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 am humbled to represent its needs, hopes and ambitions here in this Chamber. To the people of Upper Bann, I make the commitment that everything I do in this place, as their elected representative, will be focused on the best interests of that great constituency and its people. <BR /> <BR />While I am extremely honoured to stand before you today, I do so in far from ideal circumstances. We gather in the Chamber to debate a Budget Bill after over 1,000 days of silence. In that time, I, like many others here, have done my utmost to represent my constituents, but let us be very clear that, during the time of absence, our most basic mechanisms for representing as legislators were stripped away, including what we are discussing today — the Budget Bill — as supposed stewards and defenders of the public finances.”
“I also place on record my thanks to my party and, indeed, my party colleagues for placing in me the trust to represent the people in the Assembly. It is indeed an honour to sit on these Benches with my colleagues. <BR /> <BR />In March 2017, the people of Upper Bann entrusted me with representing them in the Northern Ireland Assembly, and for that I say thank you. I am deeply indebted to the great people of my constituency for enabling me to carry out this role on their behalf. I want to assure them that I will continue to serve with diligence and humility. Upper Bann has a very special place in my heart, as it is the constituency that I was born, raised and educated in. From the banks of the Bann in County Down to the apple trees of the orchard county, Upper Bann is a place I very proudly call home.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. It is, indeed, some relief that, after many years, I can finally say the words: in this my maiden speech to the Northern Ireland Assembly. I wish, with your indulgence, to begin by following the honourable tradition of paying tribute to my predecessor and friend, Mr Sydney Anderson. Sydney was a long-standing and highly esteemed servant to this House and to the people of Upper Bann. He provided me with my first opportunity in politics, and it is with the same unwavering determination that he demonstrated that I want to continue to represent the people of Upper Bann. He was a friend to many, always considered and thoughtful in his approach, and I take this opportunity to wish him and his family every blessing for the future.”
“In relation to implementation plans, the Minister and the House will be aware of the worldwide concerns there are about coronavirus. Breaking news just out is that pupils of Banbridge Academy have been sent home amid fears following a school trip to Italy. Will the Minister give an urgent update to the House?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I listened intently to the many projects that the Member outlined as being in need of investment. Does he agree with the sentiment of my colleague Mr Frew that, in light of the current budgetary conditions, it is essential that we prioritise issues of national and regional concern?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. A couple of times in her contribution she mentioned the need for legislation and forward thinking to tackle the climate emergency. I have yet to hear her mention public transport, namely Translink. Does she not see a direct contradiction in the Assembly a couple of weeks ago declaring a climate emergency yet organisations such as Translink being on the brink of collapse?”
“As a Back-Bench Member, I find that there is nothing more frustrating than watching how, at the end of a Budget cycle, Departments — in particular, the Department for Infrastructure — bid for money and roll out that use of finite resource on schemes that are not priority issues, whether at a constituency or regional level. Does the Member concur with that?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Much ado has been made about Brexit and its potential impact. Does the Member think that it is interesting that, a few weeks ago in the House, we unanimously and collectively voted to withhold consent for the Brexit Bill? However, it was not all of us. As a Member of the European Parliament, Ms Anderson voted for the Brexit Bill. Will the Member tell us why he thinks that that logic does not correspond with the view of the House?”
“In light of all politics being local, will the Minister comment on and, perhaps, look at possible funding opportunities and streams for the biggest one-day festival in Northern Ireland: the sham fight in Scarva on 13 July?”
“With regard to the viability of sporting clubs, and following on from the ongoing governance and accounting concerns that relate to Sport NI, has the Minister had an opportunity to read the lessons learned report from June 2019? If so, is she satisfied with its conclusions?”
“Does the Minister recognise the damage to public confidence in our justice system that this lack of evidence results in, when a Chief Constable is ducking the question, a Justice Minister is dodging the question and an independent commission has run away from the question? In light of recent activities in the Republic of Ireland, the people of Northern Ireland are quite rightly and legitimately asking the question: where does this responsibility lie? We have the right to an answer. Or is it a case that dark forces continue to operate with no accountability from our judiciary?”
“I am glad that the Minister mentioned the dependency that many rural constituents have on community transport services. What is her assessment of the provision currently on offer for rural constituents? Furthermore, will she elaborate on the conversations that she has had with ministerial colleagues on how we can address the issue?”
“Thank you, Minister, and, again, I put on record my thanks to the Members for tabling the motion and for the widespread support for better protections for our service animals. The Minister knows that I am an animal enthusiast. Does he share in our thanks for and appreciation of the wide variety of service animals that have played a role in history? I think specifically of the Dickin Medal, which is the Victoria Cross equivalent for service animals. That has been awarded 71 times, and many animals from Northern Ireland have received it.”
“I recognise what the Minister said, but does she realise that this has left many law-abiding citizens asking this question, which I will put to the Minister now: where do the Minister and her Department stand on criminality and transparency?”
“The Minister is well aware of the large-scale dumping of illegal tyres that I had to deal with in my constituency, at The Birches in Portadown, last week. Will he outline what his Department can do to help support rural communities that are very often left with the aftermath?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. On the point of mental health, does she agree with me that one of the sad realities of a lack of autism training in schools is that many parents are overwhelmed when dealing with the spill-out at home, and that has had an adverse impact on their mental health?”
“That is something that we as a House should be united on. I welcome what has been said from across the Floor — we do not want borders, whether east-west or north-south — but we must be cognisant of the fact that Brexit has happened. The United Kingdom has left the European Union. It is now incumbent on us all to fight for the free, unfettered access that we rightly deserve.”
“Like some previous Members who spoke, I had not planned to speak on this Matter of the Day, but I think that it is important to do so because, from what I have listened to from some Members around the Chamber, you would forgive me for having the feeling that I am at a wake right now. Yes, indeed, Friday brought for me something of a bittersweet moment. It was sweet in the sense that it was the culmination of something that I personally had campaigned for and believed passionately in; bitter in the sense that the withdrawal agreement itself compromises the integrity of the Union that I cherish. <BR /> <BR />Collective decision-making will be required from the House and our political leaders to hold Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, firm to his commitment of free, unfettered access within the United Kingdom.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he share my frustration at the missed opportunity to discuss the implications of Brexit with the agriculture industry over the past three years?”
“First, thank you, Minister, for making good on the commitment to find additional funding for the victims of contaminated blood. Any of us who have spoken to those victims know what it will mean to them today. We know the life-changing impact that the worst scandal in the history of the NHS has had on them, so I welcome that. <BR /> <BR />I draw the Minister's attention to the Department for Infrastructure and the £1·8 million for the replacement of failed and unsafe street lighting columns. Will he clarify whether that is just for unsafe lighting columns, as opposed to fixing the 8,000-plus street lights that have left many parts of our Province in darkness?”
“<BR /> <BR />The Minister mentioned that, in the crisis, much attention has been around pay parity, but a grave concern for many in the medical profession is the issue of safe staffing levels. On a recent visit to Craigavon Area Hospital, I discussed winter pressures. Can the Minister outline what he intends to take forward in relation to recruitment and retainment within our health service to make it a safe place for patients?”
“I welcome the Minister to his place today and want to place on record my firm commitment to work closely with him and his officials in the days that lie ahead. I wholeheartedly welcome today's statement and, in particular, the speed with which it has been delivered. <BR /> <BR />As a Member for Upper Bann, I know, as the Minister will know, that Craigavon Area Hospital plays a vital role in the health service. The Minister's clarity today on a proposed way forward in relation to pay parity will mean so much to our hard-working nursing professionals as they continue to carry out the life-saving work within our health service. I pay tribute to them for their resilience and service at what has been a very difficult time.”