK region. It was a total of 3,595 non-domestic property vacancies, of which 1,015 were quantified by Northern Irish councils as being suitable for residential conversion. <BR /> <BR />Those statistics are clear and are visible proof that the total vacancies of non-domestic properties in town centres more than satisfies supply if we are proactive in encouraging conversion under the Living over the Shop scheme. That potential supply could meet a convincing demand. <BR /> <BR />As I alluded to, there are substantive demographic and population trends that impact considerably on housing needs.”
“That grant scheme ran until 2008/09 and contributed to the creation of 101 new properties in our town centres before it closed due to budgetary pressures. <BR /> <BR />An analysis of the need and demand for a new LOTS-type initiative, commissioned by the Department for Communities, was published in January 2017. The analysis reported that, over the last decade, demand has strengthened considerably for private rented units in our town centres due to reduced mortgage availability to younger householders. That demand is combined with an increase in the vacancy levels of non-domestic properties across Northern Ireland.”
“With that in mind, we need to be prepared for the realistic possibility that COVID-19 will vastly accelerate the decline of the high street and to take action to mitigate that. <BR /> <BR />That is why I support the establishment of a Living over the Shop (LOTS) grant scheme and call on the Minister for Communities to take that into serious consideration, alongside direct actions across the Executive to reinvent our town centres and address the lack of affordable housing stock. <BR /> <BR />The Northern Ireland Executive first introduced the Living over the Shop scheme in 2002 to provide grants for the conversion of empty or underused space above rental retail and commercial premises into private rental units.”
“This year has brought challenges that were previously unimagined by Members in every corner of the House. We face a battle that was entirely unforeseen, and it is hard to estimate when we will be able to resume some element of normality. When the Assembly was restored in January this year, after a long absence, we joined with a keen desire to confront issues that have long plagued this country. One such issue is the decline of the high street and economic activity in our town centres, coupled with chronic housing stress. Of course, those particular challenges long predate the viral pandemic, and societal trends have long forecast fewer people shopping and living in our town centres.”
“Does the Minister recognise the importance of community sport in a post-COVID environment and the need to financially support social sports to further build capacity in the system?”
“Does the Member draw a slight contradiction from the Eat Out to Help Out scheme? Although it was a good scheme, some people from the public sector perhaps availed themselves of it but argued that they could not go out in public and return to their workplace.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Will he agree with me that it has been crucial that our businesses and communities have been able to access one of the most unprecedented financial packages from the British Government in our lifetime, certainly in this pandemic? Equally, will he agree that as innovative an approach as possible will be required going forward to ensure that industry can continue to cohabit with situations such as the already alarming outbreak of COVID in Craigavon Area Hospital, for example?”
“Does independently chaired mean independently led, to ensure the complete confidence of the families and to allow our health service to benefit from outside expert advice in its analysis of what happened and what went wrong at Craigavon Area Hospital?”
“I would like to be associated with the remarks made thus far in sympathy with the grieving families. This is a day that we all prayed would not come again. We are looking at deaths within Craigavon Area Hospital, and there is concern for staff and patients there. However, I, too, have concerns, and the bereaved families are, first and foremost, entitled to answers through the investigation that the Minister has announced. I welcome that opportunity to find the root causes of what happened. I am firmly of the belief that the investigation should be independently led, not just independently chaired, and I ask the Minister to elaborate on the type of investigation that he has outlined.”
“Further to that point of order, if the Speaker's Office is making a ruling, can we also put it on record that it be forwarded to the incoming Commissioner for Standards of the House?”
“Does he believe that that action brought the Assembly into disrepute?”
“On a point of order, Mr Temporary Speaker. It is being insinuated that some Members are not present in the Chamber because they are potentially in breach of regulations themselves. Would you not make a ruling? Because of COVID regulations, not every Member can be in the Chamber right now, so it is unfair for them to be criticised.”
“<BR /> <BR />In closing, I assert that two wrongs do not make a right. I appeal to all those who may feel that an appropriate reaction to this blatant breach is to disregard the regulations themselves. Please do not. Keep the attention where it deserves to be. The lives of your loved ones could depend on it.”
“What made Bobby Storey's funeral any different to Belfast City Council from every other funeral or cremation within its jurisdiction throughout the COVID-19 period? <BR /> <BR />This is more than error of judgement. You have acquiesced to a hierarchy of mourning and robbed families of the opportunity to say goodbye to loved ones. The entire episode has undoubtedly brought into question the credibility of the deputy First Minister. That has been summed up by her failure to take responsibility for her actions and apologise for the hurt caused. If the deputy First Minister wants to restore any sense of credibility, she should consider her position and resign. This question has been asked time and time again: if the author of the rules does not feel bound to uphold them, why should anyone else?”
“Last week, I raised the conduct of five MLAs who were in attendance to the attention of an incoming commissioner — I am glad that someone will be appointed soon — but I am afraid that I will have to correct the record because it has now been brought to my attention and become apparent that some 10-plus MLAs were in attendance at the funeral of Bobby Storey. The deputy First Minister may not be able to bring herself to apologise, but she cannot escape the reality. The reality is that there is widespread outrage towards her and her party colleagues. <BR /> <BR />There are many questions following the Bobby Storey funeral to which the Northern Ireland public rightly deserve answers. What prior contact was made between Sinn Féin personnel and the PSNI in the facilitation of Mr Storey's funeral?”
“I thank the Member, and I put firmly on the record, as I have done before, that Sinn Féin Ministers and Members are in breach of both ministerial and Members' codes of conduct. You have rightly outlined that point. However, it is clear that members of Sinn Féin consider themselves to be above the shared effort and sacrifice made by the country throughout this difficult period. <BR /> <BR />Grieving is universal. We are all human, and we will all be capable of making mistakes. No one, inside or outside the House, is infallible. However, let me be clear: this was no mistake. It was a premeditated, concerted effort by the Sinn Féin officials and hierarchy to bypass the law and place a hierarchy of grieving.”
“Throughout COVID-19, we have asked people to make life-altering sacrifices, and yet Sinn Féin believe that the standards that apply to ordinary people in this country should not apply to them. In a truly free and fair society, everybody must be equal under the law and equally subject to the law, and that point goes to the heart of the huge anger that we see at this time throughout this country. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland's success in combating COVID-19 has been centred on the foundation of public and household support for the laws and guidance introduced —.”
“Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill, 4 June. The public rightly ask and I ask today, "What deputy First Minister O'Neill do we have in the House today?". What Sinn Féin do we have with us in the House today? Do we have the one who rubber-stamped the coronavirus regulations? Is it the one who stood upstairs preaching the message previously outlined to the Northern Irish public? Is it the one who called on businesses — named and shamed them — saying that she would close them down if they did not follow or dared to breach the regulations that she had put in place? Or is it the one who, last Tuesday, allowed the mask of respect, integrity and equality to slip from her face as she blatantly breached the regulations that she helped to set?”
“That was deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill on 9 April 2020.”
“I welcome the additional allocation of £2·5 million from the Executive Office for the victims' pension scheme. Despite that, many innocent victims and their families remain deeply concerned by the Finance Minister's comments on 30 June, in which he suggested that if, for some reason, it remained unspent, the money would be surrendered back in the monitoring round. Will the deputy First Minister assure those innocent victims and, indeed, the wider public, who are, rightly, cynical about her intentions at this time, that she will neither impede nor frustrate the roll-out of the victims' pension payment? Can she also provide an indication of timescale?”
“<BR /> <BR />I have to put on record that my colleague William Irvin and I have dealt with numerous thefts in the rural shops and rural localities in our constituencies, so there is a considerable risk to having these ATMs on the premises. Business owners are getting it difficult enough at present, without having that added uncertainty of potentially having their premises damaged or destroyed in order to provide a service that is much-needed in the rural communities. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the legislation. It is an important step forward. It will obviously be kept under constant review, but some clarity about the list would be important for MLAs to have. Thank you.”
“I welcome the motion. I am very much in unison with what has been said across the Chamber about the importance of a rural ATM structure across Northern Ireland. Many people have realised that as the banks have slowly but surely left many of our rural settlements and towns, it has had a devastating impact on connectivity, conversations and even in access to cash. Although we are moving more towards a cashless society, there has to be a recognition that there is a urban to rural split in how people access their funding, so I welcome the order. <BR /> <BR />Will the Minister provide some more detail about the 84 ATMs that he said will be eligible? Will that be a published list? Will we be able to get access to that?”
“I want to acknowledge the huge anger and frustration that there is among the many families who buried loved ones in accordance with the regulations that were put forward by the Executive, including the deputy First Minister. What makes Bobby Storey's funeral any different, and Sinn Féin members believe that they are above the law? The deputy First Minister's insensitive and crass approach to the matter has left many people asking — and I ask it here now — the question: does the deputy First Minister enjoy hurting people? Does she believe that she is in breach of the ministerial code? People are, rightly, asking those questions.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I accept fully, as does, I think, the House, the need for the Department for Infrastructure and the Minister for Infrastructure to have the ability to adjudicate on these decisions, given the need for speed that the Member mentioned and also the quasi-judicial aspect of planning. However, does the Member accept that it is important, as mentioned in the Bill — it was one of the concessions made in the St Andrews Agreement — that cross-cutting, controversial issues still be referred to the Executive? Would the Member accept that that is an important aspect of the Bill that should be kept?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I know that he was not in the Chamber for an earlier intervention that I took, but his point about the speed at which the Planning Service operates still stands. Does he agree that the statutory consultees, some of whom he mentioned, are the main stumbling block for progress on many of the fundamentals, whether they are for a local development or a major application that has the potential to bring much-needed employment to our constituencies?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he agree that, often, statutory consultations and the length of time that it has taken for some Departments in particular to come back has put a huge strain on our Planning Service locally? Again I mention in the House, that, for me, one of the main culprits is often the Department for Infrastructure and its Roads Service, where we have continuous delay and a lack of correspondence and engagement with the proposal's developer or agent or even with elected Members. If that could be addressed, surely we could get to a situation where we could speed up the process.”
“This blatant breach of COVID-19 regulations will be seen as a total insult to the many families who have buried loved ones in isolation. The House must prove that no one is above the law, especially Ministers who collectively brought forward such regulations.”
“Earlier today, I raised a point of order with Deputy Speaker Beggs regarding deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill's attendance at the funeral of Bobby Storey, where we witnessed breaches of social distancing. I asked that her conduct be reviewed by the Speaker's Office and referred to the Members' code of conduct. Further to that point of order, it has now come to my attention that the Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, was also in attendance. I ask that the Speaker's Office also rule on Mr Murphy's conduct via the code of conduct. This may well be a breach of the Pledge of Office, which states:”
“No, I withdrew my question, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker.”
“While I welcome the broad allocation, I direct my question towards the further financial allocations for Translink. Surely, the Minister shares my deep concerns regarding the management and oversight of Translink throughout the COVID-19 period. It did not furlough staff, costing the NI block grant budget £3 million per month. It ran trains with, supposedly, only four passengers on board, at a cost of £4,000 per journey. Bad behaviour and mismanagement seems to have merited further budget allocations. Surely, that deserves further scrutiny.”
“In light of costs incurred by the UK Treasury and Her Majesty's Government, will the Minister join me in thanking Her Majesty's Treasury for the generous contributions throughout the COVID-19 crisis that have secured a lifeline for many businesses and civilians across Northern Ireland? Had it not been for that subvention, there is no doubt that many businesses would have gone under. In light of what he has said, can the Minister outline other potential financial packages or measures that may be introduced by Her Majesty's Treasury in light of COVID-19?”
“The Minister will know, because I have corresponded with him on the issue, that this is a crucial lifeline for businesses. You talk to businesses out there, and it is the very reason that they will continue trading. We need a clear, definitive list of those targeted, however, with a creative approach from his Department being required to help those businesses that might fall through the cracks. <BR /> <BR />Given the support that the exemption will bring to mitigating the loss for businesses this year, can the Minister indicate any further measures that he may bring forward for his Department to look at to assist business with recovery?”
“I thank the Minister for his clarity and for his desire to see schools fully reopen five days a week from September, as the current guidelines permit. The Minister might be aware that schools have been publishing their new timetables, which show great deviation among schools. That has caused much alarm among parents who are getting back to regularised working patterns. For the avoidance of doubt, will the Minister confirm that, if the scientific evidence continues on the same pathway, he will bring to the Executive and the House a recommendation to remove one-metre social distancing and apply a classroom and social school bubble solution complemented by a hygiene protocol to ensure a full return to education in September?”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I ask for the ruling of your office in the light of what we saw today, when the deputy First Minister attended the funeral of Bobby Storey, at which clear breaches of social distancing took place. I ask you to get a ruling from the Speaker's Office about whether the attendance will be looked at in line with the Members' code of conduct, given the clear breach of the regulations that are in place.”
“I know that the First Minister will share my disgust and anger at the continued blockade by some Members of a victims' pension in Northern Ireland. While I accept that the Executive and the Assembly are the best route to deliver such a pension, in light of the delay, would the First Minister be opposed to looking at Westminster as potentially the best route to deliver the scheme to ensure that innocent victims and survivors receive the pension that they rightly deserve?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I accept the point in relation to replenishing the housing stock; indeed, I think it is widely accepted across the House. However, will she acknowledge my bewilderment at the continual criticism of the right to buy in the House, given, first, how popular it is with social housing tenants and, secondly, that the right to buy scheme has enhanced the social fabric of many communities across Northern Ireland? Does she accept those points?”
“I thank the Member for giving way and for outlining my position from the beginning in support of that right-to-buy scheme and of allowing people the fundamental right to get on the housing ladder and, should we say, get off benefit in housing from the state. It is a good method. Does the Member know and does he agree with me that clause 8 outlines the potential for grants to be supported by the Department to allow non-statutory right-to-buy schemes? Therefore, potentially, what he suggests is premature. He has rightly outlined the lack of scrutiny that the Committee has been able to have of the Bill. We have had no representations from the housing sectors to the Committee. It is premature for us to make the amendment that you suggest, because we have to first of all see what grants can be available via clause 8.”
“With all politics being local, I am absolutely devastated about those job losses; up to 500 at a company that employs 1,300 people across my constituency. The Minister has outlined her ambition to write to the Chancellor. Furlough is essential to try to save those jobs. Does she agree that it is a gross irony to hear Mr O'Dowd criticise her and sympathise with those employees, given that, in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, he, alongside his party leader Michelle O'Neill, called for major companies like Thompson and others to close their doors, knowing the pressures that existed because of orders that needed to be met?”