DRD Minister - Danny Kennedy MLA

 

Speech at the Ulster Unionist Party Conference

 

#UUP2014

 

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY

 

• Leader, colleagues, friends.

 

• It continues to be a huge privilege to serve as our Party’s representative in the Northern Ireland Executive.

 

• Not least because this year 2014 –is my fortieth (I might add consecutive!) year as a proud member of the Ulster Unionist Party.

 

• I look around this room and I already know that is well short of any record –but I did secure one record this year.

 

• I was the fastest (and the only Government Minister –Arlene accepted the challenge but did a no show) to complete the NorthWest 200 this year –at well over 130 mph.

 

• And I was the most –enthusiastic –I have been told –Minister at the finish line of the Giro D’Italia.

 

• And I am pleased our Party continues to support these and other important sporting and tourist events.

 

• Not least by securing the passage of legislation to provide the organisers better flexibility to move races in bad weather –we showed our clear support.

 

• Let me begin by saying this –things have just got a whole lot tougher at the Executive.

 

• Money is tight and political games are being played more than ever.

 

• More than ever we are witnessing the politics of the playground.

 

• We are now very clearly in direct competition with DUP/SF party political decisions and SF/DUP deals.

 

• And we are in direct competition with their joint and shared party political interests.

 

• We have never said never about withdrawing from the Executive.

 

• Our Party stance is in support of an official opposition.

 

• As we all know –that is currently on the agenda for talks –talks reserved primarily for Executive parties -and it wouldn’t make sense to take decisions that would remove us from those talks –at this time.

 

• Only in the last few weeks we have had a couple of new faces round the table and I will return to that too.

 

• Because last year we had two new faces as well.

 

• One of those you will remember raised a few eyebrows –some questioned his experience and competence –his ability even to follow on from his predecessor.

 

• The other many on the inside knew would grow into the role –and prove his worth –and those on the inside are being proved right –Mark H isn’t doing a bad job.

 

• Now, as for Simon “Wonga” Hamilton –even the most unlikely voices can be heard saying the money side was better run with Wilson –shame Peter felt he had to get rid of him. Thug or no thug.

 

• Only this week Wonga Hamilton said if I didn’t agree with his and SFs payday loan –I should just refuse funding for the concessionary fare scheme –so popular and well used by so many of our older people.

 

• Well let me respond Simon –your comments are not worthy of Finance Minister of the Northern Ireland Executive, but then again, you have handed that role over to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

 

• George Osborne now has final sign off on our finances and you gave it to him.

 

• Simon, you know it is the form of revenue raising I objected to –blind salami slicing cuts.

 

• You know perfectly well –I and others objected to your failing to properly assess need and properly assess front line services across all departments before wielding your axe.

 

• And importantly you know I have been –as has this Party been –a vocal supporter of more money for our Health Service –the difference is we would have been giving health more money for the last three and a half years –not just the next six months.

 

• You only backed down and offered additional monies because you feared a pensioners’ revolt –you knew funds were needed, to maintain concessionary fares, for effective policing and legal aid and for victims and survivors of the Troubles.

 

• For you to suggest you now want that money back is not a swipe at your Executive colleagues, it is a mark of his deepest disregard for our elderly and vulnerable citizens.

 

• And our elderly and vulnerable citizens are entitled to and deserve much better than that.

 

•  So Simon –while we are there, let’s discuss another deal –how about the deal you gave John “so what” O’Dowd –because SF bossed you.

 

• Make my department exempt from those deep cuts too –then we can talk about whether or not it requires additional resource funding.

 

• Wisely I suppose -I should await your response with interest rather than hold any breath with expectation.

 

•  Now, let me return to the two new boys –Wells and Storey –and indeed sum up that entire DUP reshuffle –two new faces but no new ideas.

 

• And a fitting match for Carol and Michelle who sit opposite then.

 

• You see, when a Government expends all its energy arguing the cause of the problems –it leaves nothing to put into finding the solutions.

 

• And I am afraid that is why the public in Northern Ireland are not getting the best possible outcomes from the resources we have –and that is the least they and you deserve.

 

• Despite this –what I will politely refer to as a challenging environment–we as a Party have made progress in areas we are responsible for.

 

• Important capital infrastructure projects –the A2 and A8 –Roy Beggs is always pleased to know -are progressing well and will be delivered on time.

 

• Not only will they be delivered on time but Europe is now footing a significant part of the bill too.

 

• Because of the success of a dedicated European team –our Party established in the Department of Regional Development –and sound advice from our own Jim Nicholson –thanks again Jim.

 

• We now have the best track record for securing European funding of any department within the Executive –an Ulster Unionist achievement.

 

• And we are moving forward with the A26 project in North Antrim –where our Chief Whip –Robin Swann –is doing a superb job and we are progressing the Magherafelt bypass too –and thanks again Sandra for all your hard work and that kind introduction.

 

• I fully expect that we will continue to deliver a number of other major/minor schemes are they are often termed –and I have no doubt that when we cut the tape on Millennium Way –we will have a very content Father of the House Sam Gardiner–and by next summer a very content Ulster Unionist MP for Upper Bann Jo-Anne Dobson.

 

• We all give our full support to Danny and Jo-Anne in the run up to next year’s election. Two superb candidates.

 

• And we are all aware of how professionally Sam undertook his role overseeing the election of the speaker.

 

• The other Parties involved in that process could take a leaf out of Sam’s book in how to conduct themselves in the Assembly Chamber.

 

• We are on course too with our replacement programmes for the Rathlin and Strangford ferry services.

 

• You see capital funding hasn’t been the same casualty of cuts as resource funding.

 

• And Government –from Westminster down –deliberately budgets capital and resource budgets separately.

 

• Capital might build a new hospital but resource pays for the staff to work in it.

 

• This system rightly strikes a balance –but in Northern Ireland the Department of Finance has got the balance badly wrong –and has created the sort of imbalance the system is set up to protect against.

 

• And in turn that imbalance has created the sort of situations that struggle to make proper sense.

 

• That means my capital budget for “new street lights” remains but I have had my resource budget to repair existing lights decimated.

 

• I have capital funds which I can use to re-surface roads –but a smash and grab by Executive cuts on my resource budget leaves me restricted when it comes to resource funding to repair potholes.

 

• That said, we are Ulster Unionists –we are problem solvers –and we are resourceful and we are creative –and we will deliver the best possible service to the public with what we have at our disposal.

 

• Our principles are driven by fairness and we aim to deliver fairness for all.

 

• Last year I raised the subject of taxsmart –a salary sacrifice scheme for bus travel across the UK and I wanted to negotiate with Treasury to extend taxsmart to rail travel in Northern Ireland.

 

• Yet the Department of Finance has blocked me having that conversation –and failed to progress the issue themselves.

 

• We have many users of taxsmart on our buses in Northern Ireland –but my ambition is to see many more.

 

• If you work you may be eligible and why not make public transport journeys even cheaper.

 

• Remember it is the Ulster Unionist Party –that is growing public transport and passenger numbers in Northern Ireland.

 

• Last year’s record figures –I can say –six months into this financial year –will be broken again over this twelve month period.

 

• And that is without additional services –and yet there is news on that too –we will have greater frequency on a number of weekend rail services by the end of this year.

 

• We are making public transport more reliable and less reliant on the public purse.

 

• We are making a sustainable option more sustainable.

 

• It is not just our buses that are doing well –our railways are on course to see 3 million plus more passengers by the end of this financial year and a 30% plus increase during the time we have been responsible for transport.

 

• We are a Party that sees opportunity and we are a Party with vision.

 

• And I for one don’t believe that we should –even in financially straightened times become ground down or in any way lose our ambition.

 

• The Belfast transport hub –this Party is bringing forward –using the design team who did such a tremendous job at Kings Cross –will not just benefit public transport users –it will act as a catalyst for regeneration for the surrounding area.

 

• And we have secured over 3 million from the European Union towards that project too.

 

• I don’t want today to pass without making mention of the impact of flooding on homeowners in particular in south Belfast.

 

• Flooding has been more prevalent in recent years right across the UK and indeed the Republic of Ireland.

 

• We remember what happened in Belfast in 2008 and again in 2012. And although large drainage schemes –like those we are progressing –the multi-million pound next phase of the Glenmachan Scheme –will improve capacity and flood resilience.

 

• Not all good initiatives cost huge sums.

 

• Sustainable drainage solutions are commonplace across Europe and can make a positive difference for homeowners in improving flood resilience.

 

• I have asked Northern Ireland Water to engage with residents in risk areas to explore and develop opportunities for pilot sustainable drainage solutions.

 

• On the theme of –not all good initiatives costing huge sums –we continue to support small business through five hours for £1.

 

• Likewise -cycling is one of the cheapest forms of transport.

 

• It helps tackle social exclusion and helps access to employment and services.

 

• It makes a huge positive impact on public health –not least in Copenhagen where 215 million (yes million) is saved each year on healthcare because the population cycles.

 

• And recent times have sharply focussed our minds –here in Northern Ireland –on the rising cost of healthcare.

 

• So we as a Party embarked on promoting a cycling revolution in Northern Ireland.

 

• Only this week we hosted a cycling conference in Belfast to help sell our message.

 

• We heard from the cream of cycling experts.

 

• From the developers of greenways in Mayo to transport for London engineers, from Dutch experts and Danish campaigners.

 

• And they were all agreed on one important ambition –that Belfast and Northern Ireland has the potential to become the cycling capital of both the UK and of this island.

 

• And that is our ambition –an Ulster Unionist ambition.

 

• The Danes having been working at this since the 1970s and it is a revolution that will take us 25 years to complete.

 

• What 25 years –I was asked by an unnamed MLA earlier this year– not of this Party.

 

• But I was able to quip at the former health Minister and his colleague –yes it’s a long term plan –and I accept by the time the full benefit is realised  -I will probably been in a care home.

 

• Unless of course –your health minister has closed them all by then.

 

• And as for 25 years –well we are patient –for us that’s fine –that’s what we are as Ulster Unionists –we take the right decisions today –even if the true benefit is only going to be felt by our children and grandchildren.

 

• That’s how we are –that’s our DNA –and that’s what makes us tick –doing the right thing today for a better tomorrow and for a better future for Northern Ireland.

Thank you conference.