Phillip Brett
North Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Paula has been a diligent Chair who has championed the interests of victims and survivors. I personally thank her for her work on the Bill. I pay tribute to Committee members, who also dedicated their time to the Bill, and to our Committee staff.”
“At the outset, I pay tribute to the Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone for her heartfelt and valuable contribution. As you rightly said, Mr Deputy Speaker, her family will be very proud of the contribution that she has just made. <BR /> <BR />Today marks a truly significant moment.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am therefore delighted to report to the House that a U-turn has been secured. This year, the Twelfth has been promoted through Discover Northern Ireland's social media channels.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill will establish a statutory public inquiry alongside a redress scheme, both of which are important. Their establishment recognises that there is a responsibility not only to uncover truth but to acknowledge the profound harm that was caused.”
“I warmly welcome the progress that has been achieved in the promotion of the Twelfth of July and our wider Orange and Ulster-Scots traditions by Tourism Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Today's debate is not about rewriting history but about confronting history honestly. It is about recognising that vulnerable women and children were failed by institutions, by society and by the state.”
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“Northern Ireland cannot be out of step with the rest of the United Kingdom in ensuring that our borders are more secure.”
“Last week, the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, finally admitted what Members on these Benches and the public at large have known for years: our immigration system, in the United Kingdom, is broken and the rules for entering our country must be tightened up. The proposed changes finally inject some common sense into the rules governing entry to the United Kingdom. They include that all visa applicants will require a certain level of English proficiency; that only those who can contribute to our economy can be considered for entry; and that it should be for Parliament, not courts and unelected judges, to decide who enters the United Kingdom. Those words are welcome but must be followed by concrete actions that are applied equally across the United Kingdom.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Just before the close of business before lunchtime, my terminology — my misuse of the party name People Before Profit when I called it "Person Before Profit" — was corrected by the Principal Deputy Speaker. Is it now the position of the Speaker that incorrect terminology will be called out and that Ministers and MLAs who refuse to use the term "Northern Ireland" will be called out from the Speaker's Chair?”
“Your small and micro business impact test (SAMBIT) for theme c of your proposals was belatedly published on Good Friday, when other people's attention was on the Easter period. The document references millions of pounds of costs to business as a result of your proposals. Earlier, you said that you did not have the ability to mitigate the decision by the UK Government to implement additional costs to business, so please outline to the House today what financial measures you are putting in place to support business as a result of your legislation.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.”
“I welcome Members' support for the amendments tabled in my name on behalf of the Committee.”
“<BR /> <BR />Interestingly, the Member for West Belfast often speaks about ensuring equality and equal rights for everyone, yet amendment No 8, which stands in his name, seeks to disbar former Members of this place from even having the ability to apply to be a member of the board. The Member is therefore so committed to equality that he wants to put discrimination into law. It is very important to make clear that, should a former Member apply, there is no guarantee that they will be appointed to the board or any more right to be. Rather, they will have equality of opportunity. I often hear lectures from Mr Carroll on that issue. It seems, however, that, once again, the Member does not practise what he preaches. <BR /> <BR />This has been a useful discussion and debate.”
“The Member for West Belfast made disgraceful remarks about clause 5. He said that the clause was a case of "If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours". It is important to put it on the record that the Member is factually incorrect. If a former Member becomes a member of the independent panel, any decisions made by the panel will not influence that individual's pension. Mr Carroll's attempt to mislead Members, and members of the public, needs to be called out. He went on to say that the public will give their verdict on the types of MLAs whom they want. The people of Northern Ireland gave their verdict in 2022 on whom they wanted to represent them. There are 26 or 27 Members on these Benches. There is one Member on his Bench. I think that the people of Northern Ireland gave their verdict very clearly.”
“He also implied that he does not draw down the full salary. Let us be very clear: Mr Carroll does draw down the entirety of his £52,500 salary. What he then does with that, whether he donates it to his political party or to any other of his Marxist causes, that is a matter for him. Let us be very clear, however: he does take the full salary offered by the Assembly.”
“I do not need a challenge from any other unionist, either inside or outside the House. I am very clear in my unionism, very confident in my unionism. The people of North Belfast elected me and gave me a mandate to speak for them, and I will take no lectures nor any diatribes from any Member of the House who is trying to challenge the credentials of my unionism. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to the remarks by the "person before profit" Member for West Belfast, Mr Carroll. In the first of his remarks, he outlined that the Committee was trying to keep quiet the findings of its deliberations. I know that the Member may not do detail, but there is a 43-page report that the Committee produced. I would encourage the Member for West Belfast to read it. He then went on to articulate that he takes the average salary.”
“Thank you, Timothy, for that. You did put in a written submission. The point that I made was in relation to Mr Carroll. <BR /> <BR />I welcome Mr Gaston's support for the amendments in my name on behalf of the Committee. They are supported by all Members of the House. When the Member for West Belfast spoke, he did not indicate, one way or the other, whether he supported the amendments in the name of the Ad Hoc Committee, but it is useful to put on the record that no Member outlined their opposition to the Committee's amendments, and that reflects the importance of those amendments. <BR /> <BR />I want to respond to some of the more political points that were made during the discussion. The Member for North Antrim Mr Gaston said that amendment No 13 in his name was a "challenge" from the TUV to other unionists.”
“Mr Carroll, I shall come to your remarks later; probably the most substantial of my remarks will address some of the mistruths that you spoke earlier in the debate.”
“There was no request from any Member of the House to come along to the Committee to give evidence. Members also had the opportunity to provide written evidence, had their diaries not permitted them to come in person. Again, that was not received.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank all Members who took part in what was a wide-ranging debate. We covered many issues in the Bill and indeed issues that are far outside the scope of the Bill. It was a useful discussion, and I thank those who contributed, including, first, my vice-chair, Ms Mason, who rightly highlighted the fact that the legislation will remove the power for MLAs to set their own salary. I do not think that any Member in the House wants MLAs to have a role in setting their own salary. It is absolutely correct that the Consideration Stage passes today. <BR /> <BR />I confirm that the remarks made by Ms Bradshaw were entirely correct: there was no request from the Member for West Belfast Mr Carroll to come along to give evidence to the Ad Hoc Committee.”
“The Committee therefore supports amendment Nos 6 and 7. <BR /> <BR />That concludes my remarks as chair of the Ad Hoc Committee”
“For that reason, the Committee agreed that, rather than seeking an amendment to clause 3, it would recommend that, when making determination on Members' salaries and pensions, the remuneration board must have regard to the wider financial circumstances of Northern Ireland, including earnings measured by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency's (NISRA) annual survey of hours and earnings. It will be for the independent remuneration board to decide the extent to which it wishes to accept the recommendations of the Committee. <BR /> <BR />I now turn to amendment Nos 6 and 7. The Commission informed the Committee that it will seek an amendment to clause 4 to ensure that:”
“that the board will make its own decisions and function independently of the Commission, the House and the Executive. The Commission was therefore content for the Committee to table the amendment to clause 1. <BR /> <BR />With regard to amendment No 2, the Committee agreed that it is important that, when making its determinations, the board should consider the current financial circumstances in Northern Ireland. However, the Committee was of the view that, as an independent body, it will ultimately be for the remuneration board to decide what criteria to apply and what comparisons to make.”
“The Committee, likewise, believes that it is important to emphasise the independent nature of the remuneration board and the fact that the board's determinations will not be influenced in any way by the Assembly, an Assembly Committee or the Northern Ireland Executive. <BR /> <BR />During oral evidence on 25 March, the Commission acknowledged the Committee's intention to table the amendment and stated:”
“<BR /> <BR />In its written evidence to the Committee, the Independent Remuneration Board of the Welsh Senedd highlighted that the name was deliberately chosen to emphasise that, in the exercise of its functions, the board is not subject to the direction or control of Members of the Welsh Parliament or, indeed, the Commission. That independence is valued by Members of the Senedd, as it clarifies that they are not responsible for or able to influence their salary. <BR /> <BR />During oral evidence, the chairperson of the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority informed the Committee that the authority's name was deliberately chosen to convey the message that its decisions are made independent of Parliament.”
“<BR /> <BR />As amendment Nos 9, 10, 12 and 14 are in my name but are consequential to amendment No 1, I will not speak directly to them, but they will be covered by my remarks on amendment No 1. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has tabled amendment No 1 in order to emphasise and, importantly, highlight the independent nature of the remuneration board. There are two legislatures on these islands where determinations on Members' salaries and pensions are made, correctly, by an independent body. They are the Independent Remuneration Board of the Welsh Senedd and the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) in Westminster. Notably, the names of both of those organisations contain the word "independent".”
“Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I thank you for your explanation of proceedings today. As a relatively new Member of the House, I am glad to have your expertise at the top Table to keep me right. As Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, I take the opportunity to thank my fellow Committee members for their service to the Committee and, in particular, the support staff who serviced the Committee. I know that it is not usual practice to name officials, but this was the last serving of our Committee Clerk, Mr Jim McManus, in the House, and he has served the House diligently for many years, so I record my thanks to him. I also thank the 74 members of the public who took the opportunity to engage with the Committee.”
“I thank the Minister for that update and for the work that his officials are doing to roll the programme out quickly. Will the Minister agree that the work that his Department is undertaking shows his personal commitment and, indeed, that of our party to ensure that every young person in North Belfast has the best start in life?”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. Will she give some detail on the proposed experimental scheme? Will it involve starting the pedestrianisation at the corner of Gordon Street so that traffic is directed down Gordon Street? What is the detail?”
“I will not take this opportunity to try to score party-political points or to attack the Minister. She is relatively new to office, and, in the answers that she has given me, there is a genuine commitment from the Minister to trying to progress the scheme as soon as possible. She has competing demands in ensuring that the scheme is delivered as soon as possible and that people who have concerns about it are, rightly, listened to through the process. However, there is a clear consensus, from the Minister and from political parties in the Chamber, that we try to progress the scheme as quickly and successfully as possible. I look forward to hearing her remarks later today. We send a strong message that all parties are committed to trying to deliver the scheme as quickly as possible.”
“It would be remiss of me not to pay particular tribute to Willie Jack, who owns and operates half the bars and entertainment venues on that site. <BR /> <BR />There are also really rich cultural heritage sites: the Ulster-Scots Agency headquarters on Gordon Street; the Oh Yeah Music Centre, which I had the privilege of visiting recently; the Black Box, which has showcased some of our greatest local talent; and Belfast Community Circus School — not the Northern Ireland Assembly — which is a really important venue where young people from across our city are able to come together and enjoy themselves. <BR /> <BR />I will not focus on the cost of the scheme, because I genuinely think that the Minister wants to deliver it and to try to do that as quickly as possible.”
“My apologies. <BR /> <BR />The Cathedral Quarter is vital to the success of Belfast Culture Night. With its return in September, it is vital that we will have progressed the pedestrianisation by then. <BR /> <BR />Its importance to our visitors has already been articulated. In particular, for those who come to visit Belfast, Hill Street is somewhere that they want to be and to spend time. That, of course, has not always been the case, and I pay tribute to the pioneers and investors who spent their money during Belfast's darkest days to ensure that the Cathedral Quarter was open and attractive to all. The investment that has taken place there in recent years has totally transformed that part of the city.”
“The speed at which some of the cars travel down that road during the day is, frankly, dangerous. The police were even there on Friday, trying to ensure that that did not take place. Safety needs to be paramount, and, by pedestrianising Hill Street, we can make massive strides forward in protecting safety. <BR /> <BR />Secondly, it is about the expansion of the Cathedral Quarter and its importance to our economy. At the weekend, people will have seen the success of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. In September, Belfast Culture Night will return, and, again, the Cathedral Quarter will be a vital part of the celebrations and of ensuring that the cultural heart of Belfast is recognised. I hope that we will have pedestrianisation in place —.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important to put on record why we must progress the pedestrianisation of Hill Street without delay. The first and, from my perspective, most important reason is safety. Those of us who frequent Hill Street and the Cathedral Quarter on a Friday or Saturday evening — or, indeed, a Thursday evening if we have no constituency business on the Friday morning — know that it can be a very difficult place to get home from. People literally spill out on to the street as cars come up and taxis continue to use it to pick up and drop off customers. For people who have disabilities and are trying to use their wheelchair, it means that it is completely inaccessible. <BR /> <BR />On Friday, in advance of the debate, I did a walk-around of Hill Street with the gentlemen whom I mentioned.”
“I will start by paying tribute to the leader of the Opposition for bringing forward this important debate and discussion. As he rightly articulated, it is not just an issue for those of us who have the privilege of representing North Belfast or Belfast; it is recognised across Northern Ireland that the Cathedral Quarter is vital to the night-time economy, events sector and daytime economy. I also pay tribute to the Minister for coming along to the Chamber this evening. It shows important leadership. Like the leader of the Opposition, I pay tribute to Damien Corr and Michael Stewart, who are here today. For many years, since before it was universally popular, they have spearheaded the campaign and helped to ensure that some of the businesses that, a number of years ago, had objections have been able to have those managed and discussed.”
“The president of the Irish Republic has no democratic legitimacy here in Northern Ireland, or in any other part of the United Kingdom. I respect the office of president. Whilst I may not have a huge amount of respect for the current office holder, I respect the office of president of the Irish Republic, just like —.”
“Do you know what percentage of people in the poll were concerned about Irish presidential voting rights for those in Northern Ireland? Zero per cent. Do you know what percentage were interested in Irish unity? One per cent. The people of the Republic of Ireland, like the vast majority of those who live in Northern Ireland, are more interested in fixing the health service, delivering a world-class education system and sorting out the scandal around childcare. That is where the focus of the Assembly should ultimately be. <BR /> <BR />Be in no doubt: if the motion passes with the support of the Alliance Party, there will be no extension of voting rights tomorrow. It is simply not going to happen. The Member who spoke previously made reference to a democratic deficit.”
“We on these Benches have huge respect for anyone who wishes to identify as Irish here in Northern Ireland, but it is clear that the Irish Government have absolutely zero interest in advancing the issue. The recently agreed Programme for Government by the parties in the Republic of Ireland makes no mention of it; they are not interested. More importantly, those who live in the Republic of Ireland have absolutely no interest in the issue either. Despite being told that the Taoiseach-in-waiting Mary Lou McDonald would herald in a change on the issue, the people in the Republic of Ireland rejected Sinn Féin in the recent Irish general election and re-elected the current Government. Polling last Sunday in the 'Sunday Independent' highlighted the issues that are of importance to those who live in the Republic of Ireland.”
“The current president of Sinn Féin said, in light of the most recent Assembly election, that a border poll was inevitable, and the current First Minister changes the timeline depending on what day it is. What have they achieved? We have Sinn Féin bringing a motion to the Northern Ireland Assembly, begging the Irish Government to introduce a referendum. That shows how far forward the issue of presidential voting rights has moved.”
“Those parties have spent today arguing with themselves about who has advanced the cause of Irish unity more. Today, we heard the leader of the Opposition say that the SDLP had done more than any other party on strand two. The Member for South Antrim said that Sinn Féin did that. Nationalism cannot even agree with itself on the issue. <BR /> <BR />The House and, indeed, those watching on television should be in no doubt that today's debate is about the fact that Aontú outsmarted, outmanoeuvred and out-greened Sinn Féin, which is using the debate as an echo chamber to cover up the failings of its republican movement. The former Steward of the Manor of Northstead, former Member of Parliament for West Belfast, Mr Gerry Adams, proclaimed to the world that Irish unity would be delivered by 2016.”
“The House will be aware of the saying that impersonation is the greatest form of flattery. I am sure that the leader of Aontú in the Irish Republic will be impressed by Sinn Féin and the SDLP's having spent today trying to impersonate him. I am sure that Mr Tóibín is smirking and smiling as he sends both parties into a political tailspin. The leader of the SDLP has been on the radio today, putting forward the policies not of Hume or Mallon but of Vicky Pollard, in saying, "Yes, these people should have the extension of the right — no, they shouldn't — yes, but no, but yes, but no". The national chairman of Sinn Féin has been wheeled out to prove Sinn Féin's republican credentials, because it has not moved the debate on Irish unity forward one iota.”
“Dilapidation impacts not only on town centres but on communities in my constituency. In lower North Belfast, the communities of Skegoneill, Shore Road and Jellicoe are blighted by Japanese knotweed on unregistered and unowned land. Can the Minister give an assurance that he will try to bring the Bill to the House as soon as possible to ensure that residents, not only in North Belfast but across Northern Ireland, benefit from its new provisions?”
“Cross-border bodies seem to have a particular issue with producing and laying their annual accounts in the Assembly on time. Will the Minister outline the work that he is doing to ensure that the Loughs Agency complies with its statutory guidance?”
“The Minister's statement rightly highlights the EY report that was published this year, which highlights the importance of the UK internal market to businesses in Northern Ireland. Does her Department understand the difference between an all-island economy and all-island trade? In that context, do she and her party regret championing the Northern Ireland protocol?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, your statement outlines that Tourism Ireland's annual accounts have been signed off for 2023 only. In light of the Audit Office's declassification of your Department's annual accounts, do you share my concern that we are now two years past 2023 and have not had approvals for Tourism Ireland's accounts?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he recognise the difference between turnover and profit and that businesses pay tax on profit and not on turnover?”
“<BR /> <BR />We will not support the motion and hand more fiscal powers to Departments and Ministers who are frankly inept. Yesterday the leader of the Opposition rightly raised the issue of the pedestrianisation of Hill Street. Sinn Féin has held the Infrastructure ministry for four years and cannot even pedestrianise a street in Belfast, yet the leader of the Opposition thinks that we should vote to hand powers to vary income tax to those very people. That is the Department that has spent £30 million on the York Street interchange in my constituency without a spade being put on the ground. When we talk about progressive taxation, we need to hear what the Members opposite who support the motion actually mean. Meaningless platitudes do not cut the mustard. We will oppose the motion.”
“In the 10-minute contributions made by the Alliance Party, its members were unable to set out what their proposals are or what they mean, because they are more for 30-second TikTok and Twitter clips than economic realities. Often in the Finance Committee, I hear the leader of the Opposition set out how terrible it was for long-haul air passenger duty (APD) to be devolved to the Assembly and the decision that was taken by the Executive, which included his party, to abolish it. Then, with the same breath, he says today, "Let us devolve even more powers." The consistency of the Opposition is clear and true. They want the Executive not only to carry out their job of delivering good public services for Northern Ireland but to set out plans for the Opposition as well, because, clearly, they cannot articulate them in the Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have listened to the debate but have received absolutely no detail. In the speeches so far by the leader of the Opposition, we got no detail on the proposals that he wants to enact and which taxes he wants to see devolved or, more important, what he would do with those taxes. Does he want to increase income tax? Does he want to raise National Insurance contributions on our businesses, just as his sister party is doing in our sovereign Parliament? No details, yet we go to platitudes. "We will make a more progressive tax system": what on earth does that mean? Mr Honeyford tried to articulate that. He moved from taxing millionaires to taxing billionaires. How many billionaires are there in Northern Ireland? Those parties have no idea of what they want to introduce.”
“of what is coming before me, particularly when, with the Chair of the Finance Committee, the subject is fiscal devolution. I expected a 10-page Order Paper on my desk this morning, setting out a concrete plan where those who want to destroy the United Kingdom outline their great plans for an economic revolution in Northern Ireland. However, when I picked up the Order Paper, I realised that I need not have worried. The leader of the Opposition and his party have managed the grand total of one sentence on the Order Paper on what we were going to discuss. In fact, it has caused so much attention and interest in the nationalist parties that we have a grand total of six Members on the Benches opposite. That shows the level of their interest in the issue before us.”
“I welcome the leader of the Opposition back to his place after the birth of his daughter and congratulate him on that. <BR /> <BR />I have a confession to make. The night before Opposition days, I usually struggle to sleep with worry and anticipation”
“<BR /> <BR />Following his conviction, I contacted the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, asking that he revoke the licence granted to Mr Kelly under the Belfast Agreement. It is clear that, despite his conviction for terrorism-related offences, he continues to be unrepentant about the murder of my constituents that he carried out on the Shankill Road and continues to glorify that barbaric act. We as a party will continue to stand with the families of the Shankill bombing and of innocent victims across Northern Ireland and call out those who celebrate terrorism and try to rewrite the past.”
“During the Easter recess, news emerged that the unrepentant sectarian mass murderer Sean Kelly had been convicted of yet another terrorist-related offence. Following an IRA parade in December 2022, Mr Kelly was convicted at Belfast High Court of a breach of section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000. As Members will be aware, in 1993, Mr Kelly was convicted of the indiscriminate, sectarian Shankill bombing, in which he murdered nine innocent people. Mr Kelly served just seven years in prison for one of the greatest atrocities of the Troubles. Under the terms of the Belfast Agreement, which continues to be a stain on the moral fabric of this society, he was released, having served less than one year for each person whom he murdered.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement and for her pre-brief to me as the Chair of the Committee. Given that the Executive have not yet discussed the matter, the House is in some doubt as to if and when a Bill will ever arrive. On Friday, Minister, you received a letter from the five largest business organisations in Northern Ireland — the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the Institute of Directors (IOD), Manufacturing NI and the Northern Ireland Chamber — outlining their concerns about your proposals. You briefed them on your proposals this morning. Which of those organisations now endorse your proposals?”
“This party will continue to stand up for institutions right across Northern Ireland, and not just in one location.”
“Unfortunately, the Committee cannot be absolutely sure at this time that the promises in the PFG can be kept by the Department, given that we have not received the information on that budget. <BR /> <BR />I will, just briefly, make some comments as a DUP economy spokesperson. We look forward to interrogating the figures with the Minister for the Economy tomorrow. We recognise the pressure that her budget is under. However, important matters need to be clarified. Cutting funding to Queen's University to fund ministerial priorities at other campuses cannot and will not be accepted by this party. Cuts to FE colleges, in particular the closure of the Castlereagh campus, will not be tolerated by this party. Tomorrow, we look forward to receiving evidence from the Minister.”