David Ford MLA

Working for Antrim and Newtownabbey since 1998

David Ford

20 Most Recent Speeches

Policing and Justice Powers - devolution to Northern Ireland New!

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to The Northern Ireland Assembly, 9 March 2010 on Tue 9th Mar 2010

In the debate on the Executive Motion on the devolution of Policing and Justice Powers to Northern Ireland, David Ford said:

David Ford MLA pictured outside the main door of Parliament Buildings. © 2009 Michael Carchrie Campbell

Delivering Responsible Government - Leader's Speech to Conference 2010

Speech delivered on Sat 23rd Jan 2010

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.

Speech on Randalstown Bomb

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to The Northern Ireland Assembly, 11 January 2009 on Mon 11th Jan 2010

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.

David Ford MLA pictured outside the main door of Parliament Buildings, Stormont. © 2009 Michael Carchrie Campbell

Speech on the Climate Change Report from the Assembly Environment Committee

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Northern Ireland Assembly on Mon 7th Dec 2009

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."

David Ford MLA recycling glass. © 2008 Michael Carchrie Campbell

Speech on Final Stage of Department of Justice Bill

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Northern Ireland Assembly on Tue 1st Dec 2009

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.

Badge of the PSNI

Speech in Final Stage of Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Northern Ireland Assembly on Tue 1st Dec 2009

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.

David Ford MLA pictured outside the main door of Parliament Buildings, Stormont. © 2009 Michael Carchrie Campbell

Speech on the Budget Bill

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Northern Ireland Assembly on Tue 16th Jun 2009

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.

David Ford MLA pictured outside the main door of Parliament Buildings. © 2009 Michael Carchrie Campbell

Northern Ireland deserves hope - David Ford MLA

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Alliance Party Conference on Sat 21st Mar 2009

It is always a pleasure to welcome Conference here to Dunadry, to South Antrim. That welcome is, however, tinged with sadness this year as we reflect on the events of two weeks ago. On Saturday 8 March, Antrim hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons, with the murders of Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinzey.

David Ford MLA addressing Alliance Party Conference 2009-03-21 © 2009 Michael Carchrie Campbell

Ford speaks in Assembly on Antrim Attack

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Northern Ireland Assembly on Mon 9th Mar 2009

Speaking in the Assembly, David Ford MLA for South Antrim said: "On behalf of my party in the Assembly and in the wider community, I have words this morning of sympathy, condemnation and solidarity. Our first words must be of sympathy for the families of Mark Quinsey and Cengiz 'Patrick' Azımkar, the two young sappers who were killed on Saturday night. Those two young men were doing their duty and serving this community before they proceeded to do their duty in Afghanistan in uniform. Our sympathy goes out to their families, friends and comrades, some of whom were still in Antrim while others were already in Afghanistan, and in particular, to their two wounded comrades, who are being treated in hospital here.

David Ford MLA pictured outside the main door of Parliament Buildings, Stormont. © 2009 Michael Carchrie Campbell

Diseases of Animals Bill

Speech delivered to Assembly on Tue 17th Nov 2009

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.

EU Fisheries Council

Speech delivered to Assembly on Mon 16th Nov 2009

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.

Supporting the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Bill

Speech delivered to Assembly on Tue 10th Nov 2009

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.

The Persecution of Christians in Orissa, India

Speech delivered to Assembly on Mon 2nd Nov 2009

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.

Opposing a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty

Speech by In the Assembly on Tue 20th Oct 2009

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.

Assisted Suicide

Speech delivered to Assembly, 12 October 2009 on Tue 13th Oct 2009

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.

Conacre motion in Assembly

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Northern Ireland Assembly on Mon 28th Sep 2009

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.

Financial Pressures on Householders motion

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Northern Ireland Assembly on Mon 30th Mar 2009

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.

Parliament Buildings

Speech on Act on CO2 advertising campaign motion

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Northern Ireland Assembly on Tue 24th Mar 2009

Supporting the motion in the Assembly on the Act on CO2 Advertising Campaign, David Ford MLA said: "My colleagues and I will support the motion as amended because of the words that appear on the Order Paper, not because of any oratory powers or scientific persuasion from the Members who proposed the motion or those who tabled the amendment.

Assembly Question to Minister of Regional Development on increasing resources for public transport

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Assembly Question Time on Mon 2nd Feb 2009

During Assembly Question Time David Ford MLA asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans his Department has to increase resources for public transport. (AQO 1951/09)

Parliament Buildings

Proposing Amendment to Motion on the Consultative Group on the Past

Speech by David Ford MLA delivered to Northern Ireland Assembly on Mon 2nd Feb 2009

The original text of the motion as proposed by the DUP was "That this Assembly recognises the importance of meeting the needs of victims; and condemns proposals from the Consultative Group on the Past which equate perpetrators of violence with innocent victims."

Parliament Buildings, Stormont © 2009 Michael Carchrie Campbell

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