Official Report (Hansard) Monday 15 September 2014 Volume 97, No 3 Session 2014-2015 Contents Assembly Business Standing Order 20(1): Suspension ................................................................................................... 1 Tributes to the Rt Hon Lord Bannside, Former First Minister ............................................................ 1 Suggested amendments or corrections will be considered by the Editor. They should be sent to: The Editor of Debates, Room 248, Parliament Buildings, Belfast BT4 3XX. Tel: 028 9052 1135 · e-mail: [email protected] to arrive not later than two weeks after publication of this report. Assembly Members Agnew, Steven (North Down) McAleer, Declan (West Tyrone) Allister, Jim (North Antrim) McCallister, John (South Down) Anderson, Sydney (Upper Bann) McCann, Fra (West Belfast) Attwood, Alex (West Belfast) McCann, Ms Jennifer (West Belfast) Beggs, Roy (East Antrim) McCarthy, Kieran (Strangford) Bell, Jonathan (Strangford) McCartney, Raymond (Foyle) Boylan, Cathal (Newry and Armagh) McCausland, Nelson (North Belfast) Boyle, Ms Michaela (West Tyrone) McCorley, Ms Rosaleen (West Belfast) Bradley, Dominic (Newry and Armagh) McCrea, Basil (Lagan Valley) Bradley, Ms Paula (North Belfast) McCrea, Ian (Mid Ulster) Brady, Mickey (Newry and Armagh) McDonnell, Alasdair (South Belfast) Buchanan, Thomas (West Tyrone) McElduff, Barry (West Tyrone) Byrne, Joe (West Tyrone) McGahan, Ms Bronwyn (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Cameron, Mrs Pam (South Antrim) McGimpsey, Michael (South Belfast) Campbell, Gregory (East Londonderry) McGlone, Patsy (Mid Ulster) Clarke, Trevor (South Antrim) McGuinness, Martin (Mid Ulster) Cochrane, Mrs Judith (East Belfast) McIlveen, David (North Antrim) Copeland, Michael (East Belfast) McIlveen, Miss Michelle (Strangford) Craig, Jonathan (Lagan Valley) McKay, Daithí (North Antrim) Cree, Leslie (North Down) McKevitt, Mrs Karen (South Down) Dallat, John (East Londonderry) McKinney, Fearghal (South Belfast) Dickson, Stewart (East Antrim) McLaughlin, Ms Maeve (Foyle) Dobson, Mrs Jo-Anne (Upper Bann) McLaughlin, Mitchel (South Antrim) Douglas, Sammy (East Belfast) McMullan, Oliver (East Antrim) Dunne, Gordon (North Down) McNarry, David (Strangford) Durkan, Mark (Foyle) McQuillan, Adrian (East Londonderry) Easton, Alex (North Down) Maginness, Alban (North Belfast) Eastwood, Colum (Foyle) Maskey, Alex (South Belfast) Elliott, Tom (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Milne, Ian (Mid Ulster) Farry, Stephen (North Down) Morrow, The Lord (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Fearon, Ms Megan (Newry and Armagh) Moutray, Stephen (Upper Bann) Flanagan, Phil (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Nesbitt, Mike (Strangford) Ford, David (South Antrim) Newton, Robin (East Belfast) Foster, Mrs Arlene (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Ní Chuilín, Ms Carál (North Belfast) Frew, Paul (North Antrim) Ó hOisín, Cathal (East Londonderry) Gardiner, Samuel (Upper Bann) O'Dowd, John (Upper Bann) Girvan, Paul (South Antrim) O'Neill, Mrs Michelle (Mid Ulster) Givan, Paul (Lagan Valley) Overend, Mrs Sandra (Mid Ulster) Hale, Mrs Brenda (Lagan Valley) Poots, Edwin (Lagan Valley) Hamilton, Simon (Strangford) Ramsey, Pat (Foyle) Hay, William (Speaker) Ramsey, Ms Sue (West Belfast) Hazzard, Chris (South Down) Robinson, George (East Londonderry) Hilditch, David (East Antrim) Robinson, Peter (East Belfast) Humphrey, William (North Belfast) Rogers, Seán (South Down) Hussey, Ross (West Tyrone) Ross, Alastair (East Antrim) Irwin, William (Newry and Armagh) Ruane, Ms Caitríona (South Down) Kelly, Mrs Dolores (Upper Bann) Sheehan, Pat (West Belfast) Kelly, Gerry (North Belfast) Spratt, Jimmy (South Belfast) Kennedy, Danny (Newry and Armagh) Storey, Mervyn (North Antrim) Kinahan, Danny (South Antrim) Sugden, Ms Claire (East Londonderry) Lo, Ms Anna (South Belfast) Swann, Robin (North Antrim) Lunn, Trevor (Lagan Valley) Weir, Peter (North Down) Lynch, Seán (Fermanagh and South Tyrone) Wells, Jim (South Down) Lyttle, Chris (East Belfast) Wilson, Sammy (East Antrim) Northern Ireland Assembly Monday 15 September 2014 The Assembly met at 12.00 noon (Mr Principal Deputy Speaker [Mr Mitchel McLaughlin] in the Chair). Members observed two minutes' silence. Assembly Business Tributes to the Rt Hon Lord Bannside, Former First Minister Mr Principal Deputy Speaker: Members will have been saddened to learn of the passing of Mr Principal Deputy Speaker: One of the the former First Minister the Rt Hon Lord saddest duties from this Chair is to report to the Bannside. Before I pay my own tribute, I advise House the passing of former or current the House that the Business Committee has colleagues. However, it always serves to agreed, as a mark of respect, to adjourn today's remind us that, no matter about the heat of the sitting after Members have had the opportunity political disagreements that we have in this to speak. That requires a formal item of House or elsewhere, ultimately, we are all business, which I will take now. made of the same flesh and bone. I know that Members will have different views Standing Order 20(1): Suspension on Ian Paisley's politics and his legacy that they will want to express, but it is not for me to dwell Mr Weir: I beg to move on that from this Chair. However, there is no doubt that the former First Minister was That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for instrumental in us all being in the Chamber 15 September 2014. today. Indeed, he will have influenced the politics of Members on all sides of the House. Mr Principal Deputy Speaker: Before we proceed to the Question, I remind Members that I think that Members will agree that politics has the motion requires cross-community support. lost a giant personality. The international coverage since his passing acts as proof of Question put and agreed to. that. To opponents or the public, in speeches or in interviews, Ian Paisley may have come Resolved (with cross-community support): across as a strident, foreboding character, but I know that many in the Chamber will also hold valued memories of his warm and personal That Standing Order 20(1) be suspended for nature. That came across in his reputation as a 15 September 2014. champion of all his constituents and, of course, combined with his sense of humour, on the election campaign trail, it made him a force of Mr Principal Deputy Speaker: Before we go any further, I wish to inform the House that the nature. Speaker has asked me to convey his apologies that he is unable to be here due to ill health. It is often the case that some of the most Members will appreciate that, given the long significant and memorable political figures are personal and political connection between the those who provoke a strong emotional reaction, Hay family and the late Lord Bannside, he positive and negative. Ian Paisley did that. He would have wished to be here, but I am sure was straight-talking whether you liked what he that the House will join me in wishing the said or not. Let us remember today that, Speaker a speedy recovery. regardless of his political contribution, he regarded himself first and foremost as a man of faith and family. We express our heartfelt Some Members: Hear, hear. condolences to Baroness Paisley and the entire Paisley family. It is safe to say that Northern politics would not have been the same without Ian Paisley. May he rest in peace. 1 Monday 15 September 2014 As is customary, I will now invite party leaders For most of his life, Ian was blessed to have to speak for around five minutes to pay tribute Eileen by his side whether he was battling in to our late friend and colleague. I will not the valley or marching on the mountaintop. She impose strict time constraints but I encourage gave him decades of love and support. At this Members to be brief and to speak for no more sad time, our prayers are with Baroness than three minutes in order to give time for as Paisley, her children, grandchildren and great- many as possible in the one and a half hours grandchildren. He was as special to them as that have been allocated for tributes. When they were to him, for his was a close and loving tributes are concluded, Members are invited to family circle. join me in signing the book of condolence in the Great Hall. The book of condolence will be Those of us who knew him best will remember available for Members, staff who work in the the fun and joy it was to be in his company. Building and for users of the Building to sign Today, we close the page on a long and until 3.00 pm today after which it will be open to glorious era, and already politics seems a little the public. The House will now pay its own less colourful and exciting. Ian has taken his respects. place in the chronicles of Ulster history, alongside the greats of unionism, making our Mr P Robinson: The custom on occasions heritage even richer. As a leader of men, a such as this is to comment and reflect on the friend of the people, a servant of the state and life's service and contribution of the person who the undisputed leader of unionism, Ian Paisley has passed away, but when the person is outclassed all around him. Ulster will never see someone who, head and shoulders above all the like of him again. He was an exceptional others, strode and dominated the public stage human being. He had a loyal heart, a fidelity to for a time beyond the adult life of all of us who freedom, a passion for democracy and a love sit in the House, it is a daunting task and one for public service. In a storm, he was oak and that no eloquence or command of detail could, granite, and in the sunshine, he radiated in truth and with fairness, accomplish. passion and commitment. Ian Paisley was a remarkable man whose long Ian's faith shaped his entire life. We will never career in public life has left an indelible mark know, this side of eternity, just how many upon all of us who knew him.