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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Every one of 817 lines we hold for David Brooks, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 15 of 17.
“<BR /> <BR />There are over 1,400 deaf children and young people in Northern Ireland. A significant majority of them attend mainstream schools, but there is specialist provision in a number of locations. I am particularly aware that one school with such provision is Cregagh Primary School in my constituency and council area. That school is well loved and highly thought-of in the community of Cregagh. <BR /> <BR />The Consortium for Research in Deaf Education (CRIDE) report on Northern Ireland noted that there was a vacancy rate of around 3% for teacher of the deaf posts. It also raised concerns about falling numbers, noting a 7% fall in TODs in employment since 2011. We will all — no one more than the Minister — have a common wish to ensure that teaching provision is maintained at an appropriate level.”
“I thank the Member who moved the motion. All of us who are speaking to the motion have the common aim that deaf children and young people are appropriately provided for in our education system in a way that allows them to flourish in the way that we wish for all our children but understands that those who have additional support needs must have them fulfilled so that they can reach their full potential. <BR /> <BR />While many aspects of this specific element of our education system are relatively new to me and have required research and learning to enable me to speak to the motion, the principle is similar to the ambition that we have and share across party divides for those with other special educational support needs. I know that I will seek to build upon — sorry, I think that I have left something out.”
“I thank the Minister for the proposals that he has laid out today. It is an ambitious plan to progress our education system. Does the Minister feel that the education system in Northern Ireland is properly funded?”
“<BR /> <BR />My time is short, and I had more to say, but I want to record my thanks and those of all the alumni to the host families, those who hosted internships for the programme and, most of all, the programme's founder, Carol Wheeler. Her impact on many hundreds, if not thousands, of lives through the programme is remarkable. We give thanks for that today.”
“<BR /> <BR />What makes the programme so unique is its proven ability to bridge the divides between a spectrum of diverse upbringings and perspectives by recognising but not seeking to change diverging political aspirations for this place; rather, it builds relationships and understanding across those perspectives. It has given me and many others a far more diverse network of friends and contacts across these islands and beyond than I would otherwise have had at that stage in my life. It honed an ability to speak up for my community and articulate my beliefs whilst listening to those with a genuinely different story and perspective.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I rise to mark 30 years of the Washington Ireland Program. What began three decades ago as an initiative to cultivate leaders for a brighter future in Northern Ireland has blossomed into a remarkable journey that has impacted on many lives and helped to foster many strong relationships across communities, across the border and across the Atlantic. For 30 years, the programme has provided young people with more than just an opportunity to learn. It has empowered young people to grow into leaders in a variety of fields with courage, vision and a great sense of what it is to serve.”
“At the First Minister's appearance at Committee last week, the junior Minister was not afforded the opportunity to clarify whether she had contact with Mr McMonagle on the day on which he was in the Building. Will the First Minister clarify that for the House?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. The Minister will understand that the primary anxiety of people in those areas is that those sites might be cleared and left vacant and in dereliction for some time. Can I reassure my constituents that, should the tower blocks in Clarawood or Cregagh come down, that will not be the case there?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. My rural colleagues will probably benefit more from those works than the residents of Sydenham, who felt locked into their residential streets at the weekend. I impress on the Minister that, at the weekend, there were events taking place in the wider area that involved road closures and so on. I ask that, in future, those things are taken into account and consideration is given to doing more of the work in the evenings.”
“I thank the Minister for coming to the House on behalf of his colleague. He will know that Harland and Wolff is not just a large employer in my constituency but an iconic industry for the whole of Northern Ireland. The situation will have caused some disquiet among the workforce, even though they know that there has been trouble for some time. <BR /> <BR />Has the Minister's colleague had any engagement with the unions since the announcement to see whether workers have been kept properly abreast of the situation and so that their concerns can be allayed as much as possible when an announcement like that has been made?”
“The point about language is an important one, because not only does Ticketmaster use the term "dynamic pricing" but it talks about "platinum tickets". The implication is that there is something extra or special about those tickets, but really they are the same tickets that others have bought at face value being raised in price because of demand. Some of the language being used to mislead consumers is important too.”
“There is no point cracking down on ticket touting just to have the model adopted by a billion-dollar industry. There are more transparent and equitable pricing models. A fairer and more competitive marketplace is desirable. I appeal to the Executive to work with and impress upon the Government the need to fashion an industry that values accessibility and diversity over that monopolistic control.”
“Given the relative economies of scale, I think that the dominance is even more pronounced here in the UK and Ireland than in the US, but I do not have the stats at this stage to back that up. <BR /> <BR />The merger and acquisition practices of Live Nation and its subsidiaries are not merely about growth; they are about monopolistic control. Such concentration of power leads to higher costs for consumers, reduced choice and a market that is driven more by profit margins than by the celebration of live arts and culture. The US has recognised that. Live Nation faces an antitrust case that has been taken against it by the US Department of Justice. We should see similar action from the UK Government and relevant competition regulators in defence of consumers here in the United Kingdom once the investigations have taken place.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will turn now to the dominance of Live Nation, Ticketmaster's parent company, as I said, and its affiliates, which exacerbates the issues. As one of the largest players in the industry, Live Nation wields unprecedented control over the market. Its stranglehold is not only on ticket sales but extends to venue ownership, promotion, merchandising and artist management. That clearly limits competition and leads to higher ticket prices and fewer options for fans. When a single entity controls so many facets of the events industry, it diminishes any genuine opportunity for smaller, innovative companies to thrive, stifling diversity and creativity.”
“I assure those who have paid higher prices for a show that they desire that there is no virtue or solace for us to take in the legitimising of touting practices; no warm fuzzy feeling because those practices are now controlled instead for the profits of companies like Live Nation. I say that as someone who has bought a ticket from a third-party reselling site for an event that I dearly wanted to see: Luke Combs in Belfast earlier this year. <BR /> <BR />They say that success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan. I should imagine that, given the numbers of those who are fleeing the ship of dynamic pricing, there will be little opposition to move to banning in that context. In the case of Oasis, the artist, ticket merchant and promoter all seem keen to distance themselves from their responsibility for the decision to use the method.”
“<BR /> <BR />If Ticketmaster and Live Nation believe that the long and popular battle to curb ticket touts was about only ensuring that money went to the right people, let me disavow them of that notion: the average punters, our constituents, care that they are not ripped off. They care that the system is fair. Despite the huge efforts put into propaganda against rival price-gouging resale sites like StubHub and Viagogo, Ticketmaster has simply absorbed and adopted the ticket-touting model, saying that it is OK when it does it. If fans are to have their arms twisted up their backs by price gougers, it makes no difference to them whether their hard-earned cash goes to a multimillion-dollar New York Stock Exchange-listed company or an individual tout with similar ethics.”
“However, few industries can ramp up prices so quickly within such a short window and pressurise people into parting with more money than intended or planned, as a clock ticks in front of them until they lose their chance to buy. It often results in a scenario where the average consumer is unfairly priced out of experiencing live events, or spends beyond what they can afford in a moment when they are deliberately tempted to make less rational decisions. Rather than being a fair market, Ticketmaster's method of gouging creates a tiered system where only those with deep pockets or the fastest internet connections can secure tickets.”
“Yes, that was poor. <BR /> <BR />Although this is a growing trend in the industry, we should not be focused on just one event — the sale of tickets for the Oasis gigs. Such unethical practices have been more routinely used in the United States for some time and have seen prices for sports and live entertainment rocket beyond the means of many working families. We should learn the lessons of their experience. The practice sees ticket prices fluctuate in real time, based on demand, to maximise the revenue by leveraging the opportunity cost placed on fans during a short, pressurised window. Those who use it point to other industries where similar approaches are used. The Member talked about flights, hotel bookings and Uber, for example.”
“You will be glad to know that I got rid of most of my puns. I think that we all had a similar idea on those grounds. <BR /> <BR />A few weeks ago, I sat in front of a computer, watching my hoped-for tickets 'Slide Away'.”
“I, too, support the motion. I have concerns about dynamic pricing, which seems to be a polished and marketing-agency-approved term these days for price gouging. It is equally important to address the dominance of Live Nation, Ticketmaster's parent company, and its subsidiaries. <BR /> <BR />I declare an interest, as Matthew did, given that I, too, sat by the computer that day, as did a number of other MLAs. I know that Deborah Erskine and Cheryl Brownlee were on a number of devices trying to secure tickets for Oasis.”
“Will the Member agree that 'Some Might Say' that, when people are being ripped off, it does not matter too much to them whether that is through ticket resale sites or through Ticketmaster and Live Nation adopting the very systems that touts and resellers have used before them?”
“Will the Minister outline what avenues he is supporting to ensure that young people who want to seek a career as a primary producer have a pathway and support to get into the industry in that way?”
“Every conversation that we have, every sign of encouragement, every show of support can make a difference to someone. Let us commit to making the places where we are present somewhere people can feel heard and listened to. <BR /> <BR />It would be remiss of me to stand here to mark the day without paying tribute to the work of some of our local mental health charities, such as Aware and Action Mental Health, and national charities such as Samaritans, as well as groups that do terrific work in my constituency of East Belfast, such as Survivors of Suicide and Men's Minds Matter. They do excellent work. <BR /> <BR />Together, through compassion and understanding, we can work towards a future where everyone in Northern Ireland has the support that they need not only to survive but to thrive.”
“Today, we mark World Suicide Prevention Day. It is a subject on which we can unite, as it is a tragic reality that strikes many of our communities. There will be few inside or outside the Chamber who have not experienced its tragic impact in some way — a friend, a colleague, a family member or someone you know through other channels. <BR /> <BR />We all agree that it is essential that we foster a culture of openness and support, breaking down the stigma that often surrounds mental health struggles. We must work to make our aspirations of investment in mental health services and of treating mental health equally to physical health a reality, promoting early intervention and ensuring that everyone knows that they are not alone and that there is always another, better way.”
“The US has been a vital economic partner for Northern Ireland in foreign investment, and we have our cultural linkages through the Ulster-Scots and Irish diasporas. As we approach the 250th anniversary of United States independence, perhaps the first step to looking at pre-clearance should be to re-establish a transatlantic flight from an airport here. Does she agree that that is a worthy goal that we should work towards?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I declare an interest in that my brother is employed by Spirit AeroSystems. <BR /> <BR />The Minister will recognise that today's announcement will add a sense of nervousness to Spirit's highly skilled workforce. Will he outline what engagement the Executive plan to have with the UK Government, Invest NI and others in order to secure the preferred outcome of Airbus taking ownership of the Belfast operations in their entirety? In doing so, will he outline what the backup plan is to keep those good jobs secure should that preferred solution not emerge?”
“I thank the Minister for his response so far, which has, largely, addressed my point. I am receiving an increasing number of complaints about grass cutting because, when it takes place in an area, it looks more hacked than mowed. Although I understand that there is a change in emphasis, surely, if we are going to do a job, it is worth doing it well. We should take some pride in our communities.”
“Clubs in my constituency are thankful for the work that the Minister is doing and his commitment in that area. With the growth of football, particularly the women's game and inclusive football, demand in East Belfast is certainly outstripping supply. Many clubs will be keen to speak to and engage with the Minister. Will he join me soon to visit Dundela Football Club and Shorts Football Club, in particular?”
“The deputy First Minister more than represented Northern Ireland in the appropriate way. It is appalling, I think, that the First Minister did not also do so. Will she take this opportunity to stand against Nazism by calling for the removal of Seán Russell's statue in Fairview Park in Dublin?”
“The Minister mentioned the rates elsewhere in the UK and said that, in some places, the rates are higher. Can he give any further details on how the rate here compares with other parts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I was glad to hear more about that at the concurrent Committee of the Committee for the Economy and Committee for Education last week. Will he agree that it is important that, while they offer a range of excellent courses, by making incursions into courses that have traditionally been served by our colleges, our universities do not undermine our excellent FE sector, which is vital for our economy?”
“I welcome the Minister's focus on educational disadvantage and underattainment. I know that he plans to visit EastSide Learning in my constituency, which does so much great work in that area. Will the Minister provide further detail on how relevant organisations will be able to apply for and engage with the programme?”
“The day typified the community and family focus of that wonderful club. I congratulate the committee members, coaches, players, parents and volunteers, past and present, on this landmark. I look forward to working with them on their big plans for the future and, indeed, celebrating with them this Saturday evening.”
“Unable to continue in the Old Boys League, it joined the Northern Amateur Football League, in which its senior men continue to play today from its base at Houston Park, part of what is known to most locally as Orangefield Park. Today, Bloomfield Football Club is more than just one team. Indeed, in player participation, it is the largest community football club in east Belfast and one of the biggest in Northern Ireland, with 37 junior teams alongside four senior teams, which now include a women's team, and there are plans to add further female teams this year. <BR /> <BR />I attended the club's annual junior fun day and awards ceremony at Orangefield on Saturday. The park was full, with hundreds of children and their families relaxing and picnicking in the sun and having fun on the inflatables.”
“I rise to mark 30 years of Bloomfield Football Club, the history of which can be traced back further still, having evolved from the 24th Old Boys, which came out of Bloomfield Presbyterian Church and played in the first division of the Old Boys League that was established in 1958. <BR /> <BR />Many will know that the Old Boys teams were associated with Boys' Brigade (BB) companies and their respective churches. As the number of players in the 24th Old Boys with links to the church and the BB fell, it was decided to formally end that association. It was then, 30 years ago this year, that Bloomfield Football Club was born.”
“I am glad that other parties have now aligned in that battle. Any incoming Government must move to a needs-based Budget for Northern Ireland as soon as possible to allow the Education Minister and the Executive as a whole to deliver for our children and young people.”
“I understand that the Minister of Finance is making that case and awaits the decision from London. <BR /> <BR />There is much to celebrate in our education system, but there are many challenges that we need to address to give every child in Northern Ireland the best start in life and the foundation on which to succeed. I urge the Executive as a collective to continue to press the Treasury. The DUP is clear that Northern Ireland is sorely in need of a more appropriate and fairer system and funding formula. Our leader, Gavin Robinson, has been to the very fore in crafting and giving voice to that argument and, at Westminster, pushing His Majesty's Government for change. Indeed, when, during the Hillsborough Castle talks late last year, we outlined our concerns, we stood alone in saying that what was on the table was not sufficient.”
“As I have previously said, its approach appears at times to be policy- rather than child-focused. <BR /> <BR />We cannot deliver progress without those who work in the sector. The Minister has sought to address teaching pay disputes. Agreement was reached on teachers' pay: a rise in starting salary for teachers makes their starting point equal to that of teachers in England. The Minister has sought to support our non-teaching staff, submitting his bid for approval to the Department of Finance to allow the implementation of the pay and grading review. It was agreed at the Executive that the Minister of Finance should seek approval from Treasury to bring forward funding that was set aside for future years under the agreed funding package to allow additional funding to be accessed in 2024-25.”
“The Minister recognised the need to invest in SEN with the new special educational needs capital investment programme, which will be welcomed by everyone with an interest in the sector and our school system. The delivery of up to eight new special schools across Northern Ireland as part of a new school investment programme, including a new school in east Belfast, alongside the new builds for a number of existing special schools and enhanced maintenance and equipment funding, represents another step in the right direction. Structural reform is clearly needed in SEN. Educational transition should be as timely and smooth as possible for every child and should not exacerbate the challenges that children and their families already face. I know that the Minister is committed to addressing that. The Education Authority must be held to account.”
“I pay tribute to the work of Melted Parents and Employers For Childcare towards that. I know that they will not stop there, nor will the Minister, who has already said that that is not the limit of his ambition. Implementing an ambitious programme of reform will take time. The budget required will be significant — £400 million has been quoted — and will require ongoing commitment from the Executive to real, meaningful change in childcare provision. <BR /> <BR />Another clear and genuine priority for many across the Chamber, rightly so, is appropriate support and services for special educational needs. We have heard in Committee how the current system fails pupils and their families.”
“The Minister, in one of his first addresses to the Chamber, assured the House that the development of an early learning and childcare strategy was a top priority. Last week saw the first delivery on that. Many across the Chamber recognised the positivity of that announcement. We are all aware that the cost of childcare puts immense strain on family finances, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. In many cases, it prevents parents, women disproportionately, from entering and remaining in the workforce. Otherwise, they would choose to do that. <BR /> <BR />The announcement of the 15% subsidy of childcare costs and the transitioning of all preschool education places to 22·5 hours per week is a great step in the right direction to help parents and towards real delivery against a top priority.”
“Despite that, to the Minister's credit, he has announced today that he has found resource to ensure that the Bangor Central Integrated Primary School and Millennium Integrated projects are able to progress, having been supported by parties across the Chamber and by the Education Committee. That is to be praised. The resource, however, will clearly come from the Department's budget. The seriousness of the budget situation is evidenced by the fact that the Department entered this financial year with a projected overspend of nearly £200 million. While it is easy from the outside to list many positive initiatives as a priority, the Minister does not have that luxury. He must deliver within his means and truly prioritise. <BR /> <BR />What are the priorities?”
“There is also, of course, £150 million less in the capital budget, due to the appalling decision of the Government to remove the ring-fenced Fresh Start funding for shared and integrated education.”
“From reports today and contributions to the debate, it seems that some Ministers and their parties are more willing to work within the realities that we face than others. To govern is to choose, and, within our system, to be unwilling to choose, difficult as it may be, is to be unfit to hold ministerial office. It is easy to forever argue that your Department needs more, even when it receives the majority of the funding. It is harder to come forward with a plan and harder still to outline what police, school or other services one might cut to create additional funds for that Department. The Education Minister stated that he needs a budget of £3·6 billion to put the Department of Education on the right footing. The budget that he received was £500 million less.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in the Budget debate. As a member of the Education Committee, I will focus the majority of my remarks on the impact that the Budget will have on delivery and tackling challenges in education. <BR /> <BR />Since the restoration of these institutions, Committee members and other Assembly Members have raised issues in the education sector that they would like to see addressed: childcare, special educational needs, staffing and pay settlements, new school builds, improved maintenance, holiday hunger programmes and mental health programmes, to name just a few. Those are all worthy causes, and there is universal agreement across the Chamber that they need to be tackled. The reality is that priorities are easy to speak of but that to truly prioritise is to make difficult decisions.”
“The Minister and BMC have an opportunity to pause and consider alternatives. As an MLA for East Belfast, along with my party colleagues, I am happy to work with the college to find a long-term solution and secure educational provision for the local area.”
“<BR /> <BR />The abandonment of the Castlereagh campus would be symptomatic and symbolic of continuing a misplaced submissiveness and failure of leadership at all levels to defend the place of BMC from the incursion of universities upon the viability of the entire sector. A decision to leave the Castlereagh campus, which is so clearly an asset, to facilitate the range of courses and related facilities that could not easily be facilitated at other campuses and would require a new location being sought, would run entirely contrary to logic. It would be a decision to abandon an area with a locality far more ripe with key demographics for further education to target. <BR /> <BR />Any closure of the Castlereagh campus will be a denial of educational opportunities and career progression to communities that are all too often left behind.”
“With universities veering ever further into courses on foundation levels of education, which were traditionally catered for by FE colleges — doubtless with the aim of reaping financial benefits — BMC seems remarkably resistant to considering anything that might irk or cause a deterioration in its relationship with them. I perceive it to be akin to an institutional Stockholm syndrome. The universities continue to steal FE's lunch money, and colleges all but thank them from the crumbs of their splendid tables, when colleges would be best placed to offer apprenticeships that are linked to industry need.”
“At the moment, these are catered for through universities in GB, and it would make more sense for local facilities in Castlereagh to be used for courses, either directly or by tying in with universities. Wider work needs to be done by the Department on the role of colleges and universities. They should not be in direct competition. In the course of meetings with BMC, I got the distinct impression that the college, in a way that is not uncommon within the further education sector, has become compliant and subservient to the notion of the dominance of our universities. Our universities are rightly celebrated, but that does not mean that our FE colleges should bow to them.”
“The campus is already a peerless local centre for cybersecurity, with a course that is thriving in Castlereagh, serving an industry in which Belfast has established itself as one of the global leaders and demonstrating the need for investment, not abandonment. <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, a previous proposal that the campus had looked at was creating a potential sports hub. This should be looked at again. There is a real potential for growth in this sector. A number of sports clubs in East Belfast are professional, such as Ulster Rugby and Glentoran FC, and many other clubs are looking at similar models. As part of that professional set-up, there is an educational element, especially around academies.”