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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“The House has an opportunity not just to sit in Committee and support businesses when they come here but to send a clear message today that it wants to see the Government deliver on their commitments to the people of Northern Ireland and that the border in the Irish Sea be removed for the benefit of all people in all communities across Northern Ireland.”
“That point was reinforced by the former leader of the SDLP who now sits in the House of Lords, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, who made it clear that the current position on veterinary medicines under the Windsor framework was intolerable. <BR /> <BR />We have on the record the Federation of Small Businesses, the Road Haulage Association, the National Franchised Dealers Association, the Member for Lagan Valley Mr Honeyford and the former leader of the SDLP all criticising the current Windsor framework arrangements.”
“That is what is clear in our motion. We make no attempt in the motion other than to reinforce the words of the Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee. <BR /> <BR />I want to turn Lord Murphy's report. Lord Murphy, who came to our Committee just two weeks ago, recognised the challenges that the Windsor framework represented for businesses and communities across Northern Ireland. Despite his terms of reference requiring him to have cross-community support for any changes, he still set out a list of changes that needed to be made to the current Windsor framework. UK veterinary medicines was a huge issue, and he highlighted that, on 1 January, up to 40% of those may no longer be available.”
“With that, I assume that the Alliance Party will support our motion. However, the words at the Committee will be very different, no doubt, from its members' words in the House today, because they will want to turn the debate into a constitutional one, rather than send a clear view from the House that businesses are being negatively impacted on by that. <BR /> <BR />The Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee and Lord Murphy produced reports in recent weeks, and I want to read some of the content of those into the record. The Northern Ireland Scrutiny Committee is made up of members who supported the United Kingdom leaving the European Union and those who did not. It concluded:”
“Do not take my word for it. Let us take the word of the Member for Lagan Valley, who sits on the Committee for the Economy and made it clear that those regulations were "a nonsense" and that for car traders in Northern Ireland:”
“They made it clear that, from 1 January, vehicles registered in Northern Ireland must have EU type approval, while cars registered in Great Britain will follow rules under the UK Government. As a result, consumers will have less choice; car sales in Northern Ireland will plummet; and taxes on consumers will be increased.”
“The FSB set out a report in the summer which highlighted the implications of the Windsor framework for its members. Trade disruption is widespread. Of the businesses that responded to its survey, 58% of those that trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland report significant challenges in operating across the UK internal market. Over one third have already ceased trade rather than deal with new compliance demands. Strategic confidence is plummeting, with 50% of affected firms not confident in planning for the year ahead. Do not take my word for it; take it from the FSB. <BR /> <BR />I will move on to the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), representatives of which appeared before the Committee six weeks ago.”
“That is not just a unionist issue; it impacts on every community across Northern Ireland, as they have less choice and higher bills and, come 1 January, will face even more difficulties. The Road Haulage Association made it clear that, as a result of the Windsor framework, the majority of businesses that source or transport their goods from Great Britain have additional costs and that delays have been created. <BR /> <BR />Let us not just take the RHA's word for it; let us turn to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). Week after week, Members from all sides of the House stand to praise the work of our small businesses, because they recognise that over 90% of our businesses in Northern Ireland are microbusinesses or small businesses and that they are proudly the backbone of our economy.”
“when it comes to moving goods, and that is within the internal market of the United Kingdom. That company alone is being billed a quarter of a million pounds as a result of paperwork, additional administration and the need to take on additional staff as a result of the Windsor framework. As a UK-wide representative, he made it clear that 450 haulage firms across the United Kingdom had closed in the past three years. <BR /> <BR />The evidence that the Road Haulage Association submitted in advance of the meeting clearly spelled out the impact of the framework. Goods sales from Great Britain to Northern Ireland dropped by 2·4% last year, and there has been a 30% drop in goods moved from Great Britain into Northern Ireland since 2002.”
“However, at this stage, I will be happy to give way to any Member who wishes to articulate any objection to what we have set out in our motion. The motion makes clear the impact on our businesses and communities. I will read some of those impacts into the record. Just two weeks ago, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) came before the Committee for the Economy, and members of all political parties were united in supporting the views that they made clear, which I will read into the record. We heard from a businessman from south Antrim who has operated a logistics company in Northern Ireland for the past 30 years. He operates all over the world, but he stated that the border in the Irish Sea is:”
“My colleague Mr Buckley will continue to set out our party's constitutional objections to the Windsor framework. That is why we, as a party, have on two separate occasions voted down the Northern Ireland protocol in the House of Commons and opposed the Windsor framework in the House of Commons and the House of Lords. This debate is an important opportunity for all Members of the House to stand together and state that the current operation of the Windsor framework is not ideal by any stretch of the imagination and that its impact on consumers, businesses and communities across Northern Ireland is clear. <BR /> <BR />Some statements that were issued by political spokespeople in advance of the debate have set it out that they wish to re-fight the Brexit wars.”
“I am pleased to move the motion in my name and those of my colleagues. We can come to the debate and attempt to refight, as some parties seem to want to do, the old wounds of the Brexit years. They can call out the democratic decision of the United Kingdom to leave the European Union. I can respond by challenging Members' views on the rigorous implementation of the protocol, and we can have back and forth on those issues. From my perspective, however, that does not move the discussion or the debate forward by one iota. <BR /> <BR />Every week at the Committee for the Economy, my colleagues and I hear from a wide range of people with diverse perspectives who are concerned about the ongoing impact that the Windsor framework is having on them. They do not come to have a discussion of the constitutional consequences of it.”
“First Minister, when it comes to the North/South interconnector, Sinn Féin has a partitionist policy. Here in Northern Ireland, you support overground cables, while, in the Irish Republic, you say that they will have to be underground. When representing the Northern Ireland Executive in discussions about the North/South interconnector, which wing of your partitionist policy did you advocate?”
“<BR /> <BR />On this rare occasion, I will make no party political statements. I thank everyone here for their contributions to the debate. It has set a useful template that there is political consensus that Northern Ireland will no longer be held to ransom by the men and women of violence.”
“It is the community development workers who listen to the community and are able to bring fresh ideas, bring partners together and source the funding that is required to replace the murals. It is through leadership — through the role that Ms Bradshaw and others have played — that we have seen the work that has taken place across South Belfast. <BR /> <BR />Ms Hargey highlighted the really important work that was done at Belfast City Hall. That was through agreement between the five political parties, but the key to it was additionality rather than removal. That is an important principle that we should all strive to uphold: rather than seeking to remove someone's history or something that they hold dear and that is legally in place, we should add to it to ensure that it reflects all parts of Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Although we have come a long way in North Belfast, we still have a long way to go. As other Members have articulated, we have the unwanted annual Brian Robinson parade on the Shankill Road, which commemorates someone who killed an innocent person. I can stand here without fear or favour and say that that is completely wrong and should not take place. I just wish that others in the Chamber could get up and say that the memorial on the other side of the road to Thomas Begley, who blew up 10 of my constituents — men, women and children — should also be removed. <BR /> <BR />It is important to focus on the progress that has been made here today. Ms Bradshaw, who opened the debate, brought personal experience, which is important in such issues. People such as Ms Bradshaw in her previous role play a vital role in communities.”
“They have done so not for thanks or praise from me in the House but because that is what the local community wanted and they knew that it was the right thing to do. <BR /> <BR />I am slightly disappointed that no representative from the Executive Office is here, because I had hoped that someone would come forward. There is some good news in that the Communities in Transition programme may be extended to other parts of my constituency. It does excellent work, but the false barriers that it has created make no sense. For example, CIT operates and does great work in the New Lodge, but, over the peace wall beside it, Tiger's Bay is excluded from that work. Those communities come together daily to work to overcome the issues, but they are unable to benefit from that scheme.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. It has been a useful discussion, in which a lot of commonality and common ground has been found. I have the privilege of representing North Belfast, and the issue of memorials is evident across our constituency. I pay tribute to the work of and leadership shown by community organisations across the board that have devoted time and, sometimes in difficult circumstances, put their heads above the parapet to try to remove unwanted murals and insignia. I thank Queens Park Women's Group, Rathcoole CREW Women's Group, Tiger's Bay Community Group and to the bands in Rathcoole that have, on every occasion, stepped forward to work with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to have memorials to terrorists and recruitment posters for illegal paramilitary organisations removed.”
“You talked about war. In North Belfast — I am sure that it is the same in South Belfast — we have a proud tradition of commemorating war heroes. Does she include that in the reference from the motion? Obviously, war causes misery and pain. Does she accept that those memorials should stay, or is she calling for their removal?”
“I appreciate the Member's giving way and recognise the vital work that she carried out in South Belfast when she worked in another capacity. I seek some clarity on the motion's reference to:”
“As our amendment makes clear, and as the House will make clear by voting down your motion, we all support the scrapping of the scheme across the entirety of the United Kingdom.”
“The proposer of the motion says that this has always been called "a digital BritCard" and he has never heard it called anything else. I encourage him to read the motion that purports to be in his name, because the word "BritCard" is not included in it. Perhaps he did not read what he was asked to sign by Connolly House before coming here. <BR /> <BR />The Democratic Unionist Party will always be proud of its unionist credentials. However, we propose the amendment not just in that spirit but as people who will continue to stand up for liberty and freedom. We look forward to the settled will of the Assembly being that a UK-wide, mandatory digital ID scheme needs to go straight into the bin.”
“They told us that they would protect innocent victims in Northern Ireland, but, yesterday, the Defence Minister was unable to say that an IRA terrorist could not serve on a panel that would decide who would and would not be entitled to immunity. Forgive me and the Members on these Benches if we do not trust the words of Keir Starmer. <BR /> <BR />In our amendment, we recognise — not just as a unionist party — that those from all backgrounds in Northern Ireland who work in other parts of the United Kingdom and travel daily and/or weekly to other parts of the United Kingdom would be impacted by this. That is why we call for the full removal of the scheme. <BR /> <BR />I thank the SDLP, the Alliance Party, the Ulster Unionists and the Members yet to speak who support our amendment.”
“Look at what he promised the people of the United Kingdom and what he has delivered. He promised working people that he would never increase their taxes, but, at the end of this month, the Chancellor will increase taxes on hard-working families. The Labour Party pledged that they would never increase the tax burden on businesses, but they have already increased the rate of National Insurance contributions. They promised pensioners across this United Kingdom that they would protect the winter fuel payment, but their first act was to grab that from pensioners across the UK. They told us that they would protect our veterans, but one of their first acts was to placate nationalism and not move forward with the protection of veterans in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />The most unpopular Prime Minister in the history of the United Kingdom claims that a digital ID card will stop illegal immigration. That is because he has failed in the first duty of any Government, which is to protect the borders of the country that he serves. Is he seriously telling the people of the United Kingdom that those who enter the country via small boats will be put off because they do not have a digital ID card or that those who enter Northern Ireland through the international border with the Irish Republic, where there are no checks, and are then able to reside in the United Kingdom illegally will stop doing so because Keir Starmer has introduced a digital ID card? That is for the clouds. <BR /> <BR />We are told that we should trust Keir Starmer.”
“To follow on from the contributor who just spoke, I was born a British citizen, I am a British citizen and I always will be a British citizen. That is why I support the amendment tabled in my name and the names of my colleagues. I do so not just with my voice but with the voices of over 5,000 of my constituents in North Belfast: 5,000 people who are unionist, nationalist or have no constitutional view. They also do not have a voice in our national Parliament to make their view clear. Although my Member of Parliament would rather spend his time earning money from legal aid than representing those whom he was elected to serve, I will stand here today and speak on behalf of the 5,000 people of North Belfast who have signed that petition. They, like me, see the policy for what it is: a dead cat policy.”
“I appreciate the Member's giving way. As the Member talks about the Belfast Agreement, will he say why he called for a carveout of the scheme here in Northern Ireland but not to scrap it across the United Kingdom? For those of us who proudly identify as British and whose allegiance is to the United Kingdom, surely, calling for it to be removed across the UK would have gone better with what the Member has just articulated.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department advised the Committee at its meeting on 24 September 2025 of a number of producers in Northern Ireland and the potential for economic spin-offs from related technology. Officials advised that, if the provisions of the Bill were not extended to Northern Ireland from the start, that would lead to uncertainty for our producers. The Committee noted the potential benefits of the new fuel and the important role that it would likely play in reaching climate change targets. Thus, it afforded me this opportunity to say that we support the LCM.”
“I rise on behalf of the Committee to support the LCM tabled by the Minister. I thank her and her officials for the usual courtesy that they have shown the Committee in ensuring that we could deliberate on the matter. <BR /> <BR />Sustainable aviation fuel is described as a cleaner alternative to traditional jet fuel and is part of the process of reducing carbon emissions from air travel. The Bill is described as aiming to boost SAF production through the establishment of revenue certainty mechanisms to encourage investment and support the production of SAF across this United Kingdom. The Bill will allow the Government to impose a levy on suppliers of aviation fuel in the UK who are subject to renewable fuel obligations. That levy will then be used to support the revenue certainty mechanism and thus help producers.”
“It is a serious issue in which I have been heavily involved. I was shouted down when I raised it before. I have been threatened with legal action outside the Chamber, but I have been justified in the actions that I have taken. Minister, do you agree that, despite what others may say, the days of discriminating against Protestants are now over?”
“The boxer's name is Daryl Clarke. I know that Members on the other side of the House have not bothered to mention his name. The Equality Commission did a report on his case, which the IABA settled on anti-Protestant discrimination. The Equality Commission reported —.”
“Minister, since the passing of that legislation, at three meetings in the past two months, the Executive have had to approve additional run hours at Kilroot power station. The Utility Regulator and the chief executive of Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) Networks have said that the 2030 targets will not be met. Why do you know better than those experts?”
“I have only 30 seconds left, Matthew. If the SDLP were serious about reform proposals, it could have tabled them for the Assembly to discuss in detail and debate, but, instead, it wants to outsource that work to this party and to the party opposite. <BR /> <BR />As a party, we will continue to engage with the work of the Assembly and Executive Review Committee because no serious proposals have been put on the table by the Opposition here today. The parties in the Chamber should treat the motion with the contempt that it deserves.”
“Clearly, there is no breach of Standing Orders, so the Chair of the Procedures Committee may wish to do some homework before trying to lecture me in the Chamber. <BR /> <BR />The motion is a pointless exercise. The Assembly and Executive Review Committee is already taking forward important work in this regard. I expected the leader of the Opposition to put forward some proposals or solutions in today's motion as to what he wanted to see in the reform package, but, once again, he has tried to outsource the hard work to someone else, calling on the First Minister and deputy First Minister to bring them forward. If the SDLP were serious about this —.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, when Alliance Party Members speak and anyone dares to reply or make a facial expression, they call it sexism; they call it misogyny; and they call it abuse. Yet they sit in the corner making faces and snide comments when unionists speak, and, when you react to them, they call it a personal attack. This is a debating chamber —”
“Thank you. I appreciate that. <BR /> <BR />There are mechanisms for the House to hold Ministers to —”
“Sorry, you have had your say. Stop chuntering from a sedentary position. You will get your chance to speak. We have had it laid out clearly today from—”
“Of course, you could follow in your predecessors' steps and redesignate to other parties when it suits your political agenda, Ms Armstrong, but I do not need to take any lectures from you about —”
“The Assembly has such ability, Ms Bradshaw; that is why cross-community support is required. I believe that, if a Minister were found to be in breach of the law, parties across the House would come together to take clear actions. <BR /> <BR />I am happy to give way to Ms Armstrong, but maybe she is just shaking her head.”
“Mr Durkan, of course, was found by the High Court to have breached the ministerial code when he acted illegally to approve the Belfast metropolitan area plan (BMAP). Once again, it is one rule for the SDLP, and it thinks that others should be held to account for those —.”
“The people of Northern Ireland see through those flimsy arguments. <BR /> <BR />In his speech at the start of the debate, the leader of the Opposition said that there had been clear breaches of the law and the code by the Minister of Education. That indicates clearly why no party should support the motion from the leader of the Opposition: he has no evidence to back that up as fact. No independent report has been made. Alongside his comrade in People Before Profit, he tables a motion of exclusion of the Minister before the Minister has been found guilty of a single thing. That is what the motion is about. <BR /> <BR />I struggled to take lectures on the ministerial code from the leader of the Opposition when sitting behind him as he made his speech was Mr Durkan.”
“It was not those on these Benches who came up with the rules of the game. We on these Benches are often lectured as though the Belfast Agreement was written on tablets of stone passed down by Moses himself and cannot be touched or changed, but, when that does not suit the narrative of the Opposition, suddenly, it can be changed. <BR /> <BR />The motion goes on to criticise the existing structures in the Assembly. Mr O'Toole's party brought forward the very structures that he criticises. Now, he is like the child who brings his football to the game in the street and, when he does not get his own way, takes the football and goes home. He and his party have been voted out of office, and, because the electorate does not want them in the Government, they want to change the rules.”
“Sometimes, when I come to this place, I think that I am living in a parallel universe. Having exactly the same debate this evening as we had this morning only confirms my suspicions. <BR /> <BR />I read with interest the motion from the leader of the Opposition in the Order Paper this morning. Following my promotion to the Executive Office Committee, I get to respond to such motions. The motion states:”
“I thank the Minister for that. We are blessed to have Northern Ireland Alternatives headquarters in our constituency of North Belfast. Under the leadership of Debbie Watters OBE, its work right across Northern Ireland has been vital. Will the Minister commit to continuing to work with Northern Ireland Alternatives and Community Restorative Justice (CRJ) to ensure that we can continue to deliver that important role throughout Northern Ireland?”
“Deputy First Minister, AI has been at the fore in the cutting-edge development in our continually growing defence and space industry in Northern Ireland. How can we ensure that the AI strategy aligns with that growth and that we fully benefit from the UK defence growth deal, which will be worth millions of pounds to the people of Northern Ireland?”
“Mr Givan's record speaks for itself. Record pay settlement for teachers. Record pay for new teachers. The first time we have had a proper childcare support scheme. Bursaries for new teachers to ensure that the subjects that we want to see promoted are produced. A record number of SEN places. Also, he has been proven by the High Court to properly interpret legislation, unlike the Alliance Party, because its Bill and Act was found to be a nonsense. This party has confidence in Mr Givan. Our party leader has confidence in Mr Givan. The people of Northern Ireland have confidence in Mr Givan. He is not going anywhere. Get used to it.”
“The SDLP, in its continued search for relevance, falls into line in behind Mr Carroll. We take our confidence from the people of Northern Ireland, who voted us into office to be joint head of government, unlike the SDLP, which was voted out of office, out of seats and into opposition because the people of Northern Ireland have no confidence in it whatsoever. <BR /> <BR />I will not waste a huge amount of time on the proposer of the motion today, but it will not be lost on the people whom I represent that, when he had the opportunity to withdraw his antisemitic, disgraceful tweet, he did not take it. Thankfully, I know that, in 18 months' time, the electorate of West Belfast will pass verdict on Mr Carroll, and I look forward to welcoming an additional DUP Member to these Benches who will properly represent the people of West Belfast.”
“How can a party that has lost the confidence of our Police Service, our justice system and our farmers come to the Chamber with a straight face and try to lecture us and then get into personal attacks on our deputy leader? Let me be very clear: my deputy leader will be returned without hesitation by the electorate of Northern Ireland at the next election. I am not quite sure that the same will be said for the deputy leader of the Alliance Party.”
“The Police Federation has a different view of the Alliance Party's ability, as it has publicly condemned an Alliance Minister for its failings. Let us not forget the Ulster Farmers' Union. The very people whom another Alliance Party Minister is meant to represent passed a unanimous vote of no confidence in that Minister.”
“Where was your motion of no confidence then? It was nowhere to be seen. <BR /> <BR />Two Sinn Féin Ministers and an SDLP Minister were in court for breaching the ministerial code when they attempted to remove a bonfire in north Belfast and heighten tensions. Where were your motions of no confidence then? They were nowhere to be seen. The very Minister who was found to have breached the ministerial code has, again, signed a motion of no confidence in our Minister. No lectures will be taken from those Benches. <BR /> <BR />Then we have the Alliance Party, whose Members today said that they would support the motion. It is always claiming to be the party of the moral centre and preaching and lecturing to others.”