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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“We look forward to the process being completed in early 2016.”
“We are very pleased to confirm that seven proposals for the Shackleton site were received as part of the open competitive sale process, which concluded on 2 October. Whilst the real measure of success will be how the purchaser of the site delivers employment and community and environmental benefits, receiving that number of proposals is a very welcome development. The size of the site for sale is approximately 621·5 acres, so anyone who has submitted a proposal to purchase and develop a site of that size has demonstrated a genuine commitment to making a significant economic impact on the north-west. <BR /> <BR />For commercial reasons, it would not be appropriate to discuss the detail of the proposals received until the assessment process has concluded. We will now undertake a detailed assessment of the proposals against the set criteria.”
“The public will watch all of this and be very interested in it. I think that the public, like me, are more interested in the police investigations and what they will throw up. I await with interest, as I know the public does, further developments in the case. The exposure today of the fact that a letter was in existence, on foot of someone saying last week that they had no connection, throws a whole new perspective on what was going on. I am not casting any reflections on anybody whatsoever within the political arena, except to say that I think that the investigation that is taking place is very important for the purposes of allaying people's concerns that things were happening that clearly should not have been happening.”
“I do not have any doubt whatsoever that new information is going to come to light over the course of the investigation and that everybody associated with that project — it was principally in the domain and responsibility of the Irish Government's Finance Department and NAMA in Dublin — will be held accountable.”
“I think that it provides for very interesting reading, particularly in the context of a previous statement that was issued, which denied any involvement in the issue of persons seeking funding for the work that they said that they had done. Now, new light has been thrown on that with the publication of the letter in today's 'Irish News'. <BR /> <BR />The most that I want to say about it at this stage is that it is quite clear that what is happening around the sale of the Northern portfolio is now the subject of a criminal investigation into corruption by the National Crime Agency and the United States police, and, of course, an ongoing inquiry by the Committee attached to the Finance Department here in the North. It is also the subject of ongoing discussions in Dublin. These are very serious matters.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will ask junior Minister McCann to answer.”
“I think that it is important that the work of the North/South bodies continues. I am happy to report that that work is continuing. Obviously, in terms of the meetings taking place that involve ministerial responsibility, there is a difficulty at this time. I hope that that will be overcome as a result of what, I hope, will be a successful outcome to the negotiations that we are involved in. <BR /> <BR />Apart from that, the Member's vitriolic hatred of anything North/South, or indeed of anything Irish, is legendary, so, from our perspective, we will not rise to the bait.”
“I hope that it will not. I know that civil servants, officials and, I think, all parties in this Assembly are very keen to ensure that there is no financial loss as a result of the present situation. I am working on the basis that the work with Europe is continuing, and my hope is, as I believe is the hope of all Members in this House, that that money will be secured.”
“Officials in sponsor Departments are in regular contact with the North/South bodies to keep them abreast of the position and to ensure that they are taking the necessary steps for the continued effective operations of the bodies.”
“Since the then First Minister's statement on 7 September 2015, two meetings of the North/South Ministerial Council have been postponed. A meeting of the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) sector, scheduled for 18 September, was postponed, and a meeting of the agricultural sector scheduled for 7 October was also postponed. A further North/South ministerial meeting in the north-west to consider the future strategic approach to the development of the region, which was scheduled for 1 October to fulfil commitments given in the North/South Ministerial Council and the Stormont House Agreement, has also been postponed. <BR /> <BR />However, the operations of the North/South bodies are continuing as normal.”
“That took a bit of time because it was new. There were obviously criticisms of how long it took, but from my report to the Assembly today, it is quite clear that a step change has now occurred; that we are now seeing projects coming to fruition and will continue to do so over the next while. However, I take on board what the Member said. I think that we always have to look at these processes to establish how we can do things better in the future, if the decision is made to continue with this sort of approach.”
“As in all such situations — this was a new project that we embraced — there will have to be an evaluation of the progress made and also a very serious look taken at the downside to its implementation. It is very important to stress that, from the very beginning, the intention of the whole process was to ensure that we would not come along and dictate to local communities. What we were doing was empowering local communities to come up with projects that they believed would benefit them. Therefore, it was a bottom-up approach. Local communities had that sense of empowerment: they had the discussion; they had the debate; and they prioritised the issues that they wanted to see developed in their area.”
“The different steering groups in the individual zones, including those in Mid Ulster, are now focused on providing projects that improve the lives of citizens and enrich their lives in a very powerful way. <BR /> <BR />I will write to the Member about the individual progress that has been made. It would take me too long to go through the Mid Ulster projects. All of them are now effectively at a very advanced stage, and I think that great progress has been made generally throughout.”
“The projects are now clearly under way, in what is a very important step change in recent times. In the context of moving forward on all those issues, we have seen a situation develop in which, because of the responsibility that Departments have and the responsibility that the steering groups have in particular zones, we had a duty and responsibility to make sure that money was being spent properly on projects that were going to enhance the lives of people in local communities. <BR /> <BR />I remember that, at the beginning of this process, one particular party in the Assembly described SIF as a "slush fund for paramilitary types". That has now been proven to be total and absolute nonsense.”
“I remember going to the Brandywell as a six- or seven-year old to support Derry City. The side of the ground that is going to be transformed looks the same now as it did when I was six or seven years of age. Therefore, the demolition of the Glentoran Stand — called "Glentoran" because it was donated by Glentoran to Derry City — is a badly needed project. There has always been a very close relationship between officials at Glentoran and Derry City. That stand is now in the process of being demolished. We are going to see the Brandywell football pitch transformed over the next short while, and that is good news, not just for local sports and football fans in the area, but it is a good regeneration project for the Brandywell area.”
“The £80 million social investment fund aims to improve social conditions and encourage economic growth in certain areas where there is poverty, unemployment and dereliction. The sum of £2·8 million has been awarded under the SIF to the Derry pitches project. That funding will support delivery of improvements at three sports venues in the north-west. It will contribute to phase 1 of the Brandywell Stadium redevelopment, which includes a new 3G pitch surface and the replacement of the existing stand. At Leafair pitch, a new pavilion comprising changing facilities and community rooms will be developed. A new full-size turf GAA playing pitch will be developed at Corrody Road. <BR /> <BR />I know that that is particularly good news for the Brandywell and for football in general in the Derry area, and certainly for Derry City Football Club.”
“We anticipate that they will begin work later this year or early next year.”
“Five are designed to provide training and work placements targeted at the long-term unemployed. All are recruiting their first participants. Derry's Foyle Community Work Programme has filled 34 of its 100 places. The four remaining projects are designed to support families and young people. A further revenue project, due to start in the northern zone in late October, will bring the total number of projects to 10. <BR /> <BR />SIF capital projects are also progressing. One, Coleraine's Causeway Rural and Urban Networks charity hub, opened in September and two others — the Bryson Street Surgery and the Best of the East, in the Belfast east zone — should also complete before the end of the year. A further 14 capital projects are either at the stage of design-team or construction-team procurement.”
“During its area planning process, the social investment fund (SIF) focused on the development and prioritisation of projects to address local needs, through which nine SIF steering groups chose 55 projects to fit within the fund's affordability limit. Delivery is now well under way. <BR /> <BR />Currently, 42 projects with associated costs of around £58 million are progressing. They include the three capital refurbishment projects, worth £4·4 million, which we announced last week for Belfast north and Derry. One of these, the Derry pitches project, will refurbish community sports facilities at Brandywell, Leafair, and Corrody Road in the Foyle constituency. <BR /> <BR />Nine revenue projects are up and running in the Derry, Belfast south, Belfast west, Belfast north, south-eastern, southern and western SIF zones.”
“With your permission, Mr Speaker, I ask junior Minister McCann to answer that question.”
“<BR /> <BR />The outcome of the commission might not amount to a hill of beans, but we have to give citizens in society an opportunity to have a mature debate about where we are going and how we need to respect each other and each other's traditions, but to do so in a way that is not flagrantly provocative and is not breaking the law.”
“My understanding was that the Alliance Party signed up to the commission. So I hope that that contribution does not represent a divergence of opinion from party policy. This is a vexed issue, and it is difficult for individual Departments or even the police to deal with these issues in isolation. Although, I cannot understand for one minute why, when paramilitary emblems are being put up in a very provocative way in areas, the police do not enforce the powers and laws they have to take them down. At the same time, the greatest failure here rests with the politicians — all of us — because we have failed thus far to find a way forward. That is the challenge for us over the next while.”
“Quite clearly, the people who do that are still living in the past and have some warped notion that the overwhelming majority of the people of the tradition that they come from support this. I do not believe that they do.”
“I absolutely agree on both counts. At the same time, I think that we all know the challenges and difficulties that there have been in recent times, with people being unwilling to fulfil their responsibilities to keep law and order on the streets in relation to the flying of provocative symbols. I think that the best hope for a solution, in the absence of anybody taking up the challenge and grasping the nettle in relation to those provocative emblems, is to find a solution through the establishment of this commission. It is ridiculous that, in this day and age, we have a scenario where the emblems of paramilitary organisations are up on lamp posts alongside national emblems.”
“I know that this represents us getting agreement in the ongoing talks. That will be another delay of something like 18 months, but if that 18 months can be utilised to find a solution, it will be well worth the exercise. <BR /> <BR />In the meantime, there is a huge responsibility on everybody in society to recognise that they should not be involved in provocative behaviour of any description. That includes everybody. I do not single out any particular tradition. I think that we all have a duty and responsibility to ensure that there is peace on our streets and that we are contributing in a very mature fashion to face up to a vital discussion around the whole issue of flags, symbols and identity and about how the traditions of all sides can be respected.”
“The form and constitution of the commission is being progressed and agreed, as I said, through the Stormont House Agreement implementation group. The membership of the group includes the main political party leaders. The remit of the commission focuses on flags and emblems and, as required, broader issues of identity, culture and tradition and seeks to identify maximum consensus on their application. In its work, it is guided by the principles of the existing agreements, including parity of esteem. As I said in my main answer, the commission will produce a report within 18 months of being established. It will consist of 15 members, seven of whom will be nominees appointed by the leaders of the parties in the Executive, and the remaining eight members will be drawn from outside of government.”
“The challenge for the commission that I referred to in my initial answer is to come up with ideas, proposals and suggestions that will, I hope, find favour among the political parties so that, at long last and after far too long, we find a solution. If we did find a solution, I think that it would have overwhelming support among all sensible people in our society who are clearly fed up with the antics of those who try to use national emblems for provocative purposes.”
“First, I am not aware of the life and times survey in relation to flags, but none of that would surprise me. I always wonder about the accuracy of some of these surveys, but the reality, as we know, is that this is a vexed issue going back many decades, and a resolution needs to be found. Thus far, collectively, we have failed to find a resolution. There is a huge responsibility now, particularly in the context of the ongoing discussions, to find a way forward that meets the approval of all the parties in the House. <BR /> <BR />Flaunting flags, whether British national flags or Irish national flags, in people's faces for provocative reasons is very unpalatable. It is not grown-up. We need to get to a situation where we recognise the need for maturity in how we deal with each other with dignity and respect in our community.”
“Together: Building a United Community commits to establishing a range of thematic subgroups under the auspices of the ministerial panel to support implementation and take forward actions on the strategic priorities arising from the strategy, one of which is to examine the issue of flags. We are considering options on the establishment of the flags thematic subgroup to ensure that there is no duplication between the work of the subgroup and the remit of the commission on flags, identity, culture and tradition.”
“A review of the flags protocol was due to commence in 2009 but was postponed pending the review of the good relations policy. A flags protocol working group was reconvened in December 2011 with a view to bringing forward recommendations on a revised approach to dealing with issues around flags and emblems. A draft discussion paper was produced and shared with the good relations strategy cross-party working group. However, that work did not progress any further whilst the all-party talks chaired by Richard Haass considered and made recommendations on matters including flags. <BR /> <BR />The Stormont House Agreement, published in December 2014, commits to establishing a commission that will examine a number of areas, including flags, identity, culture and tradition. The commission will produce a report after a period of 18 months.”
“The flags protocol was established in April 2005 by OFMDFM in partnership with the PSNI, the Department for Social Development, Roads Service in the Department for Regional Development, the Department of the Environment's Planning Service and the Housing Executive to establish clear working relationships and an agreed partnership approach between agencies with responsibilities related to the flying of flags.”
“Tom read Seamus's poem 'Sunlight' very evocatively yesterday at the graveside in Glenties, County Donegal. I was honoured to be there. <BR /> <BR />I will finish with a poem that Seamus Heaney wrote for Brian Friel, an account of a journey that he, Brian and their two wives took in the west coast of Ireland. It is called 'Postscript':”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. When Seamus Heaney died two years ago, we lost a Goliath of world literature, an incredible poet who is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest the world has ever seen. With the passing of his very good friend Brian Friel, we have lost another Goliath of literature, someone who was regarded as the best playwright in the English language in maybe a century. That is some accolade for someone who went from Killyclogher in County Tyrone to the city of Derry and then on to County Donegal. <BR /> <BR />I join others in the House in offering our deepest sympathy to his wife, Anne, his daughters Mary, Judy and Sally, and his son, David. He was part of a very special group of people who formed Field Day in the city of Derry, working with Seamus Heaney, Seamus Deane, Stephen Rea and Tom Paulin.”
“My track record over 20 years is of bringing new thinking to the table and resolving some of the most intractable problems, some of which people thought would never be resolved. All those decisions have resulted in the Member sitting in this House today. Yes, as we face into talks over the next couple of weeks, we all have to recognise that there are huge challenges and that the entire community out there supports all of us in different ways and expects strong leadership. The difficulty is the austerity agenda being imposed by the British Government, whether in England, Scotland, Wales or here. That provides an opportunity for us to do something different. Devolution is about making a difference, and that means a difference from what they do in England. That is what I am trying to achieve.”
“The Member knows as well as I do that the announcement that talks are to take place provides an opportunity for all the parties to try to resolve the outstanding difficulties in relation to the Stormont House Agreement, particularly around the issue of welfare. I do not think it was helpful of Theresa Villiers to say what she said over the weekend; it effectively undermines devolution. I note that Charlie Flanagan, the Foreign Minister, made a critical comment on those remarks. What we all need to do over the next couple of weeks is knuckle down, get the agreement and, hopefully, put in the past the arguments about how to protect the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and disabled people in our society, whilst ensuring that we have the ability to deliver first-class public services.”
“I do not think there will be any difficulty in coming to an agreement, and we are prepared to work with the British, Scottish and Welsh Governments, and the Government in Dublin, to help people through what has been a horrendous ordeal.”
“This is something that transcends politics in terms of the human misery that people are going through at the moment. We certainly will have discussions with the Irish Government about how we can all contribute on the island of Ireland. <BR /> <BR />People are exercised by the numbers. During an interview at the weekend, I talked about my willingness to take 2,000 people. At that time, the talk was that, in the South, they would take 1,800. This is something that we have to agree among ourselves, and no doubt in our discussions the First Minister and I will deal with this as a matter of considerable urgency.”
“The public reaction is heart-warming, and it is great to see that Germany and other countries are prepared to play their part. We, too, have to play ours.”
“There has been a very strong response in our society to what is an incredibly sad humanitarian crisis. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the change of position by the British Government on this issue. As I said earlier, I spoke to David Cameron last Thursday, and we await his announcement on how many refugees will be assisted and what the British Government intend to put in place. We will certainly play our part in that. <BR /> <BR />It is a tragic situation and OFMDFM has been discussing how we might respond for some time. Months ago, our officials met Belfast City Council, Derry and Strabane Council, the Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers and the North West Migrants Forum on this issue, and in the coming days we will look very seriously at what needs to be put in place.”
“I am very encouraged by what I hear from every section of society, not least the Church leaders. I think that the terrible events of the last couple of months have brought it home to everybody, even though it is very sad that we had to see the dead body of an infant lying on a beach in Turkey for it to be brought home to everybody.”
“I applaud the Member's ability to come up with a question and whoever gave him the question in the last few minutes. The Justice Minister is following me in answering questions; no doubt, he might have something to say about Enniskillen courthouse.”
“I do not object to the Ulster Unionist Party going into opposition; I do not know where the Member got that notion from. Should the Ulster Unionist Party, the SDLP, Sinn Féin or the DUP want to go into opposition, we have made provision for that in the Stormont House Agreement. It is interesting that the question comes from a member of a party that does not support the Stormont House Agreement. My understanding is that the Ulster Unionist executive has never met to endorse the Stormont House Agreement. Correct me if I am wrong.”
“I do not agree with that analysis. It sounds like a wee bit of political point-scoring and ignores the fact that I was able to present to the Assembly today the reality that 81% of the Programme for Government has been delivered. That, against the backdrop of a previous 70% return, represents a considerable improvement. I know that, as we approach the election, there are people — they are not all members of political parties — who are also fighting their own election, and that includes the Member for East Derry or, as she would call it, East Londonderry. I understand all of that; I am very philosophical about it. The reality is that an awful lot of good work has been done, not least in job creation and attracting foreign direct investment, which has put thousands and thousands of people into new jobs.”
“No. When you consider that we have delivered 81% against the backdrop of a 70% return for the previous Programme for Government, you see that it represents a huge success for our Executive. On a consistent basis, we deal with commentators and some news reporters — not all — who continually try to portray the Executive as a place in which no decisions are taken. The fact is that many decisions have been taken. Eighty-one per cent of the Programme for Government has been delivered. There is outstanding work to do on the other 19%. As we go forward with the future Programme for Government, whether it is for the rest of this term or into the next term, there is no doubt that serious consideration will be given to how we can continue to up our performance.”
“From the comments that have been made by all the political parties who have spoken on the issue, it is obvious that we all want to do more and to do something. I know that OFMDFM officials, under the tutelage of the two junior Ministers, have been involved in discussions in recent times about how we can contribute to alleviating the plight of those people. That work continues. I hope to have a conversation shortly with the First Minister, because urgency is required in taking the matter forward. Work is already under way. Officials and junior Ministers are involved in that work, and there is no doubt whatsoever that the First Minister and I want to contribute and play our part in alleviating the plight of those poor people.”
“They do not strike me as people who want to end up in the North of Ireland, Scotland, Wales or Germany — I applaud the Germans for the way in which they have welcomed the refugees and the fact that they have offered to take some 800,000 of them — and sit on their backside when they get there.”
“It is a horrendous situation in which people have been displaced from their homes as a result of war and conflict in their country. Of course, we look at the journeys that these people have undertaken and the way that they have risked their lives and those of their families to escape from war-torn situations, and we have to look at all those people with incredible admiration for their willingness to walk some 170 kilometres from one country to another to find safety. There is an argument about whether they should be called migrants or refugees: they are clearly refugees, but they are also people who are willing to take enormous risks to save their lives and those of their families.”
“I had the opportunity to speak to the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, just a few days ago. Obviously, the conversation centred on the present difficulties that we are experiencing at the Assembly and exploring how we can take those forward, and I welcome the fact that we will go into vital talks over the next short while to try to resolve those difficulties. During that conversation, I took the opportunity to raise the plight of the refugees and to stress what I believe to be the case, which is that, in Scotland, Wales and the North, we are willing to play our part and do more but he needs to do more. Of course, he is making a statement today in the House of Commons about the numbers. <BR /> <BR />It represents a huge challenge for all of us.”
“It is helpful that the development of the new structures in government and preparation for a new Programme for Government are progressing together. That should ensure that the future delivery of outcomes will benefit from better collaboration and decision-making across Departments, leading to improved accountability.”
“Notwithstanding the current political difficulties and acknowledging that a Programme for Government for the period 2016-2021 will be a matter for an incoming Executive following the next Assembly election, work is ongoing to look at potential high-level objectives and to identify possible delivery models and governance and accountability structures. In particular, we are exploring the potential benefits of an even greater focus on outcomes through the development of an outcomes framework for the public sector.”