Brian Kingston
North Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“As a DUP member of the Justice Committee, I welcome the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill moving to Second Stage. As other Members have mentioned, we are currently handling three substantial Bills at Justice Committee: the Justice Bill, the amendments on which we completed voting on earlier today after seven days of debate; the Criminal…”
“We recognise, however, that the commissioner is not to be an appeal mechanism for when, for example, the outcome of a trial is considered to be unsatisfactory, such as when an unduly lenient sentence is handed down.”
“The special measures include ensuring that an alleged perpetrator is not allowed to cross-examine the victim of the alleged offence, including in sexual crime cases. <BR /> <BR />We heard comments from the Sinn Féin Member for Mid Ulster in praise of her party's support for victims' human rights.”
“We are aware that the trial process often focuses more on the defendant who is charged with an offence than it does on the victims of the alleged crime. Victims must be at the heart of the justice system, not peripheral to it.”
“We welcome the fact that, through the legislation, the post will be formally established and regulated. <BR /> <BR />The principal aim of the commissioner is to promote the interests of victims and witnesses. The commissioner is intended to have a strategic role rather than to become involved in individual cases. Indeed, clause 8 states:”
“Although the Minister notified us a week ago that he would make his statement, it was disappointing that we received the text of it less than an hour before he was scheduled to give it in the Chamber, which did not help us with scrutiny.”
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“<BR /> <BR />Looking at the wording of the motion, we can understand the appeal of a vacant land tax to work against land banking and delay. However, we must assess whether applying more stick would actually be a disincentive to investment.”
“Whilst other cities also experienced the Blitz attacks during the Second World War, Belfast suffered more than any other city from the terrorist onslaught of the Provisional IRA, which tried to destroy the economy of the city and held back investment for 30 years. That is the reality. <BR /> <BR />Our capital city has had to play catch-up, but there has been notable progress in recent years, particularly in hotels and tourism; student accommodation; modern office development, including at City Quays; the fabulous new Ulster University campus; and retail, residential and leisure developments. The fact that Deloitte carries out an annual Belfast crane survey to count new developments in the city centre is a positive sign. I recall attending the launch of its first crane survey in 2016, when I was Lord Mayor.”
“Belfast has been on a similar journey to that of many other cities that expanded rapidly during the Industrial Revolution, such as Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Newcastle, with old industrial and warehousing land being repurposed for modern-day use. Whilst other cities also experienced Blitz attacks during the Second World War, Belfast suffered more than any other city from the terrorist onslaught of the Provisional IRA, which tried to destroy the economy of the city and held back investment for 30 years. That is the reality. <BR /> <BR />Belfast has been on a similar journey to many other cities that expanded rapidly during the Industrial Revolution, such as Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Newcastle, where old industrial and warehousing land has been repurposed for modern-day use.”
“Does the Member agree that our attention should be on the good governance of Northern Ireland and on ensuring that, for the rest of the term, the Assembly operates well?”
“— to remember that those in glass houses should not throw stones.”
“— those championing the motion would do well —”
“In the same year, the then Lord Chief Justice ruled that Michelle O'Neill, the then Agriculture Minister, had breached the ministerial code by trying to transfer money from the direct farm support budget into rural development programmes without there being Executive consideration. More recently, the former Alliance Party MLA Patrick Brown was found to have failed to observe the principles of conduct for MLAs and to have brought the Assembly into disrepute.”
“We do not feel that our proud British and unionist identity is under threat from the many positive examples of beneficial and life-saving cross-border health projects, including the all-island congenital heart disease network and the North West Cancer Centre. The DUP wants that vital work to continue. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to having respect for the institutions and the various codes that are applicable to Members, we should perhaps take a look at the recent history of those parties that are championing the motion. When Gerry Kelly admitted committing a criminal offence at the Tour of the North parade in 2013 and was sanctioned by the then Assembly Commissioner for Standards, it was the SDLP that used the petition of concern to block those sanctions from taking effect.”
“Until now, the common thread running through all strand two and strand three institutions has been that they are accountable to Stormont. Regrettably, the undemocratic imposition of over 300 areas of EU law on Northern Ireland has reframed the terms of North/South cooperation, attacking and diminishing the principle that the North/South Ministerial Council and other bodies are accountable to the Executive and the Assembly. That is where the act of bad faith lies. <BR /> <BR />The DUP supports practical, sensible and targeted cooperation between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.”
“It is a pity that other parties did not follow that example: in 2008, Sinn Féin boycotted Executive meetings, and, in 2017, it pulled down the institutions and deprived the Assembly of the ability to sit, prevented British-Irish Council meetings from taking place and stopped the North/South bodies from being able to operate in any shape or form.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Absolutely. My colleague is right: the party was right to make that stand. It brought about benefit to our constitutional position and to our economic position in the UK internal market. <BR /> <BR />During that period, we made it clear that it would not be appropriate for us to thwart decision-making on crucial issues such as health cooperation. In fact, cross-border meetings took place during the period, with the attendance of other Ministers to sign off on those issues and on PEACE PLUS funding.”
“The action of DUP Ministers in the previous Executive and the subsequent legal judgement were a collective demonstration that the original protocol imposed by the EU and the UK Government caused a deterioration in political and economic stability in Northern Ireland. The concerns of unionists had been trampled on, and the DUP makes no apology for having brought matters to a head. Only then did the EU reverse its position and return to the negotiating table. Ultimately, legislative changes were made. We in the DUP will take no lectures from other parties that resisted bringing about a political resolution to that impasse and, instead, called for the rigorous implementation of the protocol — the arrangements that were at the heart of the problem.”
“Ultimately, we must do all that we can to address these issues proactively and not just rely on the criminal justice system. This will include challenging and changing attitudes and mindsets in families, in workplaces and at community level. For many years, good relations in Northern Ireland has, understandably, focused on our sectarian divisions. I hope that the review will provide an additional focus on the need to support community cohesion and awareness in areas and communities where ethnic diversity has increased.”
“Acts of hate crime must have consequences for those who are responsible for them. However, just strengthening hate crime laws will not resolve all the challenges that we face where tensions have arisen due to increasing ethnic diversity. Let us remember that race is already a protected characteristic under hate crime legislation. Of course, the PSNI and the courts must have adequate powers to crack down on racially motivated crime, but that alone will not be the silver bullet for the challenges that we face. <BR /> <BR />Elected representatives have a responsibility to promote tolerance, good relations and the rule of law, but not just to preach from afar. We have a responsibility to engage with local communities and to work with them and with statutory and voluntary agencies to address local needs and concerns.”
“We need to be able to identify areas where tensions exist at an earlier stage as part of existing tension-monitoring processes.”
“Ensuring that that balance is struck is key to ensuring that there is community cohesion and good relations. As we said during the recall debate on those disturbances on 8 August, the DUP wants to see meaningful dialogue with affected communities. Violence is never justified; nor should it be an excuse for public bodies and politicians to ignore concerns that are legitimately expressed. <BR /> <BR />Any review led by TEO must meaningfully explore community relations in areas where there is, currently, significant ethnic diversity or, indeed, where demographics are projected to change. That includes issues of access to housing and public services.”
“We can see that, statistically, in the census figures and in our workplaces, our schools, local communities and on our streets. In some areas, the rate of change has been challenging for some people. The scale and nature of immigration into any country is a legitimate topic of political and public debate. However, without question, some people with a racist agenda have exploited other people's concerns, and we saw the tragic and destructive outworking of that this summer. Those who come to Northern Ireland ought to be welcomed and supported. Many voluntary groups assist with that, but so, also, should the full apparatus of government. <BR /> <BR />It is equally important that the needs of people who have lived in an area for generations should continue to be met.”
“The targeting of homes, businesses and places of worship is and always has been absolutely wrong. In this matter, the focus is, rightly, on the actions of a minority who spread misinformation, anonymously called for protests and orchestrated violence and wanton destruction. However, let us not lose sight of the fact that the vast majority of people in Northern Ireland do value and appreciate the positive role that members of newcomer communities play in our society, in our public services, including health, and in a host of vital sectors in our economy, including manufacturing, IT services, agri-food and the fishing industry. I thank them for their contribution. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland is becoming more ethnically diverse.”
“The motion has been brought to the Assembly by the Committee for the Executive Office, through its Chair. I rise, as a DUP member of the Committee, along with my colleague Harry Harvey, in support of the motion. <BR /> <BR />The racially motivated attacks witnessed over the summer were shocking, unacceptable and unjustifiable. We support the proposal for a comprehensive and rapid review of how and why it transpired. The proposal for a review, as has been mentioned, was raised with the Committee by the Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime. <BR /> <BR />The Democratic Unionist Party is committed to building a safe and inclusive society in Northern Ireland. No one should have to live in fear because of where they were born, the colour of their skin or their religious beliefs.”
“Emergency planning is vital, and additional complexity is created when we discuss border communities. What work is being undertaken to ensure that border communities are prepared for all eventualities?”
“Will the Minister confirm that the business case ensures a fair and equitable approach to the Irish language commissioner and the commissioner for the Ulster-Scots and the Ulster-British tradition?”
“I commend the Minister for his innovative approach in establishing the integrated advice partnership fund and for recognising the local knowledge and expertise of our 11 councils, which will ensure that the additional £1·3 million from HM Treasury will be used to best effect in providing debt advice. <BR /> <BR />Minister, what formula was used to determine the breakdown of funding across the 11 councils? Perhaps the Minister has provided the detail; if he has already covered that, I would be grateful to know how much has been allocated to Belfast City Council.”
“What is the Minister's assessment of the impact on section 75 groups of the future status of the rates support grant?”
“Let their needs be placed above all other considerations. We will remember them.”
“<BR /> <BR />The innocent victims were the shop owner, John Frizzell, aged 63; his daughter, Sharon McBride, aged 29, who was also a wife and a mother; Michael "Minnie" Morrison, aged 27, after whom a youth football tournament that takes place each year is named; his partner, Evelyn Baird, also aged 27; and their daughter Michelle Baird, aged seven, in whose memory a play park in Glencairn is named — the couple's two other children were left parentless; George Williamson, aged 63 and his wife, Gillian Williamson, aged 49, who were out shopping when they were both killed in the blast, leaving behind two children; mother-of-two Wilma McKee, aged 38; and Leanne Murray, aged 13. We mourn the recent passing of her mother, Gina Murray. <BR /> <BR />Let us continue to support the families. Let there be no attempts at justification.”
“<BR /> <BR />In its callous disregard for human life, the IRA was also prepared to sacrifice the lives of those whom it sent to carry out the atrocity, with one being killed and the other owing his survival to those who rescued him from under the rubble, where he was surrounded by the bodies of those who were less fortunate. <BR /> <BR />The nine innocent people whose lives were taken will always be held dear in the hearts of the Shankill community. Last year, on the 30th anniversary, a new memorial clock face was unveiled at the location of the bombing, and a circle of nine trees was planted in the park beside West Kirk Presbyterian Church. Floral wreaths will be laid tomorrow.”
“When they triggered it at 1.06 pm, the explosion ripped through the building and out into the street, resulting in the death of nine innocent people — men, women and children. The Provisional IRA claimed that it was targeting a meeting upstairs, but there was no meeting. The terrorists were entirely prepared to put the lives of innocent people at risk in the planning and execution of the bombing, and they killed nine innocent people. <BR /> <BR />Over the years, I have met many relatives of those killed in that IRA atrocity. I have also met many people who were injured that day, some of whom were buried under bricks and rubble and had to be dug out, and the people who did that digging, frantically tearing at bricks with their bare hands: they all bear the mental scars of that traumatic experience.”
“Tomorrow, 23 October, will be the 31st anniversary of the Shankill bomb. On that sunny Saturday afternoon in 1993, two IRA men walked into Frizzell's fish shop on the Shankill Road carrying a bomb designed to kill.”
“Everyone welcomes that investment and the excellent new Grand Central station. Many of us have had the opportunity to visit it. I hope that the Minister and the Department will look at any temporary measures that could be introduced during the closure of Durham Street to enable traffic flow. Anyone coming from the south Belfast direction on Great Victoria Street and trying to get to the Westlink or trying to go in the direction of south Belfast from the Grosvenor Road faces a difficult journey. I hope that the Minister will look at whether any temporary measures can be introduced.”
“I welcome the Minister's important statement and the key areas for reform that he has identified. Can he say more about the basis for increasing the age of participation in education and training to 18?”
“We expect the issues highlighted in the motion to feature in that strategy. <BR /> <BR />We would have preferred the wording of the motion's final clause to call on the Minister to work with the Minister of Finance to secure a commitment that future budgetary allocations, including Barnett consequential funding, should reflect the need to provide more social, affordable and sustainable housing in Northern Ireland as an immediate and stand-alone priority of the draft Programme for Government. I have now put that alternative wording on the record. We recognise the need for additional housing of all categories as being an urgent priority and an emergency for the Assembly and the Executive.”
“for housing. I presume that the SDLP is referring to its housing Ministers and others in that expression of regret. <BR /> <BR />As is the case with all Departments, the Communities Minister is managing many competing demands on departmental resources. We know that he is seeking the necessary funding and resources to address those interconnected issues. He is working with other relevant Ministers, local councils and housing bodies to expedite solutions to increase the availability of social, affordable and sustainable housing. That includes pushing for borrowing powers for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive so that it can borrow against its considerable assets to fund significant additional social housing. We also know that the Minister is working to bring the draft housing supply strategy to the Executive as soon as possible.”
“As a member of the Committee for Communities along with my colleague Maurice Bradley, I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion calling for the declaration of a housing emergency. <BR /> <BR />The Democratic Unionist Party acknowledges the broad thrust of the motion, although I will highlight some alternative wording that we would have preferred. The motion rightly points to the "growing crisis in housing availability", the "inadequate supply of social housing", "underinvestment in waste water infrastructure", the "growing impact of second-home ownership" — Mr McCrossan also referred to houses that have become short-term holiday lets — the:”
“That includes specialist nursing care at home and the Tiny Horizons service, which provides palliative care for patients right from diagnosis during pregnancy. The Northern Ireland Hospice as a whole remains deeply committed to providing specialist palliative care. It is imperative that it see practical action from all parties in the Assembly to ensure that it can deliver on its mission.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is not good enough for the Minister simply to say that it is for the Children's Hospice and the Northern Ireland Hospice more generally to review their finances, get to grips with the situations themselves and chart a more sustainable way forward. In fact, that would be entirely at odds with the approach that the Department of Health has adopted for its own budgetary situation. Staff are already going above and beyond to deliver the best possible care in a highly constrained environment. The current financial settlement is simply not sustainable. <BR /> <BR />Let us not forget that the Children's Hospice and the Northern Ireland Hospice more generally are contributing enormously to care in the community beyond the confines of their inpatient services.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is crucial that the Department come up with an agreed benchmark of financial need rather than rely on commissioning and accounting methods that do not have the confidence of the Children's Hospice. The Treasury and the Minister of Finance also have a responsibility to ensure that Northern Ireland has access to needs-based funding. Ultimately, however, there needs to be an agreed, ambitious plan from the Department of Health for how additional resources will be allocated to fortify and enhance our palliative care and hospice network. That must be done in co-design with the Children's Hospice, with children and their families at its core.”
“<BR /> <BR />Future budget allocations must recognise and rectify the debilitating impact that inflation has had on the Children's Hospice's expenditure. The charity's reserves are already dwindling. The hospice has long campaigned for a 50:50 funding model, and the Minister now needs to bring forward clear, time-bound actions to bring that model to fruition in the weeks and months ahead. The demand for services is increasing, yet income from fundraising has been decreasing. The hospice should not be expected to absorb increases in the cost of providing care in order to ease pressures in other areas of the health service. Every sector and service provider ought to be treated fairly.”
“I thank the Member for making the point about the need for a palliative care strategy. <BR /> <BR />The Northern Ireland Hospice and the Children's Hospice taken together require more than £20 million annually to provide their services. At present, statutory grants account for around 30% of that. That places an immense focus on charitable fundraising and, to a large extent, leaves the success of the service dependent on the generosity of the wider public and businesses. That imbalance needs to be addressed. The hospices' energy bills have risen massively in recent times, and the cost-of-living crisis has led to spikes in the cost of essential clinical and catering supplies as well as in the cost of insurance and security provision.”
“The Alliance Party amendment to our motion highlights a desire to see the provision of palliative care as a core Health and Social Care (HSC) service that is not dependent on any charitable fundraising. We have every sympathy with that intention. We are also cognisant, however, that steps need to be taken in the short term to stabilise current services and ingrain a degree of sustainability. Increasing statutory funding to meet 50% of the costs incurred by the Children's Hospice in delivering lifeline care and support to children and their families represents a reasonable, proportionate and minimum requirement of the Department and the Executive.”
“It is time for the Department of Health to step up and provide the quantum of funding that is required to protect that work for future children and families who may be affected by life-threatening and life-limiting conditions. <BR /> <BR />The work of the Children's Hospice is far-reaching and impactful, as will be any cuts to services that will, inevitably, come from a failure to place this vital inpatient facility and outreach provision for our community on a more stable footing. It should be the collective aim of all in this place to ensure that the Children's Hospice is in a position to offer and deliver its full suite of services to every family that requires them.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. Members will be aware of the vital role of the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice in providing palliative care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and in supporting their families through extremely challenging times. From its premises in north Belfast, the Children's Hospice provides care for more than 350 children and their families throughout Northern Ireland, in their home setting and at Horizon House. Due to rising operating costs, the Northern Ireland Children's Hospice is facing financial challenges that have already caused a reduction in bed capacity and placed the long-term provision of care in jeopardy. That decrease in capacity limits the availability of and access to respite care at Horizon House for families across Northern Ireland.”
“I refer the Minister to the domestic and sexual abuse strategy: the second pillar on prevention and the fifth pillar on justice. Given the pressure on the policing budget, does the Minister, on behalf of his colleague, recognise the importance of the neighbourhood policing budget to ensure visibility and community reach in relation to education, awareness-raising, investigation and prosecution?”
“After that, there is no ongoing cost either to participants or to the public purse. <BR /> <BR />In some cases, there has been difficulty pinning down a source for the start-up funding. It is sometimes provided by local councils, such as Belfast City Council. The Public Health Agency and Sport NI should also be supportive, given all the health and community benefits that flow from parkruns. Well done to everyone who supports the parkrun activities, particularly the volunteers who make it all happen. Happy 20th birthday, parkrun, and here is to many more.”
“Parkrun is now a global phenomenon, with over 2,500 events taking place each week around the world. As Members will know, parkruns are free, timed 5 kilometre runs in local parks on Saturday mornings. Once you have registered online and received your barcode, you can turn up at any parkrun and take part. <BR /> <BR />The first parkrun in Northern Ireland and on the island of Ireland took place at the Waterworks in Belfast on 6 November 2010. Today, across Northern Ireland, we have 40 parkruns taking place each week, plus 20 junior parkruns, which cover 2 kilometres. Parkrun continues to expand in Northern Ireland. I am glad to say there are several proposed new ones in the pipeline. There is a small one-off cost to establish each new parkrun of £4,000 plus VAT for all the equipment.”
“<BR /> <BR />The inaugural Paisley Park parkrun took place on the 20th anniversary of the first ever parkrun, which was held at Bushy Park in England in October 2004.”
“That made the connection with a historic achievement on the Paisley Park track in August 1967: the breaking of the four-minute mile for the first time in Northern Ireland, by Kenyan Kip Keino and Derek Graham, the first two finishers in the race. Derek unveiled a plaque marking the inaugural parkrun and his and Kip Keino's historic achievement. <BR /> <BR />Derek was a phenomenal athlete throughout his running career. He was ranked number one in the UK and Ireland over 2 miles and 3 miles in the 1960s. He finished second in the equivalent of the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in 1966, and he held the world record for half marathon for six years from 1970 to 1976.”
“Saturday 5 October saw the commencement of Northern Ireland's newest parkrun, at Paisley Park on the West Circular Road in Belfast. That is really positive for the community, as it is the first parkrun in the greater Shankill area. We had 112 finishers and a lot of positive feedback. I thank all who made it possible: the volunteer team, the board of Paisley Park Sportsplex, the Department for Communities, Belfast City Council and Matt Shields of parkrun. <BR /> <BR />We were honoured that, along with the Lord Mayor, Councillor Micky Murray, local athletics legend Derek Graham attended to start the event.”
“Trust representatives attended the Manchester Jobs Fair to encourage applications from social workers who qualify in Great Britain. The trust also seeks to recruit social workers by looking internationally and among those living in Northern Ireland who have qualifications from elsewhere that could be recognised locally.”
“I turn to what is being done. Again, I am told that the trust has established a social work recruitment and retention strategic group. The trust is maintaining compliance with the Department of Health's directive to cease all use of agency social workers. Other efforts are increasing supply, but that is limited. The trust is seeking to invest in staff well-being initiatives and to promote a flexible working policy. Obviously, it supports staff advancement and post-qualifying training programmes, and it recognises that retention is an issue. Children's services has recently established a specific recruitment and retention group chaired by a senior divisional social worker. It is looking at additional Open University places.”
“<BR /> <BR />The five health trusts are seeking approval from the Department to pay an exceptional recognition payment to all band 5, 6 and 7 social work staff who deliver gateway, family interventions and looked-after children's services across the five trust areas, recognising the complex work that is being undertaken.”