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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“Robbie, honestly: if you mention the word "EU" and the word "Ireland" —”
“Linking the EU ETS and the UK ETS would reduce friction for exporters, provide greater certainty for businesses and support stable trading relationships across these islands. <BR /> <BR />The debate should be about not just compliance but opportunity. The maritime sector is undergoing a major technological transformation as it moves to using cleaner fuels and having more efficient vessels. Shipping companies around the world are investing in hybrid vessels, in methanol engines and in hydrogen fuel. That gives us major research and development opportunities to grow new technologies and skills locally. Ports are investing in shore power so that ships can plug into electricity while they are docked, rather than having to run their engines.”
“Jonny, you know that I will always let you in. I hope that that will be reciprocated. I will proceed with my contribution, but I will cover what you asked in a second. This is about economics, divergence and everything else. We dealt in Committee with the issue that you raised, and I will answer you as I go on. <BR /> <BR />Carbon pricing is increasingly one of the rules of international trade. The European Union's carbon border adjustment mechanism will apply charges on imports from countries without comparable carbon pricing. That means that alignment between carbon-pricing systems can reduce barriers for exporters, thus making it easier for businesses to trade. For a trading region such as Northern Ireland, that really matters.”
“That would create an unintended distortion and encourage operators to reroute goods through Dublin port simply to avoid paying higher costs. That would not be good for Northern Ireland's ports, for its logistics sector or for the wider economy here. The approach that is taken in the draft Order avoids that risk. Applying the same 50% emissions coverage for Northern Ireland to GB routes will maintain parity across the Irish Sea and ensure that our ports are not placed at a competitive disadvantage. That is an important safeguard for a region where the economy depends so heavily on trade and connectivity. We live on an island and depend on shipping.”
“That is why the provisions, which relate to maritime emissions, are really important. <BR /> <BR />Maritime emissions have been within the scope of the EU emissions trading system since 2024. The system covers 100% of emissions generated from voyages between EU ports and 50% of emissions generated from voyages that start or end in the EU. Applying a 50% reduction to the UK ETS surrender obligations on voyages between Northern Ireland and GB, rather than requiring 100% surrender, will ensure fairness and parity with EU ETS carbon pricing across the Irish Sea and avoid the risk of competitive distortion locally. If that approach were not to be taken here, routes between Northern Ireland and GB could be faced with different carbon costs from routes between here and ports in the South.”
“Rather, it is how such decisions affect our economy and our unique trading position. Northern Ireland sits in a distinctive place, between two major markets. We have access to the UK internal market and to the EU single market. That dual market access gives us a real economic advantage. At the minute, it is growing our economy at more than twice the rate of that of the rest of the UK. That creates opportunities and generates investment. It supports trade and grows better jobs and opportunities for the people who are listening to the debate. It also means, however, that we must think carefully about how regulatory systems interact across those two markets. When systems diverge, there is a risk of businesses facing unnecessary complexity or of trade routes starting to shift in ways that disadvantage us.”
“When people hear the phrase "emissions trading scheme", most will switch off. It sounds really technical and not related to everyday life, but such decisions are not abstract; they are about our economy and our trade. Ultimately, they are about opportunities and costs facing people and businesses here in Northern Ireland. Ultimately, the emissions trading scheme is a market tool. It places cost on pollution and allows businesses to innovate and compete to reduce emissions. Those who invest in cleaner technology benefit, and those who do not face increased costs. Over time, that creates incentives for innovation, efficiency and investment in new technologies. <BR /> <BR />For us, however, the most important issue in the debate is not the climate policy, although that is vital.”
“I absolutely agree. <BR /> <BR />The Alliance Party will always focus on improving people's lives, creating opportunities and not filtering that through constitutional aspirations; it is simply about making life better. The truth is that our future depends on east-west and North/South collaboration. If we want higher wages, better infrastructure and stronger public services, we have to be confident enough to share the island, to work together and to unlock that opportunity.”
“We have asked for a talent development agency like Skillnet Ireland, and there was support for that across the Assembly. We need to see that pushed forward and delivered. <BR /> <BR />The all-island rail review was mentioned. The reality is that we are not anywhere close to even moving to a business case to drive forward the reopening of the Knockmore line. Despite the frustrations, the opportunities are absolutely massive. Sam McBride said:”
“If a small island cannot even connect two electricity systems with copper wires, we need to ask serious questions about whether we are really that keen on economic collaboration. <BR /> <BR />A party that is in government in Northern Ireland, yet is in opposition in the South, should not hold back change here for our constituents. At the same time, we are seeing the spikes in fossil fuel costs now and proposals for renewable schemes need to come forward, we need to create systems here to allow investment in renewables, not with an investment border in Ireland but attracting investment to the North. Those are practical suggestions that we need to move forward at pace. <BR /> <BR />Skills is another issue on which I have led.”
“Businesses already operate North/South; they always have. Workers already move across this island; they always have. Some 70% of our tourists come through the South, and 80% come through Dublin Airport. Investment already flows across this island, but we must make all those things easier and much more accessible and create new opportunities for people. <BR /> <BR />A quick example is energy. It underpins our whole economy. Our energy shows the problem, which is that we operate one all-island electricity market, but we still maintain two electricity systems. We cannot build the North/South interconnector. It remains delayed. That is costing every house in Northern Ireland about £100 a year.”
“I absolutely agree with that. That should be the spirit of the debate. Alliance comes to it from there. I have talked so many times about our position on a shared island. I have consistently made the case for sharing the island. If you look at Hansard, it will be hard to find anybody who has spoken more about the issue in here than I have. I have written opinion pieces about it. I have spoken about it. I have pushed for practical change, because it is about economic opportunity and making people's lives better. It is simply common sense. <BR /> <BR />Progress is far too slow. The truth is that our economy is growing but that that is not due to anything that is happening in Departments or anything that has changed; it is because our businesses have got on with it themselves and taken advantage of structural change and dual market access.”
“It is about making life better for ordinary people, businesses and our communities. That is exactly what common-sense Alliance politics is all about: focusing on what works and actually improves people's lives. Sharing the island is absolutely not about constitutional politics; it is economic common sense that makes people's lives better. <BR /> <BR />In his new book, Sam McBride wrote:”
“Alliance is interested in growing our economy, full stop. The potential for North/South economic collaboration is absolutely huge. Right now, we hear far more talk about that than we see delivery. Alliance absolutely supports the principles behind the motion and the amendment, but we are really disappointed that the debate has become party political and about point-scoring. Honestly, we need everybody across the House — all parties — to support our economy to move forward. We need less party politics and more delivery. <BR /> <BR />We need stronger North/South collaboration on a wide range of issues: the economy; infrastructure; health, which has been left out of the motion and the amendment; skills; education; sport; the arts; and energy, which is also massive. That should not be controversial at all.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. What are the benefits of dual market access for the agri-food sector?”
“Families in Northern Ireland deserve to know that the Assembly has their backs and that we are focused on delivering for them.”
“In Norway, 95% of the electricity is generated from renewable sources, and the people there pay significantly less for energy — about half the price that we pay. <BR /> <BR />We live on an island in the Atlantic Ocean with enormous natural energy resources, and we should use them to produce our own energy to lower the bills and protect households from global shocks. That means moving at pace. It means that all of us in the Chamber should unite behind the Executive and the Ministers to bring about change at pace and work with the Irish Government to deliver energy security for everybody here, North and South. It is about two things: protecting people and their energy bills right now and building an energy system that protects them in the long term.”
“We have seen support schemes during periods of extreme energy volatility before, and, as energy prices continue to rise, we need to know what protections will be in place for the most vulnerable and for working families that are already under pressure. <BR /> <BR />We are particularly exposed on this island due to our continued reliance on oil and gas. We cannot control global conflicts or geopolitical shocks, but people here should not pay the price for wars elsewhere. We can control our exposure to those factors. Today, only 43% of our electricity is generated from renewable sources, and that must increase quickly. The cost of transition is now being felt directly in people's pockets.”
“For many families here, energy prices affect practically every bill that lands on their kitchen table, from the cost of filling the oil tank so that they can heat their home and the cost of filling their car to get to work to the increased food prices for the weekly shop. We hear people's concerns: they are working hard, yet they are finding it harder and harder to make ends meet. <BR /> <BR />I again call for the Department of the Economy and the Department for Communities to work together urgently to engage with the UK Government to examine what support can be provided for households if prices continue to rise.”
“Last week, I raised the issue of the real impact that the sharp rise in energy prices is having on households across Northern Ireland. I also raised the issue of the lack of regulation of heating oil. Over the past number of days, those concerns have only grown.”
“What immediate support is the Department for Communities discussing for those who will be hit hardest? What contingency planning is under way for if prices climb further? <BR /> <BR />We want to see oil regulated. The leader of the DUP said today that he wants regulation. The Minister has refused that before: will that be reconsidered? We cannot control global conflict, but we can control whether families here are left exposed. We can try to comfort them and to bring in oversight, support and a plan.”
“Around 68% of peoples' homes here rely on heating oil. Every time there is an energy spike, it instantly lands directly on families' tables here. <BR /> <BR />Energy is the basis of our economy. For our people, it is the cost of heating their home or putting fuel in their car. Energy accounts for 30% of the cost of the food that we eat. When energy spikes, everything spikes. The rising costs land on top of fuel poverty, of which we have some of the highest levels in these islands. Recent reports state that over 40% of households already spend more than 10% of their income on energy. My question to the Minister for the Economy and the Minister for Communities is straightforward: what engagement has taken place or will take place today with the oil suppliers, local industry and the Consumer Council?”
“It was in our manifesto in 2022. You can shout whatever you like. It is good that you have caught up with the thing today. <BR /> <BR />It is essential for people that transparency and fairness are guaranteed. If suppliers are simply passing on the wholesale costs, they need to show their workings. They need to publish the numbers and restore public confidence. The public will rightly call out the fact that prices can rise dramatically in an instant but never seem to come down at the same rate of knots. The reality is that Northern Ireland is the most exposed part of these islands to shocks in global oil and gas. We are the least energy-secure part of these islands. Our energy prices are some of the highest in Europe because our energy is based on fossil fuels that we import, mainly from the Middle East.”
“Yesterday morning, families across Northern Ireland woke up to a dramatic rise in the price of home heating oil. It rose instantly, overnight. People here should not pay the price for a war somewhere else. This morning, gas prices have already risen by over 30%. When crude oil prices rise by 10% and local oil prices jump by almost 40%, the public will rightly ask, "Who benefits?". That is precisely why the Alliance Party has continually and consistently argued that home heating oil should be regulated. It should fall within the remit of the regulator.”
“Michelle talked about schools' lack of understanding of the CAO system. That was another issue that we had. Emma went to one of the large schools in Belfast. It was a case of "You're on her own". I attended a parents' evening and was told, "It is there. Go and figure it out". That is not acceptable for young people. We need to give them better opportunities. We need to build a shared future and to increase their ambition, rather than limit it. We support the motion.”
“The other real issue is that students with four A levels, even with an AS level, do not get an offer. Michelle and others referred to that as well. The CAO system, which requires 600 points to get into a course, should, without question, equate to three A levels at the highest grade. Our kids should not be asked to do anything more than a child or young person living in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Wexford or wherever. Requiring a fourth A level or an additional AS level is not right. I know that the Minister has raised that as an issue before, but work on removing that barrier needs to continue.”
“The simplest way to share this place, which has been shaped by division, and to build a shared future is to widen opportunity. <BR /> <BR />Alignment of timelines is only part of the issue.”
“On the day that she got her A-level results, which are, in effect, your ticket to university — in her case, UCL — she had to make the decision to defer that place for a year, wait two weeks and hope that she would have a place at Trinity — and it is hope, because you do not know that you will get in, even though you are doing four A levels. That is complete and utter nonsense. It is unnecessary, creates uncertainty and diminishes our young people's ambition. Creating a barrier such as that and putting young people under pressure to take a year out to allow them to move forward is wrong. We should not build systems that make our young people have to hesitate. Rather, we should make it as easy and seamless as possible for them to fulfil their ambition.”
“We should ask why so few of our young people have the opportunity to have Trinity, University College Dublin (UCD), Cork or Galway as an option. Just as England, Scotland and Wales are open to them, our young people should feel that the entire island is open to them, without barriers and without being complicated, and not closed. <BR /> <BR />Our experience was that Emma decided to go to Trinity a long time ago. That was where she wanted to go. As Members have said, however, you do not get a formal offer, as you do through UCAS. After Emma applied through UCAS and narrowed down her options, her choice was University College London (UCL).”
“<BR /> <BR />In a place that has known division, widening opportunity is one of the most powerful things that we can deliver so that young people have the choice to stay at home. That should be expanded and grown. They have the choice to go to England, Scotland and Wales, and Alliance wants to see those opportunities open up across this island as well, because that makes absolute sense. It is disappointing to hear some of the comments today urging Members to vote against those opportunities. <BR /> <BR />The collapse in mobility is stark. I have said this before in here: at Trinity, in 1998, 10% of the students were from Northern Ireland, but, today, fewer than 1% are from Northern Ireland. That is because of the barrier. It is not about a shift in what people want but about a structural barrier that exists.”
“I, too, will talk about opportunity. In Northern Ireland, we have the habit of creating systems that are so narrow in choice that they exclude people and create barriers for them rather than delivering better for them. We have an education system with cliff edges built throughout it and self-inflicted barriers that prevent people from moving on to the next stage. We have to work to remove those barriers and create better and more opportunities for everyone who lives here. If we want a more confident shared future, we must make it easier for our young people to access opportunity, wherever that is. I think of my two kids: Tim went to Loughborough in England, and Emma is studying at Trinity in Dublin. We should look to deliver whatever is best for young people, wherever that is.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Digital transformation is positive — it modernises and revolutionises to make bureaucracy more efficient — so I am not getting at that at all. I have been told, however, that we are not fully maximising the ability of systems on the ground and that that reduces efficiency. When can we expect Encompass in particular to be fully utilised, including through primary care, and use the data that is there to drive research and innovation?”
“Reducing waiting lists and accessing GP services are among the issues that we deal with most: they are our constituents' priority. I welcome the answer, but how can the public take the work of the delivery unit seriously if it has not yet met the Minister who is responsible for health?”
“That needs a plan-led approach. You talked about a strategy, but, with respect, a strategy is not a plan. When will we see a plan-led approach to give the public confidence as we move to transition?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your statement. As has been said, what is happening in the Middle East will affect all our constituents because the price of energy is increasing, and energy security is coming back into focus. <BR /> <BR />You talked about public confidence moving forward.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. He talked earlier about the case for fairer funding, which I welcome. Will the Minister outline the consequences for Departments of not balancing their books? How will that affect us in future years?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I just want to clarify something. Is he saying that if a venue makes money, it should be clawed back? Is the reverse therefore not also true? Ulster Rugby lost money last year, so should the state pay for its loss?”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister and her Department. I scrutinise the Department regularly, and, at times, I feel as though I am hard on it. In this case, however, departmental officials — I will mention Mr Reid, as Phillip did — have been outstanding. In walking us through the detail of the Bill, they have been absolutely first class. They gave us the clarity that we needed and every bit of information that we wanted at any time. They never confused anything. They engaged really constructively. I thank the Department for that. It set an example of how to work with a Committee. <BR /> <BR />Alliance is pleased to support the Bill and the amendment, and we look forward to seeing the Bill come through.”
“This largely technical legislation brings our insolvency framework up to date with legislation in the rest of the UK and across these islands, and that is really welcome. Throughout the legislative process, the key issue for me has been to make sure that we get the balance right. As has been said, nobody wants to find themselves in such circumstances, which can often be as a result of things outside their control. Making sure that people and family homes were protected is core to what Alliance wanted to see in the Bill, as well as protecting businesses and making sure that the debts were also protected. I am therefore content with the balance that has been struck. The Bill must bring clarity and fairness moving forward. That is hard to find in really difficult circumstances, but I think that we have got it.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Will he go a little bit further and outline the actions that his Department can progress to improve environmental governance?”
“Minister, what powers are available to deal with fly-tipping and illegal dumping?”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. I sit on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). When the SIB appeared before the PAC, I was unclear as to what power it has. Will you give a timescale for that comprehensive review so that we can ensure that we get value for money for the public?”
“As we move forward, we have an opportunity to take energy to the next level and create a pillar in our economy that means that it is viable for businesses to invest in it and that, alongside dual market access, allows them to grow. When we look at taxation, we can start to build a system that allows us to move forward, grow our economy and protect people and their families in the long term. <BR /> <BR />I encourage the Minister to get moving on energy so that we see a master plan with elements that will enable our people to avail themselves of all the benefits of the single market and the North/South interconnector. I support the motion.”
“I do not know what to say, Pádraig. <BR /> <BR />The regulations came at a time when they were absolutely needed for families and businesses It was a time when, across the UK and Northern Ireland, bills were doubling and trebling, so they were essential for the many small firms, manufacturers, hospitality settings and community organisations that were under threat. The schemes were necessary in order to stabilise costs and prevent closures. We therefore welcome the fact that the schemes happened and are thankful for what they did. <BR /> <BR />I will make one point. A lot of Members talk about the cost of renewables. Taxation being spent on fossil-fuel generation in order to keep prices down is part of that discussion. That element is not always included when we look at the cost of energy, but it is a point that needs to be made.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. A point of order was made in the House by a Member who referenced me. Since then, I have reviewed my language, which was clumsy and was used in the heat of a debate. Any offence was absolutely unintentional. We have worked well together on the Economy Committee, and I hope that that continues. My comments were directed at the party and its serious lack of challenge to the DUP. They were not made to the individual, but I apologise for any offence that was caused.”
“We need to secure more markets, not fewer.”
“No, I will not give way. Honestly, I have listened to minutes of speeches and interventions on it. <BR /> <BR />You have brought it all down to that. You have a slogan of "Making Northern Ireland work". Everybody understands that you have no intention of making Northern Ireland work. You mean, "Making Northern Ireland work for us". You go on about unionist demands, unionist this and unionist everything else: what about the greater good of everybody here and making the place work for everybody and making it better for everybody? In a geopolitical world that is absolutely fragile, you want less, not more. That sums up everything that we need to know about the DUP and your little sister — I was going to say "brother" but it is "sister" here this evening — the Ulster Unionist Party, along with the TUV.”
“Anybody with any common sense knows that, if you are selling something and somebody wants to buy it, you sell it to them, and you make that relationship as easy as you can. <BR /> <BR />The evidence from business and agencies completely backs up everything that is in the motion. Invest NI, InterTradeIreland, the Department, the FSB, the CBI and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry all just want to get on and make money for businesses to grow, create jobs and provide better opportunities, but you bring it all down to a culture war. You bring it all down to limiting opposition because it is not trade in the right direction. Have you ever heard anything so ridiculous? Imagine a shop owner in any street saying, "I'm not selling to you because I don't like you, but I do like you".”
“You voted for Brexit. You wanted Brexit. Own it — own it — because you delivered it. Well done. You did that 10 years ago. We will give you a round of applause. You delivered it, and you got what you wanted. The Windsor framework did not create the problems: it was there because of the problems that you created. Own your mistakes. Own what you have done. Do not pass it on to anybody else, because anybody with any common sense knows —”
“No, I will not give way, because I have heard enough of the nonsense that you have spouted already. You created friction in the first place —.”