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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“Last month, the deputy First Minister exposed the fact that the Home Office was withholding hundreds of empty homes across Northern Ireland for use in the claiming of asylum. We are in the middle of a housing crisis. That is not rhetoric; it is the lived experience and reality for thousands of families in my North Belfast constituency. Families are stuck in temporary accommodation; young people struggle to get a first home; parents and grandparents are sharing overcrowded houses; and many are left in properties that are simply not fit for purpose. That is reality and fact. However, at the same time, hundreds of homes are being held empty on behalf of the Home Office. That is completely unacceptable and, frankly, disgraceful.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I wish to address factually inaccurate remarks that were levelled at me following yesterday's vote on the motion from the Committee on Standards and Privileges. For the avoidance of doubt, I first became aware of the contents of yesterday's Order Paper when it was published by the Business Office last Tuesday. I first became aware of the existence of a complaint against Mr Gaston when the Committee sent out its report last Wednesday. The first time that I discussed with colleagues the business that was before the Assembly and the contents of that report, which was available to all MLAs, was yesterday. I reject, in the strongest possible terms, the allegations that I broke any confidences or embargoes, and I invite any Member to repeat those false allegations outside the Chamber.”
“In this matter, it is the view of my party that the commissioner has overstepped her mark, and we will proudly vote against this nonsense today. Suspending a Member for two days because you disagreed with him sets a dangerous precedent, and it will be you and others in the House who will be next before a commissioner if Members troop in behind this disgraceful proposal.”
“Forgive me and my party if we have grave reservations about the quality of investigations and reports that come from the previous commissioner. <BR /> <BR />Today, the people of Northern Ireland will notice that we had a 30-minute discussion on one of the biggest ministerial U-turns in the history of the House, when Minister O'Dowd was forced to make a U-turn on hospitality policy, yet, now, we are having a debate of an hour and a half on the personal animosity between Mr Gaston and Ms Bradshaw. I have served on the Executive Office Committee for a short period. Ms Bradshaw and I have had robust exchanges. She is no shrinking violet when it comes to shutting me down when, in her view, I overstep the mark.”
“It is clear in the commissioner's remarks that she says nothing in relation to misogyny. Perhaps, Mr Buckley, those who have read out their pre-scripted remarks for Mr Tennyson's TikTok videos have not read the large video that is before us here today. <BR /> <BR />From my perspective, the report was fatally flawed. The commissioner is attempting to hold Members of the House to a standard different from that to which she held others. It was referenced by Mr Burrows. The commissioner decided not to take action against a Member who glorified terrorism and not to take action against Ministers and representatives in the House who, during the COVID pandemic, put a Provo show of strength above the public health message.”
“You can report me to the commissioner, Mrs Dillon, all you want, but we are clear that I have a mandate to be in the Chamber and cast my vote on the report that is before the House. I do not take the report seriously, because, in my view, the commissioner has not been consistent in her rulings.”
“I note that Mr Durkan did not answer the question, but I will come to that issue now. It is clear, without breaching the confidences of the Committee, that a different sanction was proposed by members of the DUP, because we believed that the sanction proposed of two days was a gross overstep by the Committee. <BR /> <BR />Let us be clear where the recommendations come from. They come from a commissioner who —.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the matter. It is telling that, in all the contributions made by the Members opposite, they have not once focused on the key issue of proportionality. Mr Gaston and I disagree and argue regularly. We have different views and robust exchanges. However, I defend his right to do that, because his party has a mandate to do it. What we propose today is a two-day suspension for a Member over language that another Member found unacceptable. I hear Members say that Mr Gaston's apology is worthless. I would be interested to hear, had he not apologised, what further sanctions those people would have liked to impose on him.”
“Minister, I am not an individual who holds grudges. Last Monday, however, you told me that I did not know what I was talking about, I did not have any evidence and I could not stand over my claims. They say that a week is a long time in politics, but for you, Minister, three days is clearly a long time in politics, because you echoed my exact remarks on Thursday. However, I will not be churlish and bask in your U-turn. <BR /> <BR />There will be some Barnett consequentials for the Northern Ireland Executive as a result of the Labour Government's U-turn. Have you had any discussions with the Treasury about what the value of those may be and what you might use the funding for?”
“Thank you. The Member is not afraid to highlight the issues that he has, and he cannot be accused of being intimidated. Minister Murphy was unable to give a single example of FDI resulting from the Windsor framework. On Wednesday, at the Committee, Minister Archibald was unable to give an example. Perhaps, given that you do not fear promoting the Windsor framework, you can give an example.”
“The Finance Minister informed the House that office rates have gone down. That was factually incorrect. How can the record be corrected, given that the Finance Minister has misled the House?”
“I know that you do not like the truth, but can you stop? Thank you, Miss Hargey.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Finance Minister accused us of not knowing what we are talking about. If we read the LPS publication, we see that it states:”
“It is clear that something has gone badly wrong here, and, once again, our hospitality sector is the victim. How can the Minister stand over a process that, at two months' notice, imposes tens of thousands and, in some cases, hundreds of thousands of pounds of rates increases on our hard-pressed hospitality sector? Will he commit to pausing the review's implementation, at this stage, until he meets representatives of the hospitality sector? Will he commit today to meeting representatives of the hospitality sector in North Belfast, who have invested in parts of our city that no one else has in years and are expected to pay tens of thousands of pounds extra, which they cannot afford?”
“Minister, do you agree that you will take no lectures on the ministerial code from the party opposite, given that the only Minister in the history of this state convicted of religious discrimination against a Protestant was a Sinn Féin Minister? On the issue of public safety, we will take no lectures, given that Sinn Féin set aside public safety for a Provo show of strength. Finally, does he agree that, when it comes to empathy, the Ministers opposite should stop attending celebrations of bloodthirsty IRA sectarian killers?”
“Minister, the Motability scheme is a vital lifeline to many in our community, but it is being undermined by a minority who engage in fraud. Will the Minister articulate any work that his Department has done to tackle that fraud? What support or lack thereof has he received from Executive colleagues?”
“I appreciate the Member giving way. I hold her in the same high regard. On the issue of sound bites, the motion calls for "additional revenue-raising powers": in 15 minutes of speeches, Sinn Féin Members have not given one detail of those powers. How can Members be expected to troop through the Lobbies and support the motion when there is no data on what powers Sinn Féin wants to devolve or what it wants to do with them?”
“<BR /> <BR />The motion is very interesting and serves some people's political agenda, but it does nothing to move on the conversation about how to have the best possible economy in Northern Ireland. It is about having open trade with our neighbours in the Republic of Ireland, but we need to tackle the imposition of the Irish sea border, which takes away Northern Ireland's place in the internal market of the United Kingdom, which the facts show is clearly our most important market. <BR /> <BR />I look forward to hearing people's solutions to some of those issues, but this party opposes the motion.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Mr Delargy, I would take you at your word if that was mentioned in the text of the motion, but there is no recognition in the motion of the vital nature of Northern Ireland's place in the internal market of the United Kingdom. What it does call for are additional tax-raising powers. I have yet to hear a Sinn Féin Member give an example of those powers and what they would use them for. Given the proposals for hospitality that have been made by the Sinn Féin-controlled Land and Property Services (LPS), the people of Northern Ireland will join with us in saying that we do not support additional tax-raising powers being handed out at this stage.”
“As another Member rightly articulated last week, we have yet to see the damage that the "Alliance tax" will cause for businesses and householders across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Economic policy in this place must be based on fact, not on political aspiration. Northern Ireland benefits from cooperation, where it makes sense; openness to trade; and constructive relationships across these islands. That does not, however, require us to pretend that two very different economies are, in fact, one. If we are serious about growing Northern Ireland's economy, creating jobs and delivering opportunity — the very thing that each and every person in the House was elected to do — we need to get away from that political agenda.”
“<BR /> <BR />We heard the proposer of the motion talk about the devolution of additional fiscal powers, yet, in the 10 minutes that were allotted to her, she did not give one example of the powers that she wants to see devolved. Moreover, the Minister of Finance has not set out a credible plan for devolving the powers that he wants to see devolved. That shows the seriousness with which Sinn Féin takes the issue. It is not honest politics, and it is not serious economics. The danger of that narrative is that it is not only wrong but leads to bad policy. We have already seen what happens when abstract concepts are used to justify arrangements that disrupt trade within the United Kingdom and the real cost of that for businesses across Northern Ireland.”
“Our service sector relies on the UK economy: fact. Energy flows from the rest of the UK: fact. Supply chains move from east to west, not from North to South: fact. Cross-border trade of course exists. No one sensible would deny that, but let me set out the facts. That trade is limited in scale, concentrated in a small number of sectors and represents only a fraction of Northern Ireland's overall economic activity, yet some continue to push the idea of an all-island economy, as it justifies sweeping constitutional change. They do so to downplay or simply ignore the reality that Northern Ireland's trade with the rest of the United Kingdom is what sustains our economic success. That trade sustains jobs and businesses in every community and underpins living standards in communities right across Northern Ireland.”
“There is a phrase that we hear repeated again and again in the Chamber: the so-called all-island economy. It is often presented as established fact and something beyond challenge, but repetition of untruths does not make them true. The reality, which is backed up by evidence rather than ideology, is that there is no single, all-island economy. Rather, there are two distinct economies on this island operating under different currencies, different tax systems, different welfare models and different regulatory frameworks. That is not a political slogan but an economic and political fact. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland's economy is, always has been and always will be overwhelmingly integrated within that of the rest of the United Kingdom. Our biggest market is Great Britain: fact. The majority of our goods come from Great Britain: fact.”
“Minister, do you share my concern that departmental resources that should be focused on tackling educational underachievement are being wasted by political opponents in this place, be that on challenges from the Alliance Party to legislation that it created or on challenges from Sinn Féin? Do you agree that, instead of focusing on lawfare, you are getting on with delivering for the people of Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for that update. Whether or not there is a policy in place that specifically allows Christmas release, the fact is that a murderer was released over Christmas, as was someone who was convicted of stabbing a pensioner in the head with a screwdriver. In my opinion and, I think, in the public's opinion, a life sentence should mean a life sentence. In your forthcoming sentencing Bill, do you plan to increase the minimum tariff for those who are convicted of such heinous crimes?”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank community organisations and partners in north and west Belfast who have engaged with the Police Service to try to ensure that that obstacle is overcome. I pay tribute to our Policing Board members and, in particular, Joanne Bunting, who has raised that important issue for many years. I send a clear message from these Benches in the Chamber: we want members of our community and the working-class Protestant community to apply to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland. I look forward to other political leaders in the Chamber calling on their community to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland.”
“A police service that reflects not the whole of our community but only parts of it does a disservice to the entirety of Northern Ireland. That principle, which some in the Chamber and in the media speak about, must be applied equally. It means recognising where engagement has fallen and where focus is needed. That is why the current recruitment drive matters. It is more than a campaign; it is an opportunity to reset the message that we want to see working-class Protestant communities apply to join the Police Service of Northern Ireland. If we want a police service that understands our communities, we need a police service that comes from our communities. Representation will strengthen local knowledge and improve communication.”
“Policing in Northern Ireland works best when it serves the entirety of our community. Much of the public and political focus on that issue has been on the under-representation of certain sections of our community. That focus is important, but another issue receives far less attention in our media and is a growing concern for me: the under-representation of working-class Protestants in the Police Service of Northern Ireland. It is not an abstract or academic point. In many working-class areas that once saw policing as a proud and respected tradition, confidence in that institution has begun to fall. <BR /> <BR />When any section of our community disengages with our police, it is bad for our society as a whole.”
“It was not an attempt to do that creatively at all, Mr Carroll. The point that I was making was that we are happy to support the event. I was just saying that I do not want to see a repeat of what we saw at the West Belfast Festival at the fleadh, because that would diminish everyone's standing in the community, given that we have stood together to support the event. Anything that alienates people should be roundly rejected by everyone. I think that that is a fairly acceptable position.”
“I look forward to attending a number of the events across our city, and I trust that all those who are in positions of influence will use their collective voice to ensure that the fleadh truly reflects Belfast and is something that everyone can say that they attended, celebrated and enjoyed.”
“and the flags and emblems of terrorists. If the city is truly to move forward, it is important that we all, in the House, unite to send a clear message that we want the event to be successful and to celebrate the cultural diversity of Northern Ireland, and that all participants, parties and people with influence stand up and say, "If you want to engage in any event that may offend or undermine the cultural diversity of these events, stay away". It is an opportunity for us all to celebrate our shared history and, hopefully, our shared future. <BR /> <BR />With that, I wish the organisers of the fleadh well.”
“I pay tribute to the organisers of the fleadh, who have gone out of their way to engage with those who may have had reservations about the events to make clear their commitment to ensuring that they are respectful and celebrate all forms of culture here in Northern Ireland. I hope that those who engage in fringe events and organise events on the back of the main programme will continue in that spirit. It has been unfortunate that, at previous events, "culture" has included chants of "Ooh ahh, up the 'RA", as well as:”
“I was delighted that our Lord Mayor, Tracy Kelly, could travel down to the Republic of Ireland to see the fleadh take place, send her best wishes and invite those from the Republic of Ireland to take part here in Northern Ireland.”
“I often use my platform here to speak up for the great city of Belfast that I am proud to represent, for the cultural diversity that the city has to offer and for ensuring that our city continues to be the economic driver of our country. With that in mind, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to today's debate. It would be churlish not to warmly welcome the fact that up to 700,000 people could come to our capital city to celebrate and reflect on this part of these islands and the cultural history that we have. We have been to the fore on Belfast City Council in supporting the event to ensure that it is delivered in a way that truly reflects the cultural diversity and ambitions of our city.”
“Does the First Minister stand over the claims by the Economy Minister and, indeed, her party's national chairman, who said in hundreds of thousands of leaflets that were delivered across Northern Ireland that the Bill would be introduced to the Floor of the Northern Ireland Assembly by January? We have 12 days left in this month. Will that be achieved?”
“The First Minister says that she wishes to see economic development at the site. If I take her at her word, she agrees with our position. Will she therefore commit to supporting our calls for the economic development of the site and oppose the creation of any shrine to terrorists there?”
“That is what is being delivered by its sister party, the UK Labour Party. The SDLP would support the stripping of winter fuel payments and the removal of welfare support, while the Executive have stepped forward to continue welfare mitigations, deliver winter fuel payments and protect farmers. It will saddle up with its sister party in London to deliver those cuts to the people of Northern Ireland. The Executive will ignore its nonsense and get on with delivering for the people of Northern Ireland.”
“Mr McCrossan can laugh, but I will quietly predict that, in my constituency of North Belfast and, indeed, in his of West Tyrone, the Democratic Unionist Party will secure many more votes than the SDLP. <BR /> <BR />We will not support the Alliance amendment. I welcome the comments of the Alliance Member who called for better budget management and said that public money should not be wasted and that, indeed, commitments to spend public money should not be made when the budget is not there. I trust that, when she reflects on decisions made in Committees, she will follow the advice that she has put forward today. <BR /> <BR />Government in Northern Ireland is not easy, and it is not perfect. We all know the alternative agenda that the SDLP would want to deliver if it were in the Executive.”
“Mr Durkan, with his smiling face, was on the front of the 'Belfast Telegraph' when the Casement Park decision was struck down after he illegally approved it. There was another picture of the smiling face of Mr Durkan, who illegally approved the Belfast metropolitan area plan (BMAP), which was struck down in the courts. Ministers also presided over MOT fiascos. What did the previous SDLP Minister deliver for the people of Northern Ireland? A walking champion. That is the record of delivery. The leader of the Opposition invited me to go out on to the streets and speak to the public: I will put my record in North Belfast and that of my party against that of the Opposition any day of the week. We will see what happens in the election next year.”
“I appreciate that. <BR /> <BR />The Housing Bill, which will be approved by the Executive, will include that legislation. <BR /> <BR />As we are talking about delivery, I will say that I had a look at the 'Belfast Telegraph' archive, which has a picture of Mr Mark H Durkan, who was, unlike me, a Minister. I read with interest that his decision-making process as a Minister was "irretrievably flawed", with the result that his decision on Casement Park was struck down in the courts. That was the record of the SDLP in the Executive. <BR /> <BR />Hearing the leader of the Opposition speak, you would not have thought that, until two years ago, when the people of Northern Ireland voted their party out of it, they had been in government since 1998. Let us look at their record in the Executive.”
“I could go on, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. The context in which the —.”
“<BR /> <BR />We also have, for the first time here, a childcare subsidy scheme, which helps working families in every corner of Northern Ireland; a women's World Cup secured for Northern Ireland as a result of the work of the Executive; a flagship Royal Portrush golf tournament, delivered last summer in the heart of east Londonderry, as a result of the work of the Executive; and late-night public transport all year round finally in place, delivered by the Executive. Members across the Chamber rightly called for the removal of intimidation points by the Department for Communities. That was delivered by the Executive and a DUP Minister, and legislation to remove problem tenants who are moved from one development to another, terrorising local communities, was introduced and delivered by a DUP Minister.”
“It is important to put their achievements on the record because, having listened to some of the other contributors today, I feel that they have washed over them. Public-sector pay was one of the first items that the Executive and our Ministers prioritised. Teachers have received the pay that they deserve, as have our healthcare workers, with pay parity across the United Kingdom secured. Sign language legislation was one of the first Bills introduced by the House under the stewardship of a DUP Minister. While others jumped up and down, talking about language rights and minority rights, it took a DUP Minister to introduce that Bill.”
“It is always a great pleasure to have the privilege of speaking in an Opposition day debate. I agree with some of the items in the motion tabled by the leader of the Opposition. That is about the need to agree a multi-year Budget. This party and I are clear that we want to see a multi-year Budget agreed by the Executive; one that can be codified clearly with the Programme for Government, and one that puts the needs of my constituents and the needs of the constituents of every Member in the House first. The DUP will not be found wanting during that process to ensure that we have a Budget that meets those needs and those targets. <BR /> <BR />I am also happy to speak in the debate because I can stand over the record of DUP Ministers in the Northern Ireland Executive.”
“I have listened with interest to the discussions. I really admire your commitment to the people of Northern Ireland and to trying to get a solution, but, yesterday, there was a debate about an EU office in Belfast and your party raised no objection. It seems that you criticise us when we bring our concerns about the Brexit process, but you do not criticise the other side when it brings similar issues.”
“You voted for the continuation of the fees, and you have the opportunity to reject them. You can laugh all you want, Mr Tennyson, but, ultimately, the people of Northern Ireland and Upper Bann will have their say very shortly. I am not sure that you will be laughing then.”
“Thank you very much, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />Parties have opportunities to table motions. The contents of the motion are the beliefs of the Democratic Unionist Party, and Members have the opportunity to table amendments. When the Assembly returned for its first day back yesterday, the opportunity was taken to debate a motion not about the cost-of-living crisis or other issues facing our people but about opening a European Union office in Belfast, and you happily trooped through the Lobbies to support Sinn Féin. <BR /> <BR />Today, a message will be sent to the people of Northern Ireland. Where does the Alliance Party stand? Where does the SDLP stand? Where does Sinn Féin stand? It is clear: you own this”
“Today's record will reflect that. I will give way.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will use my voice and my vote in the Assembly to stand up for businesses and consumers across Northern Ireland while I, as a unionist, yes, continue to highlight that absolute constitutional outrage. Today, the people of Northern Ireland will see how their politicians voted. Did they vote to be on their side? Did they vote to put money in the pockets of the European Union or to protect the hard-working people of Northern Ireland?”
“That is why I hope that she will join us in the Lobby to support the motion, providing a clear example that we want to stand up for our businesses and consumers. <BR /> <BR />I agree with one of the remarks made by Mr Tennyson: the United Kingdom Government, under Keir Starmer, have failed the people of Northern Ireland. He made promises to the people of Northern Ireland and my party that he would fully restore Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom, and he has failed to do that. I am very happy to stand here and criticise him for his failure to do that. That is why we, like other unionist parties, do not support handing over all the power of this place to that very man.”