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 />What the Bill achieves, through greater transparency, affordability and fairness, is a system that works better for everyone. It does not seek to remove local decision-making from our schools, as outlined by the Minister. Instead, it ensures that every school, in setting its uniform policy, must consider the financial realities that families face. The Minister has been clear that schools will face consequences if they do not and that he has every intention of giving those directions where necessary. <BR /> <BR />Some, I understand, have reservations about what the guidelines will say and bring.”
“I thank the Member for his point. The point about trousers is, no doubt, applicable to his argument, but I am not sure that it is the most applicable argument to the girl about whom I was speaking. That is more about the fact that she had joined the school the year before and felt that the cost would be prohibitive to her parents given that she only had a couple of years left in the school. That was more about the cost of a PE outfit than about trousers. The Member's point about trousers is on the record, and we can debate that. I have confidence about the Minister's intention, which he appears not to have. I know what the Minister wants the Bill to do, and I am sure that the guidelines will see to that.”
“We have all heard from constituents who have struggled each August to meet those costs, and we have heard some examples at the Committee. The one that sticks out for me is the girl — I met her again, in another context, more recently — who felt that she could not engage in school sports because of the prohibitive cost of the uniform. We all see that kind of thing as unacceptable and want to address that.”
“I do not intend to draw my remarks out for too long, because it would be repetition of a lot of what has been said at previous stages. Nevertheless, I am pleased to support and welcome the School Uniforms Bill at Final Stage. This is a positive moment for the Executive, the Minister and the House but, most importantly, for families across Northern Ireland. It goes without saying that I do not share some of the undue pessimism or critique from some of my Committee colleagues. The Bill represents exactly the kind of practical, people-focused legislation that our communities expect from the Assembly, and it addresses real issues faced by ordinary families in a sensible and balanced way. <BR /> <BR />For many parents across Northern Ireland, the cost of school uniforms has been a growing concern.”
“Does the Member accept that the vast majority of schools are already doing the right thing on uniforms and that it is a minority of schools that are abusing the system, and, therefore, for the vast majority of families, the schools that serve them are already trying their best to keep the cost of uniforms down?”
“It was interesting to hear the Minister speak about the tightness of resources in the context of what we have heard in the past day about the PSNI opening a hate-crime investigation into damage to a sign at Shandon Park. Can we be assured that there will now be investigations into any similar damage to signs across the country, including at the PSNI's initiative?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. What are the implications of the 'Pathways to Work' Green Paper? How does the strategy ensure that disabled people who are impacted on by any reforms will be supported?”
“I thank the Minister for his understandable response. I look forward to seeing his plans being progressed. I noted the BMA's concern about the risk of patients facing harm or serious issues being missed. Does he agree that there can be few systems worse than the current system, whereby we have an 8.00 am lottery, with patients having to ring 700 or 800 times?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. The Member who spoke previously talked about exclusion. I am delighted to see that this is a scheme that can offer support from which, for the first time on many an occasion, churches are not excluded. What is the Minister's assessment of the impact that the fund will have on our many churches and faith-based groups, considering the money that they save the Government through the services that they offer to our local communities?”
“I thank the Minister for the investment that he has made in sport, and I know that he values equality across sports. Does he accept that, at this point, football and rugby are £50 million behind when it comes to equality of funding?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. She will surely recognise that the proliferation of short-term lets is corrosive to the cohesion of our communities and to the availability and cost of family homes in those communities. Short-term lets also undermine our hospitality sector. Is there a recognition in the Executive that they need to do more on short-term lets than merely regulate their quality?”
“At a vital time for that sector, the First Minister boycotted events on St Patrick's Day, boycotted the recent state banquet at Buckingham Palace and said that she was incredulous at the UK Government's recent investment in the sector. Does she think that that behaviour assists businesses to grow in Northern Ireland?”
“Sorry, Diane. <BR /> <BR />Does the Member recognise that any sort of regulation on this — I do not think that it is workable — has to have the support of the communities? Does she understand that the experience of working-class unionist communities, in particular, of the Parades Commission means that they do not have confidence that regulation that is imposed by this place will be fair or level-minded?”
“The Member paints himself and his party's members as spokespeople for the working class on both sides of the community, yet he seems to be denigrating people. Large crowds attend those bonfires, but they all seem to be being painted as paramilitaries. As someone who paints himself in that regard, do you engage with those communities? Have you talked to the communities in Sandy Row, particularly about the bonfire? Do you not think that the majority want that bonfire?”
“Well, I am not here to peddle division. What I was going to say to you and the Member who spoke before you is that, in my constituency, I have worked with bonfire builders in Clonduff, Orangefield and Cregagh, where we faced some of those issues and worked with the Legacy Network and the EastSide Partnership. <BR /> <BR />Mr McReynolds did not take an intervention to be asked this question, but I will ask you it: how many of those communities or similar ones in your community do you work with, have you engaged with or have you talked to?”
“Does the Member recognise that the culture of traditional bonfires is not simply in the lighting of them but about children and young people who, in the weeks before the bonfire is lit, collect material around their communities, bring it to the site and take pride in looking at the event that they have put on for their community, as I did? That is the culture. That is what means so much to many of us. A beacon, while it has its place, replaces all that and takes it away.”
“Does the Member also recognise that the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service does engage with bonfire sites and gives advice on what is safe and what is not, even if that is not official?”
“Does the Member recognise that there is an issue, although I am not saying that this is unreasonable, with developments being built on traditional bonfire sites, creating a problem in those areas where no traditional bonfire site remains? Quite often — some people want this — there may then be a return to smaller bonfires, which will often be built on roads, as they were historically. That would cause problems also. There is a problem with how we allow unionist communities to celebrate their history and heritage in a responsible way. The number of sites is reducing.”
“Respect is a two-way street, and it must start with recognising that bonfires are a legitimate and valued part of Northern Ireland's cultural landscape.”
“They are about trying to bring a Parades Commission model to other parts of unionist culture. They are about using bureaucracy to chip away at the cultural confidence of the unionist people. I say this to Sinn Féin: if you were genuinely interested in building respect and reconciliation, you would seek to support communities. <BR /> <BR />Our message is simple: hands off our culture. We will continue to work with communities to promote safe and respectful celebrations. Very many people are engaged in that work already, not only themselves but through engagement with public agencies and emergency services. However, we will not stand over Sinn Féin's attempts to dictate terms over unionist traditions. Regulation imposed by those who reject our British identity is not the way forward. It absolutely must have community buy-in.”
“I hope that, in time, we will see bonfires moving away from burning a flag to something more historical or linked to the Twelfth, in a similar way that we have with Guy Fawkes or other fire festivals internationally. However, let us remember that the Members who tabled the motion are not the voice of reason but, rather, the reason that the tricolour has been found on bonfires over the years. It was their comrades who sat in front of the flag, reading statements to justify their latest sectarian bombing or murder for 30 years. They talk about concern over hate, but, for years, Féile an Phobail has hosted the Wolfe Tones's "up the 'RA" bigot-fests at Falls Park, glorifying terrorism. The truth is that Sinn Féin's proposals are not about health and safety but about control.”
“Groups such as Legacy Network in my constituency have worked closely with young people from loyalist working-class communities, and we have seen vast improvements at some of the bonfire sites at which there had previously been issues. We will improve things not through nationalist-imposed diktat, which will never run, but through re-engaging with our history and traditions, building and understanding confidence in who we are, learning not just what we do but why, and investing in the work of re-injecting our cultural festivals with a common history and understanding it. An adversarial approach will provoke a similar response, but I often believe that that is what Sinn Féin seeks to do regularly here and in City Hall in particular. <BR /> <BR />The work that has been undertaken with local communities has seen less problematic behaviour.”
“For Sinn Féin to treat those traditions as though they are nuisances that are to be managed or stamped out is an affront to cultural respect and parity of esteem. Let me tell that party this here and now: they are not going anywhere. <BR /> <BR />Nobody denies that responsibilities come with tradition. Communities have worked hard in recent years to promote safer practices, reduce tensions and, in the main, keep bonfires positive and family-orientated events, notwithstanding the fact that there have been some poor examples. I understand that. However, that progress has come not from top-down regulation that has been imposed by those who have no sympathy for our culture but from engagement, dialogue and local initiatives.”
“<BR /> <BR />Loyalist communities have no intention of going cap in hand to republicans to seek permission to celebrate their long-practised traditions. Let us be very clear: bonfires are not a new phenomenon. They are a centuries-old expression of culture, remembrance and celebration in the unionist community. Some of my best childhood memories are of spending the weeks before the 11 July collecting wood from around my hometown of Comber for our annual bonfire at the barley field. It is a tradition that means a lot to me, and I have always been passionate about the fact that, while beacons and similar have their place, they should never replace traditional bonfires. Bonfires are part of our heritage and are passed down from generation to generation.”
“Once again, we find ourselves debating culture, tradition and identity, and, once again, Sinn Féin comes forward not with proposals to celebrate diversity but to regulate and restrict the traditions of the unionist community. The motion raises the small number of instances in which regrettable and unacceptable messages have been placed on bonfires. While we work with communities to see such things removed, we have seen no such motions from Sinn Féin when there is routine glorification of terrorism at republican events and festivals and no reflection on the hurt that is caused by IRA commemorations and displays. Sinn Féin insists that those are sacrosanct — untouchable. However, when it comes to unionist traditions, suddenly we are told that they must be tightly controlled, monitored and curtailed.”
“Minister, it is not enough just to implore others to do more. It is clear that we now have serial absconding from our prisons that is causing confidence issues for the general public and hurt for victims. What are you doing to ensure that it does not happen on a regular basis?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement, which shows that he is interested not just in celebrating our Olympic athletes but in investing in future ones. On that basis, does he plan the scheme to be a one-off or to sustain the Olympic legacy investment into future years?”
“I thank the Minister for the challenge and the vision that he has laid out. Many people in my constituency are thankful for his repurposing of Elmgrove Primary School for special needs and for the future plans that there are for Orangefield High School site. When is the first special school in Belfast likely to be completed?”
“The America250 celebrations will shine a light on our shared story, especially on the Ulster Scots who helped to shape the founding of America. That history is not just something in the past; it opens new doors for us in trade, culture, investment and partnership now. The visit is more than a ceremony; it is about strengthening ties that will put food on our families' tables and pride in our communities, and Northern Ireland must seize the moment with the rest of the UK.”
“She will be there representing Northern Ireland with dignity and purpose. She shows leadership, seriousness and professionalism, and she understands what really matters to our people. By contrast, it is deeply regrettable, though completely unsurprising, that the First Minister has, once again, chosen to stay away. Boycotts do nothing for jobs, investment or the reputation of this place. Sinn Féin means empty seats at Westminster and empty seats on the international stage. I am glad that someone in the Executive Office is working for all the people of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />We look forward to the remarkable opportunity that we have. As we know, America will soon mark 250 years of independence.”
“In line with what my colleague Steve Aiken said on the issue yesterday, I give my party's welcome to President Trump as he comes to the United Kingdom for a state visit. The United States is not just another partner but our closest ally and greatest friend. It is right that we honour that relationship. In Northern Ireland, we have seen the benefits of that friendship. Recently, we heard the announcements from Citibank, which is based in my constituency, and from Bank of America about new jobs and fresh investment. Those are good jobs, and that is work for our young people. It is security for families, and it means confidence for our economy. It is what engagement with the United States delivers. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to our deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly.”
“Glentoran Football Club in my constituency is very thankful to progress, thanks to the opportunity that the Minister's programme offers. I see that Michelle O'Neill now has a new-found interest in more investment in local football. How is it that the Minister has succeeded in bringing forward that investment where Sinn Féin's successive Ministers failed?”
“On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. The Member's speech is largely about amendments that, he is annoyed, were not selected. It is completely outside the scope of what we are supposed to be talking about, on which you want to be consistent.”
“On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. You have made a ruling that we should speak on only the amendments that have been tabled. The Member is diverting from that. Will you make a ruling on that?”
“Does the Member recognise — I am sure that he does — that that reflects some of the complexities that were put to us in Committee? Sometimes, things sound simple to the general public and may make for a good social media post for all Members in the Chamber, including me, in which we say, "This is what we have done. This is what we have achieved", but that is often not the way in which legislation works. There are complexities that are hard to explain in a sound bite but that we necessarily have to face to make sure that we do the right thing.”
“I agree with the Member's concern for the autonomy of our schools. I listened to the schoolchild who came in to speak to us. She spoke very well, and I shared some of Pat's concerns that day that perhaps that particular school was overzealous around some aspects of the uniform, and I expressed those concerns, particularly because it seemed to be influencing the child's decisions around what choices she could make. I hope that the Department will have an opportunity in future to engage with that school. Does the Member agree that there are provisions and teeth in the Bill that the Minister, whoever it might be at that time, can enact to engage with those schools to bring sanctions if he or she decides to do so?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. The question comes on the back of some positive collaborative work being done in my constituency by a group of men's social and health groups in our community that come together through the East Belfast Community Development Agency (EBCDA). <BR /> <BR />In light of the concerns that the Minister has raised about the higher rates of preventable illness, mental health challenges and premature mortality among men, will he outline what actions his Department is taking to address health inequalities among men?”
“<BR /> <BR />We must be clear: the objective of affordable, accessible school uniforms for families and of no child making school choices either on the institution that they desire or the activities and subjects that they get involved with on the basis of affordability is an aim that we should surely all share, but the means of achieving that must be fair, workable and respectful of school communities. That is the test that we have always applied in considering the Bill. I look forward to seeing it progress and, even more, to the delivery of reduced costs for parents and guardians across Northern Ireland.”
“It can, of course, act as a deterrent. In all of these things, it is about a balance. Naming and shaming and balance in any sector on any cause is always a controversial subject, so it is really about whether we think that the effect that naming and shaming a school might have is disproportionate and, not least, unhelpful as regards a conducive atmosphere between the Department and our schools. It is about finding that balance. I understand the argument, but, in this case, I side on the other side, I am afraid.”
“We will oppose amendment Nos 11 and 12, as with amendment No 8, in light of the correspondence and engagement with the Minister. On amendment No 11, it is on a similar basis to that laid out with amendment No 9, as it introduces inconsistency with existing provisions and legislation and prevents consultation with the school and an opportunity to resolve any issues informally. On amendment No 12, we share the Minister's concern and do not feel that placing in legislation rather than at the Minister's discretion the requirement to name and shame schools is helpful or necessary.”
“There is also a lack of recognition that uniforms at secondary level are normally, as a standard, more expensive than those at primary school. Clearly, we understand that, as he has laid out, the Minister will undertake to table an amendment at Further Consideration Stage that should give the same outcome as that which Members intend but takes into account the complexities around the cap that the Committee has heard. <BR /> <BR />On principle, we will also oppose amendment No 9 to clause 7. The amendment would remove consistency, as, again, the Minister laid out, with article 101 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, and we feel that the impact of the amendment would be limited, as the assessment of whether a direction is required still takes place. <BR /> <BR />We will support amendment No 10.”
“We have listened to the sensible provisions to improve accountability and transparency, but we have resisted and will resist measures that add bureaucracy without significant gain or have been more about projecting ideology over achieving a better outcome for families. <BR /> <BR />We are not minded to oppose amendment Nos 1 and 4 to clause 1. There are some concerns about the additional bureaucracy but not so much as to oppose. <BR /> <BR />Despite allowing it to pass to this point, we will oppose amendment No 8. That is the new clause 4A. We share the concerns that the Minister laid out in correspondence to the Chair of the Committee this morning, and we feel that the terminology of the clause is unclear.”
“Those retailers have been diligently serving families and schools for many years — some for generations. The Committee heard from a panel from Retail NI about the complex web of supplies and turnaround times and the effects that that can have, particularly in trying to come to a conclusion on a cap. While we cannot expect that they can compete on price with online giants for generic items — some have moved away from supplying PE kit due to schools' direct arrangements with branded manufacturers, as we have heard — they have long done their best to provide good school-specific items at the lowest cost they can to our communities. <BR /> <BR />As we move through the clauses of the Bill, our party has given and will continue to give each one careful consideration.”
“While such powers under the Bill would reside in the Minister's gift — Pat has looked at that point from another angle — I remind the House that, as the mandate draws on, we do not know who will hold the portfolio in future. Parties should not be unduly influenced in their judgement over how aligned or not they are with the current Minister. I thank Pat for his vote of confidence in the current Minister, but I wonder which party he is afraid of holding the post in future. <BR /> <BR />Parents want fairness and transparency, schools want discretion and respect for their ethos, and that balance can be struck appropriately. We are mindful, too, of the impact that such legislation can have on many of our small retailers, and we heard about that from Retail NI.”
“In seeking to solve one problem, we must not create another by imposing rigid, centralised rules that leave governors, principals and parents without flexibility or, worse, add to the burden of bureaucracy. It has been clear in the Committee process that some of the aspects that we might understandably wish to have in the Bill are neither as simple as they sound nor as likely, without significantly more work or learning from other jurisdictions, to have as positive an impact on parents and schools as we might wish. <BR /> <BR />I suggest that the answer lies in strengthening the guidance and partnership, rather than legislating every detail. The Bill does that, and it gives the Minister the power to bring in sanctions where justified, should a school gratuitously continue to ignore guidance.”
“While we share that concern, it is our duty to ensure that the way in which we legislate is proportionate and workable. There is always a balance to be struck between affordability, with checks and balances against excess, and school autonomy. <BR /> <BR />To be clear, most of our schools are mindful not only of their pupils but of the families that support them. Schools seek to do their best to balance uniform requirements and practicality against the costs that, they know, their choices will place on parents and guardians. The schools are communities in themselves, and often uniform is a vital part of fostering identity, discipline and pride.”
“The legislation should not greatly divide the House. There were several times during the Bill's Committee Stage when some were distracted from the Bill's original intent and the core promise that we and a number of other parties in the House laid out as our overriding aim: to bring down the cost of school uniforms for hard-pressed families across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister for introducing the Bill, and we should all be united in ensuring that no child is denied opportunity or dignity in school because of the cost of a blazer or a PE kit. To be fair, despite the areas where we differ, I do not believe that any Member here is blind to the pressures that households face, particularly in today's climate, where every pound is stretched further than before.”
“I share the ambition of the Minister, and all in the House, that, in future, SEN children will be notified of their placements no later than any other child. Addressing the fundamental challenges on that front will, as we have said, take significant investment from the entire Executive when they consider their priorities. Whilst I understand to some degree that it is motherhood and apple pie to say so, we have always supported the need for a less siloed and more joined-up approach across the Executive.”
“There we have an example of what can happen: the Minister recognised that the plans for a new special school at the Orangefield site could not come quickly enough; he visited the school; he listened to the issues; he saw the potential; and he moved to ensure that, while we awaited the investment for the new special schools, new places and new spaces would be made available in the near future by swelling the estate.”
“However, rather than standing still, he has been working to ensure that, as the estate sits, it is used to its full potential, be that through creating further classrooms where space or resource allows or undertaking a refurbishment, as was the case in my constituency where a decision was made to refurbish the old Elmgrove Primary School to allow Greenwood Assessment Centre not only to move in but to expand its services. Not so long ago, Members were raising issues that had been raised by families of children who attended Greenwood — a wonderful school, which, admittedly, operated in less-than-optimal facilities at times.”