David Brooks
East Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Does the Member accept that our position, as it has been laid out and although it is different from hers, is that schools should have autonomy to decide those things? It is not about appointing anyone, least of all men specifically, to make those decisions; it is about school leadership.”
“I recognise that the Member is being genuine, as all Members have been as they have laid out their reasoning, and I have some sympathy with that. However, Northern Ireland is being portrayed almost as an outlier.”
“We have seen some enthusiasm for private Members' Bills introduced by those on the Benches opposite progressing at speed, and I hope to see similar motivation for such a key issue as inspections. In the past — admittedly, when there was less time pressure — the Committee was generous with its time when hearing from stakeholders.”
“I will say a few words rather make a lengthy speech. The Justice Bill is coming up, and I am sure that my colleague Mr Frew will have that covered.”
“I echo the sentiments that racism is always wrong, but one of the pressures that are causing frustration is the lack of social and affordable housing, particularly in our most deprived communities. That has been exacerbated by Mears's operation.”
“I will not take lectures in scripture and Christianity from those who often spend their time opposing Christian values — I have no truck with such lectures. Equally, I say to those who have been involved in the violence that you will not rebuild a Christian nation by torching houses or cars or by attacking the police.”
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“<BR /> <BR />The 'Spotlight' programme also discovered a lack of testing outside the peak bathing season, which was hiding the reality of pollution on the beaches around the lough. With the growing interest in sea swimming, paddleboarding and other activities, we need to know what people are being exposed to, and perhaps DAERA should look more closely at that issue. Indeed, last year, my colleague Cheryl Brownlee asked us to take a dip in Belfast lough when she opened her office with a Dip for Diabetes event. If I had been better informed about what I was dipping into, I might have been slower to join the event. However, many do swim, and the programme showed that the swimmers are concerned about what they are swimming in. That probably needs to be addressed cross-departmentally.”
“<BR /> <BR />The promised plan of maintenance is scant consolation and seems to be the kind of maintenance that is routinely needed at the Sydenham site to keep it running. Not replacing the facility is clearly a false economy and brings significant risks on multiple fronts. Whilst we have heard about the significant crisis at Lough Neagh, the focus should not entirely be on that area. We do not want to see a situation where focus elsewhere leads to a similar crisis in Belfast lough. The wider water infrastructure is clearly in a state of crisis, but the Sydenham station is more in need than most. As has been referenced, it was at the heart of the 'Spotlight' programme in December.”
“<BR /> <BR />I worked with residents and representatives of NI Water to get it through the planning process, and I am interested to hear from Northern Ireland Water and the Department about what, they believe, the real impact of delaying the project will be and whether they see it beginning again in the foreseeable future. The notification that we received noted, worryingly, a lack of capital budget until 2033, and I hope that the Minister will tell us that the work will move forward sooner than that. The local residents will return to such questions if there are any future flooding issues as a result of station failure, but more likely, and unseen, is the continuing and devastating effect on the lough and the environment.”
“Excepting local residents, there was a degree of ignorance, at times, about the catastrophic effect that the failure of the pumping station would have on the local population, given that it serves 6% of the population. We were all glad to hear that work was beginning on the new pumping station beside the King George V playing fields. It was positive to see that work was starting to progress, and, therefore, it was alarming and disappointing to be informed recently that, because of the pause in the living with water programme, the work had been paused and the development mothballed.”
“That helped some of those residents to get back some of that insurance.”
“It was emphasised to us then just how unfit the Sydenham station was, how regularly it broke down and required emergency maintenance and what effect it could have on residents if the maintenance was not successful or if the problem was beyond repair. I have been aware of that for many years, going back to those council days, as I say. <BR /> <BR />It was not surprising. As has been mentioned, that area had flooded before. I lived just off Park Avenue beside the station. It had flooded before, and, as Peter referenced, we, as representatives, whether in council or now as MLAs, constantly heard about issues with house insurance and so on. Those had been partly remedied by the works that had been undertaken at Orangefield Park to reroute the river and slow the flow there.”
“I agree with what both Members who have spoken have said. While increasing the focus on the matter, the Member, whom I thank for bringing this important topic to the House, will know that the issue is not new for us. Indeed, one of my earliest memories of my few years on Belfast City Council was when I was on the city growth and regeneration committee and NI Water attended to talk about the living with water programme. They rolled out on the desk a massive map of Belfast that had different shades of red according to the risk that different areas faced. There, on the map, one small spot of the deepest, darkest red happened to sit right over my house, which was a matter of yards from the current Sydenham pumping station.”
“I thank the Minister for his determination to provide fairness, not only for working families and taxpayers but for the sustainability of the welfare system for those who really need it. Will the task and finish group consider retaining information on fraud prosecutions for a longer period?”
“Thank you, Minister. The fact that the US is negotiating its economic relationship with other nations is perhaps causing concern in the South given its ongoing operation as a tax haven of sorts. It would be advantageous for us to maintain the relationship that we have had with the United States. Will you undertake that engagement? Will you do so in Washington on St Patrick's Day?”
“The Member who asked the previous question and the Minister certainly do not speak for me on that issue.”
“Minister, at a time of budgetary constraint and housing crisis in Northern Ireland, those figures will be concerning to anyone who hears them. What measures is the Minister taking to counteract that cost?”
“— because he is, I believe, an East Belfast resident.”
“— but I will claim him for East Belfast rather than North Belfast, as my colleague mentioned —”
“I welcome the council's ambition, and it will, I think, have a transformative effect. <BR /> <BR />Like everyone else, I welcome the appointment of the night tsar. That is a really positive intervention —”
“I think of Scott's Jazz Club at Ballyhackamore and some of the eateries there as well. I think of Banana Block and CS Lewis Square, which regularly host events. Night buses bring the benefits of tourism to those communities and bring people into the city centre. <BR /> <BR />I am running short of time. One thing that I really want to mention is the Belfast agenda ambition for 66,000 people to live in the city centre. That would make a cafe culture and some of the other things that we want to see in our city centre viable and sustainable into the future. It is one of the key things that we have to achieve if we want to see change. We can talk about how that message is put across in constituencies, but it is people living in the city centre who will drive politicians' greater interest in the city centre.”
“They are bringing those talents and those experiences to people in Belfast. We should be thankful for that, because Belfast's name and night-time economy is built upon their efforts. <BR /> <BR />Transport has been mentioned many times. Night buses are a really important intervention. We do need to sort the taxi situation. I am allergic to alcohol, so, quite often, I volunteer to become a taxi driver at the weekends when we are out with friends. Most of my friends, even long before COVID, have complained about the taxi issue, and that is a barrier if you want to attract tourism and visitors to the city to experience everything that we have here. The night buses also allow us to bring the tourists out of the city centre, as has been mentioned, to our main thoroughfares. In the east, I think of Boundary and Bullhouse craft beer venues.”
“Here in Belfast, not only have we had the biggest names at the SSE Arena but there are the traditional names: the Empire, the Limelight and the Ulster Hall. More recently, the Belfast Telegraph Building, having been put to different use, has hosted artists in the past year. We have had emerging talents such as Gareth Hamilton, an artist from Castlederg who has just moved to Belfast's sister city of Nashville. As a city, we should do much more to build upon that link. Others, such as Lainey Wilson and Megan Moroney, may not mean much to people here, but they have played in those venues here in our city in the past year. In the US, they are playing to arenas and stadiums, and I think that there is an appreciation of those private venues where people have invested their own money over the years to build Belfast's name.”
“These are challenges that all cities across the globe face, but, nevertheless, I know that work is ongoing in many organisations, some of it outlined by my colleague Mr Brett — the council and others — to try to combat that. <BR /> <BR />We have a thriving city in terms of its venues. We want to see support for those in the hospitality and entertainment sectors and support for our independent music venues. The Oh Yeah centre has been mentioned. Our music venues, theatres and nightclubs are at the heart of the night-time economy. We have talked about Matthew O'Toole's clubbing years. I have a wide taste in music, but I am very much in the country era. I was going to use that to illustrate the point.”
“Like colleagues, I have a speech prepared but I will try to paraphrase it and get through the key points. As my colleague from the SDLP said, the night-time economy in Belfast and across Northern Ireland contributes £2 billion to the local economy. It employs thousands of people, from hospitality staff and security personnel to musicians, artists and taxi drivers. The list is endless. However, the night-time economy does face challenges, some of which were outlined by my colleague Joanne Bunting. Sometimes there are increasing concerns around the perception of safety and so on. At times in the social media era, we can be unfair to ourselves relative to other cities.”
“<BR /> <BR />One thing that I have expressed during Committee discussion on the area is support for the vision of a better balance of collaboration between schools and further education colleges to furnish our pupils with more and better choices to reach their potential, ensuring, I hope, the sustainability of both sixth forms and local colleges. It is not in the interests of our young people or the economy to have school sixth forms and colleges competing with each other as rivals rather than collaborating to deliver a broad choice and an education that is as tailored as possible. Learning on those —.”
“I agree with the independent review that it is understandable for post-primary schools to desire or aspire to a sixth form, but it is not realistic for all, and it is not desirable to have sixth forms that are unsustainable in their numbers or can offer only a limited range of subjects. <BR /> <BR />The review puts forward options to secure future sustainability. Some have been touched on today, and I am sure that the Minister and greater educational experts than I will review evidence in the round in considering the future in that regard. Pupils should have access to a range of pathways, but we should not be overly prescriptive about where and how.”
“While university education should retain its standing, it should no longer be seen, as my colleague Cara Hunter said, as more than or better than some of the other available choices. Indeed, the independent review notes that the current imbalance undermines our colleges and is deeply injurious to Northern Ireland's interests. Many of those other choices can equally lead to good careers and excellent salaries and in modern industries that are foundational to today's Northern Ireland economy. <BR /> <BR />Whilst sixth form is something that very many will and rightly should aspire to, it is not the path for every pupil. Nor should it be the aspiration of every school to have a sixth form.”
“Many career pathways today rely on advanced apprenticeships or other courses delivered at further education colleges. Some involve training courses provided by private industry, with some firms valuing talent going through their specific training and apprenticeships as highly if not more highly than those with an degree. <BR /> <BR />In my opinion and without in any way denigrating the value of a traditional university education, which I am fortunate enough to have had, having progressed to it in the traditional way of A levels through my school's sixth form, university is a big choice. It comes with significant debt, albeit debt that is different from most and is thought of differently by those who take it on.”
“We know that work has been ongoing, and I believe that engagement has already taken place between the Minister of Education and his now former counterpart as Minister for the Economy around post-19 pathways for children with special educational needs, notably pushed up the agenda by, among others, Alma and Caleb from Caleb's Cause and the many supporters whom they have assembled through their worthy campaign. <BR /> <BR />It goes without saying that our sixth forms do wonderful work. For many, they are the launch pad into third level, particularly but not exclusively university education. A number of times at the Committee, including at the previously mentioned concurrent Committee, I have said that, in the modern era, pupils are and rightly should be more aware of the plethora of choices available to them in education and training.”
“<BR /> <BR />Education Committee colleagues will know that cross-departmental collaboration on issues that are so obviously cross-cutting and to the benefit of all is something that all members of the Committee have repeatedly focused on, including with the Department for the Economy on careers. Indeed, last year, we held a concurrent meeting with the Committee for the Economy to look at such issues, and, with the Speaker's blessing, that meeting took place in the Chamber. We will soon do likewise with the Committee for Health around a number of areas of concern.”
“My colleague Peter Martin has outlined our position on the motion and the amendment. I do not think that anyone in the Chamber would disagree with the lion's share of the motion. There is not a great degree of difference across the Chamber. To paraphrase, the key point is the fundamental importance of education in establishing career pathways and choices for our young people to prepare them to begin those journeys. There is no doubt that the Department of Education has a key role to play in that, but our amendment outlines that it is not in isolation; indeed, the Department for the Economy is key for many of our young people who are aged 16-plus.”
“Thank you, Minister. I declare an interest as a first-time buyer. On a number of viewings that I have had recently, agents have talked about cash buyers coming in and, essentially, wanting to turn homes into Airbnbs, and, even when advised that that is not allowed, they seem to be continuing with that intention. Do you agree that there is a need for greater regulation of subletting in that way and, indeed, enforcement?”
“I congratulate the Minister on her new appointment. <BR /> <BR />My colleague from Fermanagh and South Tyrone, who tabled the question for urgent oral answer, has told me today that one of her constituents has been told that it will be 16 February before Fibrus links them up again. Does the Minister agree that that is wholly unacceptable, and will she push Fibrus to bring that date forward?”
“You rightly spoke about the support that we received from across the UK during that incident. Will we look at best practice across the UK and elsewhere to see what we can implement here?”
“Given the inferences of some across the media and, indeed, in the House in recent weeks that make our controlled schools feel less than and maligned, will the Minister take this opportunity to thank those who work in our controlled schools for all the important work that they do for everyone across our community?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. It took him about two minutes to caveat his objection to debating the motion. Does he not see that that speaks to the fact that his objection is groundless? His party likes to speak about a circular economy and environmentalism. This is the reality of it. Discussing nappies is not beyond the realms of this body if nappies and other such products are a substantial problem when it comes to recycling.”
“Here's to Grosvenor Grammar School, particularly its leadership and staff down the years — a beacon of learning and inspiration for generations to come. Speaking of beacons, I know that the school is looking forward, as I am, to City Hall lighting up in celebration of this landmark later this week.”
“Gavin Robinson MP is also a past pupil, and we have a past teacher in Michelle McIlveen sitting here. Gavin was a deputy head boy during my early years in the school. <BR /> <BR />What I recall about Grosvenor is its spirit of inclusivity, its ambition and its family-type ethos. As someone who had health issues that disrupted his education at the school, I remember not only the excellent academic teaching received but the pastoral care for pupils that was a hallmark of the school. Each Grosvenorite becomes part of the school's legacy, which extends far beyond the classroom, and alumni have contributed to society across a range of fields. As we look forward to the future, we celebrate the last 80 years with gratitude.”
“While grammar schools are often stereotyped as elitist, I can say, as a working-class former pupil, that the lion's share of my classmates were from places such as the Newtownards Road, the Braniel, Ballybeen or the Cregagh. Perhaps that is reflected in the truth that we were always rather better at Schools' Cup football than we were at rugby, as I recall. <BR /> <BR />One of the Cregagh's own was its most famous pupil, as the school famously had George Best leave after his first year due to his wanting the option of playing football. George Best has often been considered one of the most notable names associated with the school's past, but Nathan Connolly of Snow Patrol and, more recently, Oscar- and BAFTA-winning director Ross White are also notable alumni.”
“I speak to mark 80 years of Grosvenor Grammar School. As a past pupil, I know that the school has, for many, been more than a place of learning; it has been shaping lives, nursing talent and inspiring generations of local young people through those eight decades. <BR /> <BR />Since Grosvenor's foundation in 1945 — sited initially on the Grosvenor Road, before moving to Cameronian Drive in the premier east part of the city in 1958, with its new school opening in the same area in 2010 — it has remained steadfast in its commitment to excellence. It has not only provided academic excellence but raised young people with resilience and integrity. The school has seen countless achievements from academic triumphs to artistic and athletic brilliance, all fuelled by the dedication of excellent teaching staff and students.”
“No, I am OK. Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker.”
“It is a genuine question, and it probably comes out of some of the discussions that have been taking place this week. It is something that I have not grasped yet. What exactly is it about the ethos of integrated schools that is explicitly different from our other schools? Often, when you ask the question, you genuinely hear the talk about tolerance, encouraging understanding and respect for the other. That is something that, I feel, I got in my school and that other schools do. It is not just about saying that there are wonderful schools in every sector, because I think that we all think that, in the same way as I believe that there are wonderful integrated schools. That is something that the integrated sector has to grapple with in defining itself. It is not about a certain number of people from the traditional Protestant and Catholic —.”
“I have expressed before that I do not believe that there would be many cases in which parents would wish to have a child excluded from such teaching. Even representatives from groups that may normally be stereotyped as being resistant to elements of RSE have expressed their lack of an issue with many elements discussed during the RSE mini inquiry. It was noted that rates of potential parental opt-out have been exceptionally low, even among people of faith. That said, the right to exercise parental rights should remain. This party continues to support the right of parents to parent their children; they should have primacy and the right to raise their children in accordance with their own beliefs and principles within the law. To be fair, the importance of parental —.”
“Departments and, I am sure, Ministers are more than aware and informed of the issues at hand and are more than capable of collaborating and considering the necessary steps that they can collaborate on. They are best placed to put forward any further proposals or structures required, and I am sure that the Minister will touch on that. <BR /> <BR />I have listened and will listen to the Opposition's arguments today, but my initial thinking is that such a proposal, in the context of the motion and the existing work that Departments have committed to, seems arbitrary. I am not convinced that it would necessarily lead to expedited or additional meaningful action in the area. <BR /> <BR />Our amendment also commits to parental consent.”
“I am not arguing that this and other reports and submissions should not be duly considered, but it is one of a range of contributions on the issue, many of which will have helped to shape and inform the thinking of Members and Ministers and should be considered in that manner rather than being adopted as an alternative action plan to the Executive's plan. <BR /> <BR />Again, I will address the changes that we have proposed to the motion. Personally, I am not convinced of the ask for a joint departmental task force to be assembled. It feels like a proposal that will simply take up more time. There is already a commitment to the cross-departmental action plan.”
“In any case, the Executive have now agreed an overarching strategy that outlines their range of commitments to addressing violence against women and girls and to promoting healthy relationships, with collaboration by Departments across the Executive. The report, in some instances, will share synergy on some issues with which, as has been said, sadly, we are all increasingly familiar. <BR /> <BR />The Executive's strategy is to be actioned through a delivery plan, which is to say that the Ministers already have a blueprint for action. I know that the Education Minister is committed to playing his part. That blueprint, rather than regularly published academic or interest group papers, should now provide a plan for action and progress that should be the focus for Executive Ministers.”
“It is important to recognise that, on an issue that is often defined by polarising points or finer nuances on which we will continue to disagree, we often share similar concerns around the issues at the heart of the discussion. <BR /> <BR />The curtailed time that I have does not allow for an in-depth discussion of the Ulster University report, but, in general, I feel that much work in that area is worth considering. However, at some point, we need to step beyond theorising and focus on forward movement and action. I also express some concern about the weight given to reports — it applies not only to this report — that seem to be based on a relatively small and potentially quite unrepresentative sample.”
“Many will have had to engage with the families or individuals affected and speak to police or press about incidents in our constituencies. <BR /> <BR />Many aspects of concern have been brought to the Education Committee during our mini RSE inquiry, an inquiry that, in general terms, has probably taken disproportionate priority and, perhaps, more time than many of us would have liked. Nevertheless, it has produced some useful sessions and information. Many sessions have found broad agreement on issues around violence against women and girls, online harms and ensuring that young people have age-appropriate tools to enable them to understand when someone has been inappropriate with them and how to report that.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker, for the second time. With constrained speaking times today, the Chair of the Education Committee and other colleagues from the Committee may wonder whether I will get past the preamble in the debate. <BR /> <BR />In the context of the debate, although the term "RSE" often invokes passionate and diametrically opposed positions and, as we may see, differences even in how we should approach such education, it is important that we outline that on which there is agreement. I do not think that there is any Member of the Assembly who would not argue that we have work to do in addressing the trend in violence towards women and girls in our society. We will all have been part of debates in the Chamber, often following another horrific attack or murder.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. With the shortened speaking times —.”
“Sports clubs in my constituency are looking forward to potentially having their grounds redeveloped and improved. Will the Minister give an update on the Northern Ireland Football Fund (NIFF)?”
“Some Members want to put up quite the defence that says that 3% is a reasonable number of pupils from a minority community in an integrated school. Does the Minister agree that, if we were to abandon the test of reasonable numbers entirely, some would say that it would become difficult to identify why exactly the "integrated" label was attached to many schools — many good schools carry that label — relative to our other very good schools that are, as the Minister has pointed out, diverse, tolerant and working in all communities?”
“I thank the Minister for the vision that he outlined today. I know that this is a top priority for him in his role. What parents really want from any reforms is their children to get the correct and proper support that they require. The Minister touched on this, but, to allow him the opportunity to hone in on it more specifically, does he believe that less focus on statementing and the battles that have been referred to in that will allow health professionals, speech and language therapists and educational psychologists to spend more time on the meaningful interventions that can be a real help to the children?”
“The reason why you hear about things such as pet food is because that is the business of the issue. That is what the Democratic Scrutiny Committee is having to look at and deal with weekly. Those are the issues that this throws up. I thought that maybe, as a fellow Brexiteer, you would want to see the full realisation of all the promises made to you.”
“The Government must maximise the scope of any review, and there are aspects of agreed arrangements that must be taken forward in the round. With that, I conclude my comments.”