David Honeyford
Lagan Valley · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Ten years ago, the UK voted to leave the EU, and Northern Ireland was removed from the EU against its will. People will have voted for many reasons, but people were lied to.”
“Many families have spent the past decade worse off, and the loudest supporters of Brexit have punished them, while we have the likes of Farage appearing to be prospering personally. <BR /> <BR />Ten years on, the question is not whether Brexit was right or wrong, because the evidence is clear for everyone to see.”
“<BR /> <BR />The biggest cost of Brexit has been instability, which scares off investment. Since the Brexit referendum, the UK has had seven Prime Ministers, and we have had the Assembly collapse twice. Political uncertainty has become normal. However, when politics becomes unstable, ordinary people pay the price.”
“We need to see more happening, because east-west collaboration is already happening. We need more collaboration to grow our economy further, but talk is cheap. People say such lines on the news but then come to the Chamber and vote against collaboration.”
“Two and a half years into the term of this Executive, much of that remains missing. The same applies to waste water infrastructure and planning reform, with delays continuing to block growth and investment. We should do much more to collaborate North/South, as we do east-west, to improve people's lives.”
“The Executive are failing to provide certainty and follow-up on their commitments. My colleague Andrew Muir having had his green growth strategy blocked for over a year is just one example.”
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“When I think of the Wild Atlantic Way, I think of the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry and the beaches in Donegal, each of which is a destination in its own right. It seems crazy that the Wild Atlantic Way offering does not also include the Giant's Causeway and the north coast. On the way, people would see Downhill, Portstewart and Portrush. It is about simple, consistent branding. That is the key to getting international visitors. <BR /> <BR />The Ancient East would include my constituency of Lagan Valley, and what is not to like? It would attract more visitor spend in the local bars, shops and restaurants. How can we market the Ancient East but not include the Mournes or Belfast, or, in Lagan Valley, the Georgian village of Hillsborough, which has the only royal castle on this island?”
“The branding is, "Embrace a Giant Spirit", which I actually had to google, but the amendment says, "Embrace a Giant". Therefore, the branding may not be as effective or as easy for the DUP to remember as it said it was. When you want better, follow the professionals and give them a brief. As any sales executive will tell you, keep the message simple and consistent, and maximise your sell to the world. Let us keep politics out of this and work to improve our economy. Let people's imagination tell the story. We should ensure that Northern Ireland is included, covered and well promoted in the package. <BR /> <BR />The Wild Atlantic Way is branded, and visitors come to it from around the world.”
“Last week, the Economy Committee heard from experts about those barriers. <BR /> <BR />The DUP amendment says stuff, but Phillip said something very different in the Chamber, and I disagree with him on that. I look at what we have to visit here, and it is really special. As mentioned, we have world-famous historic sites, and it is a region that we live in and enjoy. Marketing our home and our people, rather than trying to include something different from an overall campaign for international visitors, is what will attract. We need simple, consistent branding. The DUP amendment slightly misses the point of the motion, but, equally, does not take away from it. Phillip, however, said something very different. He talked about our unique branding. I say in slight jest that the amendment does not include our branding; it misrepresents it.”
“<BR /> <BR />I said in today's earlier debate — it is important to repeat it in the context of tourism — that Alliance aspires to enhance North/South economic cooperation, bringing shared economic opportunities across the island of Ireland while, equally, supporting trade with GB, which remains our biggest market. To drive economic growth and, in this case, tourism numbers and spend, Alliance believes that we need to better connect this island. I chatted about that in the previous debate. Yes, we have two jurisdictions and two currencies, but the key to attracting tourism and tourists here is to make the visit North as easy and as natural an experience as possible. We should be confident in ourselves, maximise our sell and encourage spend in the North through our attractions and by removing even the subtle barriers that are in the way.”
“Cheers. I know that the Minister has spoken about that, and I would appreciate it if he came back on it as soon as possible. <BR /> <BR />Tourism is an area of our economy that we can grow quickly, starting by removing the barriers that we inflict on ourselves. We only have to watch the TV to see that the Euros are on. We should have a Minister banging the door down in Downing Street to make sure that we are involved in delivering the Euros in 2028. We have the opportunity, and we have everything sitting for us to capture not only the Euros in 2028 but other events thereafter. The fact that we seem to be happy to let that opportunity be missed is absolutely disgraceful. As an Assembly, to help this place, we should be arguing and fighting for the delivery of the Euros.”
“I am not sure whether that was an intervention for me. I will leave Steve to —.”
“<BR /> <BR />The UK's ETA is a major risk to our tourism industry, which generates only 5·6% of our GDP — half of what it should be. If we are to match other regions, a solution to how the ETA operates here needs to be found quickly. I encourage the Minister —.”
“Alliance believes in better: breaking down division and working for a shared future are what drive us. In a tourism context, that means attracting more visitors and greater spend into our economy. With 83% of visitors coming to this island through the South, we, collectively, should work hard to remove barriers — any and all barriers that are within our power to remove — that prevent us from attracting more of those visitors to the North. We should also be working to encourage a rebalancing on the island of the connectivity in order to bring more visitors to the North. In the previous debate, I talked about the infrastructure and improving it to bring better links across Northern Ireland. That would rebalance the connectivity and attract more people here directly.”
“The motion does not mention infrastructure, but infrastructure is essential to driving our economic growth. Alliance believes that we need to better connect North and South for the mutual benefit of every one of us. We need a focus on collaboration and connectivity, including fast railways, the A1 and A5 road upgrades and upgraded road and rail connections to our international airport to deliver higher passenger numbers and attract new European, American and international connections. That would all help to reposition and focus our economic growth towards the North. <BR /> <BR />If we are to fully exploit dual market access, it is essential that we focus on delivery and focus on it now. That requires more than words; it needs actions.”
“Alliance aspires to enhance North/South economic cooperation, bringing shared economic opportunity across the island of Ireland, alongside continuing to support our trade with GB, which remains our largest trading partner. Our business community is already leading that economic change. <BR /> <BR />Alliance has put forward proposals to focus and grow our foreign direct investment, but Invest NI should be working in partnership with IDA Ireland. The focus should be on attracting investment north of the border, not on trying to compete with IDA Ireland; on marketing ourselves to the world, much as we already do in tourism; on selling the benefits of investing in the North; and on prioritising working together to deliver jobs, increase our standard of living, increase investment here and, ultimately, raise our GDP.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have also said several times that we must get moving with dual market access. We must maximise that opportunity and use it to turn our economy around. There is no point in having an opportunity while sitting back and looking at it or, even worse, continuing to walk up a cul-de-sac and argue about the past. We just need to get on with it and stop wasting time. As with many strategies that come through the House, it can be seen mistakenly that the strategy or agreement is the end goal rather than the starting point. We need to get off the starting line and aim for a future that we want to see. It is time to increase our efforts and our focus and to strive for better.”
“It affects job opportunities, salary levels and the amount of money that the public have in their pockets at the end of a week. It is our mortgage payments, rent, energy costs and the cost of fuel for our cars and to heat our homes. Our economic success is also central to improving and reforming our public-sector services, and at times we do not help ourselves by not getting on with transformation in some of the larger Departments. <BR /> <BR />As I have said several times in the Chamber, Alliance welcomes dual market access for goods, but, ultimately, that is second best to what we had as a full member of the EU, and Alliance regrets that we do not have the full benefits of EU membership, which include freedom of services, capital and movement of people. As a pro-European party, we want to be back in the EU.”
“I welcome the intervention. A lot of what has been said from the DUP Benches was completely not reality. Business has been leading change, and trade across to GB has increased. Off the top of my head, I cannot remember the figure, but it is in tens of per cents; it is not a little amount. The trade deficit is decreasing, and our growth is rising, and that is to be welcomed. <BR /> <BR />Change is our only option. Our economy has been in deficit since the 1930s and remains heavily reliant on the public sector, and that is unsustainable. Our population is suffering under the resultant squeeze, and that has been brought into sharp focus with the Treasury's below-need funding of Northern Ireland. We can no longer afford to view our economy as a side issue. Our economy is central to creating the future that we all want to see.”
“As our economic performance remains stubbornly well behind that of the rest of the UK and absolutely miles behind that of the South, change is the only option that we have in Northern Ireland. More of the same is just no longer sustainable.”
“However, the public see through that and will expect us to get back to normal after recess and to having a working collaboration between everybody in order to better this place. <BR /> <BR />I said in the Platform piece that I wrote that, "It's the economy, stupid", which was the famous catchphrase from the 1992 presidential election. The question was this:”
“I recently wrote an Alliance Party opinion piece that was published in the 'The Irish News' that laid out Alliance's position on working to rebalance the economy across this island and within these islands. It referenced collaboration between Invest NI and the IDA, so I thank the SDLP for bringing forward a lot of what I have previously said. <BR /> <BR />Sinéad McLaughlin and I, as with the DUP and Sinn Féin members of the Economy Committee, are often very much on the same page, and I look forward to continuing those close working relationships as we look to grow and better our economy. It is so positive when we speak collectively on the issues, but it is absolutely disappointing — there must be an election on the go or something — that we have the DUP's position today.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I appreciate that he went quickly to the scene to witness it for himself and the passion with which he spoke about it. Will he agree to meet and listen directly to the local conservation and angling club there, which, in recent years, has done a great job to try to manage that section of river?”
“Importantly, and central to those objectives, Alliance will also stand up for our constituents from every background and every social group. Alliance will always stand up for equality and justice for the better.”
“The regulator has a key role to play, and the net zero targets must be added to its functions if we are serious. We must develop the network over the next decade rather than leaving a huge void and building up a huge cost in the future. The problem is in front of our eyes. The Assembly should act now to prevent playing catch-up in the future. <BR /> <BR />Be in no doubt: Alliance will always stand up for ordinary people and, equally, for the planet and our local environment. Alliance calls for action against climate change and is tabling the motion to set out and reinforce a delivery path to net zero in order to deliver a green new deal, support green new industries and create highly skilled new jobs.”
“Alliance therefore calls for the regulator to be given control over costs, placing home heating oil within the remit of the Utility Regulator to bring the market in line with gas and electricity to ensure price transparency for our consumers. Alliance also calls for a change to the Utility Regulator's functions to include meeting net zero targets. That will help to protect consumers through energy transition and drive down the cost of energy into the future. From speaking to energy specialists, we must start the process of building our main electricity infrastructure now to allow for the expansion and connection of solar and wind energy across Northern Ireland. The days of our network being based on three power stations are over; the planning and building of our new electricity infrastructure must happen now.”
“Alliance wants to build a region where everyone thrives — a united community in which no one is left behind. We cannot sit back when ordinary people on ordinary incomes are hurting while oil and gas companies continue to make hugely exaggerated profits that go to a few. There must be a rebalancing. Taxation is a Westminster issue, but I stress again that, for Alliance, taxation must be progressive and must redistribute wealth fairly to protect our most vulnerable. <BR /> <BR />With 70% of households currently reliant on home heating oil, we must help local families and households to deal with the price of oil.”
“I stress that every Department must be accountable for meeting net zero targets and facilitating the transition to renewable energy. Offshore wind, onshore wind, solar, biogas and hydrogen are all areas in which we must invest now, in order to create the conditions for those technologies and industries to flourish and create new, green jobs. I stress this point in the Chamber, again: our green industry continues to be held back by an outdated and under-resourced planning process. Reforming our current planning process must be an absolute priority if we are to deliver. <BR /> <BR />I have said before in the Chamber that every business should make a profit, but the other side of profit is taxation: we should redistribute wealth to support low and low-to-middle earners.”
“<BR /> <BR />The initial capital outlay to upgrade a property is a major barrier that the Assembly can help with through a mixture of grants and interest-free loans to allow delivery. A cost-neutral facility such as interest-free loans would enable people to spread the cost over several years and thus to see the savings as they use less energy. By helping families to better insulate their homes and providing grants to help to upgrade our social housing stock much faster, we would drive down the cost to our constituents by reducing the volume of energy used to heat homes in the first place, while we also work to address energy transformation away from fossil fuels. <BR /> <BR />This is an issue for all Departments.”
“<BR /> <BR />Insulating our homes and upgrading them to be airtight would reduce the amount of warm air that leaks out and drafts of colder air that come in. Fitting smart meters is another measure that we can easily introduce into all our homes. Those are measures that we can and should help with, and they will drastically reduce the amount of energy that is needed to heat homes in the first place and protect the most vulnerable. A new fuel poverty strategy would ensure targeted delivery for those who are most in need, making sure that they are supported first. Alliance proposes that we start with those homes. Homeowners in our constituencies also need our support to transform their home heating from oil to a more sustainable energy method, be that biogas, heat pumps or solar panels.”
“<BR /> <BR />With technology advancing quickly, we must seek to develop our capacity to the point that we can export surplus electricity as well as investing in the progressive technologies of biogas and hydrogen. Waiting or stalling are simply not options. Any delay to developing and constructing our major infrastructure builds on a financial problem that will end up costing every one of us in the long term. The Alliance Party will not stand back while the public sleepwalk into further and higher costs. As energy comes under my role as economy spokesperson, I raised this matter early in the term and am committed to working to try to eliminate and eradicate fuel poverty. Alliance believes that that is the energy target that we must work towards delivering.”
“We have all the natural resources at our disposal, so we must tackle the climate emergency and protect our environment, not only for ourselves but for future generations. We must create the circumstances to enable us to quickly move away from reliance on fossil fuels. Unfortunately, the pace of transition is stalling. Alliance tabled the motion in order to bring attention to that and to provide solutions to help to bring us back on track and deliver secure, cleaner, fairer, safer and cheaper energy for every household. Alliance believes in that, and we will continue to strive to become an ambitious world leader in energy efficiency and clean, net zero technologies, creating new highly skilled jobs locally.”
“Alliance is delighted to bring forward this motion, which reaches to the heart of providing solutions to help to reduce energy spend from household budgets and seeks to prevent a situation in which the recent massive increase in energy costs could ever happen again. Energy is central to all our lives: it is the cost of heating our homes, of boiling the kettle and of putting fuel in our cars. We live in an exciting time of opportunity, transition and change. At this time, we must position ourselves to take full advantage of that and deliver the benefits directly to every household. <BR /> <BR />Addressing this issue continues to require an all-island approach. We live on an island in the Atlantic Ocean.”
“In proposing the motion, I tell you what: I accept the SDLP amendment. You would almost think that it had been copied and pasted from Hansard. I have already said every word that is in the amendment in the Chamber, so I am happy to support it, and I am even more delighted that the SDLP listened to what I said. I welcome the Minister back to office, which I have not had a chance to do yet. I wish him well into the future.”
“I thank the Minister for helping me with a question that I asked recently about Moira park-and-ride. I appreciate his help in allowing that project to progress. <BR /> <BR />Can the Minister give us an update on the essential upgrade of the A1 between Newry and Sprucefield? Has the project moved forward in the last couple of weeks or recent months? Is it any closer to making that road safer for the public?”
“Can the deputy First Minister update the House on work that has taken place on the new international relations strategy in May and June of this year?”
“I thank the Minister for the response. It is a real problem. We can all want and hope, but it is really about starting to legislate to make sure that it happens. As the Minister said, it causes devastating outcomes for small businesses. I will take her up on her offer to meet. Maybe, to expand on that, we can meet the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) at the same time and look to provide solutions.”
“When was the scheme last formally reviewed? Will the Minister review its effectiveness and value for money?”
“I welcome the Minister back and wish him good health going forward. Will the Minister give us an update on the reform of the delivery of further education?”
“What specific work has been undertaken towards a similar goal for the Maze/Long Kesh site?”
“It is certainly a highly skilled industry, and we should do all that we can to encourage and support it.”
“We are proud to have them in Lagan Valley. They create jobs and offer highly skilled opportunities in my area, as well as training and apprenticeships. They are key to our local economy. I thank them for the work that they do and wish them all the best for the future. I hope that they will continue to thrive. <BR /> <BR />Aerospace is an area of our economy that we should be at the forefront of, further developing our rich heritage of engineering and technology development. It sits comfortably alongside this region's being the centre of secure information technology, with the growing cluster of companies that offers innovative cybersecurity solutions. They lead the way by creating jobs and giving us hope for a better and more prosperous future. Our focus in the Assembly must be on creating opportunities and giving hope.”
“I have known Michael Maguire for many years now, having met as dads on the side of a rugby pitch. His company, Datum Tool Design, which is based in Lisburn, is a great example of success. It creates specialist tooling for the manufacturing process. Alongside Datum, we have other fantastic companies, such as Creative Composites, which is known as the most advanced composite manufacturer on these islands. In Dromore, we have the precision engineering company Green Energy Engineering, and, back in Lisburn, we have NI Precision, Rainey Engineering Solutions and McGowan-Smith. All those precision engineering companies have in-house design and manufacturing facilities. We also have Vita Materials, which produces aircraft seat cushions. <BR /> <BR />Those are some of our premier technology companies in Northern Ireland.”
“We should use that dual market access to our advantage to grow exports to GB and the EU, which will grow not only our UK and European markets but our international market. As the UK economy continues to stagnate and slowly decline on the world stage, we must support local businesses to export and to see the world as the stage on which to perform. Northern Ireland is recognised for its commitment to developing world-class innovative technology in the aerospace, security, defence and space sectors. It has a vibrant and rapidly growing industry that is founded on a really strong engineering heritage and backed by robust research, competence, collaboration and leading universities. <BR /> <BR />There are some fantastic local companies and employers in my Lagan Valley constituency.”
“The cluster of companies that is based here exports to the world. That export means that we will see future growth, and, from future growth, we will see future wealth and more prosperity for the region. The aerospace industry should be supported to help it to sustain and create future employment, bring job opportunities, develop highly skilled pathways and apprenticeships, develop skilled jobs and support our local businesses to grow their exports. That will give us all the best possible chance of having a better economy. Alliance will always strive for better. <BR /> <BR />Given that a substantial percentage of the aerospace and defence companies are European, or at least trade with Europe, we must use and promote our dual market access. It is vital to this region.”
“Last week, we talked in the Chamber about hospitality, which is a key industry and employer in Northern Ireland. Sorcha has laid out our position on this motion. I will focus on our economy and the wider aerospace industry as employers that are growing the GDP of the region and pushing for more success. <BR /> <BR />As has been stated, and as the motion says, aerospace employs approximately 9,000 people here. It does so across approximately 120 companies, whose uniquely close geographic proximity to each other, as well as the advanced engineering heritage that we have here, means that it is a thriving industry. Although parts of the motion read and are decorated as though they are a DUP manifesto, let us not forget the reality that our aerospace, technology and advanced manufacturing sector is much bigger than just the UK market.”
“Thank you to the Minister for his answer and for his prioritisation of the issue. I recently met his Department and Translink: they lobbied for an extension to the park-and-ride at Moira and told me that it was a priority and that they wanted to deliver it quickly. The extension has since received full planning permission, only for DFI to give notice that it may want to review its own application and decision. Will the Minister give a ministerial direction to stop the internal nonsense and allow Translink to get on with providing a much-needed extension to the park-and-ride at Moira as soon as possible?”
“<BR /> <BR />We are the only UK region that does not have a rural rate relief scheme to support the rural community and view the businesses there — the retail businesses or the village pub — as community facilities as well as a businesses. That would help to support rural communities, so Alliance would support a review of rural rates relief. <BR /> <BR />I have cut my speech to shreds. Hopefully, in that quick three minutes, I have summed up our position. I support our amendment and the motion.”
“The Assembly lacks the ability to target economic support and growth easily through tax mechanisms, which, Alliance believes, we need to do. To grow our economy, we need to understand how any relief could be better targeted at sectors that most need support. We need to give the Assembly the ability to target, support and encourage further economic growth and create more jobs. <BR /> <BR />Alliance believes that all taxation should be progressive; Eóin went through bits of that. The review must prioritise creating a fair system that builds growth. It simply cannot be fair that businesses in our cities, towns and villages carry a higher percentage tax burden than businesses in other areas do. That needs to be reviewed as a whole.”
“Most businesses are small in turnover and job numbers, which means that taxation, VAT and business rate burdens fall heavily on our local community and local hospitality and those businesses do not have access to the economies of scale that larger chains have. Yet, in England, larger chains have rates relief, which has been applied at 75% for three years in a row for all hospitality, retail and leisure businesses. That has not been replicated here, so, frankly, we are losing businesses unnecessarily. <BR /> <BR />The Alliance amendment focuses on reviewing our rating structure as a much more practical way for the Assembly to help. As Eóin detailed, Alliance calls for an independent review of non-domestic rate relief, including small business rate relief.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. Approximately four weeks ago in the Chamber, I raised the issue of the closure of Clenaghans restaurant in Aghalee and of the Owl and Pussycat cafe in Hillsborough, as Sorcha referenced. Since then, I have raised the issue at the Economy Committee and at Question Time, and I thank the Minister for meeting Colin Neill and the sector. I have had so many messages from across Northern Ireland asking me to keep speaking up on the issue. <BR /> <BR />The demographic of our hospitality businesses is unique. Most operators are local and do not have the national chains trading in the region. Mike referred to that.”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her response. I welcome the fact that she visited St Paul's and tried camogie. It sent such a positive media message about breaking down divisions. <BR /> <BR />St Patrick's Gaelic Athletic Club in Lisburn does incredible work in bringing the community together. Unfortunately, until now, she has not supported or signed its support documentation to enable it to purchase its pitches from the MOD. Can the deputy First Minister now reassure the club of her support?”
“The Member just said that there would be no tax return or gain for the public, but that is fundamentally untrue. There is 20% VAT on every ticket and there are rates to be paid, and that does not happen in other parts of the UK. Would the Member care to elaborate on how there will be no tax coming back?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I want to talk about one project that is ready to go. You have previously expressed your regret that Millennium Integrated Primary School did not have its new build developed after the Fresh Start funding was re-profiled earlier in the year, and that happened despite the project being at the most advanced stage of any of the affected schools. Will you use any of the current capital allocation in this financial year to deliver that project?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Approximately 35 to 40 pupils who live in the Moira and Magheralin area attend New-Bridge Integrated College. People choose that school because it is integrated and offers A levels and sixth form. EA continues to refuse direct transport links, citing transport policy, but, if those parents were to choose a grammar school, they would have a choice of six or seven schools. What is the Minister's assessment of the transport access for those who live in Moira and travel to New-Bridge Integrated College? What steps will he take to improve the options for those young people?”
“Thanks, Steve. You mentioned SONI, and I am interested in what you meant by that. You talk about Northern Ireland as if our energy market is alone on this island. We have an energy system that is across the island. Are you proposing that we have a regulator for the island? Is that it?”