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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“I look forward to working with colleagues across the House to ensure that the Bill has a successful passage and that we set a platform for moving forward within the Department.”
“When the Bill came to the Committee — the Chair referenced this — that was the case with officials, and that is really welcome. That has not been the case in other areas, when matters came from the Department on which we were being asked to make decisions but felt that we were not being given the information or the detail. In particular, I point to the renewable heat incentive (RHI) regulations before Christmas, where information was just not available to us for us to make a reasonable decision. On this Bill, I commend the Department for providing the Committee with the information and allowing the Committee to work through the issues. Answering in full and giving us full responses to everything that was asked was a really welcome change. <BR /> <BR />The Alliance Party is happy to support the Bill.”
“It also provides responsible debtors with a clear path towards a resolution and, where possible, gives people that second chance by providing a clear and predictable framework for insolvency where no one starts out to fail and no one works to fail. Equally, we must remove unnecessary uncertainty for those taking the brave step of starting a business in the first place. In turn, that fosters innovation and economic growth, which benefits all of our community. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister and, as has been done across the House, thank the Department's officials. Members of the Committee have a responsibility to ensure that our laws reflect the needs of a modern, dynamic economy, one that is resilient, fair and fit for the future. Yesterday, the Minister of Finance talked about the two-way conversation.”
“The Bill introduces key reforms that will give viable businesses the space and flexibility to, potentially, get back on their feet. It also provides clarity and confidence, which is important to creditors and investors. Ultimately, that is vital for a stable and attractive economy. We need a balanced approach to insolvency that protects the most vulnerable. Legislation must recognise the legitimate interests of creditors while ensuring that insolvent individuals and companies are treated with dignity and fairness and are protected. <BR /> <BR />The Bill introduces much more robust mechanisms to detect fraud and misconduct. That is an element that the Committee will want to go through to make sure that we do not have fraud throughout our system.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. It is good news that the process will be simplified, thus allowing small businesses to have greater flexibility. Will the Minister give me a timeline for when she hopes the group to be place? She said that the action plan will have a lifespan of up to three years. Will the Minister give more detail on the membership of the group? Who will be on it and how many members will it have?”
“It is critical that we save businesses and individuals that can be saved. It provides clarity and confidence —.”
“The Bill introduces key reforms that will give viable businesses the space and flexibility to potentially get back on their feet.”
“No? Sorry, I thought that you were going to stop me speaking. <BR /> <BR />The Bill brings us into line with England and Wales. In fact, as has been said, it takes us ahead of the situation there. Changes are about to be made, and we are going ahead with them. It is to be welcomed that we are not coming back to this and that we are setting stuff ahead. <BR /> <BR />The Bill provides greater clarity and certainty for business owners, creditors and individuals. Importantly, in doing so, it ensures that Northern Ireland remains competitive and an attractive place in which to invest and start a business. Too often, our outdated insolvency laws have compounded business failure rather than providing a clear route out of it and into recovery.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill represents a positive and progressive way forward. It brings our laws in line with best practice. As the Chair of the Committee said, the example that we hear about is that in England and Wales. Following that brings us into line —. <BR /> <BR />Are you going to stop me?”
“The pain and stress that that causes and the risk that it puts on business owners are, thankfully, addressed by the Bill. That level of stress is not fully understood in the House or across society. People who go out and start their own company often put their own assets at risk to achieve their dreams. The Minister talked about energy costs and all the things that can affect a business. Bad debt is another factor. Regularly, family homes are put at risk to service bank debt. We need to address that during the passage of the Bill. We should make sure that people do not lose their home in that way. There is no stress like financial stress. It is a weight that business owners carry. Nobody goes out or starts a business to fail. That has been acknowledged throughout the House, and so it should be.”
“In Northern Ireland, over 90% of our companies are small businesses or microbusinesses that can find themselves in circumstances that no one ever wants to experience. That is the spirit that we need to adopt here. People are forced into making choices by pressure on them that nobody ever wants to feel. The Bill provides the legal tools for businesses to restructure, recover from and possibly survive those financial difficulties. <BR /> <BR />Non-payment is a massive issue in Northern Ireland. My background is in construction, and I can say that non-payment is normally caused by the greed of the developer. They simply withhold payment to add profit, which puts small companies and microbusinesses at massive financial risk.”
“Deputy Speaker, I have spoken to you about your dad before, but, as it is the first time that you have been in the Chair when I have been in the Chamber, I also pass on my sympathies. <BR /> <BR />I agree with what has been said. I speak in support of the Bill and welcome its Second Stage. As Alliance Party spokesperson on the economy, I recognise that the Bill is a long overdue step to modernise and strengthen our insolvency framework in this region. <BR /> <BR />As has been said, the detailed briefings that the Committee received were really reassuring. I thank Jack Reid and the departmental officials for the overview and comprehensive briefings that they gave us. <BR /> <BR />The core of the legislation is about giving businesses, especially small businesses, legal tools.”
“Building a shared future and a shared society is an essential part of sustaining, building and restoring our public finances. <BR /> <BR />At this stage, Alliance very much welcomes the progress of the Bill. We look forward to the Fiscal Council finally being put on a statutory footing.”
“However, tackling reform and the cost of division would go a long way to delivering for everyone across our society. That is why Alliance is disappointed that the Fiscal Council has not been given a requirement in its statutory remit to have due regard to the cost of division and the effect that it has on public finances, given the recent estimates that that costs up to £833 million every year with the duplication of services in education, leisure and community provision and increasing policing and justice costs. While Ministers understand the impact that the cost of division has on departmental budgets, particularly in Education, if the Fiscal Council had due regard for that cost, Departments could be held to account. The cost of division should be at the top of the list on the Fiscal Council's agenda.”
“The Fiscal Council should be commended for the support and analysis that it provided on the return of these institutions and in the Executive restoration package, as well as the agreement on the interim fiscal framework for Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Although Alliance would argue that the fiscal floor needs to be higher than 124%, as the recent Holtham review demonstrated, suggesting that it should be 128%, without the Fiscal Council's independent analysis and estimations of Northern Ireland's level of need, which are in its publication in 2023, getting any internal fiscal framework for Northern Ireland last year might have been much more difficult. That framework has helped us to combat some of the historical underfunding.”
“<BR /> <BR />The role that the council plays ensures that we, as legislators, are better equipped to make effective policy decisions on the direction and prioritisation of funding. The public are also better informed by that independent analysis and can regain confidence in how the Executive manage their money. As others have said, it is crucial that we give the Fiscal Council as broad a remit as possible given its focus on the sustainability of Northern Ireland's public finances and the examination of Budget processes. It needs as much information as possible to enable it to do that and to give it the flexibility to draw up its work plan, decide the contents of its reports and prioritise the areas that, it feels, are important to highlight and on which to provide assessments.”
“On behalf of the Alliance Party I support the Northern Ireland Fiscal Council Bill and welcome its long-awaited introduction to the Assembly after the council's formation in March 2021 on a non-statutory basis following the New Decade, New Approach agreement. Since 2021, the Fiscal Council has been instrumental in providing detailed assessments of Northern Ireland's funding formula, Budget analysis and, most recently, the funding and sustainability of NI Water, to name a few. For those reasons, it is incredibly important that the Fiscal Council is put on a statutory footing, ensuring that it is completely independent from the Department of Finance while continuing all the key publications that bring a transparent focus to our region's public finances through detailed scrutiny.”
“<BR /> <BR />Concerns have also been raised about the sections of the Act that allow for the expansion of data-sharing arrangements through secondary legislation with minimal parliamentary scrutiny. The Assembly needs to be vigilant about that and ensure that any expansion of data sharing is matched by robust oversight and transparency and by public trust. I urge the Executive and relevant Committees to engage constructively with the UK Departments and regulators to ensure that we are not left behind but lead the way in delivering data-driven services that are fair, efficient and accountable.”
“If that is done well, it could support a more joined-up government, reduce duplication and improve the speed and accuracy of services. However, trust is paramount for that. Data sharing must always be proportionate, transparent and accountable, with safeguards in place to prevent misuse. <BR /> <BR />There are a number of concerns about the Act. We are disappointed to see that the Government chose to remove a Lords amendment that would have required companies to declare which copyrighted works were used to train AI models. Representatives from the creative industries, including the Musicians' Union, have argued that the removal of that amendment weakened copyright protections and opened the door for the uncompensated use of artists' work by AI developers.”
“I know that the construction industry would love to have something along the lines of that register, because, without one, they spend so much time trying to find underground assets. In principle, the register is transformational. It is particularly relevant given the legacy of our fragmented utility records and the increased pace of infrastructure renewal that is needed in Northern Ireland, particularly for waste water, housing and broadband. <BR /> <BR />The Act amends section 35 of the Digital Economy Act 2017, which governs public authority data sharing for public service delivery. That change aims to simplify and expand the use of data-sharing powers across public bodies, which will enable better coordination, more proactive services and, ultimately, better outcomes for the public.”
“That means maintaining strong safeguards around consent, identification, verification and redress mechanisms while creating conditions for responsible innovation in our local economy. As we in the Assembly consider our role in supporting and potentially developing complementary legislation, we must focus on inclusion and local benefit, especially for not only our constituents, as I said, but for small businesses and rural communities. <BR /> <BR />If we look at the National Underground Asset Register, we see that it aims to provide an accurate and accessible map of underground infrastructure, be it water pipes, gas pipes, Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) cables or whatever. The benefits of that include the acceleration of construction and the enhancement of public safety.”
“I will quickly look at a few of those provisions: smart data, the National Underground Asset Register and the amendment to section 35 of the Digital Economy Act 2017. <BR /> <BR />The legislation provides for the creation of a regulated smart data scheme that enables individuals and businesses to securely share their data with authorised third parties. That is potentially transformational. Smart data, whether it is used by an energy company or in a banking product, can unlock competition and improve customer choice. It also makes markets work better for people, but it is crucial that we ensure that our citizens are not just protected but empowered by the legislation. Putting our constituents at the forefront of any change that comes through is key.”
“On behalf of the Alliance Party, I acknowledge the passage of the legislation, which marks a significant shift in how personal, business and public-sector data is accessed, shared and governed across the UK. It is disappointing that it has come to us as a take-note motion and has not been given adequate time to come through the Finance Committee. <BR /> <BR />The legislation introduces a modernised approach to data regulation, and its intention is to empower individuals, stimulate innovation and improve the efficiency of public services by enabling better data sharing. Although it is UK-wide legislation, it contains important provisions that fall squarely in the legislative competence of the Assembly.”
“Can the Minister give us an update on any review of procurement for capital projects and say whether he is looking at restructuring his centres of procurement to make sure that we do not end up with another A5?”
“I welcome the Minister's comments on Casement Park and sport in general and the announcement that he will push ahead on the A1, which is great news for my constituency of Lagan Valley. However, the disappointing decision last week on the A5 is not the first to have happened to DFI, and we need to learn, moving forward. A recent Public Accounts Committee report highlighted a lack of formal strategy for procurement for major capital projects because we are not able to reach across all Departments —”
“The UK Government recently announced that they will invest £900 million into major events and grassroots facilities. In a previous answer, the Minister talked about political delay, but £500 million of that was delivered for the Euro 2028 games, which we will now miss out on, and there was £400 million for grassroots sports. Will the Minister outline what steps he is taking to ensure that grassroots sports across here are fully funded by and can benefit from that fund?”
“Will the Minister give an update on actions to strengthen the regulation and enforcement on sewage pollution?”
“Given the growth in all-island trade that is helping our economy to grow while the rest of the UK flatlines, scaling business support would really benefit our business sector and help to deliver good jobs and increase productivity. Was the offer of further Irish Government investment in North/South bodies such as InterTradeIreland discussed? If so, will you give us an update?”
“You talked about tourism there. It is remarkable that Newcastle is not referred to in the statement, given that the meeting was held in Newcastle and key events will be held here. We were recently told that the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland's Ancient East marketing brands are not being extended North. Did any discussions take place on the development of a joint tourism initiative? If not, are any such discussions scheduled to take place?”
“Like the Minister, my thoughts are with the families. We are about to go into recess. The Minister talked about moving forward quickly, getting the analysis and taking time to consider it. The Department will have time to do so over the next two months. Will she commit to coming back to the House in September with an update on the way forward so that we can start to look forward and get the road built finally?”
“Minister, can you outline the steps that you have taken to prioritise resourcing of the PSNI in the current budgetary environment?”
“One of the heartbreaking stories that a couple of them raised was about the bogland being dug up there and erased. I know that that is not quite on topic, but it is similar. It is the same area, and the same issues are being raised there. One of the guys talked about the seeming rise in cancers in children. There might not be any scientific logic to that in the area, because nothing has ever been looked at, but surely, with the stories that are coming through, we need to look more closely at licensing and have more regulation around it. <BR /> <BR />There were 2,100 responses, and 99·5% — nearly 100% — opposed it. In every council area where the licences were reinstated, there was formal opposition. That has to count for something. Alliance supports the motion.”
“We cannot ignore that; we have to highlight it. Alliance will continue to raise the environmental destruction that is happening around us, be it in Lough Neagh or with these minerals. <BR /> <BR />Public opposition to this is absolutely widespread. Most of it comes from rural and border areas. I have talked many times about sharing this island: living together, sharing this place and moving forward on that basis. However, we have heard repeatedly from the South that it does not think that we are capable of dealing with this, but it affects people in the South, so there has to be a voice, and there has to be cross-border discussion. <BR /> <BR />I met the Save our Sperrins campaign group recently. I had a really good engagement, meeting individuals and listening to their stories.”
“No bother. Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I support the motion. It is really disappointing that, in the past number of weeks, the Department has authorised seven mineral licences to move this forward. <BR /> <BR />I have to point out that, last week, we saw Sinn Féin voting with the DUP and TUV — it looks as though it is happening again — on a public consultation on the nutrients action programme (NAP). When it comes to the environment, we see repeatedly that words are being said and games are being played, rather than actually standing up for what you believe in and say in the House. That has to be called out. Last week, we had a debate on a consultation — only a consultation — on a nutrients programme, and the Assembly voted against the consultation. Environmental issues are not the priority that they should be.”
“It opens doors and creates opportunity for people right across Northern Ireland, and that is to be welcomed. <BR /> <BR />The industry supports an ecosystem of freelancers and small businesses. A manufacturing company that the Committee was with recently was the Deluxe Group, which started making shop fittings and now makes sets for the film industry and rides in theme parks in the States. That is a small, local company that has grown through the arts, creating jobs and bringing investment here. That is what we need to see scaled up. We want to see investment in the arts. When you have something that is working, rather than pat it on the back, we need to put investment in it to see it grow. That is where the need is, and we support the motion.”
“It is hard to put into words the scale of Studio Ulster and its potential for the region with its leading technology, to be able, for the first time in the world, to deliver services here for not only film and TV but also for the growing gaming industry. One of the really exciting things is the opportunity that it is opening up for young people from disadvantaged areas and backgrounds who are getting into gaming through a youth club setting, and Studio Ulster is able to engage with kids who are, maybe, at the edge of our schooling system and not fully engaged in the classroom. Once they came out of that and were engaged through a youth club setting, it created opportunities for them to develop skills and see opportunities and a future where they could grow and develop the skills that could transform their lives.”
“I want to look at this from an economic point of view. The arts enable and create local culture, and that is totally accurate. As was said, it is about us telling our story, but it is not just about that. It is about jobs, skills, innovation and global competitiveness. We are trying to build a vibrant region to move forward with, and the pathway for careers and opportunities for people to excel and grow is massively important. <BR /> <BR />Our screen industry is a shining example of local success. Initially it was through international investment looking for locations, but that has mushroomed into something much bigger and provides many opportunities. Belfast now has Titanic, Belfast harbour and the new Studio Ulster, which the Economy Committee visited a few weeks back.”
“Our priority must be giving that clarity, and we must give that and our support to local businesses so that we are able to provide a stable platform for them to flourish. <BR /> <BR />Very simply, I am happy to support the motion.”
“I was about to stand up and say just that. Thank you, Deputy Speaker, and thank you, Minister, for bringing the LCM. When it came through to Committee, there was concern about the communication between Belfast and London. Where we are is not ideal, but I appreciate the work that you have done in bringing the LCM forward, which we broadly support. <BR /> <BR />Keeping control of legislation in the Assembly and keeping decisions close to people here are priorities that should be maximised. It is essential for the Assembly, and our businesses need certainty, clarity and a stable environment in which to work, so we broadly support the motion. We will always prioritise people and the needs of our economy and business in order to create better opportunities for our constituencies.”
“I would also like to acknowledge Alma and the Caleb's Cause campaign. I really feel for them today: overall, this statement might be disappointing for them. The Minister mentioned data sharing, and she said that we need to improve working between Departments. She went on to say in the statement — I do not mean to put words in her mouth — that she would have a look at that. It is critical that Departments work together, and everyone knows that that part of government is not working. What action does the Minister believe needs to happen to address that? What action does she intend to take to ensure that it absolutely does?”
“The £50 million for Casement is really welcome. I welcome what the Minister said and the economic and community benefits for the wider area. The timeline is critical. We have 12 months until the planning permission lapses. Will you meet the Irish Government, the Shared Island Fund and the GAA in the coming months to address the shortfall? Will you give us a timeline for that? Will you work with the Shared Island Fund to get funding into wider sport in Northern Ireland? There is a barrier there, so could that be looked at?”
“At a recent Committee meeting, the Minister's officials directly answered a question that I asked, saying that there was no plan and no strategy for the overall transformation towards renewables. Will the Minister reassure the House, even at this late stage, that a plan and a strategy will be brought forward to enable the sequences of grid, interconnection and the renewable energy support scheme, so that we do not risk seeing the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme Mark 2?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her answer. We have heard it before. It goes round and round, and we never get anywhere. We are tired of inaction, platitudes and words. We need action. Sensitivities cannot continue to be an excuse for doing absolutely nothing. Is there the political will in her party to see the site opened up and to see the benefits for everyone in Lagan Valley and to ensure that we will have all those economic benefits and see that progress into the future?”
“It is being held up simply because of lack of ambition and the speed of delivery in this place. Our businesses need focus and the help and support that we can deliver. That needs to happen as soon as possible.”
“In Northern Ireland, we need a system that is best for us and delivers our goals and what we are trying to achieve over the next while. <BR /> <BR />How can it be right that we give rate relief to an empty building in our town centre that is falling down and left to rot, yet we give no support to struggling businesses that are the heartbeat of our town centre, commit to the town centre, provide employment in the town centre and create spaces that the whole community needs and enjoys? When you look at the recommendations that come through, be they on planning, rate reviews, the Town Centre First policy or parking, you see that we need to start acting and working towards solutions. None of those is being held up by financial constraints. Work towards that needs to happen now.”
“Thank you for your intervention. The feeling is that there is a blockage when stuff goes into the Executive Office. <BR /> <BR />We need to start delivering for businesses and the wider economy. We need to look at rate relief, but, more widely than that, we need a restructuring of the rating system that encourages the reworking that Sinéad talked about: a rethinking of our town centres that encourages investment and mixed use that tips the advantage towards redevelopment and developing places where we would shop, live, go out and enjoy hospitality and the arts and be entertained in our streets; a place that is a home but somewhere that people can also work. We need to tip the tax advantage towards town centres to encourage growth and also, as has been referenced, for large manufacturing companies and other businesses.”
“We need to enable a reshaping and repurposing of our town centres to create vibrant, regenerative, sustainable places that are thriving and inclusive, and where retail plays a huge role but the burden to drive footfall is not placed on just one sector; it is opened up. The high street task force report details a lot of that.”
“The money that is coming from Treasury is being used for something else. Look at Bow Street in my city of Lisburn. I have engaged with businesses, property owners and shopping centres there to look at what could be achieved, brought forward or done differently. I have asked them, "If there were a blank page, what would you do?". I have brought property and business owners there together to discuss their ambitions. I have brought in architects to put that down on paper and "space shape" a vision for the future. I look forward to moving on that quickly in the near future. <BR /> <BR />Fundamentally, what are we aiming to fix? What should our future look like?”
“The lack of action to implement reports, to take difficult decisions and to deliver is where the frustration of our business community with the Assembly comes from. It undermines the credibility of the Assembly as a whole. Businesses in our community do not have time to waste. They do not work to the same timelines as the government processes; they need quick, fast action. <BR /> <BR />The Alliance amendment simply calls on the Minister for the Economy to work to publish proposals and set out how those recommendations can actually be implemented. It puts focus on the Department for the Economy and its remit, rather than exclusively on the First Minister and deputy First Minister's office, so that the issues can be addressed. <BR /> <BR />When you see the issues that the report addresses, you see that rate relief is not being passed on.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. We have debated the issue of high streets several times in the Chamber. I want to concentrate on that and look at it and the wider business around it. The reason for commissioning reports is to gather evidence, look at best practice, enable, deliver and bring through change that will help our high streets to flourish once again. <BR /> <BR />The cost of doing business report by the Ulster University Economic Policy Centre and the previous high street task force report, when put together, clearly lay out the concerns that need to be addressed. Often in the House, we see a photo opportunity for the launch of a report, another in the receiving of that report and a third when a statement is made here. The perception is that that is the job done, rather than it being only the beginning of the work.”