Harry Harvey
Strangford · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Thank you for your statement, Minister. I am pleased to see the non-domestic rates element of the review, which we have called for as a party, progressing.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your statement. You highlighted the Change Maker funding programme and support for 65 grassroots organisations. I am sure that you will agree that it is vital that the benefit of schemes is seen at a grassroots community level.”
“Minister, the thrust of graduated driver licensing is to provide new and learner drivers and riders with better experiences and skills over time, doing so in low-risk environments. There was much consternation across the House and in Committee around the way in which the Minister first announced that plan.”
“<BR /> <BR />Further clarity will be required from the Minister and her officials on a number of proposals, particularly in relation to how the learner logbook will operate and how verification by a qualified driver will be policed in practice to ensure that there is limited opportunity for the abuse of that new element.”
“It is no secret that the cohort of 17- to 25-year-olds proportionately remains the age group with the highest involvement in serious injury collisions on our roads. It is against that backdrop that many of the changes that have been emphasised are to be welcomed as the Department seeks to increase safety on our roads.”
“<BR /> <BR />Minister, if you get a chance, I want you to tell us a wee bit more about the removal of the 45 mph speed limit. Maybe we could have a conversation about it at a later stage.”
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“Minister, is completion of the Narrow Water bridge development still set for the end of 2027? Is it anticipated that the project will remain within budget?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your statement. You highlighted the Change Maker funding programme and support for 65 grassroots organisations. I am sure that you will agree that it is vital that the benefit of schemes is seen at a grassroots community level. In light of that, is it your view that similar small grants mechanisms should be prioritised in any future Peace programmes?”
“Thank you for your statement, Minister. I am pleased to see the non-domestic rates element of the review, which we have called for as a party, progressing. <BR /> <BR />On the sustainable implementation of any changes, as noted in your statement, will the consultation consider views on the need for there to be targeted support and regeneration measures alongside any rates increase?”
“<BR /> <BR />Minister, if you get a chance, I want you to tell us a wee bit more about the removal of the 45 mph speed limit. Maybe we could have a conversation about it at a later stage. Notwithstanding the need for further clarification on some of the detail, I am very happy to support the motion and welcome the reforms that are being advanced by the Minister.”
“<BR /> <BR />Further clarity will be required from the Minister and her officials on a number of proposals, particularly in relation to how the learner logbook will operate and how verification by a qualified driver will be policed in practice to ensure that there is limited opportunity for the abuse of that new element. I welcome the post-test passenger-carrying restrictions, which I believe the general public will view as a valuable and much-needed change in the restricted driving period. It is arguable that, of all the changes that are proposed in the regulations, that change will likely prove the most effective in having a direct impact on reducing the percentage of young people involved in serious injury collisions on our roads.”
“It is no secret that the cohort of 17- to 25-year-olds proportionately remains the age group with the highest involvement in serious injury collisions on our roads. It is against that backdrop that many of the changes that have been emphasised are to be welcomed as the Department seeks to increase safety on our roads. Moves to increase the restricted period to two years and introduce a mandatory learning period of six months before a practical test can be conducted and a requirement to complete an evidenced programme of training will better standardise the learning period and enhance driver safety post test.”
“Minister, the thrust of graduated driver licensing is to provide new and learner drivers and riders with better experiences and skills over time, doing so in low-risk environments. There was much consternation across the House and in Committee around the way in which the Minister first announced that plan. Nonetheless, it is welcomed and represents the single most radical overhaul of our learner-driver and licensing programme for many decades. I am grateful to the departmental officials who have engaged heavily with the sector and our driving instructors ahead of implementation. <BR /> <BR />Over 300 individuals have been killed on our roads over the past five years, and we think especially of those whose lives have been lost in recent days.”
“<BR /> <BR />Those experiencing infertility deserve to know that they are not alone, that their struggles are recognised and that the Assembly is committed to providing them with the support that they need to build the family that they dream of having.”
“Those figures demonstrate why limiting access to a single cycle falls short of providing meaningful support to those struggling with infertility. <BR /> <BR />No couple chooses to embark on the IVF journey. For many women and couples who long to have children, it is not a choice but a necessity, because natural conception is simply not always possible. The emotional, physical and financial toll can be immense. If we are serious about tackling inequality in healthcare and supporting families across Northern Ireland, we must ensure fair access to fertility treatment. Introducing three publicly funded IVF cycles would bring Northern Ireland closer to the standards that NICE recommends and offer hope to thousands of individuals and couples facing one of the most difficult journeys of their lives.”
“However, the information that was gathered from that initial cycle with the NHS enabled clinicians to make minor adjustments to their treatment plan, so their very first private cycle was successful. For many couples, the first IVF cycle provides a valuable insight into how an individual responds to medication and procedures. That information can then be used to tailor future treatment cycles, significantly improving the chances of success. That is why access to multiple cycles is so important. <BR /> <BR />The evidence speaks for itself. The cumulative pregnancy rate for IVF treatment is approximately 32% after the first cycle, rising to around 55% after the second cycle and reaching between 65% and 70% after the third cycle.”
“We all know somebody who has experienced the heartbreak and challenges of infertility. Around one in seven couples experiences difficulty conceiving, yet many continue to carry the burden in silence due to the stigma that still surrounds it. It is time that we give those individuals and couples a voice. It is time to show that they have been heard, by expanding publicly funded IVF provision in Northern Ireland to meet the recommendations set out in the NICE guidelines and providing access to up to three cycles of IVF treatment. <BR /> <BR />A member of staff from my office underwent NHS-funded IVF treatment after campaigning against proposed cuts to the vital service. Unfortunately, their NHS-funded treatment was unsuccessful, so they were forced to pursue private treatment.”
“Minister, do you agree that those operating in the sector outside the greater Belfast area face significantly greater challenges and require enhanced support to ensure their sustainability?”
“Can the Minister advise the House of the standards for these homes? Will they follow the current design guide? Minister, maybe you can give the House an update on the design guide review.”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her answer. You will be aware of the recently announced summer travel scheme for children in England as part of the Great British Summer Savings scheme. We are likely to receive a Barnett consequential from that. Has there been any discussion with Treasury following that announcement?”
“Thank you, Minister, for that response. Will the Minister tell the House roughly what percentage of vacant posts amount to long-term dormant posts in the system, and what impact, if any, do dormant posts have on overall budget allocations?”
“Will the Minister outline whether the measures have a financial cost, and, if so, how much cost is involved?”
“Despite my sympathy for the Member's principal motivation, I am of the view that the Bill as drafted would make for bad legislation. For that reason, I am unable to support the Bill at Second Reading.”
“As it stands, the Bill does not provide that certainty. For instance, the Bill's proposed exemptions at clauses 7 to 9 have been widely criticised as failing to provide meaningful protection in many ordinary farming and countryside situations. The House has a duty to the individual citizen to make it abundantly clear which activities will be criminalised and which will not. I fail to see that clarity in the key elements of the Bill, as presented at Second Stage. <BR /> <BR />The enforcement that flows from the Bill will not be devoid of difficulties either. The proposed penalty of up to five years' imprisonment for participation in hunting or trail hunting is wholly disproportionate and well in excess of the penalties outlined in any existing wildlife legislation.”
“That would create uncertainty around common farming situations involving barns, drains, stone piles and bales. The intended prohibition of trail hunting, provided for in clause 10, appears to be so widely drafted as to prohibit the use of dogs for vermin control. It is also worth noting that the Bill omits the exemptions that are found in existing Scottish legislation, which relate to game shooting, stalking and falconry. It appears that those elements could be encompassed in the outworkings of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The Bill suffers from a lack of definition, which should cause concern to many in the House, particularly when that definition pertains to a criminal offence. Farmers and landowners will require legal certainty should the Bill be enacted, particularly in light of the potential for vexatious complaints to be made against them.”
“Mr Larkin KC argues that the Bill could capture activities, such as dog walking, shooting, drag hunting, falconry or rescue operations, where a dog unexpectedly chases wildlife, regardless of the intent, and I am of a similar view. Whilst attempts have been made to provide clarity and assurance on some of those matters in the accompanying explanatory and financial memorandum, the courts will interpret the wording of the legislation, not the content of an explanatory and financial memorandum. <BR /> <BR />I am concerned that the Bill will seriously undermine lawful wildlife management and rural land practices. The two-dog limit that is set in clause 7 has been called into question. The prohibition of the use of dogs below ground in clause 3 would potentially criminalise established terrier work, which is essential for fox control.”
“a wild mammal. The offence of participating in hunting extends to another activity during which:”
“Clauses 1 and 2 risk criminalising ordinary and unintended behaviour involving dogs. Clause 1 defines hunting expansively to include:”
“Whilst I do not support the concept of the recreational hunting of mammals with dogs purely for human gratification, I am unable to support the Bill as I have fundamental concerns about its drafting and the burden that its intended and unintended consequences would create. When considering the Bill, I found the opinion of John Larkin KC, which was published by the Countryside Alliance, to be particularly useful in crystallising the key areas of concern. <BR /> <BR />I turn first to the broad and overtly ambiguous nature of much of the Bill's drafting. My principal concern relates to the real-world implications that the Bill could have. Many of those implications may not be the intention of the Bill, but, nonetheless, they appear to be facilitated in its drafting.”
“No one in the Chamber will be in any doubt about the importance placed on this issue by the Member whose name the Bill bears. Many of us will recall the first iteration of the Bill, which had its Second Reading in December 2021. Whilst many of the key procedural issues that were the subject of concern then have now been addressed, the core contentions remain. It is undoubtedly an emotive issue for many, and I have received a significant amount of correspondence relating to the Bill. I have always sympathised, to a degree, with the Member's overall motivation and general intent on the issue.”
“To every parent and family who is affected by baby loss, I say this: we remember, we recognise and we stand with you.”
“The issue has never been about politics alone but about humanity, dignity and giving comfort to those who carry loss every single day. While no certificate can remove pain, it can provide meaningful recognition and reassurance that parents are not forgotten. <BR /> <BR />I thank everyone who has supported the progress, including advocacy groups, healthcare professionals, bereaved families and colleagues across the Assembly who recognised the importance of that step. Today will bring comfort to many people across our communities. I hope that it also sends a message that Northern Ireland is listening with compassion and acting with care. While there is still more work to do to support bereaved parents, it is an important milestone and one that many families have waited a long time to see.”
“Today is a deeply important and emotional moment for so many families across Northern Ireland. The approval and progression of baby loss certificates is not just a policy decision but an acknowledgement of grief, love and lives that mattered deeply to parents and families. For too long, many people who experienced pregnancy loss or baby loss felt that their heartbreak was invisible or unrecognised. Today's change helps to say clearly: your loss matters, your baby mattered and your grief is real. I am proud to stand alongside friends, family members, dedicated staff and constituents who have campaigned, shared personal stories and pushed for compassion and recognition. Their courage has helped to bring us to this point.”
“It is vital that the opportunity is taken to develop our collective awareness of what and who we are celebrating and to enter into the simplicity and humility that is evidenced throughout Patrick's writing. There is immense untapped potential for Downpatrick to harness for tourism and economic benefit the worldwide appeal that St Patrick's Day represents . In equal measure, there exists an untapped shared history of a man and a message that have made this island what it is today. I trust that, in developing the future of St Patrick's Day in the town, we will give thought to the importance of acknowledging both who and what we are celebrating.”
“Each year, I join party colleagues on the morning of 17 March to lay floral tributes at the burial site before enjoying the annual service of celebration of the life and legacy of Patrick at Down cathedral. It is vital that meaningful events such as that are not forgotten in any attempts to further develop Downpatrick's celebration of Patrick. <BR /> <BR />Of course, Downpatrick remains the symbolic anchor that links the Ireland of today and its people with its earliest Christian roots. It is therefore right that Downpatrick claims Patrick as its own. Traditionally identified as the place of his death and burial in the 5th century, the grounds of Down cathedral continue to attract tourists and pilgrims alike in the development of St Patrick's Day in the area.”
“The uncomfortable reality that should be acknowledged, however, is that only a few have a little, or any, knowledge of who Patrick was, what he achieved or the impact that he had on the history of this island. Limited educational curriculum coverage, societal apathy and attempts to airbrush the message that Patrick proclaimed have been instrumental in our reaching that reality. From kidnapping and enslavement in Ireland, through working as a shepherd, to spiritual awakening and return to this island as a Christian missionary, the story of Patrick and the message of faith that he brought forever changed this island and its people. It is a shared history that we can all acknowledge, if not be proud of, and that should be told and developed in Downpatrick and elsewhere.”
“I thank Mr McGrath for securing today's Adjournment debate. In bringing the matter to the House, he has provided me with an opportunity to approach the development of St Patrick's Day in Downpatrick from a slightly different angle. Whilst I appreciate the understandable focus on the carnival celebrations that are now synonymous with St Patrick's Day in Downpatrick and the economic and cultural benefits that flow from them, I want briefly to highlight the importance of and need for greater education, promotion and awareness around the person and work of the patron saint of Ireland and the necessity of developing those aspects of St Patrick's Day. <BR /> <BR />For many, St Patrick's Day represents an opportunity to drown the proverbial shamrock, to celebrate all things green or to revel in a day of carefree festivity.”
“Minister, often when responses do come, particularly from your Department, it is evident that little thought was given to the issues flowing from the individual application. What can be done to ensure that responses are meaningful and not mere copy-and-paste templates?”
“Deputy First Minister, you will be aware of the Government's plan to make defence an engine for economic growth. With a Northern Ireland focus on cybersecurity, what more can the Executive do to leverage our status as a global cyberhub?”
“The focus must remain on the UK Government to follow through on their previous promises and resource the local growth fund properly. My party's priority focus will be on continuing to use all possible avenues to advocate for our exceptional community and voluntary sector.”
“I thank the groups in my constituency that, like so many others, desperately seek clarity about their future.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank all those organisations that, despite the current funding and programme ambiguity that surrounds their future, continue to support communities and individuals across Northern Ireland.”
“If we are to see demonstrable benefit flowing from interventions, it is vital that they are joined up and evidence-led, with a clear link to the specific needs of communities across Northern Ireland. The provision of a more meaningful role for the devolved nations and the shaping of future programmes will reduce duplication and ensure that the fund continues to achieve what the UK SPF achieved in the past and plug those service delivery gaps across healthcare and other relevant sectors. That can be achieved whilst retaining a national focus and approach to the provision of greater economic and social cohesion across all four regions, with an awareness of regional need being incorporated in the delivery of the fund.”
“Further reduced access to support will only prove to be detrimental to the most vulnerable and allow individuals to fall through the gaps that are no longer filled by such programmes. <BR /> <BR />So many providers remain in the dark as to the practical outworkings and impacts that those changes will have on their body. If the Government fail to listen to the House and the sector more widely, then, at the very least, organisations deserve clarity on when funding will be forthcoming and on how the fund will be administered. The engagement of the previous Government was severely lacking. The present Government have continued in that vein. We want to see that remedied urgently. <BR /> <BR />The needs and priorities of future projects under the local growth fund must align with the Executive's agreed plans and priorities.”
“Those organisations plug gaps that are not filled by the public sector and deliver invaluable front-line services across health, well-being, economic development and skills growth. As has already been stated, it is a testament to the impact that the Shared Prosperity Fund has had in recent years. Across Northern Ireland, 23,000 individuals have benefited since 2023. <BR /> <BR />Public services are unimaginably stretched. The prospect of additional need, which was previously met by voluntary and community organisations, moving to front-line public services is of major concern. There is insufficient capacity in our existing statutory services to replace the loss of those programmes.”
“I join others across the Chamber to voice my continued dissatisfaction with the Government in relation to their handling of the local growth fund. Since the issue came to the fore, DUP representatives in every constituency have been working with local community and voluntary sector organisations to highlight the damage being caused as a result of decisions taken by the Government on the delivery of the local growth fund. I pay tribute to the deputy First Minister and other Executive colleagues who have continued to highlight that issue with the Government. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland's community and voluntary sector comprises some of the brightest and best that we have to offer. We see tremendous individuals who go above and beyond to support our community and those who are most in need.”
“Domiciliary care workers are not within the Northern Ireland Civil Service staffing structure. They are employed by the trusts and deliver most essential healthcare in our communities. They are leaving the profession due to low pay, soaring fuel costs and low morale. Does the Minister agree that more should be done to improve their conditions, as in other public-sector bodies? Will he do anything to encourage that?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. He will be aware that the local school is central to many rural communities, and it is often the only community facility. What more can practically be done by the EA and/or your Department to support school principals to overcome the practical hurdles involved in opening their facilities for external use?”
“There was always an alternative to violence. Will the First Minister take the opportunity to condemn all other bombings in Dunmurry during the IRA's terrorist campaign, including those perpetrated by Bobby Sands?”
“Some Members will have attended the recent "Lost Boys" briefing by the Centre for Social Justice. Some of the figures for underachievement among young boys that were presented at that briefing were stark. The work of the BB is one of the best antidotes available to many of the problems being experienced across society. I trust that the House will make every effort to support not only our uniformed youth organisations but all those who volunteer to make a difference for the next generations.”
“<BR /> <BR />In an age of rising social isolation and social difficulties among children and young people, the opportunity for engagement and interaction in a social setting with peers, enjoying activities across sport, music and community service, continues to be vital to families and their boys and girls across the country.”
“<BR /> <BR />The BB and GB teach boys and girls to be responsible, respectful and community-minded, qualities that are becoming rarer in a culture that often prioritises individualism. It is regrettable that, all too often, government and external funders have been reluctant to support such organisations and unwilling to acknowledge the immense contribution that they make to the fabric of our society and the betterment of our people, simply because they operate with a faith-based perspective. I welcome the work being undertaken by the Communities Minister and others to rectify inequality and discrimination in that regard.”
“I highlight the important role played by our uniformed youth organisations across Northern Ireland, particularly the Boys' Brigade (BB) and the Girls' Brigade (GB). <BR /> <BR />BB and GB displays are taking place across Northern Ireland as another season comes to a close. I am sure that many Members will have attended those events. Indeed, anyone who has attended a display will have seen at first hand the teamwork, friendship, discipline and respect demonstrated by the young people involved. Those qualities are the fruit of dedicated volunteer leaders' work week in, week out to support young people, providing them with much-needed structure and purpose and a sense of belonging that is grounded in a solid, faith-based context.”
“How many alcohol-dependent people get prescriptions for alcohol? What is the maximum weekly limit on the value of such prescriptions?”
“We can all call for efficiency. It is incumbent on us all to put feet to our words and action to our statements, and I trust that, in the time to come, we shall see action flowing from the motion.”
“With no workforce plan, there is no framework to determine whether the rising demand for agency workers reflects a genuine requirement. In a similar vein, the lack of performance management is astounding. The Civil Service does not routinely collect data on the underperformance of staff, and workforce productivity is not formally measured. Obviously, that totally negates any ability to assess performance in order to identify concerns or to incentivise and acknowledge good performance at an individual or collective level. <BR /> <BR />It is evident that there is much low-hanging fruit ripe for the Finance Minister's picking when it comes to efficiency and waste across the Civil Service alone, not to mention other areas of the public sector, with addressing the lack of performance monitoring a logical first step.”