Alasdair McDonnell
South Belfast · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“As someone who may be leaving you in the not-too-distant future, I would like to take this opportunity to commend the Commission and the Education Service for the outstanding work they have done in my time here.”
“We have been, and continue to be, extremely concerned at the budgetary pressure faced by the Executive and the impact that that has had on front-line services.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have a long-standing viewpoint on the 2015-16 Budget. Others — the DUP, Alliance and Sinn Féin — voted for that Budget. We voted against it at its Final Stage in February, and, given that we learnt of £38 million of cuts in the Chancellor's in-year announcement a few weeks ago, as well as further cuts that are expected on…”
“No, I am going to try to make some progress at this stage. I have given way to a number of people. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland cannot afford to accept the fact that our economy will shrink or that the permanent politics of austerity that come with it will be allowed free rein.”
“While I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate, I must say that I do not welcome the situation that we have arrived at. I take no joy in telling the House that I cannot, at this stage, envisage a situation where we could support this Bill.”
“The Member, as a former Minister, always has a simplistic view of the world. The point is this: for four years, we have argued that there were flaws and weaknesses in our budgetary process. We tried to draw attention to these but we did not get anybody much interested in them.”
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“As a representative of the Assembly, the Speaker will receive visitors on our behalf, promote our work, host events for us and open up the Assembly and its activities to members of the public, just as the recently retired Speaker did. Yet, in all the time that the Assembly has operated, we have been represented by only one community — the unionist community — which is not representative enough of the wider community that we all serve. While I do not think, and would not imply, that anyone in the House would dispute the absolute professionalism of our recently retired and beloved Speaker, Willie Hay, it is evident to me and my colleagues in the SDLP that the time has come for a nationalist Speaker in the Assembly.”
“I am privileged to be able to speak on the nomination of John Dallat. I have no doubt that, in the interests of inclusiveness and building trust and confidence, the time has come for a nationalist Member of the House to become Speaker. For too long, the Assembly has not been reflective of the population it serves. But, Mr Acting Speaker, it is unfortunate that, whatever agreements were made, they were made to exclude many of us and did not involve myself or my colleagues in the SDLP. <BR /> <BR />Colleagues should remember that the three principal roles of the Speaker of the House are representational, corporate and procedural.”
“I propose John Dallat, Mr Acting Speaker.”
“— against the odds, and he overcame many obstacles. He hosted so many outreach events here to make the Assembly inclusive. His work in Kosovo and the Balkans has already been mentioned. Bringing the experience of the Assembly to that troubled region was very valuable and worthwhile. I wish him a very rapid recovery and a long and peaceful retirement.”
“Frequently when I bumped into him in the corridor, he would say, "Why don't you come in and have a cup of tea with me? There are a few things that I want to run past you". That was a unique and very useful characteristic. It meant that, in his running and chairing of the Assembly in his job as Speaker, his antenna was sensitive. He was fully aware of the feelings and needs of everybody. In my conversations with Willie, he had a very clear vision of the Assembly's full potential and the potential of devolution to bring about significant progress and prosperity to all our people, particularly the people of a city called Derry. <BR /> <BR />He worked to develop a North/South parliamentary assembly —”
“I will leave that and endorse what the two Members who spoke previously said, and, indeed, what you said, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, and make a few personal comments. To me, Willie Hay was an honest and honourable man in everything that he did and said in his dealings with all of us. He did an outstanding job as Speaker, in every aspect of the job's responsibilities. He was open, honest and fair to all, and, I hasten to add, he was open, honest and fair even to those who were awkward and, at times, unhelpful and uncooperative. I was amazed continuously at how tolerant he was, and it is important to put that on the record. I certainly would not have had the patience. <BR /> <BR />He was a listener, and his door was always open to give and take advice.”
“He was always courteous and helpful. Others have referred to his exemplary chairing of the Assembly and to his efforts to bring consensus and stability, as well as to his carrying out the plethora of other duties that attach themselves to the role of Speaker.”
“It is without reservation that I, too, on behalf of myself and the SDLP, endorse the motion before us today. I have to admit that it is with some sense of loss that we all approach today's circumstances and feel how unfortunate it is that, due to illness, our beloved Speaker was not able to announce his retirement here in person. We all wish Willie well. We hope and pray that his health improves and that, in due course, his recovery is complete. We want to thank him sincerely for the tremendous job that he did here. <BR /> <BR />Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I echo your comments that Willie was a very difficult man to fall out with. He worked with all of us, and, even at times when we were disagreeing, he found civil ways of handling disagreement; perhaps civil ways that the rest of us would not have the patience to pursue.”
“I thank the Minister for the dialogue and discussion so far. I will stick with the north-west gateway initiative: what action can the deputy First Minister take to ensure that the commitments reached will be implemented speedily, including strengthening the strategic focus on the north-west, and to ensure that there will be an early meeting with Ministers and officials? I am specifically concerned about the A5, which is vital to that area. Is the plan to develop the A5 properly still afloat or has it sunk?”
“I thank the Minister for his full and direct answer. He will be aware that, due to various liabilities that have arisen in recent times such as insurance demands, public liability, insuring the apprentice and so on, it is increasingly difficult for a business or trade to take on an apprentice. Can we build a mechanism into the system that would take care of such insurance liabilities for the company and cover the individual apprentice from any damage that might happen to him or be done by him or her? That seems to me to be the biggest obstacle for many tradesmen taking on apprentices.”
“<BR /> <BR />So, today our thoughts and sympathy must be with Eileen, Baroness Paisley, with the extended family and with the grandchildren, who are grieving and trying to come to terms with this sad loss. We in the Chamber can move on at various speeds — some of us will maybe be able to move on more quickly than others — but the point is that the family are left with a big gap in their lives. There is a husband, a father and a grandfather missing, and my and the SDLP's sympathy goes out to all of them on this sad and difficult day. Thank you.”
“I am not going to delve into the whys, wherefores or why nots. I will leave it to others and to history to judge Ian Paisley's contribution to this place, particularly in the latter days in helping to bring about peace and devolution. In 2007, his efforts ensured that power-sharing and devolution were put back in place, but today our thoughts are with the family and friends. <BR /> <BR />I have known Ian Paisley for over 40 years. I do not want to admit how many years over 40, but it is a while. Despite fundamental political differences, at a personal level, we had many conversations and an enduring personal friendship that defied political differences.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. Like others who spoke, I wish our Speaker, Willie Hay, a speedy recovery to good health, because we miss him, and I am saddened that he is not able to be with us here today. <BR /> <BR />My main purpose in speaking is to express my most sincere sympathy and that of my colleagues and the SDLP to Baroness Paisley and the family, including the children and grandchildren. I also extend a heartfelt sympathy to colleagues opposite and DUP colleagues of Lord Bannside across Northern Ireland. I could never, and would never, agree with much of Ian Paisley's politics, but that was understood and very clear, but I have to pay tribute to him as a committed constituency representative and dedicated public servant.”
“Has the Minister been able to give any assurances about the future to the external contractors who employ thousands of people in road maintenance? In other words, have you just drawn a blank with them? Have you been able to give them any promises of what it might look like in the future?”
“I have spoken to Kathleen and the family, but I welcome the opportunity here again, on behalf of myself and the wider SDLP, to extend my sympathy and condolences to the whole Reynolds family.”
“We also owe him a debt of gratitude for the way he changed the relationship with the British Prime Minister. The robust working relationship that he forged with Sir John Major was the hinge on which much good came. The tribute, warmth, rapport and congratulations that John Major got at Albert's funeral were very significant. <BR /> <BR />It was a tragedy that events conspired to have Albert retire as Taoiseach before the full fruits of his dialogue with Sir John and all the other leaders came to a harvest point in the Good Friday Agreement. <BR /> <BR />I was privileged to attend Albert's state funeral, where he was paid many tributes, which were long overdue, and, as I said, Sir John was commended for the contribution that he made.”
“I am glad and, indeed, privileged to be able to rise here and have an opportunity to pay tribute to Albert Reynolds, who died recently. Albert Reynolds coined the phrase, as quoted earlier, "Who is afraid of peace?" It is a very poignant question and one that we would all do well to answer for ourselves and keep answering for ourselves as we go forward. <BR /> <BR />Albert was a self-made businessman before he came into politics and perhaps that gave him the foundation for much of his political career and the wisdom that he brought to that political career. We here in the Chamber, and, indeed, in Northern Ireland, owe Albert a great debt of gratitude for his endless efforts to bring peace and stability to Northern Ireland. His contribution was enormous.”
“I, like others, express my sympathy and condolences and those of my colleagues and our party, the SDLP, to the family and friends of Sam Foster. Sam was a thoroughly decent man, as others said. He was a Christian man. He was a great public representative and a good Minister. I valued Sam as a friend. Indeed, he was a good friend to all whom he came into contact with. It was unfortunate that ill health forced Sam to retire from here, but, after his retirement, I renewed my friendship with him on occasions when I visited Enniskillen. He was still the same kind, generous Sam. <BR /> <BR />Sam spent his life working for the betterment of others. When he was here with us, he gave the Assembly all his energies and attention. I hope that, today, Sam has his just reward and that he is in a happier place.”