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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“However, in subsequent papers, the Department appeared to advise of a baseline cut to the higher education student support budget line of £6·6 million. The Department also referred to an increase in resource DEL spending at the Magee campus of the Ulster University of £7·4 million covering GEMS NI and further student places increases. Therefore, the Committee is unclear as to whether the cut to higher education places will be met by reducing the number of places at Queen's University and Ulster University's Coleraine and Belfast campuses in order for the Minister to meet her priority in relation to additional places at Magee. <BR /> <BR />The Programme for Government included a significant commitment to promoting economic development. The 'Skills Barometer: 2023-33' report showed that skills need in Northern Ireland continues to grow.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department previously advised that it expected that pressures associated with the anticipated demand for apprenticeships and Skills for Life and Work traineeships would be met in the 2025-26 Budget. However, the Department also identified a shortfall of £4·1 million of skills funding. According to the statement to the House yesterday, the Department appears to have received a further £8 million from the Minister of Finance, which is very welcome news. Nevertheless, the Committee remains unclear as to whether the demand for the very large number of places supported by the skills fund will be met in 2025-26. <BR /> <BR />The Department previously advised that it expected the pressures associated with higher education provision would largely be met by the 2025-26 Budget.”
“Additionally, employers' National Insurance increases were estimated at £6 million for the Department and its arm's-length bodies, plus a further £5 million for further education colleges. Sticking with pay pressures, if FE lecturers and FE non-teaching staff seek to match the teachers' pay deal of around 5·5%, that would be a further pressure on the Department of around £5 million. According to the Finance Minister's recent statement, the Department appears to have received an indicative general allocation of £3 million in the June monitoring round. Therefore, from the get-go, the Department for the Economy may be looking at a deficit of around £11 million in relation to pay.”
“Indeed, officials helpfully provided a comparison with key Budget lines contrasting the anticipated closing position for 2024-25 with the opening position for 2025-26. <BR /> <BR />Despite the Executive's agreeing the Budget last week, the Department has yet to provide the Committee with the impact assessments for the draft allocations for 2025-26. Without those, Committee members found it impossible to determine what the draft Budget might mean for skills places, apprenticeship numbers, further education places and higher education places, or what the impact of the baseline cuts might be on Tourism Northern Ireland and Northern Ireland Screen. Some information has lately been provided in respect of NICS pay pressures, which indicated that extra pressures of £3 million had materialised owing to the pay uplift being higher than expected.”
“I will make some initial remarks as Chairman of the Economy Committee. I thank the Committee for Finance, of which I am a member, for initiating the debate today. <BR /> <BR />The Committee for the Economy received oral evidence on these matters in December from the then Minister. On 5 February 2025, we heard from officials, and we noted further written departmental submissions on 26 February. The Committee looks forward to welcoming the new Minister to its meeting tomorrow to discuss the Budget settlement for the Department for the Economy. The Department produced a Budget plan and furnished the Committee with information on resource and capital bids, setting out which of them had been met and which had not.”
“The oversubscription of financial transactions capital shows, once again, that the Executive are determined to make use of all publicly available funding to ensure that we can support those who are most in need. There is also additional funding for businesses, with an additional £6 million through support for Invest NI, which was agreed as part of the Budget, and £15 million to invest in skills. <BR /> <BR />The Executive will continue to use all the avenues that they have to support businesses across Northern Ireland as the House and the Executive continue to stand up for our business community.”
“Mr Buckley, as always, brought some much-needed colour to the debate and reminded us that, one year ago, we were told that it could only get better. If this is better, I dread to think what getting worse is. <BR /> <BR />There are a number of positives, however. The rates review, which the Minister of Finance and the Executive have agreed to undertake, is an important step in making sure that we continue to target and support businesses through any means that we possibly can. The cost of doing business research will give us and the Executive the ability to see what further targeted supports are required. The Budget that was agreed yesterday will see £16 billion being spent next year on delivering key public services and supporting our businesses.”
“If you read the Budget that was published yesterday, Mr Gaston, you will see that that money will go towards meeting the impact of departmental salary costs. Right across our Departments, the cost of those changes is over £200 million. The Minister of Finance is holding £146 million in the centre, and that will be allocated in June monitoring to ensure that those changes are funded. <BR /> <BR />The current leader of the Opposition, Ms McLaughlin, rightly highlighted the impact of welfare cuts, how they will continue to impact on the ability of consumers to spend in businesses and the need for us to continue to support the most vulnerable. Mr Frew, a Member for North Antrim, rightly articulated how the Government have become an anti-labour Government, and he said that they are the very antithesis of what they claimed to be.”
“<BR /> <BR />Steve Aiken, a Member for South Antrim, said that, despite saying that they want to go for growth, the Labour Government seem to want to go for broke. The impact here in Northern Ireland is exacerbated by the Irish Sea border and the continuation of our being cut off from our largest market, which is the internal market of the United Kingdom. <BR /> <BR />I usually agree with much of what Mr Gaston says, but I struggled to follow his argument. The Executive have allocated the full £146 million that was given to them as a result of National Insurance changes. Rather than the UK Government giving the Executive more money than was needed for the changes, we are actually £60 million short, which is highlighted —.”
“The estimated cost of the changes to Departments here is £207 million, and we are receiving only £146 million. However, as the Member also rightly articulated, the continuation by the Executive of the small business rate relief scheme and the industrial derating scheme will be a massive support to businesses right across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Mr Honeyford mentioned the current rates exemption for derelict buildings. We can see the impact that that continues to have at the Tribeca site in my constituency of North Belfast; it brings down our city centres. There is a need for government to look at how we can ensure that relief is not given to businesses that infect our high streets with dereliction.”
“The Deputy Chair of the Finance Committee highlighted and summarised well the issues that were raised. The impact of these changes is clear. They will limit growth, stymie investment and put jobs at risk. The Deputy Chair of the Finance Committee also holds the role of chair of the all-party group on voluntary and community sector and has been a tireless champion for that sector in the Assembly. The community and voluntary sector plays a vital role in all aspects of government life. Government services could not, will not and cannot be delivered without our community and voluntary sector, and it is important that we continue to stand up for it. <BR /> <BR />Ms Dolan rightly highlighted the shortfall of £60 million in the National Insurance contribution from the Barnett consequentials.”
“There was discussion of the impact on particular sectors with lower wages, including hospitality and childminding, and we heard that those changes could have a substantial impact on sectors that depend on government contracts, such as social enterprises. The motion before the House calls for a coordinated, cross-departmental response to that, and the Executive may take some lessons from the previous high street task force and associated interventions. Perhaps a wider review of policy is also needed to ensure that economic development and economic opportunities are supported in line with the Programme for Government. <BR /> <BR />During the debate, there were many eloquent contributions that covered many of the issues that were raised by contributors at the event that I mentioned. I will go into some detail.”
“Those have been welcomed across the Chamber, but that is less so the case for the significant increase in employers' National Insurance contributions. All of that was in the context of a wider cost-of-living pressure that is being visited on businesses whilst they struggle to reboot following the COVID pandemic. The continuation of these government changes, along with the limited notice, has caused disquiet amongst employers across a range of sectors here in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />At the joint evidence-taking event, other issues in respect of business rates were raised. In brief, stakeholders argued that rate rebates in other jurisdictions generated unhypothecated Barnett consequentials that had not found their way to businesses here in Northern Ireland.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />First, I thank all Members who spoke and, indeed, the Minister for their contributions to today's debate. As Chair of the Economy Committee, I pay tribute to the Committee for Finance for making arrangements for the joint event that took place on 29 January. I commend the Committee members and, indeed, all the stakeholders who were involved. All Committee members who were at the event can attest to how useful an engagement it was. <BR /> <BR />Members have spoken eloquently on the subject today, and I will briefly recap some of those comments later in my contribution. <BR /> <BR />The Chancellor of the Exchequer's autumn statement contained a number of measures, including welcome increases in the national minimum wage and the national living wage.”
“The Committee for the Economy therefore agreed that it supports the LCM. On behalf of the Committee, I am happy to have outlined our support for the motion.”
“The FWA will be an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade, and the Bill will allow the FWA to enforce certain employment legislation in respect of holiday and statutory sick pay throughout the United Kingdom. Officials indicated that, initially, there will be, in effect, no change to those enforcement functions in Northern Ireland, other than the establishment of the FWA and the abolishment of one body, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, and one role, Director of Labour Market Enforcement. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is understood to give the Secretary of State for Business and Trade the power to make regulations to expand the remit of state enforcement functions to include other employment legislation. Those are now subject to amendments that require the consent of the Executive.”
“I put on record the Committee for the Economy's support for today's LCM. At the Committee for the Economy's meeting on 19 February 2025, we received oral and written evidence from the Department on the aspects of the Bill for which legislative consent is sought today. As the House is aware, although the Employment Rights Bill includes a large number of provisions, most apply only to GB. The Department briefed the Committee on those aspects of the LCM that will touch on the devolved competencies of the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />The Committee understands that the FWA is intended to bring together existing state enforcement functions and, over time, take on the enforcement of a wide range of employment rights.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. The Minister will be aware of the Executive's priority to grow the economy. In his statement, he mentioned that £6·8 million had been allocated to Invest NI. Will the Finance Minister confirm whether that is a new grant support scheme or the continuation of a current scheme?”
“<BR /> <BR />One of the most exciting aspects of our bid is that our national stadium at Windsor Park will soon be upgraded and further extended. I thank Conrad Kirkwood, the president of the Irish FA, who, unlike others, does not simply talk the talk; he walks the walk. I look forward to the forthcoming expansion of our national football stadium, and I am sure that all members of the House will proudly support our national team — Northern Ireland — as we host the 2035 Women's World Cup.”
“I welcome the fact that Northern Ireland looks set to host the 2035 Women's World Cup as part of the United Kingdom bid. It is the first time that Northern Ireland will host such a prestigious tournament, and it is a huge opportunity for the economic, cultural and sporting development of this part of the United Kingdom. In recent years, women's football has gone from strength to strength in Northern Ireland, and, just like our men's national team, our women's national team brings people together from all sections of our community to proudly play for it. The economic opportunities are hugely impressive. The 2022 Euros, which were held in GB, provided a huge economic boost, and I look forward to welcoming the World Cup to Northern Ireland.”
“As other Members have rightly articulated, all terrorism, regardless of where it came from — loyalism, republicanism or those pretending to act in the interests of anyone in Northern Ireland — was wrong in 1985, 1995 and 2005. That should be the message that comes from the House today. <BR /> <BR />This has been a respectful and important debate. Members of the Omagh families are listening to what we are saying, so let the House send a clear message and support the amendment that was so eloquently articulated by the Member for West Tyrone.”
“The leader of the Opposition perfectly articulated the fact that, whilst Members of the House may disagree with parts of our amendment's wording, its intention is to make clear that no person, state actor or Government should be able to avoid their moral duty to the families of the Omagh atrocity. I wish, however, to call out some of the hypocrisy that has been generated here today. It is welcome that all Members of the House have made clear that there was no justification for the Omagh bombing, but, if there was no justification for the Omagh bombing, how was there justification for the Shankill bombing or the bombing at La Mon?”
“<BR /> <BR />I commend the work of my colleague Mr Buchanan, who, for years, has proudly championed the cause of a public inquiry here in the United Kingdom and in the Irish Republic. I had the pleasure of being with Mr Buchanan and members of the Omagh families when our party publicly committed itself to supporting their call for a public inquiry here in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The House has an opportunity today to send a clear and unequivocal message that all parties, be they here in the United Kingdom or in the Republic of Ireland, need to step up to the mark.”
“On European Remembrance Day for Victims of Terrorism, I commend the Member for Upper Bann for bringing this important issue before the House. <BR /> <BR />The Omagh bombing and surrounding incidents hold a special place in our household. My father was one of the first responders to the Omagh bomb. As a paramedic, he was called and airlifted to Omagh to find a scene of utter devastation. He returned home to our house in Glengormley the next day and never again uttered a single word about what he had seen that day. That was the tragedy, the mayhem and the murder that he witnessed. He stayed in close contact with the Gallagher family and other members of the Omagh families, and they repaid their debt of gratitude to our family when terrorism visited us.”
“Will the Minister commit to the fact that his Department looked at the issue? This covered £1 billion of funding that was allocated by his Department to the Department for the Economy that could not be qualified by the Northern Ireland Audit Office. Given the importance of ensuring that public funding is used properly, can the Minister give a commitment to the House today that he will look seriously at the issue?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I welcome the discussion about air connectivity on and across these islands. Now that the Minister has taken up office, does she support the retention of airport development policy in her Department's remit?”
“I warmly welcome the Minister's statement, as he shares my passion for tackling educational underachievement in areas of socio-economic disadvantage. <BR /> <BR />Minister, the strategy is, clearly, ambitious. When can we expect delivery of all aspects to commence?”
“<BR /> <BR />Our party will support the Ulster Unionist amendment. I believe that it encapsulates the importance of the debate that we continue to have. However, let me very clear. These Benches will take no lectures on the past from those who corrupted the past and who, day and daily, insult the memories of innocent victims right across Northern Ireland.”
“I appreciate that ruling, Mr Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />Day and daily, across North Belfast, our communities continue to move forward, and I will continue to stand with anyone of any political persuasion and none who wants to move our community forward. Anyone who is engaged in paramilitarism or illegality should be brought before the courts and placed in jail. That is the clear position of this party, and it should be the position of all parties that are represented in the House. The Communities in Transition programme, as other Members have outlined, is an important programme that we should all support, and I call on the Justice Minister and the Executive Office to look at how we extend that in North Belfast. It currently covers just Ardoyne and New Lodge, and the pariah of paramilitaries extends far beyond those two communities.”
“So I will not take any lectures on these issues. Returning to the motion —.”
“I believe that what brought peace to Northern Ireland was the fact that the vast majority of people from all communities and none, every single day, Danny, got up and said that terrorism was wrong, not like the people who continue to glorify terrorism. The people who were put in jail for murdering our neighbours and friends should still be in jail. If it were not for the actions of your political party and others, they would still be in jail where they belong.”
“They look at the leader of Sinn Féin in the Irish Republic, who says that a man who blew up a 17-year-old girl was a hero and a patriot of Ireland. What type of message does that send, and where were the remarks from the Chair of the Executive Office Committee, who has just stood up to challenge me on this issue? There was not a single remark about the actions of Sinn Féin, but, because it is a unionist who speaks, seemingly, that is when the Alliance Party attacks. So, I will not take any lectures whatsoever from the Alliance Party on the issues of dealing with the past.”
“You are very much entitled to your opinion, Ms Bradshaw, but it is my opinion and the opinion of my party that your party's decision to release terrorists from jail was an absolute disgrace and that you should be ashamed of yourselves for doing it. <BR /> <BR />I will get back to the remarks that I was making on the motion. It is like being in a parallel universe to hear other Members speak about the past when, in recent days and weeks, the most heinous of crimes that were carried out in my constituency of North Belfast continued to be glorified. We wonder why paramilitaries and those engaged in disgraceful behaviour continue to be engaged in it. They turn on their television and see their self-proclaimed First Minister for all say that there was no alternative to mayhem and murder.”
“Sometimes when I drive to this place, I think that I am in a parallel universe, not just because I still find it bizarre that people voted for me but more so because I come here and take lectures from some political parties in the Chamber. The greatest corruption of justice and the greatest insult to victims of terrorism here in Northern Ireland was the early release of prisoners. So, let me be very clear. I will not sit here and take lectures from any political party about the impact of terrorism or how we approach the past. When political parties decided that the price for peace in Northern Ireland was that those who had maimed and murdered their neighbours, based on the fact of their religion or their political belief, could be released from prison, they lost any moral authority to speak about the issue of our past.”
“I am conscious that tomorrow is international day for the remembrance of innocent victims. My party has always and will always put victims — innocent victims — at the centre of how we approach the legacy of our troubled past. As a representative of North Belfast, I see daily the destruction that was caused to the community that I am proud to represent. However, I also see daily people from all sections of our community who have stepped forward to show a clear leadership role. Engagement in paramilitarism five years ago, 25 years ago or even 40 years ago was completely wrong.”
“Looking to the next financial year, Minister, you secured important commitments in the Programme for Government, but they will require Executive resourcing. Will you outline the implications of the draft Budget for your Department?”
“Madam Principal Deputy Speaker, I am not a member of the PAC, as you have just stated: that is incorrect. Can you provide me with guidance on how I can raise this important issue?”
“On a further point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker.”
“On a point of order, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I do not seek to challenge your ruling from earlier today, but, on the issue of the Comptroller and Auditor General giving a disclaimed opinion on the Department for the Economy accounts, which is an unprecedented step involving a huge amount of public funding, my question for urgent oral answer was not selected. Can you give me guidance on how the House can debate that important issue?”
“If this were a unionist-dominated council, the response of the majority of residents was that they wanted a dual-language street sign, but unionist councillors opposed the will of the street, the front pages of the newspapers would say that Ministers should be dragged before the Chamber, and so-called equality organisations, which are publicly funded, would be out in droves. However, there has not been a single word on the issue. That exposes the myth that those who sit opposite stand, as they claim, for equality and democracy.”
“A majority of residents again responded to say, "No, we do not want dual-language street signs". On the third time that they went out, it was rejected again by local residents. Instead of surveying them again, the parties opposite, which claim to champion equality and democracy, simply said, "We will no longer ask the residents what they want. We will ignore their wishes and implement the signage regardless".”
“<BR /> <BR />Belfast City Council spends hundreds of thousands of pounds carrying out surveys of residents. I pay tribute to the Alliance Party, which has been true to its word on the issue: when a majority of residents expresses an opinion, it supports that opinion. That is also the position that this party adopts. If a majority of residents of a street expresses a desire to have street signs in another language, that should be supported. What should not happen is for local residents to be asked to have their say and, then, for politicians to completely ignore that. <BR /> <BR />In Sunningdale Park North and Ben Madigan Park South, residents were surveyed three times. Not content with the first answer, the parties opposite asked that we resurvey them.”
“I associate myself with Mr Kelly's remarks. As a Crusaders man, it is hard for me to say it, but congratulations to Cliftonville on the win yesterday. <BR /> <BR />I raise the farcical issue of Belfast City Council's dual-language street-sign policy and abuse of the democratic processes at Belfast City Council. Just last week, survey results were returned for two streets in my constituency. A majority of residents who responded to that consultation opposed the introduction of dual-language street signage in their street. You would think that the parties opposite would respect the will expressed by those residents. Of course, that was not the case: the parties opposite overturned the democratically expressed view and imposed Irish street signs, despite the residents of the street rejecting them.”
“I wonder whether the Member has had time to read the Programme for Government, because there is absolutely zero mention of dual market access in that.”
“If I continually hear representatives talk down the city and say that it has received no attention, I may be confused by that, because the investment that the UK Government and the Executive have secured has been second to none for the people whom they represent.”
“How many mentions of that are there in the motion? Zero. <BR /> <BR />I encourage the Opposition, at some stage, to recognise the work that all parties and the Executive have rightly done to support Londonderry and the wider region. I encourage Members to read the Department's subregional economic plan, in which other parts of Northern Ireland rank much lower than the region named in the motion. There is no dedicated task force for those regions, no £300 million from a city deal and no £10 million from the towns fund. There is no Executive funding stream for their airport and no task force to grow their higher education centre. <BR /> <BR />Ms McLaughlin and her party are excellent representatives and champions of their constituents, but, at some stage, they should recognise the importance of the work that has been done.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />A dedicated task force for the growth of the Magee campus was rightly agreed by the Executive, because they recognise the importance of that to the wider region. Again, there is no mention of that in the motion. <BR /> <BR />We will hear from my able colleague, the Member for East Londonderry Mr Bradley, who continues to champion investment in his constituency and in Coleraine university — I am sure that he would love to have the opportunity to have a dedicated task force — but, again, that is not worthy of a mention in the SDLP motion. <BR /> <BR />A dedicated funding stream of £2·5 million that the Executive agreed as a priority will go to City of Derry Airport (CODA). No other airport in Northern Ireland will get that support. The Executive recognise the importance of CODA.”
“I commend you for wanting more, Mr McCrossan, but it is important that you recognise at some stage the importance of the investment that has been secured and celebrate it.”
“<BR /> <BR />My colleague and I will take the opportunity to highlight some of the great aspects of the economy in the north-west: £300 million of investment as a result of a city deal for Londonderry and the wider region that will create jobs and investment for people across that region and £10 million each for Coleraine and Londonderry secured from the towns fund, which is a UK Government fund. Surprise, surprise: that does not make it into the motion tabled by the Opposition. You would almost think that they do not want to highlight those excellent —.”
“We had 10 minutes from you, Ms McLaughlin, and I have already given way once. I will make some progress on the remarks that I want to make. <BR /> <BR />If I am an investor and I continually hear from the city's political leadership, which, for many years at Westminster and for the majority of the time at the Assembly, has been the SDLP, that the city is such a bad place, at some stage I will think, "Why would I want to invest there, if the only remarks that I hear are negative?".”