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20 Most Recent Speeches
Taxi Reform - Consideration Stage of the Taxis Bill
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly, 26 February 2008 on Tue 26th Feb 2008
We should record the fact that the relatively sparse attendance in the House this afternoon, and the unanimity that has been expressed so far, are signs of the good work that has been done on the Bill, both by the Minister and her officials and by the Committee. The fact that we are not engaging in the usual sectarian ding-dong - because Members have agreed on what is best for the people of Northern Ireland - is an example of devolution working well. Although it may be an unusual practice for me, I am happy to join the cosy consensus on this occasion. However, the Minister should not read too much into that.
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Read "Taxi Reform - Consideration Stage of the Taxis Bill" in full (675 words).
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Housing Need in North Belfast
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly, 25 February 2008 on Mon 25th Feb 2008
The level of demand for social housing in North Belfast is so large that it is not an issue that solely relates to the current boundaries of that constituency. Much of the rapid population growth, which has expanded into the constituency of South Antrim, is driven by the inability of people from North Belfast to secure housing in the area where they want to live. Many who have moved to my constituency are relatively well off; others are left trapped in the city, because they are unable to afford what is on offer. As Nelson McCausland highlighted earlier, some people, having sampled the delights of Newtownabbey and points beyond, are now moving back into the city. That may be an issue for Translink to address.
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Read "Housing Need in North Belfast" in full (987 words).
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The Murder of Paul Quinn
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly, 19 February 2008 on Tue 19th Feb 2008
I express my sympathy to the family and friends of Paul Quinn. It is deeply regrettable that we have to have a debate on a topic such as this. An interesting reference has been made by Sinn Féin Members, and not by other Members, about the attacks on houses, property and cars - and perhaps people - in the wake of the murder of Paul Quinn. It is right that any such attacks be condemned. Sinn Féin Members have every right to highlight those attacks and to expect that other Members would want the full rule of law to be observed. Without any reservation, I condemn any such attack, but the principal reason for this debate is not because of graffiti being painted on houses, but because a young man was murdered in a most brutal, cowardly and callous fashion.
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Read "The Murder of Paul Quinn" in full (788 words).
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Speech on Budget Bill
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly, 12 February 2008 on Tue 12th Feb 2008
I want to add a few comments to those made by my colleague Sean Neeson earlier, and by my colleague Stephen Farry in yesterday's debate. I apologise to the Minister that I was not present to hear his opening speech, but I was called away by a higher authority - higher even than the Finance Minister.
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Read "Speech on Budget Bill" in full (925 words).
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Protection of the Countryside
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly, 11 February 2008 on Mon 11th Feb 2008
I thank the Minister for bringing this motion to the Assembly today. I also thank her for supplying an advance copy of her paper, which enabled some of us to do our homework over the weekend. It will come as no surprise to some of my colleagues on the Committee for the Environment that I am speaking only in a personal capacity and on behalf of my party colleagues.
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Read "Protection of the Countryside" in full (868 words).
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Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly, 4 February 2008 on Mon 4th Feb 2008
I welcome the fact that - three or four years after it should have happened - we have finally got around to codifying the law on sexual offences in Northern Ireland, largely in line with that in GB, because a huge backlog needed to be addressed. I also welcome the fact that there is near unanimity in this Chamber on all issues but one. If I may quote from a letter from Love for Life:
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Read "Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults" in full (905 words).
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Opposition to Budget
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly, 29 January 2008 on Tue 29th Jan 2008
Given the number of occasions on which a shared future and the cost of division have been referred to, I must start with that.
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Read "Opposition to Budget" in full (886 words).
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Failings of the Programme for Government
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly, 28 January 2008 on Mon 28th Jan 2008
I understand that the First Minister began his speech by stating that this is a society that was divided by conflict. In fact, the conflict was caused by division. That is why tackling division must be the first priority for every one of us. The Executive's failure to take that obligation seriously is the fundamental reason for the United Community group's opposition to the Programme for Government, and for our demanding a fundamental rewrite of it.
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Read "Failings of the Programme for Government" in full (1659 words).
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Public Transport Funding
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly, 22 January 2008 on Tue 22nd Jan 2008
The debate has been interesting, bearing in mind the large measure of agreement from all corners of the House, albeit with certain differences of emphasis. I want to deal with one of the key points that Mr Gallagher raised. The amendment suggested that, somehow, my party's original motion asked for spending to be rebalanced, specifically by taking money away from areas such as rural road maintenance and putting it towards public transport.
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Read "Public Transport Funding" in full (1668 words).
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Action needed on Climate Change in Northern Ireland
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly, 10 December 2007 on Mon 10th Dec 2007
As a member of the Committee for the Environment, and on behalf of my group, I welcome the proposal that the Minister has brought to the House today. It is absolutely right - and there is unanimity in the House on this - that we should be full participants in the UK climate change process. However, I have some slight concerns that by being involved with the UK structures, there is a danger that focus may be lost - particularly as this proposal comes from the Environment Minister rather than the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister.
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Read "Action needed on Climate Change in Northern Ireland" in full (666 words).
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Aspiration no substitute for action in the Programme for Government
Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Assembly on Mon 26th Nov 2007
"In the course of his summary, the First Minister said that the Executive wanted to "make a real difference" to what has gone before. The tragedy of the situation that we are in has been highlighted by this debate today - the paucity of proposals in the Programme for Government, the lack of smartness in the public service agreements, and the vagueness of the investment strategy.
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Read "Aspiration no substitute for action in the Programme for Government" in full (1697 words).
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David Ford's Speech at Alliance Party Conference
Speech by David Ford on Sat 3rd Nov 2007
So that's it then. The end of history. Ian is sharing power with Martin, and Martin is sharing power with Ian. The chuckle brothers are chuckling and every problem dissolves into soft focus. We no longer need to worry about anything. The cunning plan has succeeded: the extremes have been brought into the centre, power sharing is working well and all our troubles are over.
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Read "David Ford's Speech at Alliance Party Conference" in full (3917 words).
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Failure of Programme for Government to promote a Shared Future
Speech by David Ford questions the First Minister delivered to Assembly on Thu 25th Oct 2007
Mr Ford: I thank the Ministers for their statement. The deputy First Minister has urged the House to look for the positives in the Programme for Government and the investment strategy. I have tried to do that, but there is little to be positive about in those fairly thin documents.
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Read "Failure of Programme for Government to promote a Shared Future " in full (345 words).
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Rural Planning Policy (PPS 14)
Speech by David Ford questions the Environment Minister delivered to Assembly on Thu 25th Oct 2007
On behalf of my party, I thank the Minister for the content of her statement, particularly the recognition of the necessity of the precautionary approach at this stage, and her recognition of the courts' decision that there is nothing fundamentally wrong with PPS 14.
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Read "Rural Planning Policy (PPS 14)" in full (301 words).
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Question on Junior Doctors Training
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly on Mon 22nd Oct 2007
Mr Ford: I also thank the Minister for his statement and for taking this issue seriously. Immediately after taking office, the Minister met a number of us, and junior doctors, and ensured that we now have at least the makings of a local solution to our local problem. I declare my interest as a parent of two junior doctors in training who both - I am happy to say - secured full training posts in this year's round. I welcome the Minister's statement that those training posts will be honoured. I would, however, like to tease out what is not currently in the statement.
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Read "Question on Junior Doctors Training" in full (327 words).
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Abolition of the Agriculture Wages Board
Speech by David Ford on Mon 22nd Oct 2007
I restate my support for the Ulster Farmers' Union campaign against red tape and, specifically, the five-point plan. If my constituency colleague Dr McCrea had not done so, some of his researchers would have checked what I said during the Transitional Assembly's debates on this matter. Therefore, earlier today, I read my speech and found that, although I supported that plan at that stage, I made no mention of the Agricultural Wages Board. For the majority of farmers, I considered it to be the least important aspect of the five-point plan. Now, for the majority of farmers, there is no question of having employees. As P J Bradley said, the question now is whether there is an option to make a living off the farm for a single family.
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Read "Abolition of the Agriculture Wages Board" in full (620 words).
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"The Cost of Division" Report and Victims' Commissioner
Speech by David Ford questions the First Minister delivered to Assembly on Mon 8th Oct 2007
Mr Ford asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to indicate when the Deloitte Touche report on 'The Cost of Division - A Shared Future Strategy' will be published on the Department's website.
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Read ""The Cost of Division" Report and Victims' Commissioner" in full (263 words).
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Support for a Referendum on EU Treaty
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly on Mon 8th Oct 2007
I shall do my best to annoy Sammy Wilson as much as possible by congratulating Mr Easton on proposing the motion. I welcome the opportunity for the House to debate the motion, which I shall support. I do so almost entirely not for the reasons that were put forward by the three Members who have spoken in favour of it, and with considerable agreement with the points that Alban Maginness made against the motion. Such is the kind of politics that takes place in the Chamber.
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Read "Support for a Referendum on EU Treaty" in full (808 words).
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Referendum on EU Treaty
Speech by David Ford delivered to Assembly on Mon 8th Oct 2007
I shall do my best to annoy Sammy Wilson as much as possible by congratulating Mr Easton on proposing the motion. I welcome the opportunity for the House to debate the motion, which I shall support. I do so almost entirely not for the reasons that were put forward by the three Members who have spoken in favour of it, and with considerable agreement with the points that Alban Maginness made against the motion. Such is the kind of politics that takes place in the Chamber.
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Read "Referendum on EU Treaty" in full (808 words).
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Archive of earlier Speeches.
 Speech Feed(v1.0).
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