http://www.davidford.org/speecharchive.php Recent Speeches from David Ford MLA en-GB David Ford MLA http://www.davidford.org/ Prater Raines Ltd http://www.praterraines.co.uk/ (c) 2010 David Ford MLA 2010-03-10T18:53+00:00 United Kingdom http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000080/policing_and_justice_powers__devolution_to_northern_ireland.html In the debate on the Executive Motion on the devolution of Policing and Justice Powers to Northern Ireland, David Ford said: 2010-03-09T12:20+00:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000079/delivering_responsible_government__leaders_speech_to_conference_2010.html We meet at an interesting time for this community and for the Alliance party. I must admit that when I was thinking about Conference a few weeks ago, I was not thinking of the developments of recent weeks, some of them bizarre, some momentous, some deeply worrying. 2010-01-23T12:00+00:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000078/speech_on_randalstown_bomb.html It is right that our first business of this new year should be to send our best wishes for a full recovery to Constable Peadar Heffron, and let his parents, his wife and his friends and colleagues know that they are in our thoughts and prayers. 2010-01-11T12:07+00:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000075/speech_on_the_climate_change_report_from_the_assembly_environment_committee.html Speaking in the debate on the motion: "That this Assembly approves the report of the Committee for the Environment on its inquiry into climate change; and calls on the Minister of the Environment, in liaison with Executive colleagues, to bring forward a timetable for implementing the recommendations contained in the report", David Ford MLA said: "As yet another member of the Committee for the Environment, I welcome the fact that the report, which has taken most of the year to produce, has been published. I thank the Committee staff, DOE officials and representatives of a huge range of NGOs who assisted us in our work. One of the most useful aspects of the inquiry was a practical visit to AFBI at Hillsborough to see the work that it was doing on renewable energy and on the remediation of methane production from ruminants. It was an example of where Northern Ireland could be at the forefront of the debate, but sadly, at the moment, is not." 2009-12-07T13:15+00:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000077/speech_on_final_stage_of_department_of_justice_bill.html Speaking in support of the Bill, Alliance Leader, David Ford MLA said "Having just listened to Mrs Kelly, I am glad that I heard Mr Durkan say earlier that the SDLP supports the Bill. 2009-12-01T17:05+00:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000076/speech_in_final_stage_of_goods_vehicles_licensing_of_operators_bill.html Supporting the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill, Alliance Leader, David Ford MLA said: "One example of what happens in this place when a good Bill is made better by a Committee is that there is nothing left to say when the Bill reaches Final Stage. If one happens to be the sixth Member to speak in the debate, one has even less to say. I shall, nonetheless, do my best to say a few words. 2009-12-01T11:30+00:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000067/speech_on_the_budget_bill.html Speaking towards the end of the debate in the Assembly Chamber on the Budget (No. 2) Bill, David Ford MLA said, "I start by saying that I will be the last Member to speak before the Minister: I think that I am the fourth Member in a row to do that. 2009-06-16T17:13+01:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000074/diseases_of_animals_bill.html I first declare my interest or, technically, that of my wife in a family farm. As one who did not speak in the first part of the debate, I think that this section corresponds with what I heard earlier. The Minister has listened to the views of the industry. The Committee has reflected those views and engaged in discussions that were, perhaps, robust, but that may have been the kind of discussion that was required. We probably have a good Bill now, and I shall support the three amendments in group 2. 2009-11-17T00:00+00:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000073/eu_fisheries_council.html I too welcome the debate and congratulate those who secured it. It brings back to me nostalgia for the days of the first Assembly, when, every autumn, the Agriculture Committee devoted parts of a number of meetings to discussions on the forthcoming European Fisheries Council meeting. We got the results after the Christmas break, and, generally, they were uniformly bad. However, it is important that that discussion is not confined just to the Agriculture Committee and that the motion is on the Floor of the Assembly for wider consideration of what is needed. 2009-11-16T00:00+00:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000072/supporting_the_goods_vehicles_licensing_of_operators_bill.html Mr Ford: I express my general support for the principles of the Bill and for the amendments. A few months ago, we reached the Consideration Stage of the Taxis Bill, and I remember saying that it was like the penultimate meeting of a rather sad club that had met on many occasions. However, the membership of the club has changed somewhat. In particular, there is a new Minister, who was not subject to all the difficulties that some of us went through. Indeed, time took its toll on the Committee; some of its members did not have the excitement of going through the process. It is good to see that the same smiling faces are sitting in the Minister's Official Box, watching as we debate the penultimate stage of the Bill. 2009-11-10T00:00+00:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000071/the_persecution_of_christians_in_orissa_india.html I also congratulate Stephen Moutray and his colleagues on securing the debate. I welcome the terms in which he tabled the motion, as it expresses the legitimate concerns that many people in Northern Ireland have about the situation in Orissa. 2009-11-02T00:00+00:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000070/opposing_a_referendum_on_the_lisbon_treaty.html I support Alban Maginness's comments in large measure. It will come as no surprise that my colleagues and I will oppose the motion and the amendment. 2009-10-20T00:00+01:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000069/assisted_suicide.html At the outset, I emphasise that, given that my party regards assisted suicide as an issue of conscience, I speak in a purely personal capacity. 2009-10-13T00:00+01:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000068/conacre_motion_in_assembly.html Speaking in the debate on the conacre motion, David Ford MLA: "My party colleagues and I will support the motion and the amendment. By way of introduction, I declare my interest - technically my wife's interest - in a shared family farm, which is recorded in the Register of Members' Interests. 2009-09-28T17:35+01:00 http://www.davidford.org/speeches/000066/financial_pressures_on_householders_motion.html Supporting the motion and amendment David Ford MLA said: "I hope that the final challenge from the Minister was not directed at this corner of the House. Anyway, we will let others answer for themselves at a different time. 2009-03-30T17:15+01:00