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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“The focus of the Chamber must absolutely be on ordinary people and making sure that we do our best for them.”
“People talk about Norway as the example for digging. Norway has a wealth fund of about $1·9 trillion that it uses to support its people. Norway has 95% renewable energy, with bills that are half of what our people pay. "Dig, baby dig", which we hear constantly, is a perverse argument. There is no benefit to people other than price spikes. <BR /> <BR />We have called repeatedly for a windfall tax. Sorcha has called repeatedly for exactly that at Westminster. If a company is making money, and you sell the assets off to a private company, if you dig more, the company makes more. At $340 million for every dollar, that money needs to be taken from the rich and the companies that are profiteering and given to ordinary people here to allow them to get on with their daily lives. We need to reduce the costs for people and help people.”
“That is the value of the profit, and that is one energy company.”
“Just think of the value of that. A barrel was around $60 two months ago. It has been steadily over $100. It has been $120 at a point in time.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Thank you for the intervention. I absolutely agree. I have called so many times for a master plan for energy. We need a plan so that policy is not from little bits from here, there and everywhere but is driven and plan-led rather than it being left to developers to come up with each individual part of it. It needs to be driven from the Department to transition us to renewables. It needs to be done on an all-island basis. We need a plan here, but we cannot provide an energy solution just in Northern Ireland. We have to work with the South to deliver that. I absolutely agree. <BR /> <BR />Gerry talked about the profits, and I want to talk exactly on that. There has to be a windfall tax. Last week, BP reported that it made an additional $340 million profit for every one dollar that a barrel of oil went up in price.”
“<BR /> <BR />Last week, as has been referenced a few times, we had a debate on the costs of net zero. That is a complete distraction from Trump's war, which has spiked oil prices. The answer to that was to double down on oil and gas and to, basically, give us more of the same and deliver more of that. A report from the University of Oxford showed that, if we were to drill for oil in the North Sea, there would be a benefit to the consumer of, off the top of my head, £14 or £16. That is £16, and a transition to renewables would bring a benefit of £500 a household in the UK. We have to stop the dependency on oil and gas, because the only people who are laughing on their way to the bank are the oil companies.”
“Inflation also drives up interest rates, which puts mortgages higher and pushes rents higher. It leaves everybody with less money in their pocket to enjoy on themselves. <BR /> <BR />In the debate, there has been quite a bit of agreement across the House on the need to do something to help. One group that has not been mentioned is our local businesses and the jobs that they provide. We need to make sure that businesses, especially manufacturing and advanced manufacturing businesses, are not priced out as their margins disappear. Care workers who drive to work are absorbing the costs, and that was never in their contracts. They were already hurting from that before the spike in fuel costs made it worse. Those are people in our constituencies who are struggling every day of the week, and they are the people whom we need to champion.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. Energy is the basis of our economy. It underlies absolutely everything, and literally everything is built on it. The cost of everything is affected by it. I talk a lot about energy in this place, including in the Committee, and I enjoy doing so. The cost-of-living crisis is hurting people, and energy spikes have been referenced. Timothy mentioned that the crisis did not happen just as a result of this war: no, it happened the last time that there was a war as well, when Russia invaded Ukraine. In one year, the UK Government spent £60 billion subsidising energy costs for ordinary people. That is £60 billion that the taxpayer now has to pay back, so we need to look at this in the round. Inflation has risen dramatically in that time. That drives up food costs, and it drives up everything that people buy.”
“<BR /> <BR />Phillip said that we need a master plan from the Department that gives us a plan-led approach to energy on the widest scale that sits alongside that all-island collaboration. I talk about that all the time, and it winds me up that we do not have one. <BR /> <BR />We have an opportunity to decarbonise in order to protect people from price shocks. We have to move towards using renewables. Biomethane is absolutely part of that, but we have to invest in research and development on biomethane alongside doing work on hydrogen, as was mentioned. Hydrogen is used for trucks and trains in particular. We need to look at solutions and start delivering for people.”
“I absolutely agree, but it should not be used to supply our power stations. The clip that came out this morning was about its being used for electricity generation, which would put our prices through the roof. <BR /> <BR />The motion does not talk about this, but we need North/South collaboration. We cannot do it in isolation. Coca-Cola in my constituency trucks biogas, some of which comes from Donegal, and there is no legislative framework to enable it to be connected and to count towards net zero targets. We therefore need to take an all-island approach to developing biomethane policy and infrastructure that supports injection to the grid, be it North or South, and interconnection with Donegal. That is a practical thing that the Assembly can do.”
“Through the UK and Europe, we are part of the marginal pricing arrangement for energy generation. Our electricity generators are brought online in order, from the cheapest to the most expensive. The last, most expensive generator sets the pricing for all electricity on the grid. Using biogas would therefore dramatically increase everyone's bills. I have never heard anybody explain why, in the short term or the long term, we should do that. <BR /> <BR />Developing biogas to displace gas on the grid is where we need to focus to be part of the wider energy transition, but, at this stage —.”
“Those reasons are energy security and the importance of moving away from our dependency on fossil fuels, but we must invest in research and development, because if we look at the potential of all renewables, we see that costs are being driven down over time. That can happen. <BR /> <BR />There is a place for biomethane, and we have to look at its potential, but we have to be honest with people rather than oversimplify things. This morning, I watched the social media clip to promote the motion. I have heard many energy experts talk about biogas at the Committee for the Economy, and I sit on the BIPA Committee on Climate, Energy, Science and Technology, but I have never heard anybody explain why it should be how we power our power stations for electricity generation. The reason for that is simple.”
“I will come to that in a wee second, because biomethane is part of the solution, as is hydrogen. I sit on a Committee of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly (BIPA) that has looked at their use. There is therefore a wider work piece of work to be done on each individually. <BR /> <BR />I will talk about something that was raised earlier. I want to manage expectations, because we need to be honest with people. Biomethane carries a much higher cost than natural gas — the cost today is approximately five times as much — and we cannot ignore that reality. The case for expanding its use must therefore rest on long-term reasons for its use.”
“I agree with the motion that there is the potential for every unit of biomethane that we produce to displace natural gas that we do not then have to import. We need to act in the long-term interests of people.”
“There is no reason, however, why we cannot strengthen our energy security through AD and support businesses in meeting decarbonisation and sustainable targets as well as creating economic opportunities in rural communities and helping to deliver real environmental benefits. However, it has to be properly regulated, managed and scaled, because environmental protection has to be fundamental as well. Minister Muir has already taken forward a plan-led approach to that. We have seen investment of £12·5 million in biomethane and wider bioeconomy innovation, and I put on record my thanks to him for that. <BR /> <BR />Yes, we have the resource: the slurry, food waste and organic material that have been mentioned.”
“I cannot believe that I am going to say this: I agree with a lot of what Phillip said, and I commend the motion. <BR /> <BR />I talk a lot in here about energy, and we need to produce more of our own and transition to renewable. Energy costs, as Robbie said, are spiking because of war, and we have to protect people. Biomethane must be part of that wider transition. It has the potential to be part of the jigsaw, but it is, a Phillip said, just one part of a much wider energy transition. <BR /> <BR />We have to proceed carefully, as has been said, and do this right, and it must be evidence-based.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your response. What further actions will you then be delivering in this mandate to improve the welfare of our pets?”
“Like so many families, we have great memories of being at the club. It is a club that develops not just sporting ability but confidence and teamwork. It has built a really brilliant community spirit in Hillsborough. <BR /> <BR />I have also really enjoyed being able to support the club practically with grant applications and by working alongside the people who are involved there. It is genuinely so encouraging to see that commitment and investment translated into success through getting results at the highest level. "Garvey" continues to set the standard not just through its results but in how a club can be rooted in the community while striving for excellence. I wish the team every success at the EY Champions Trophy finals weekend in May. I have no doubt that I will be back in the Chamber celebrating more silverware.”
“However, to keep that remarkable success going year after year is a testament to the dedication, talent and hard work right across the club, from players and coaches to the volunteers and supporters who give so much of their time behind the scenes. <BR /> <BR />For me, there is a personal element. My daughter started to play hockey at "Garvey" way back.”
“I have stood in the Chamber many times to celebrate my constituents' success in their clubs and sports clubs, and to remember those whom we are here to serve. That has to be at the heart of what we do. I want to take a moment to place on record my sincere congratulations to Lisnagarvey Hockey Club on its outstanding achievement, at the weekend, of winning the EY all-Ireland hockey league for the fifth time in the past 10 years. The league sat in the balance going into the final week of the season, but Saturday saw "Garvey" come through and take the incredible win. The club is, as I said, no stranger to success or silverware.”
“It is about the future of this place and the region and about building lives, careers and businesses here that can excel. We need less talk as we move forward, and we need more delivery.”
“In recent years, the Department has come to the Committee repeatedly, and it has been simply more of the same as the decade before: there is no long-term, clear strategic plan. At a time when we talk about growing our economy, building skills and attracting inward investment, we cannot afford to undermine the institutions that deliver the skills and deliver all three. If we are serious about opportunity, we must be serious about our universities and the opportunities that they create for our economy. That means a sustainable future, and it means giving our young people, and those who go back in later life to reskill, real and accessible pathways into good jobs. This has got to be about more than just the balance sheet. It has to be about protecting those opportunities and protecting and backing our local talent.”
“Universities are not just places of learning. They are vital to our economy. They are the engine of our economy and the catalyst for so many businesses that we are rightly proud of across Northern Ireland that create jobs, drive innovation and build prosperity. Their intellectual property is owned here, and that increases our export and viability. That is why it is deeply concerning that Ulster University has put 450 jobs at risk. Behind that number are lecturers, researchers and support staff — people who have dedicated their careers to educating the next generation to help build our economy. We, and they, deserve better than uncertainty; they deserve a system that works. <BR /> <BR />This is not a one-off issue. We have heard repeatedly from both universities here that funding is not working.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I respect the ruling that you have given, and I apologise. I want to move forward. Thank you.”
“I will not be told what I can and cannot say in the Chamber about what they pay for their fuel and the price that they pay for goods. I will talk on this motion. I am sorry, Mr Deputy Speaker: I am here to speak for the people, not to be directed by a Speaker about what I can and cannot say in the Chamber.”
“Sorry, but I am elected by the people of Lagan Valley to speak for them.”
“The motion mentions the cost of living. I am talking directly about the cost of living. People outside the Building are feeling it every day of the week, whether they are heating their home, paying for their electricity or putting fuel in their car. Please do not tell me that this is not about the cost-of-living crisis that is happening directly because of the war in the Middle East, and I will not be told not to speak on that issue. I am sorry. I will not; I will continue. This is about the DUP's delusional friend Trump's decisions to allow that war to go on.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, this is directly relevant to the cost-of-living crisis. I am speaking to the motion, which mentions the cost of living, so I am sorry; you will not stop me talking about the reasons why —”
“I want to talk about the cost-of-living crisis that the motion refers to, and I want to talk about the evidence and the facts that have been spoken about and that we long to hear. People outside the Building are feeling its effects every day when they are heating their home, putting fuel in their car or filling up their supermarket trolley. That is all being driven by one thing: our dependence on fossil fuels — oil and gas — yet the DUP wants to distract. <BR /> <BR />Yes, I want to be honest today and have a conversation about what is actually driving those costs and those spikes. Stop gaslighting people with DUP distraction. It is not climate policy that is costing people; it is a war. It is the DUP's delusional friend Trump. The war in Iran has caused the spike in prices. Everybody outside the Building knows why prices —”
“I welcome a couple of things in the deputy First Minister's answer in relation to the commitment to deliver in the Executive, including the delivery of Casement Park. Deputy First Minister, can you point to one tangible action that you or your colleague in your office have taken that has moved Casement Park closer to being delivered?”
“There will be more shocks and more pressure on our own working people. Yes: let us talk about the cost of living, but let us be honest about what is driving it and not gaslight people. Let us stop the distractions, focus on what will actually help people and bring forward action to help people now and in the long term, because people out there deserve better than this.”
“Alliance calls for the UK Government to act and to act now. We need a cut to VAT on domestic energy. We need to reduce fuel duty to ease the pressure at the pumps. The VAT rate has already gone up. By the cost of it going up, that is cost-neutral. There needs to be a rise in the windfall tax on energy companies. Again, the DUP wants to champion all the companies making massive excess profits. They need to be taxed in order to make further reductions to people's costs. We need the Minister to put targeted support in place to help struggling households. When prices spike, we cannot stand back. We must step in. <BR /> <BR />Alongside that, we need to get serious in the long term. If we do not reduce our dependence on oil and gas, that will happen, as day follows night, again and again.”
“<BR /> <BR />Here is the part that people will not miss. Just weeks ago, the DUP and the Ulster Unionist Party sat with, lined up for their photographs with and cosied up to their cheerleader, Trump, busting to be seen with him and get their clicks on social media — the same Donald Trump who is now driving the decisions that are pushing up our fuel prices and hurting every family in Northern Ireland. You cannot have it both ways. You cannot stand beside the man — a deranged man who, today, compared himself to Jesus — and then come back here and complain about the price and consequences of his actions. That is not leadership: it is hypocrisy and gaslighting people. While you chase your headlines, clicks, TikTok and everything else, people here pay the price. <BR /> <BR />What should we do? We need to look to solutions.”
“For weeks, I have been raising people's concerns about the cost of energy. My constituents feel it when they fill their oil tank, at the petrol pump and every time that they go to the shop. Right now, those costs continue to rise at an absolutely scandalous rate because of one simple truth: we are absolutely exposed to global oil and gas prices and shocks. This morning, we have heard the DUP's big idea, which is to bury our heads and rely further on oil and gas, the price of which only ever goes up. What is driving that shock? It is the reckless escalation of the Middle East conflict, driven by Donald Trump and his actions, with fuel instability driving up global oil prices and pushing inflation back on to the system. Who pays for that? It is not Donald Trump, the Governments or the oil companies but ordinary working people here.”
“It brings us together — all communities, backgrounds and generations — and inspires us. It shows that not everything needs to be political and that sometimes we can just celebrate; sometimes we can just say, "Well done". Rory represents the new Northern Ireland, the new North or whatever you are comfortable calling it that is inclusive and shared, confident and open and incredibly resilient and comfortable in its own skin. Rory has not forgotten where he has come from and is incredibly proud of it. That is the story of this place at its best, and it is a story that Rory tells and that we all need to tell, because it is not about us: it is about him. I simply say, "Congratulations, Rory, from all of us. You have made us all proud".”
“The crowds that follow him when he goes round are incredible. In the moment, the world is not seeing just Rory and amazing golf; it is seeing a little bit of this place. The impact that he has made for Northern Ireland cannot be overstated. Golf tourism here is already worth tens of millions to our economy and supports jobs, businesses and communities across society. Moments like this help us to grow that even further. They put us on a map that no strategy document can do. <BR /> <BR />For many of us, it gets personal, because family and friends come into the celebration. I have lost count of the number of times that I have sat up with my son watching Rory compete and willing him on, sharing those moments, whether Rory has won or suffered the lows of losing. Those are memories that last, and that is the power of sport.”
“I sat last night with tears of joy, and, today, I am thankful that it was not as late as other nights when I have watched Rory. I take a moment to recognise the extraordinary achievement of Rory McIlroy and the extraordinary ambassador that he is for Northern Ireland and this island. What he has done on the global stage is simply remarkable. It is not just about the winning and his performance but about how he carries himself. His humility, professionalism and quiet confidence speak volumes about him, his family and where he comes from. <BR /> <BR />When Rory steps on to a course anywhere in the world, we all step on with him to support him. He has a worldwide fan base of hundreds of millions. We saw that last night: as soon as he is there, the crowds are screaming. Anybody who was at the Open in the summer will have seen that.”
“There is real frustration about the length of time that this has taken: it has been ongoing for a while. I gave evidence to the panel at least a year ago, or maybe longer. People who live in houses in Lisburn Square and the Magheralave area of Lisburn are being held to ransom by property management companies. What advice should we pass on to them, given that they are effectively powerless in their own homes? Is there any way that we could see change more quickly?”
“The Department for the Economy needs to lead and come back with answers and a plan as soon as possible.”
“We need to have an honest discussion about the bigger issue, which is that we remain far too exposed to global fossil fuel price shocks. As night follows day, we see a war and then disruption to oil and gas markets, and households here feel it immediately. This is a repeat of 2022, and it cannot happen again. We do not have energy security; we have complete energy vulnerability. Therefore, we need to move at speed to deliver short-term help to working families while focusing on long-term solutions. We need greater transparency in the market for home heating oil, and, as prices spike, we need targeted support for householders now. We also need a really clear plan to transition to renewables in order to secure locally produced energy that protects people from similar shocks in the future. This is all about people.”
“Instead, what unfolded today was a spectacle: a political row between the DUP and Sinn Féin that generated considerably more heat than the £81 million that we were there to discuss. The two parties traded accusations across the table, and half a million of our householders who rely on home heating oil were no better off by the time that we left. This place needs to give hope, bring delivery and support quickly and have a plan for a long-term ambition that things will change in the future. It should not be a clickbait pantomime between the DUP and Sinn Féin. Energy prices should never be used as a political football, because, behind every headline, there is a family struggling. <BR /> <BR />If support is limited, it must be targeted properly at those who are struggling most.”
“Over the past number of days and weeks, there has been a lot of political noise around energy prices and oil prices, but the reality for households is much simpler. People outside this Building are really worried. Working people are already struggling, families are trying to manage household budgets and pensioners are wondering what the next heating bill will look like. <BR /> <BR />I was at the Economy Committee this morning, and, frankly, I left angry at the political pantomime that played out around an issue that directly affects people's lives. Today's Committee meeting was supposed to provide clarity. Families in Lagan Valley and beyond have seen their heating bills double in a matter of weeks, and they deserve answers.”
“Will the Minister give an update on the conversations that he has had with the Finance Minister on the revitalisation of the Housing Executive?”
“Ultimately, the goal should always be the same: we bring forward practical policies that strengthen our economy, support jobs, create more jobs and build a more secure and prosperous future for everyone here and the people who call this place home.”
“The countries and regions that succeed will be those that adapt, innovate and position themselves for the industries of the future. For Northern Ireland, that means making practical decisions to protect our competitiveness, support our ports and ensure that our economy continues to benefit from trade and investment. <BR /> <BR />The Order helps to achieve that. It is not about choosing between the UK or the EU; it is about making sure that Northern Ireland's economy works in both markets and benefits from both. The Order protects Northern Ireland from unnecessary distortion across the Irish Sea, supports the competitiveness of our ports and positions our economy to take advantage of the transition that is taking place in maritime transport.”
“I thank the Minister for his intervention. That example is beside his constituency. Research and development is happening, as is investment. Jobs are reliant on that, and jobs are being created in those areas. There are so many opportunities for us in the maritime sector here. <BR /> <BR />Some Members may suggest that such policies somehow undermine our economy; I take a completely different view. The real risk to our economy is in ignoring the direction of global markets, burying our heads in the sand and pretending that nothing is changing and that we can control everybody else. That would leave Northern Ireland unprepared for the changes that are already under way. The real risk is pretending that the global economy is not already changing.”
“We can play a major part in the transition.”
“Thank you for that. <BR /> <BR />If we wait for everything to be in place before we change anything, nothing will ever change. You have to move. If pushing people brings that change, so be it. <BR /> <BR />Belfast harbour has invested in shore power. We have seen investment in the harbour. It was recently announced that it will invest in a cruise and offshore wind terminal. Companies such as Stena are investing in hybrid vessels and new technologies to improve efficiencies. Those are exactly the kinds of innovations that will shape the future of maritime transport if we position ourselves well. In Northern Ireland, we have an engineering heritage. We have advanced manufacturing capabilities and a thriving industry. We have huge research and development capabilities and brilliant universities. We have strategic ports.”
“You are making my decision for me, Mr Deputy Speaker.”
“— to see where you were going. If we were to wait for —.”