Martin McGuinness
Mid Ulster · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“It was noted that full sectoral audits had been carried out by Departments of the Executive and the Irish Government to identify impacts, risks, opportunities and contingencies that may arise following the UK's intended withdrawal from the EU.”
“<BR /> <BR />We welcome the establishment by Minister Heather Humphreys and Minister Chris Hazzard of an Ulster canal advisory forum, which met for the first time on 23 September 2016.”
“That is something that has never been previously asked. It is interesting that the Member has chosen to call for that. From our perspective, we will have a discussion.”
“We also have 220 people now employed at that centre. They are people of the highest specialisms imaginable in medicine. The dedication that they have to that centre is absolutely amazing.”
“The big decision that was taken by both Administrations at the North/South Ministerial Council meeting — by the Executive Office, the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs — was to put a high-level working group of civil servants in place to deal with the challenges that clearly lie ahead.”
“<BR /> <BR />The oversight board led by Dick Spring and the interdepartmental group set up in both jurisdictions have worked hard to get us to this stage, and I can give assurances that our Executive will continue to give their support to ensure that we deliver the best bid possible.”
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Every one of 1,155 lines we hold for Martin McGuinness, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 24.
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. In compliance with section 52C(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, we wish to make the following statement on the twenty-first meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in plenary format, which was held in Armagh on Friday 11 December 2015. <BR /> <BR />The Executive Ministers who attended the meeting have agreed that we can make this report on their behalf. Our delegation was led by the then First Minister and me. In addition, the following Executive Ministers were in attendance: Minister Bell, Minister Farry, Minister Ford, Minister Foster, Minister Hamilton, Minister McIlveen, Minister Ní Chuilín, Minister O'Dowd, Minister O'Neill and junior Minister McCann. The Irish Government delegation was led by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD.”
“I have no doubt that Arlene and I will have a good personal relationship and a good working relationship, and I look forward to engaging with her on the vital issues that affect all our people.”
“When we talk about how we can break down divisions, it is not just about breaking down divisions between our communities or between ourselves as political leaders; it is about breaking down the divisions between North and South that have been so much to our detriment. We all know that working economically on an all-island agenda does not diminish in any way our allegiances to the different political aspirations that we have. <BR /> <BR />This is a time of great change, and I look forward to working with Arlene in the time ahead. Over the past few weeks, quite a number of people have said to me, "How are you going to work with Arlene Foster?". I said, "Well, if you can work with Ian Paisley and Peter Robinson, you can work with anybody".”
“How we conduct ourselves through these vital anniversaries over the next number of years will tell the international community a lot about how we are as people. I am pledged to do everything in my power to ensure that we all conduct ourselves in a very dignified and respectful manner in how we move forward, recognising the different emotions that are out there. <BR /> <BR />Arlene is committed to the continuation of what she calls the United Kingdom, and I am a committed Irish republican dedicated to the reunification of Ireland by purely peaceful and democratic means. There is absolutely no diminution of Arlene's unionism or my republicanism in us working together in the interests of all our people.”
“We know to our cost and to the cost of people who have lost their life in recent years even against the backdrop of the peace agreements that we have forged that there are still people out there on all sides who are committed to plunging us back to the past. I believe that there is a total determination in the Assembly, across all the political parties, to show the futility of that effort to those who would try to do that. <BR /> <BR />I am a proud Irish republican, and this is an important year for Irish republicanism, with the 100th anniversary of the Easter rising. I know there are different views about all of that. It is also an important year for unionism, with the 100th anniversary of the battle of the Somme.”
“As George Mitchell said at the time of the Good Friday Agreement, it is one thing forging an agreement but a whole other enterprise implementing that agreement. This is a real opportunity to move forward, away from the negativity of the last couple of years, and try to deliver for the people whom we represent. <BR /> <BR />Let me say this: as far as we as Irish republicans are concerned, unionists are not the enemy, and loyalists are not the enemy. Who is the enemy? The enemy is poverty, the enemy is inequality, the enemy is unemployment, the enemy is denial of rights, the enemy is intolerance, the enemy is sectarianism, the enemy is racism, the enemy is homophobia and the enemy is violence.”
“<BR /> <BR />Like Caitríona, I am delighted to see women elevated to the highest positions in government. I have been very privileged to work with exceptional republican women Ministers like Bairbre de Brún, Michelle Gildernew, Caitríona, Martina Anderson, Carál Ní Chuilín, Michelle O'Neill and Jennifer McCann. It is important that we all recognise the role of women in politics and do everything in our power to ensure that people who are highly talented have every opportunity to move forward and contribute, as they clearly do, to our political development. <BR /> <BR />We will have huge challenges in the time ahead. We have the Fresh Start Agreement, which is an agreement that, I believe, can propel us forward if we implement it: that is the big challenge.”
“As we say goodbye to Peter Robinson and wish him and his family well into the future, we similarly, as Arlene Foster takes over as First Minister, wish her and her family well. I am very conscious that Arlene's mother, husband and children are here today, and I acknowledge the hurt that their family endured as a result of the conflict. It is important that we acknowledge that hurt, because we on this side of the House have also been hurt and have lost neighbours and friends as a result of the conflict. What we have done in ending that conflict has been remarkable. It was not down to one or two people to do that; it took a combined effort from all. I pledge a positive spirit, a constructive spirit and a good heart in working with Arlene as First Minister through these important and historic times.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. First, I am very thankful and appreciative to my party for the renomination as deputy First Minister.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Go raibh maith agat, a Caitríona. Yes, I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.”
“During that period, against the backdrop of a world economic downturn, the work that I did with Ian Paisley and the work that I did with Peter through our regular visits to the United States paid huge dividends in foreign direct investment and the provision of jobs for our people. Even at a time of economic downturn, we were able to buck the trend in investment and deliver for the citizens that we represent. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to the leadership that Peter showed from that first engagement right through. We faced many challenges and many difficulties, but we came through them in the end. As I said, I had a friendship with Ian Paisley that existed until the day he died. I have no doubt that I have a friendship with Peter that will exist until the day we both die.”
“During our stewardship of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, we faced many huge challenges, not least the challenges posed by those who try to plunge us back to the past, including those so-called dissident republicans who murdered the young soldiers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar in Antrim, those who killed constables Stephen Carroll and Ronan Kerr and those who killed prison officer David Black. We also faced huge pressure from the extremes of loyalism through the reaction to the decision taken at Belfast City Council on flags and the situation at Ardoyne. That is without dwelling on or mentioning the pressures that were imposed on our Executive by an austerity agenda that came from the Tories at Westminster.”
“Incredibly, despite our different ideological outlooks and allegiances, Ian Paisley and I developed a positive working relationship and, just as importantly, a friendship that existed until the day he died. I very much treasure that friendship with Ian, his wife Eileen and the Paisley family. <BR /> <BR />Peter took over in 2008 and, in one of the first conversations we had, he said to me, "No matter what happens on the streets, we must ensure that these institutions do not collapse." We were mindful that the institutions had collapsed on several previous occasions, albeit under other political parties.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I too rise to express my deep appreciation for the leadership shown by Peter Robinson, particularly over the last eight years. <BR /> <BR />It is no secret that we first met during the course of that famous weekend in March 2007 at Stormont Castle. I was accompanied by Gerry Kelly and Conor Murphy; Peter by Nigel Dodds and Ian Paisley junior. Of course, the outcome of the engagement was our agreeing every word, dot and comma that Ian Paisley and Gerry Adams would say the following Monday, in a statement that confounded the world's media, which thought that it was here to proclaim another failure in the peace process. As a result, I spent one year in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister with Ian Paisley.”
“Junior Minister McCann will take this question.”
“As I said in my earlier answer, I regard it as a technicality that saved us £40 million. I think that the Member needs to get real and that the SDLP needs to get real. The fact that we took that technical route, which has a sunset clause that ensures that powers reside in this Executive, saved our institutions £40 million, which we can put to good use on behalf of the people who send us to this House.”
“We will do that under the tutelage of Eileen Evason, who is very experienced in dealing with all of these matters. That is a practical contribution towards alleviating the plight of those people, and it is something that happening nowhere else. It is not happening in England. It is not happening in Wales. It is not happening in Scotland. It is happening here.”
“The vote that took place in this House was to deal with what I regarded as a technicality, which has a sunset clause that ensures that the power resides with this Executive. I thought that the most significant and interesting aspect of that, given this latest question from the Member for South Down, was that only eight Members from the SDLP bothered to turn up to vote. The new party leader was not present for any of the debate, and the new party leader did not even vote. That is how seriously the SDLP took the decision that was taken in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />As a result of our negotiations, we have put in place a fund of £585 million to ensure that we will support the people who are worst affected by the British Government cuts.”
“At the same time, we have to legislate for the fact that there were unprecedented levels of rainfall over the last short while due to Storm Desmond, and some parts of the country have been worse affected than others. We will come out of it. We have always had the experience that the clean-ups happen very rapidly and that the insurance companies kick in to support those who have insurance. Particularly in the case of households that do not have insurance, the £1,000 per household kicks in from the Department of the Environment.”
“Off the top of my head I cannot say how regularly they meet, but we will get you an answer to that. This is an opportunity to pay tribute to everybody in the emergency services who, at a time of crisis, are only too ready to put themselves out in all sorts of weather to ensure the safety of the public and to remediate the challenges that we face. <BR /> <BR />The Member is quite right that we have been through a very bad experience over the last short while. When we look at how this affects us here, where we do have roads blocked, thankfully, the most important thing is that nobody has lost their life. When you look at mudslides in the Philippines or in India, you see that people are losing their lives by the thousand. The fact that our emergency services are on the ball when something happens is a credit to all of them.”
“The answer to that is yes. Under the stewardship of the head of the Civil Service, these people meet regularly on a consistent basis, not just at a time of crisis but in order to ensure that we are well prepared for any eventuality.”
“Having an island-wide 12·5% rate of corporation tax is highly advantageous for us because of what we think are the attributes that we have in attracting people to the North and, particularly, to areas of high unemployment, where those figures of 30,000 to 35,000 jobs would clearly have a massive impact on what are unacceptable unemployment figures at the moment. We have to keep our nerve in all this. I know that there are people who are ready to criticise this, but we have made an assessment that we want to put our people into meaningful jobs, and we are very determined to do that. The way in which we work our budgets over the course of the next number of years will be critical to how we can do that.”
“Anybody who read my article in the 'Belfast Telegraph' or 'The Irish News' in the course of the last week will see that, with the other parties in the Executive, we have stood by our belief in the reduction. Obviously it will all centre around our budgetary challenges and affordability and all the rest of it, but we are working on the basis that we will be able to do this. To put in the region of 30,000 to 35,000 people into jobs is a huge thing for our Executive and for the development of our economy. <BR /> <BR />The First Minister and I have been involved in all sorts of economic missions to the United States, and for a very long time we have recognised that many companies in the United States are only too keen to locate here in the North.”
“For example, what they are opening in the city of Derry is, effectively, their European headquarters. That is a big decision for such a company, but I think that it sends a very powerful message to other companies that are looking at the prospect of locating in the North that we have the quality and quantity of people that they require to fulfil their needs. Obviously, that represents a challenge for the Executive and the Department for Employment and Learning, but we will have to take account of that in any future budgetary discussions as a prerequisite for what these companies need.”
“I was very pleased to be at the official opening along with the Minister for Regional Development, Michelle McIlveen, on Friday. There is no doubt that the educational capabilities of young people emerging from the different educational institutions did have a big impact. It is no mean achievement to acquire that company, which is obviously a young but growing company and will provide anything up to 290 jobs over the course of the next while. Over 40 people are presently employed. Hiring has now started for another 45, and it is building to 290. I think that this has been based on the culture in the city where it has set up, my own city; the quality of the education system and the willingness of a company like this to recognise that, particularly in the context of the European dimension.”
“I have no doubt that the emergency services — the Police Service, the Fire and Rescue Service and other services under the control of Departments — have plans in place to deal with any eventuality.”
“I certainly think that all the emergency services, given the experiences we have seen in other parts of the world, are very conscious of their responsibilities should something untoward happen. It is predicted that the likelihood of something untoward happening here is very remote. My own sense of it is that it is very remote. If you are speaking about the activities of this group ISIS, ISIL, Daesh or whatever you want to call it, it is quite obvious that its focus appears to be on major centres like Paris, London and other parts of Europe. From our perspective, I certainly think that it is very important that we be prepared for any eventuality. As we saw in California last week, something could happen anywhere at any moment.”
“The branch could conceivably be required to be called on in any eventuality.”
“I presume that this question is asked in the context of Storm Desmond and the implications for society of severe flooding all over the North. If I am wrong, then the Member can correct me in his supplementary question. <BR /> <BR />Obviously, we have seen fairly widespread flooding, indeed all over the island of Ireland and particularly in certain parts of the North. Rivers Agency has been working very diligently on the ground, cooperating with other Departments, to ensure that respite is brought to the local community. The Department of the Environment has already allocated support of £1,000 per household. Quite clearly, the contingency approach that we need to adopt across the public sector has to be to deal with natural consequences, such as those of Storm Desmond, but some contingencies go wider than that.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will ask junior Minister McCann to answer this question.”
“The First Minister and I have been to the area. We have met people in the local community, and we understand the interest that they have. We absolutely wish to ensure that the community in Ballykelly and the surrounding area benefits from the development of the Shackleton site. For that reason, proposals to purchase the site are being assessed on the extent to which their plans to develop it will deliver community benefits. It is an important subject. It is critically important that, when you have such a major development on a site so close to a village area, the local community feels that it has ownership of and a stake in that site. We are determined to ensure that, however the site is developed, it is developed in the interests of the local community.”
“The relocation of DARD, with hundreds of employees moving to the site in 2017, will be a major attractor, as will the environmental project that NIW is involved in, as it will serve the interests of the local community. <BR /> <BR />There is a huge priority on the preferred bidder being able to assure us that jobs will be the key target in all this. That brings into play the question asked by the previous Member about whether whoever acquires the site is prepared to work with others to develop it to its full potential. The First Minister and I have taken a keen interest in the site, and we are keen to see the creation of as many jobs as possible there. I am very confident about the future for the site.”
“It is very difficult at this stage and would even be presumptuous on my part to do that, but it is important to stress that the preferred proposal for the Shackleton site will be that which attains the highest score. Scores will be allocated on the basis of the number of jobs to be created, the financial offer for the site and the extent to which proposals will deliver community and environmental benefits. We have attached additional weighting to the creation of jobs. That is our priority for the site. <BR /> <BR />It is a very exciting prospect, and I think the Member knows that. At the very beginning of the process, not too many people held out much hope that there could be anything of real value on the site. It has now become a very exciting opportunity for people in the north-west.”
“We all know that that would principally be a matter for the new owner of the site and is something that they would have to consider in due course. We would encourage the new owner to explore all opportunities to maximise the developmental potential of the site. Some of the proposed uses identified in other proposals could well be compatible with the new owner's intended use. <BR /> <BR />When the assessment process has concluded, the First Minister and I will encourage and facilitate the new owner in exploring opportunities for strategic partnerships with other proposers. We regard the development plan of the new owner very much as the beginning of development on the site and hope that it will be the springboard for wider development activity to generate much needed economic benefits for the north-west.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is an exciting piece of real estate, and we are very hopeful that whoever acquires the new site will use it to achieve the primary aim of most Members, namely securing much needed employment for the north-west.”
“That has required negotiations with the landowners, and DARD officials have engaged with Land and Property Services, which is responsible for the negotiations on behalf of the Government. <BR /> <BR />The new access arrangements will be designed sensitively, taking into account the listed structures close to the site, such as the church and the graveyard, to maintain the character of the area. The Central Procurement Directorate is working with the NI Environment Agency and DOE to agree the optimum position for the access road. The advice to date has been that there are no major issues that would prohibit development, as long as the new build and infrastructure are sensitive to the surrounding area.”
“I know that the Member has a tremendous interest in the site, as do other Members from the constituency. It is a site that, at the beginning, was seen by many as one that would be difficult to sell. The fact that we were able to negotiate in the Executive the relocation of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to the site brought a huge focus on it, which is why we have seven bidders. That decision will be made in due course. <BR /> <BR />In relation to DARD relocating there, there is, as the Member suggested, an issue of access. That is being worked on. The advice from Transport NI is that accommodating DARD on the site will require a new access road, which will mean additional land being acquired adjacent to the site on the A2, which is the main Derry to Limavady road.”
“The Department received seven proposals to purchase and develop the Shackleton site as part of the open competitive sale process. The proposals are being assessed, and it is expected that the preferred purchaser will be notified shortly. We hope to be in a position to make an announcement about the successful purchaser early in the new year, once the legal work has been completed.”
“The Member needs to try to focus on making a more positive contribution to this place. I am glad that he is here making a contribution and, like the Member for East Derry or, as the electoral authorities call it, East Londonderry, continuing to enjoy sharing power with Sinn Féin.”
“When we find that, and I believe that we will find that in the time ahead, there will be a test for everybody: the British Government; the IRA and other armed groups on the republican side; loyalist organisations; and those people in British intelligence who controlled loyalist death squads and, indeed, controlled some republicans in their agenda to try and defeat the legitimate demands of the nationalist and republican community for equality, justice and peace.”
“This Member is one who has never made any positive contribution to any of the difficulties that we have been trying to deal with in the overall policy in the Assembly and the working of the Executive. This is someone who is totally hostile to the institutions that have been so much an integral part of the peace process. From the perspective of the contribution that has just been made — the big challenge is to find a way forward to deal with the legacy issues.”
“I have just cited in my previous answer my willingness on behalf of being asked by the Bloody Sunday families to come forward as a member of the IRA to talk about the situation in relation to Bloody Sunday. I think that is a very clear indicator of where I am coming from in relation to all of it. I have done it; I have been there; I have worn the T-shirt.”
“First of all, it is critical in the weeks ahead that we see a situation where a very determined effort is made by the Government and the parties to find a way forward. The particular blockage during the Stormont House negotiations was the refusal of the British Government to accede to the requests of many victims' groups in relation to disclosure and the blanket of national security, as the Member talked about. The big test, I suggest to the Member for West Belfast, is to establish the structures and mechanisms that we agreed and reached considerable agreement on in the talks. That will be the test as to whether or not people are prepared to come forward and contribute.”
“<BR /> <BR />From my perspective, I look at all this on the basis that, over the next while, the Member will have a big decision to make in relation to his future and whether or not he will remain in this House or go to another place. I hope that he remains in this House and continues to enjoy sharing power with Sinn Féin.”
“I never imagined for one minute that the fresh start would extend to the Member who has just spoken. The Member is often, in this Chamber, prepared to quote all sorts of falsehoods and innuendo about my past. I am glad that the Member mentioned the Saville report. The reality is that the most significant ruling made by Lord Saville was that he believed the IRA's evidence. I went forward as a member of the IRA, and my evidence was believed by Lord Saville, and the evidence of the paratroopers and the British Army was rejected. So, it is not a great issue for the Member to raise in this House, particularly as someone who comes from the city of Derry.”
“During the talks process, good progress was made in many aspects relating to the past but we were unable to agree a way forward on a number of the key issues within the timescales to which we were working. That was unfortunate but it is recognised that it is not an issue on which there can be a half-hearted or partial agreement for the sake of expediency. <BR /> <BR />The Fresh Start Agreement commits the British and Irish Governments to reflect on options for resolving the legacy issues, building, therefore, on the sound basis that already exists. Following our earlier discussions, we will engage fully with the two Governments on the options that they may bring forward to deal with that particular issue.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will ask junior Minister McCann to answer this question.”
“OFMDFM is not like any other Department, as the Member will know: there are two parties in the Department, and that complicates matters, I think considerably.”
“Quite clearly, there is an acknowledgement that, in relation to the freedom of information requests, more work needs to be done. We appreciate the difficulties that flow from that, but I think that the Member has to understand that, given the sensitive nature of a considerable proportion of the FOI requests processed by OFMDFM, it is imperative that due consideration is given to responses to such requests. This may involve consultation with other Departments that have an interest in the subject matter of the information. Consultation with third parties necessarily extends the period of time taken to compose appropriate responses. In addition, many more of the FOI requests that come to OFMDFM are from the media and interest groups, rather than from the general public.”
“Since May 2011 our Department has received 664 freedom of information (FOI) requests. We answered 320 of them within 20 working days. Many of the requests that we receive are sensitive or complex in nature, and it is important that we take time to get them right. However, we recognise that our performance could be better, and we are working very hard to try and improve it.”