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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“There is not a word in the motion about that. <BR /> <BR />My party will continue to champion the north-west region, and I encourage the Members opposite, on some occasion, to take the opportunity to speak proudly of the city that they represent. If I were a foreign investor and saw motion after motion telling us how terrible the city of Londonderry is and listened to political representatives —.”
“So, not a single example. The company that she has referenced was in operation before the ridiculous implementation of the protocol. I salute that business. Despite the bureaucracy pushed for by her party — the rigorous implementation — that would cost jobs in her constituency, that firm is still able to thrive. <BR /> <BR />Do not take my words, but let us take the words of the chief executive of Invest Northern Ireland, who was before the Committee that Ms McLaughlin and I have the pleasure of serving on together. I asked him to give an example of the dual market access that is being talked up in the motion. How many examples was he able to give? The same number as the Member opposite: zero. It is important to read that into the record of the House for the avoidance of doubt. He said:”
“I am not asking for 10, but, given its prominence in the motion, I ask for one. Clearly, there is not one. I happily give way to Ms McLaughlin.”
“The regeneration project for the Derry riverfront, Strand Road and Walled City areas in the heart of two SDLP Members' constituency of Foyle does not have a single mention in the motion. <BR /> <BR />I noticed that the motion includes the benefits of dual market access twice, but the Member who moved it, in the 10 minutes that she spent speaking, did not give one example of an investment secured as a benefit of dual market access. I am happy to give way to Ms McLaughlin, if she wants to put on record now an example of an investment secured in her city as a result of dual market access. That is because there has not been one. Not one has been secured. You would have thought that, if you were moving a motion that twice mentions the benefits of dual market access, you might have been able to name one.”
“Indeed, it is a project that the party opposite rightly championed, but, today, there is absolutely no mention of that vital UK Government support. I did a bit of research on some of the projects that will be funded under that scheme, and that increased my surprise as to why the party opposite excluded it from the motion today. Funding has already been secured for the redevelopment of Strabane town centre. The Member opposite — Mr McCrossan — is a clear and unwavering advocate for his home town of Strabane, but there has not been a single mention in the motion or use of precious parliamentary time today to highlight the benefits that have already been secured for his town.”
“I thank the Opposition for tabling the motion for debate. It is a useful opportunity to discuss facts and not fiction. <BR /> <BR />Like the Member opposite, our party is committed to the growth of the north-west; indeed, the first visit that I undertook after being appointed as DUP economy spokesperson and Chairman of the Committee was to the city of Londonderry with my colleague Mr Middleton. That was because I recognised the vital role that Londonderry and the wider north-west play in the economic importance of Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The motion is, though, somewhat bizarre. We have absolutely no mention of a city deal project that will be vital for the north-west, a project of £300 million of investment that my party proudly championed at Westminster.”
“First, I welcome today's announcement. It is a positive step forward in delivering transformation. I am keen to try to understand the decision-making process slightly more. As humble Back-Benchers, it would be useful to understand whether it was the public-sector transformation board that made the recommendations on the funding awards. I see that the Department for Infrastructure bid for £9 million for planning reform, which was welcome, but the decision was to allocate only one third of that. I am keen to understand whether it was an Executive decision or a recommendation by the board to fund it only to that degree.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is no attack on the Minister, but, yesterday, an indication was given by the Department of Finance that a statement would be made today. An email to all Members has just landed at 10.58 am with the contents of the statement. The statement relates to a significant amount of public funding. I am a member of the Finance Committee, so I got it 30 minutes ago, but other Members of the House have not received a copy. Members have been in the Chamber since 10.30 am, and that is not an appropriate way for such a major statement to be made.”
“Under DUP leadership, I have no doubt that we will deliver.”
“I am proud of that, because, whether people like it or not, we are a joint head of government. Our deputy First Minister has been tenacious in ensuring that DUP manifesto commitments were delivered in the document. The non-inclusion of dual market access seems to be a matter of concern for some. They may wish to take that up with the head of Invest Northern Ireland, who has made it clear that, to date, no such opportunity for delivery has come. That is why it is so important that there is a clear commitment by the Executive on page 85 of the document to engage with Intertrade UK and the new ministerial arrangements secured by my party. The delivery unit will be key to achieving the progress that we all want to see. When I made my maiden speech, I remarked that the return of this place would be judged by our actions and not on our return.”
“Our party will ensure that all communities, not just one section of Northern Ireland, benefit from regional balance. <BR /> <BR />The words in the Programme for Government about supporting our higher and further education sector will be tested and judged when the draft budget is brought forward by the Economy Department. All parties want to see the growth of the Magee campus, but that cannot be done at the expense of other universities or further education institutions. The cuts of £10 million to Queen's University rumoured to be proposed by the Economy Minister would cost up to 1,400 university places and 300 academic posts and could endanger city deal projects. My party will not sit by quietly while that is allowed to go on. <BR /> <BR />The leader of the Opposition rightly pointed out the DUP's fingerprints on the document.”
“I will turn to investment zone funding, for which the Executive have secured £150 million from Treasury. That announcement was made 18 months ago, and we have seen limited progress from the Minister on that vital funding. In my role as DUP spokesperson on the economy, I will continue to champion the Minister's bringing that forward. <BR /> <BR />My party has always been unapologetic in wanting to grow the economy across Northern Ireland and ensure regional balance. For me, regional balance means not just investing in one geographical location in Northern Ireland; it means investing in all communities, particularly those such as I represent in Belfast that live in the shadows of factories and large investments but do not get to reap the financial benefit of being employed in those sectors.”
“It is incumbent on the Minister to engage with all stakeholders if we are to achieve support for the 'good jobs' employment Bill.”
“This party has been and will continue to be unapologetic in its clear desire to grow the Northern Ireland economy to ensure that people in all communities, wherever they are in Northern Ireland, have access to the best possible jobs, opportunities and education. <BR /> <BR />On inclusion in the Programme for Government, this party has, in recent mandates, been to the fore in updating employment legislation. The former Economy Minister, the Member for Upper Bann, was key in securing bereavement leave for parents. The introduction of domestic safe leave in the coming years was, again, supported by this party. The substantial proposals being brought forward by the current Minister do not have consensus across the private sector.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee lately considered the draft budget for 2025-26 for the Department and has yet to see any information on the impact of the proposed cuts by the Minister on skill places, higher education or arm's-length bodies, including Tourism NI and Northern Ireland Screen. The Committee hopes that lessons will be learned from the previous PFG experience, and that accountability and linkages to financial provision, including the investment strategy, will be clear and easy to scrutinise. That concludes my remarks as the Chair of the Committee. <BR /> <BR />I will make some remarks as the DUP's economic spokesperson. I warmly welcome the Programme for Government's clear prioritisation of growing Northern Ireland's economy. That is the first priority set out in the document and, indeed, one of its later themes.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the PFG well-being framework, the Committee noted that economic progress is to be measured through a limited set of data based on economic activity and employment levels, the number of exporting businesses, the Nation Brands Index and the R&D spending level. The Committee was surprised that the skills measure was not focused on the missing middle at both level 4 and level 5. Members remarked also that the data sets do not yet include multi-factor Northern Ireland-based productivity measures, although they are understood to be in development by the Department. Members, therefore, noted with concern that the plan and very substantial changes to employment law being progressed by the Minister are unlikely to be informed by up-to-date Northern Ireland-based information.”
“The Committee strongly welcomed the Executive's clear commitment to economic improvement for all the people of Northern Ireland, as evidenced by the prominence of the economic elements in the draft PFG. The Committee welcomed the prompt delivery of important supporting measures, including the return of the SKILL UP programme, the new apprenticeship challenge fund, the roll-out of the energy efficiency capex fund and the 10-year tourism strategy. However, the Committee still awaits the skills action plan, the renewable energy support scheme and the circular economy strategy.”
“The last time that a Programme for Government was agreed in this place, I was studying A-level politics. It is a pleasure that I get to make remarks on behalf of the Committee. <BR /> <BR />The Committee scrutinised the draft Programme for Government along with the Department's 2024-25 business case and transformation bid. The draft Programme for Government indicated a number of priorities for which the Department for the Economy would be in the lead, particularly to:”
“With all due respect, the statement is utter nonsense. In October 2022, your predecessor made a decision not to extend the scheme beyond Carryduff and Glengormley. A feasibility study was carried out, the Department came back to say that it was not extending the route and now you are saying that you are going to do another feasibility study. In a nine-page statement about BRT2, you cannot even give detail on the termination point on which you have signed off for the north Belfast route. Are you seriously saying that you have come to the Chamber and cannot tell us where you are currently proposing to stop the Glider route in north Belfast?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. She has talked about the north coast. Will she elaborate on the issue as regards unregulated Airbnb rental properties? That is outside the scope of the Minister, so we need an Executive strategy on it. Residential areas are being flooded with Airbnb properties, which is having an impact, particularly on your constituents.”
“The leader of Sinn Féin described him as a "great patriot". Do great patriots plant a 10 lb bomb at the entrance to a bar to tear the heart out of the Shankill Road and then celebrate the murder of five people? <BR /> <BR />I was raised never to speak ill of the dead, and I recognise that a family is hurting, but my community and my constituency hurt every single day as a result of Mr McFarlane's actions. Sinn Féin's failure even to acknowledge that fact is nothing short of a disgrace. No amount of whitewashing or saying that the IRA's actions were justified will ever stop my party calling out the rank hypocrisy of the Members opposite.”
“<BR /> <BR />Thankfully, Mr McFarlane and his accomplices were caught by the security services that night and subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment. In 1983, Mr McFarlane led the Maze prison escape, during which a prison officer died. In 1983, he was charged with the kidnapping of a supermarket executive in the Irish Republic, which led to the deaths of a further two individuals. <BR /> <BR />In all the public pronouncements from Sinn Féin eulogising Mr McFarlane, there was not a single sentence — not a scintilla — of a "sorry" for the victims of his evil deeds. The Sinn Féin Member for North Belfast, who represents the very place where the bomb went off, managed to say in his remarks that Mr McFarlane did all that he could in the struggle for Irish unity. Did that struggle include the murder of an innocent 17-year-old girl?”
“Following the public commentary that has disgracefully emanated from the party on the Benches opposite this weekend following the death of IRA man Brendan McFarlane, it is my moral imperative to ensure that they are not forgotten. <BR /> <BR />On 13 August 1975, under the cover of darkness, three cowardly terrorists, led by McFarlane, set out to murder and maim their Protestant neighbours. They arrived at a packed bar, where they opened fire indiscriminately and planted a 10 lb bomb at the entrance to ensure the maximum number of casualties among innocent Protestant men, women and children. The IRA, in its actions, killed five people, the youngest of whom, Linda Boyle, was just 17 years old, and injured 50 others.”
“In August 2016, the 'Belfast Telegraph' led with a story that was headlined:”
“I thank the Committee for the work that it will do on this important Bill. Most important, "Thank you" to the ladies and gentlemen up in the Public Gallery, because, ultimately, this is your day.”
“First, when the Minister is making his winding-up speech, I ask that he indicate how the ongoing consultation that he and his officials are having is going, not just with the dedicated members of the Communities Committee, who will, no doubt, come forward with important questions and proposals, but with proposed service users so that we can ensure that we have a Bill that is fit for purpose. <BR /> <BR />Clause 9, as was raised by the Member for North Antrim, has a reporting period of five years. Has any consideration been given to having an earlier report in the first instance? Maybe, when the legislation has been enacted, we could have a report after two or three years to test how it is working. If it is working successfully, we could move back to the five-year period. <BR /> <BR />Minister, I thank you for what you have done.”
“<BR /> <BR />In my conversations with some of our guests here this afternoon, they expressed how this being an Executive Bill that has been agreed by the four main political parties means a huge amount to them. They also greatly appreciate having Members from all corners of the Chamber re-emphasise their support for the proposals in and the scope of the Bill. Every one of them has helped us to right a wrong. They have helped to deliver genuine equality and to move the Northern Ireland legislative process to a better place. <BR /> <BR />I want to pick up a couple of points contained in the Bill.”
“<BR /> <BR />I want to record my heartfelt thanks to the dedicated campaigners who have rightly forced every one of us to the position that we are in today. They have sought legislative change not just for themselves but for the next generation to ensure that that generation will not experience the denial of access to basic services that they experienced and that true equality is delivered. The proposals put forward by the Minister play an important role in doing that. <BR /> <BR />I am often critical of the Communities Minister, particularly when he does not deliver projects that I want in North Belfast, but I must record my heartfelt thanks to him also. When he was appointed to the post just over a year ago, he made a commitment to the people of Northern Ireland that he would bring forward the Bill, and that is exactly what he has done.”
“I want to make a few remarks in support of the Bill. The public rightly ask what it is that politicians do to effect positive change. Politicians are rightly asked what decisions they make that impact on the everyday lives of the people whom we are honoured to represent. This Bill is what we do. The Minister has come forward with proposals that will fulfil an obligation that has been set upon all of us: that we make legislation that impacts on the very people whom we are honoured to represent. Every day, I am honoured to be a representative of the people of North Belfast in this place, but today is an extra special day. For generations, one of my constituents, John, who is in the Public Gallery today, has fought for equality. Today, the provisions laid out in the Bill deliver true equality for people in Northern Ireland.”
“We are told day and daily by the Justice Minister that she does not have the funds that she needs, but she seems uninterested in how much public money has been wasted on that court case by the Police Ombudsman. <BR /> <BR />Mr Speaker, can you give me guidance on how I can get answers for my constituents and the people of Northern Ireland, who deserve to know how much money has been wasted by the Police Ombudsman?”
“That is public money that comes out of the Department of Justice's budget.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Last year, your ruling on Ministers refusing to answer questions from Members was clear. That is why I was so surprised when I received a written answer from the Minister of Justice yesterday to my question about how much public money had been spent by the Police Ombudsman in her court case against the Northern Ireland Retired Police Officers Association. The Justice Minister's response to me read:”
“I continue to put Ministers here on notice that we expect funding to be secured for the next phase of the development of the Shore Road, which is at the former Grove leisure centre site, as the Castle Community Trust rightly continues to campaign to deliver a dedicated resource centre in the heart of North Belfast. That campaign has my full support, and I look forward to helping secure the funding that it also richly deserves.”
“<BR /> <BR />I put on record my thanks to my parliamentary colleagues who stood with me for the entirety of the campaign and to the people of Crusaders Football Club, who never gave up hope of securing the funding. The culmination of our campaign came yesterday when the Deputy Prime Minister announced that the only project in Northern Ireland to go ahead and receive the funding that it deserves will be the Shore Road skills centre. Some £2·25 million is to be invested in the heart of a community in North Belfast that, for many years, has been denied the resources that it has deserved. I express my gratitude to all those who supported our campaign. Although it is a great victory, the campaign to build back North Belfast will continue in earnest.”
“Last September, I lamented in the Chamber the Labour Government's decision to pause vital funding for my constituency of North Belfast. Not content with picking the pockets of pensioners by removing the universal winter fuel allowance or with their proposals to destroy family farms, they went on to attack one of the most socially and economically deprived constituencies in the United Kingdom by removing funding from North Belfast. The Shore Road skills centre aims to transform the life opportunities of young people who call Shore Road and wider north Belfast home, providing them with lifelong learning and providing opportunities for future job creation. I made it clear in my remarks in September that I would leave no stone unturned to fight that disgraceful decision.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Is it just one project that he is looking for clarity on, or will he provide a list to the House of all the projects and schools that he wants to go through with regard to the money that has been spent in the past financial year?”
“To date, that funding has not been drawn down, and, right across Northern Ireland, as childcare bills continue to increase as a result of the pressures placed on our providers, it is difficult for us to justify not spending that £2 million. <BR /> <BR />The enhanced economic zone is another £150 million funding stream. Last week, I outlined to the Minister for the Economy my disappointment at the lack of progress, in my view, that has been made in getting terms of reference and being able to draw down that vital funding. There is no doubt that the financial picture next year will be more difficult and will be placed under more pressure by the National Insurance increases. I hope that the Minister, in the debate today or tomorrow, will provide us with the figures for what that means, because, to date, we have no idea.”
“FTC is something that the leader of the Opposition and I agree on wholeheartedly. There needs to be a more coordinated approach, led by the Department of Finance, for all Ministers to be much more proactive in drawing down that funding and ensuring that we have viable private-sector partners. In the House, we often hear Ministers, rightly, make the case for more financial support and the ability to spend. However, if we are returning tens of millions of pounds in unspent FTC funding each year, it makes our argument with Treasury slightly more difficult. <BR /> <BR />On unspent funding in the Department for the Economy, I also want to highlight the £2 million that was allocated for the childcare support package scheme. That was to develop a support scheme for our providers across Northern Ireland, with research being provided by Invest NI.”
“I am delighted that, as a result of the work that the club and I undertook, the funding has been released today.”
“The Labour Government's decision in September to pause those two city deals and the subsequent Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid South West growth deals was disgraceful. As I noted in my remarks as Chair, the combined efforts of all parties in the House resulted in the right decision being taken, but my party will continue to champion the vital role that the city and growth deals can play. <BR /> <BR />On that, it would be remiss of me not to mention the Deputy Prime Minister's announcement today about reinstating £2·2 million for my constituency of North Belfast for the Shore Road skill centre. That project should never have been paused. It aims to tackle economic disadvantage and educational underachievement in one of the most deprived wards in the entirety of Northern Ireland.”
“The Committee noted that other settlements for the Civil Service, the potential settlements for teachers and the new National Insurance contributions will add more pressure to the departmental budget. Earlier this year, the Committee also noted the Department for the Economy's transformation proposals for post-19 special educational needs (SEN) provision and two business cases relating to support for the City of Derry Airport and the public service obligation (PSO) route. <BR /> <BR />At this stage, I will make my comments as economy spokesperson for the DUP. The first is about the city deals. My party is extremely proud of the role that we played during our confidence-and-supply agreement, through which we secured the first two city deals for Northern Ireland: one for Belfast and one for the north-west.”
“However, the out-turn appears to be around only £1 million. Like most Departments, the Department appears to have struggled to get FTC money spent. When the Minister responds, perhaps he could comment on initiatives that his Department is engaging in to ensure that all Departments make full use of FTC. I also ask him to provide further clarity on the Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) and any engagement that he has had with the UK Government on that and on the promised enhanced investment zone arrangements that the Committee has continually raised. <BR /> <BR />The House has seen some welcome public-sector pay settlements, not least those for further education lecturers.”
“The out-turn may be around £244 million based on £188 million of core funding and £56 million of earmarked funding, much of which is for city deal projects. A further £10 million of capital headroom was available and may still be used by the Department. <BR /> <BR />I cannot leave city and growth deals without recording the Committee's thanks to the Assembly, the Minister and all Executive colleagues for their collective efforts in getting the city deals unpaused in all parts of Northern Ireland. Those deals will be vital to the economic future of our constituents, whom we are all privileged to represent, and they are an example of how there can be positive outcomes when all parties work together. <BR /> <BR />The opening balance for financial transactions capital (FTC) was around £3·8 million.”
“In respect of the 2024-25 Budget, the Department for the Economy's opening balance for non-ring-fenced DEL was £766·5 million, including earmarked funds. The last-minute allocations that were made a few weeks ago brought the figure for the closing position to £825 million, which represents a significant increase on the opening position. <BR /> <BR />The Committee awaits some responses from the Department, but it appears that the increased demand for skills places and apprenticeships has been largely met, despite the loss of external funding. If correct, that is an extremely welcome outcome and is indicative of the Barnett consequentials that other Members have mentioned. The Department's capital DEL opening balance position for 2024-25 was given as £222 million.”
“My initial remarks will be made as Chair of the Economy Committee, and then I will make some remarks as the DUP spokesperson on the issue. This is my first opportunity to engage with the Minister since he took up his post, so I wish him well in his new role. <BR /> <BR />I advise the House that officials from the Department recently provided written and oral evidence to the Committee on the anticipated 2024-25 spending out-turn. That included a spring Supplementary Estimates memorandum that explained the changes between the opening and closing positions for the different kinds of spending and included three-year spending trend lines. It is hoped that, in future, following the publication of five-year business plans by all Departments, the memorandum will also include a forward look at key budget lines for at least three years.”
“Does the deputy First Minister further agree that, rather than the nonsense written on the pages of the 'Belfast Telegraph', one of the greatest barriers to some people applying to join the police is when they see their political leaders continue to celebrate terrorists who murdered police officers? Does she also agree that there should be leadership and that they should stop celebrating terrorism? Perhaps then we would see more people apply to join the PSNI.”
“Today, I put it on the record — I am sure that other Members will agree — that the Minister needs to live up to the commitment that was made in November, and I hope that the new Minister will have more sense than the previous one.”
“The Minister did not make that comment in the House when addressing Members' rightful concerns. After months of being led down a garden path that enforcement action would be available through the Department, it is now clear that that is not the Minister's intention. <BR /> <BR />We now have new leadership in the Department for Infrastructure. I have written to the new Minister asking her to look again at the decision of her predecessor. As we try to rebuild confidence in these institutions, the public rightly expect Ministers to follow through on the claims that they make. They rightly expect them to deliver on the promises that they make. The Infrastructure Minister clearly made a promise to people living in unadopted estates throughout Northern Ireland that those enforcement powers would be able to be used retrospectively.”
“After Members put their concerns on record, the Minister responded by telling the House that he would put new enforcement guidelines in place by the end of 2024 and that that would combat the issue that has been impacting on countless constituents in Loughshore Manor and Willowbrook, to name a few. Residents rightly took reassurances from the Minister's words that work would be done to ensure that their developments were, finally, brought up to adoptable standards. <BR /> <BR />We are now in February 2025, and the promised guidelines for residents across Northern Ireland are nowhere to be seen. Even more concerning is that, in response to my question for written answer, the former Minister for Infrastructure, Mr O'Dowd, stated that the new regulations would not apply retrospectively to any developments already in place.”
“In November 2024, the House rightly debated the issue of unadopted private developments. Members from across the Chamber spoke about concerns in their constituencies over waste water infrastructure, unfinished roads and the inability to have streets gritted.”