Stephen Dunne
North Down · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Does the Minister recognise that the delays are causing a lot of stress to current officers and those who have served in the past and are impacting on the morale of current officers? What level of engagement has she had on the issue in the past, and what are her plans, in that regard, for the future?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. With approximately 15% of the entire Waterways Ireland estate located in Northern Ireland, I am keen to establish any detail that you may have on the scale of immediate safety risks, with regard to diseased trees in Northern Ireland specifically, that are linked to the tree management strategy, whic…”
“All the trust ports support the legislation, as was reflected in the responses to the consultation carried out last year on this important issue. It is also worth noting that trust ports in the rest of the United Kingdom — in Scotland, England and Wales — have been reclassified with no issues.”
“I am pleased to speak in the Second Stage debate on the Harbours Bill. As a member of the Committee for Infrastructure, I support the Bill's general intention, which, ultimately, is to provide all the trust ports in Northern Ireland with greater commercial flexibility. The trust ports are a key part of our local economy.”
“More than 20,000 people are employed in the harbour estates alone, and the harbours support over 15% of our country's total annual output. We can see the developments taking place at the D3 cruise terminal at Belfast harbour through the work that is going on there.”
“That should be the focus for all of us, and something that we can support and get behind. There is no doubt that all our trust ports already deliver significant economic and social benefits, but they are telling us that they can do more, want to do more and are willing to do more.”
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“I thank the Minister for her answer. How does the Minister explain the fact that, going back to the November 2024 report, inspectors have found no meaningful progress in the transformation of our justice system since devolution returned back in 2010?”
“I welcome the confirmation that the scheme will be progressed, and I encourage its swift roll-out. Will the Minister provide an update on the exact timings of when the new signs will be in place? Does she agree that poor maintenance by her Department can also compromise road safety, through the fading of signage and yellow lines outside schools? That can also compromise road safety around our schools.”
“<BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to the volunteers of Bangor RNLI, past and present, who, for six decades, have served our communities and saved lives across our seas and shores, as well as the members of very dedicated team at the neighbouring Donaghadee RNLI station who continue to serve at sea with such dedication. Let us remember Dennis Filby and his kindness and generosity. He was a quiet man whose lasting legacy will now echo across Belfast lough and beyond, saving lives at sea. May the Ruby Robinson and her crew always return safely. May her name be ever linked to courage, compassion and the enduring spirit of public service.”
“<BR /> <BR />None of that would have been possible without the extraordinary generosity and legacy of the late Dennis Walter Filby from England, who kindly donated money to fund the new vessel. Dennis was a quiet, unassuming man who, for many years, worked on the farm of Ruby Robinson. In an act of generosity, Dennis left the majority of his estate to fund the new lifeboat. That lifeboat is borne of kindness, friendship and selfless giving. It was fitting that members of Mr Filby's family attended the special ceremony in Bangor on Saturday as the vessel was entrusted to the Bangor crew, who continue to answer the call, day or night, in all conditions, 24/7 and 365 days a year, with selfless dedication.”
“That special event was very well attended and coincided with the 60th anniversary of Bangor RNLI, which was established back in 1965. Since then, the station has served with great honour and distinction. The Ruby Robinson becomes only the eighth vessel to continue that proud legacy of saving lives at sea. <BR /> <BR />The new lifeboat represents the very best in life-saving capability. It is fast, agile and ideally suited to our coastline. It has already proven its worth. In September 2024, it rescued and no doubt saved the life of a missing dinghy sailor. That incident showed the skill, courage and dedication of the crew and the capabilities of the new vessel. It was even called to action twice yesterday, in Ballyholme and Crawfordsburn, and made a real difference on both occasions.”
“Saturday marked a very proud and poignant day for Bangor on the Eisenhower pier that overlooks Bangor marina, as a very special naming ceremony and service of dedication took place for Bangor RNLI's new lifeboat, the Ruby Robinson.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. For months, the Minister and her colleague the Finance Minister have pointed to the need to have a research evidence base before addressing the concerns of businesses across our country. Now that the research is in place, what urgent actions will the Minister take to mitigate the dire consequences for local businesses? An example was highlighted at the Economy Committee last week by the Denroy Group, which had a bill of £800,000 for National Insurance and national living wage payments alone. That shows the scale of the challenge.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and for his commitment and efforts to tackle the major issue of educational underachievement. Will the Minister provide a further update on the work of the RAISE programme in my constituency, including Donaghadee and Millisle?”
“Will the deputy First Minister join me in noting the positive contribution of large-scale events such as the Balmoral show, the North West 200 and the Open Championship, which is coming up in Royal Portrush, in showcasing the very best of Northern Ireland and their impact?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. When you launched the scheme late last year, you mentioned the decline in participation in it. What action do you propose to address that decline? Is the future of the scheme secure?”
“The Minister needs to urgently complete a comprehensive review and action plan for reform in order to secure the appropriate finance to invest in our water infrastructure, rather than simply repeating the mistakes and excuses of her predecessors by kicking the can down the road in the hope of avoiding difficult decisions.”
“<BR /> <BR />I trust that the Minister will take meaningful and decisive action, should the opportunity arise following the conclusion of the forensic accountants' work. We need to explore the merits of developing and looking at, for example, NI Water's borrowing powers and at innovative solutions. We also need to look closely at and consider global best practice. As I touched on, our housing supply strategy warns about the limitations, and all of us in the House know that, in every corner of our country, there is an ever-growing waiting list with thousands of people desperately waiting on that new home. <BR /> <BR />All in all, the debate has been useful.”
“While developer contributions initially put the cost on to the developer, it will ultimately be the public that will have to pick up the tab when purchasing new homes. <BR /> <BR />The Minister recently announced her decision to engage forensic accounting services to investigate why NIW has been unable to live within its budget allocation. I look forward to, hopefully, hearing an update from the Minister today on when Members can expect to see any outcomes from that investigation. When we spoke around one month ago, a period of six weeks was mentioned, and the clock is ticking on that. We look forward to hearing more on that where costs and actions going forward are concerned. We do not want to see another report or review that sits on a shelf, as others, including Mr McGlone, said. We need to see action, and now is the time for that.”
“We have also recently seen the suspension of the living with water programme, and I know that the Minister is aware of that. There are real concerns about that across the country, particularly in my North Down constituency, with the pressures on the already overstretched Kinnegar treatment works and the subsequent knock-on impact in Belfast lough. <BR /> <BR />The Minister recently pointed, as she often does, to developer contributions as a potential way of dealing with the crisis. My colleague Mr Buchanan touched on that. It is important to remember that developer contributions in themselves will not be a silver bullet; indeed, during a recent Committee briefing, senior NI Water officials confirmed that they are not a long-term solution.”
“Every month that passes without action leads to further missed opportunities to support business expansion, grow our economy, boost employment in the construction and many other sectors and to meet our ever-increasing housing targets.”
“Successive Ministers have spoken about how high a priority the issue is for them. There is no doubt that the running failure to address underinvestment in our water infrastructure is severely hampering economic development and housebuilding across our country.”
“As a member of the Infrastructure Committee, I am aware of the very serious issues and challenges that face our water infrastructure network right across every corner of Northern Ireland. Indeed, economic growth and prosperity depend on having a water and sewerage network that is fit for purpose for the future and today. However, our network is definitely not fit for purpose. <BR /> <BR />This is not a new issue, and my party colleagues brought a motion to the Assembly towards the end of the previous mandate that called for a new strategy to enhance and expand our water and sewerage infrastructure. We note with regret the lack of progress to date, despite many reports, consultations, surveys and engagement from right across the sector, which starkly highlight the need for action.”
“I commend the board of directors, particularly the chairman, Graham Bailie, all of whom share a passion for and commitment and dedication to Bangor Football Club. For many years, the club has been very much part of our local community, with its vibrant academy, active social club and much more. The achievement will inspire many more young people across our local area to get involved in sport. I know that many fans are eagerly looking forward to the new Premiership season kicking off. <BR /> <BR />Once again, congratulations to Bangor Football Club. It has very exciting plans for the time ahead, on and off the pitch, and I wish it well.”
“Subsequently, the team won three promotions, including the Premier Intermediate League a few seasons ago, before winning the Championship this season, which, as anyone who follows local football will know, is very competitive. Bangor Football Club has earned a well-deserved promotion to the top tier of local football, which it had not achieved since 2009. The success is a testament to the hard work, dedication and passion shown by those who are involved with Bangor Football Club, on and off the pitch, including the many volunteers who work week in, week out and are very much the heartbeat of the club. <BR /> <BR />The club continues to grow and progress, and the promotion is richly deserved after such a season.”
“In what has been a very special few weeks for sport in North Down, I congratulate Bangor Football Club on the fantastic achievement of winning the very competitive Championship and securing promotion to the NIFL premiership. It is a moment of immense pride for the club, players, the manager, Lee Feeney, the coaching staff, directors, loyal supporters and the many volunteers who are at the heart of this great club. They have backed the "Seasiders" through thick and thin on this incredible journey, which culminated in their lifting the trophy on Saturday. <BR /> <BR />The journey included playing in the Ballymena and Provincial Football League back in the 2018-19 season.”
“In 2019-2020, your Department paid out over £35,000 for vehicle damage claims in its Ards and North Down section office area. In 2023-24, that amount rose to an eye-watering £122,000. Will you take action to ensure that the Ards and North Down area receives a fair funding allocation for proper roads maintenance going forward?”
“— not just a golfer but a role model. Congratulations, Rory McIlroy.”
“In Rory McIlroy, we see the best of Northern Ireland: determination, brilliance and generosity of spirit. We celebrate —”
“<BR /> <BR />Rory's success is about much more than trophies; it is about representing Northern Ireland on the world stage and inspiring generations of young people in every corner of our country, in towns and cities where young boys and girls now believe that no dream is beyond their reach. We have so many excellent golf clubs in every corner of Northern Ireland, including the eight in my North Down constituency, all of which have felt the effect of Rory's success, with golfers of all ages getting clubs or picking them up again, with the many health benefits that that brings.”
“Rory embodied all those qualities, nurtured by his hard-working and loving parents, Gerry and Rosie, his coaches and his many friends, who always believed that the boy from Holywood would one day conquer the golfing world. Conquer it he very much did. There has been immense pride across Holywood, North Down, Northern Ireland and beyond since Rory's remarkable success at the Masters. That was certainly evident on the streets of Holywood in the days following his great success. I was privileged to join in those scenes around Holywood town, where there was such an atmosphere and a buzz about the success of Holywood's most famous son.”
“It is a truly phenomenal achievement that will certainly go down in the history books. From the fairways of Holywood Golf Club to the grand stages of Augusta, St Andrews, Pebble Beach and many of the other most decorated golf courses in the world, Rory's journey has been nothing short of inspirational. I have no doubt that there will be much more major success in the not-too-distant future. <BR /> <BR />Rory was born and raised in Holywood, County Down, and his natural talent was evident from the earliest stage, but talent alone does not build champions such as this: it is matched by discipline, resilience and a fierce and determined drive to succeed.”
“I am delighted to have secured the Matter of the Day to celebrate one of Northern Ireland's greatest ever sporting stars: Mr Rory McIlroy from Holywood. Rory has now achieved the incredible feat of completing golf's Grand Slam of major championship success, the pinnacle of the sport of golf. Just over two weeks ago, when he putted his final shot at the Masters in Augusta to win the illustrious green jacket, Rory became only the sixth person in history to complete golf's Grand Slam of major trophies, having secured victories in the Masters, the US Open, the Open Championship and the PGA Championship. It was a truly incredible achievement that we in Northern Ireland can all be proud of. Rory put his name alongside those of golfing icons such as Tiger Woods and the great Jack Nicklaus.”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, it is worth highlighting the fact that, as representatives for North Down, we ask not for special treatment but for fairness and investment that is proportionate to the population and to the scale of the issues that we have seen. Hopefully, the current Minister will take the opportunity that the previous Minister did not to get a fair deal for the people of North Down.”
“Again, that has had an adverse impact on road safety at sight lines. <BR /> <BR />There are many issues. We hope that the Minister will get a grip on them and ensure that North Down gets its fair share of investment. There are other issues, including the routine maintenance of drainage systems and gullies, where we have seen flooding at some of those hotspots. We also look forward to more work being done on the wider road safety review of the A2, which has been committed to recently in responses to a number of questions. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to the local section office staff, whom I know well and meet regularly. I appreciate their attention and that they work with limited resources and, sometimes, staff shortages. That is a wider issue in the Department that, I hope, the Minister is working on.”
“That has been a factor in the ever-increasing number of claims for vehicle damage and personal injury, with more than a staggering £25 million paid out by the Department in the past five years. <BR /> <BR />The A2 Bangor to Belfast dual carriageway is one of our country's busiest roads. However, it does not get the investment that it should. With around 45,000 vehicle movements daily, it has a number of issues. A lack of maintenance, signage and other dangerous issues have impacted road safety there and on the busy Bangor Ring Road. Look at grass verges, for example. Previously, they were cut more than five times per year: that has been reduced to twice per year. That has had an impact on sight lines at many of the junctions along those roads. The Minister's predecessor, Minister O'Dowd, introduced a policy of having 2-metre cuts.”
“<BR /> <BR />Hopefully, the new Minister has recognised that the "penny wise and pound foolish" approach that her Department sometimes takes to road maintenance benefits no one. As a member of the Infrastructure Committee, I look forward to seeing further details of the Minister's proposed new road maintenance strategy. I have spoken to her about that at the Committee. I hope that she will take the opportunity to address some of the issues and will commit to making interventions and higher-quality repairs where they are needed most. In recent years, we have seen the change to intervention levels. Where it was previously 20 millimetres on many of our roads, under the limited approach, they are left to reach 50 millimetres, which, I think that everybody will agree, is too high a threshold.”
“In that year alone, over 3,800 were reported. As has been mentioned, pothole repairs cause great frustration for us all and the people whom we represent. It is important that action be taken to ensure that, when repairs are carried out, they will last. <BR /> <BR />I know that the issue extends across Northern Ireland, but the Minister will maybe take it on board. In North Down, utility companies have often come into areas just after resurfacing work has been done. That is an issue of huge frustration. The Department can do more to work with utility companies to ensure that they take responsibility and leave those areas in the same condition, if not in better condition, after they have dug them up. Hopefully, that can be prioritised.”
“Figures that I acquired recently when I asked a question for written answer brought that to bear and highlighted the starkness of the issue. It was confirmed that, in four of the past five financial years, our council area was ranked the lowest of all council areas in total resource and capital structural maintenance expenditure on road maintenance. That is simply not good enough. In 2022-23, the Ards and North Down Borough Council area had a road maintenance budget of £3 million. By comparison, the highest allocation was to the Mid Ulster District Council area, which received a staggering £21·5 million. The scale of the difference between those areas is certainly alarming. Meanwhile, in 2023 and for a number of years, our council area has topped the league table for the number of potholes reported.”
“During that time, we have seen our roads and footpaths in urban and rural areas deteriorate and the costs of claims for personal injury and damage to vehicles skyrocket. Simple routine maintenance tasks, such as cleaning road signs, regularly spraying weeds and cutting grass, have deteriorated across our area due to 10 years of significant underfunding and the prioritisation programme of limited service. While many of those issues are not unique to our area, as the Adjournment topic suggests, North Down does not get its fair share of investment for addressing such problems. I know that the Minister has been in the area relatively recently, so, hopefully, she saw then and will see in the future the condition of some of our roads.”
“I, too, thank my colleague Mr Peter Martin for securing an Adjournment debate on this topic, and I thank the Infrastructure Minister for her attendance this afternoon. <BR /> <BR />The Department for Infrastructure has been operating a limited roads maintenance programme for 10 years. Its impact is really starting to show to a dangerous level right across Northern Ireland, but it has had a particular impact on our constituency of North Down.”
“I thank the Member for his answer. Is he confident that the ongoing issues will be resolved once and for all, particularly with regard to the leaking roof, which has been an issue for a number of years? Hopefully, the buckets will not be needed on the third floor, as they have been for many years, to deal with the leaks — the physical leaks.”
“I give special thanks to those dedicated volunteers, who are out at the weekends — rain, hail or shine — to make a difference and give up their free time to help others. Keep up the great work.”
“I am sure that many people in the House and beyond will have seen those dedicated volunteers out on our streets at night or at many local community events and activities throughout the year. As well as the group in Ards and North Down, there are dedicated street pastor groups across Northern Ireland, including in Belfast, Coleraine, Newtownabbey and the Lisburn and Castlereagh area. <BR /> <BR />I pay particular tribute to Pam Williamson and Marilyn Toogood, who formed the Ards and North Down Street Pastors group back in 2015 and continue to lead it today. The group has grown and grown since its foundation and has a large number of dedicated volunteers who give up their time every weekend to help others.”
“I rise to mark a special anniversary for the Ards and North Down Street Pastors on 10 years of dedicated service across the Ards and North Down Borough Council area. On Thursday night, the street pastors, PSNI, council officers, friends and supporters gathered together to mark the significant 10-year milestone with a special celebration. The street pastors are a dedicated group of volunteers who give up their weekends to go out on our streets, keep people safe, offer practical support and show real compassion for everyone whom they meet in every corner of the Ards and North Down borough: Holywood, Bangor, the Ards peninsula and across the entire Ards and North Down area. Their motto is "Caring, Listening, Helping". Those are words that we should all aspire to and keep in mind every day.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. What is the expected timescale for completion of the forensic accountants' work? What will be the next steps once you have reviewed their findings?”
“The Minister will be aware of the impact on the greater waste water capacity issues that pausing certain aspects of the Living with Water programme has had and will have, including in my constituency at the Kinnegar waste water treatment works. Will the Minister outline any update on prioritising action on the general issue of waste water capacity?”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. How will the information included in such reports be used to track the Programme for Government's progress in tackling issues as anxiety and loneliness, which, as outlined in the report, remain alarmingly high right across Northern Ireland?”
“<BR /> <BR />Bangor and the North Down area has a great and very proud tradition of hockey, and Bangor Hockey Club continues to thrive, with almost 300 adult and over 400 junior members competing at every level in Ulster hockey throughout a very competitive season. <BR /> <BR />I also commend Ulster Hockey for its work and leadership as the sport's governing body in promoting hockey. We must ensure that hockey continues to get the investment and support that it deserves. <BR /> <BR />Once again, I give my warmest congratulations to Bangor Hockey Club, and I wish it every success going forward.”
“<BR /> <BR />I pay particular tribute to the players, coaching staff, management and all the dedicated volunteers for their skill and hard work throughout the season, which culminated in this success. Like many local sporting clubs across North Down, Bangor Hockey Club is run entirely by volunteers who give up their time to young men, women and children so that they might enjoy the sport that they love, learning many and valuable life skills of hard work, teamwork, commitment, discipline, friendship and so much more. Those are some of the values that we all know that sport brings to everybody.”
“I warmly congratulate Bangor Hockey Club on winning the prestigious Anderson Cup after an exciting final against South Antrim last Wednesday evening. It is a remarkable achievement. The 3-2 win at Havelock Park last week marks Bangor's first ever piece of major silverware. The club can be rightly proud, given that it last reached the final in 1989. The team displayed outstanding determination throughout the competition, which culminated in a nail-biting final, where their resilience and teamwork shone through as they came from behind to win the prestigious trophy — thanks to a hat-trick from Ryan Burgess — much to the delight of the travelling supporters, who came out in force, and everyone involved with Bangor Hockey Club.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have had a useful debate. I urge all colleagues to support the motion. We can send an unequivocal message that those who push and peddle drugs need to face the full weight of the law as we tackle the problem.”
“<BR /> <BR />Deirdre Hargey talked about the impact of drugs on her community and the importance of not stigmatising addiction. She talked about the community toolkit in her constituency, which, she believes, has had positive impacts in tackling drugs. Connie Egan said that former users should also be involved the review. That is an important point: those people have a key role to play by telling their story so that lessons can be learned. She also highlighted the fact that, ultimately, the whole Executive have a responsibility to end the harm. Mark Durkan, the final contributor, said, rightly, that ketamine is not just a party drug and that tackling such misconceptions should be front and centre. Mark talked about the severe health risks and said that there is no such thing as a low-risk substance. He is supportive of reclassification.”
“Thank you for the intervention. I was coming to that. I note that you said that the pattern of drug use has changed dramatically since 1971. The dramatic increase in the use of drugs in that period reinforces the need for updated legislation. <BR /> <BR />Doug Beattie talked about the many victims and the tragic consequences that drug use can have. He said that it is not just those who take drugs who are severely impacted on but their families and friends. He outlined the need for additional addiction support services and said that those services must improve. Justin McNulty talked about the consequences of ketamine use and the tragic loss of young lives in his community. He said that the penalties for possession and trafficking are too lenient and he mentioned the importance of prevention campaigns and educational awareness.”
“<BR /> <BR />Órlaithí Flynn spoke about the widespread use of drugs across every constituency in the country, the role for the Health Minister, the ever-rising use and dangers of online platforms and apps and the widespread accessibility that is at the heart of drug use today. She talked about a rapid drug-testing system, which should certainly be prioritised. Anything like that that can make a difference should be considered seriously. Danny Donnelly gave his support to the Larmour family's campaign and talked about the war on drugs in the UK. That is very fitting terminology: a war on drugs is required. He mentioned how the pattern of drug use —.”
“The connection between ketamine and spiking incidents should further encourage the Minister to do everything in her Department's power to make sure that action is taken and real change is made. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to Members' contributions. My colleague Joanne Bunting eloquently proposed the motion and outlined a personal connection. She has spoken with the Larmour family, who should always be front and centre in our thoughts. Joanne mentioned the production in our schools, which is a positive demonstration to our young people of the dangers. It has reached over 3,000 children and young people in schools. Hopefully, it can be rolled out further in our schools to reach thousands more. She shared shocking testimonies from users that really highlighted the impact of drug use.”