Danny Kinahan MLA – Economy and Education spokesperson
Speech at the Ulster Unionist Party Conference
#UUP2014
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Good Morning!
It's time to believe in better…
Better - for our education system and better for our economy
Mark Twain said: "20 years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do…
So, throw off your bowlines ...
…sail away from the safe harbour ...
…catch the trade winds in your sails ...
…explore …dream ...discover."
Twenty Years on from the ceasefires -
Northern Ireland is drowning in disappointment at the things the DUP and SF have not done.
- But all of us working together within the Ulster Unionist Party CAN fix Northern Ireland
- Our wee country has so much going for it - and easily punches above its weight on the international stage
So, let's not focus too long on how we led the world - in Shipbuilding or in the Linen industry.
or how we had 17 of 44 US Presidents..
…We did, and it's a proud legacy, but it doesn't address our problems.
TODAY…..
Let's focus on the enormous potential we have today, and build-up:-
- our schools
- our seats of learning
- our skills training
- No more inward looking, narrow minded little Ulster mind-set.
- Let's ensure that the United Kingdom knows us for our successes.
- We lead the world in biotechnology and pharmaceutical technology and in food security:-
- Almac, Randox, Norbrook and Schrader to name but a few
- And in manufacturing: - Wrightbus, Michelin and Bombardier amongst others
We can use our skills to feed the world,
- To cure the world, and
- To manage the world
By building on these successes, we can re-establish our future Globally and aim to be the best at all we touch.
- Not "little Northern Ireland,"
….BIG, BRAVE, BRASH, JOB CREATING Northern Ireland!
Our message to Westminster needs to be, "We want to run our economy and we can!"
We can.
We're ready to throw off the bowlines
A leading local economist told me the other day that the key word for us economically is:
Agility
We must build an economy that is capable of responding to opportunities the instant they arise.
So we must work with business - big and small to ensure that they are given every possible assistance to anticipate future trends and respond….
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- Do you think that help will come from 'Peter the prevaricator' or 'Martin the Messer’?
Not if their response to corporation tax was anything to go by……
Less corporation tax ....what a great idea!
Lord Empey's great idea!
four years ago ...an opportunity lost in DUP dithering and Sinn Fein stuttering
Just think where our businesses would be if they had had four years of such an incentive under their belts?
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If we want to embed prosperity into our future as a country, we must start to make monumental investment and be serious about developing a robust knowledge - and technology-based - economy.
Economists will tell you - but you will already know, that our best chance of a prosperous, healthy, secure society happens when everyone is working and thriving, and those who aren't there yet have career paths cleared of any obstacle.
- Last week a parent told me that his son, aged 18 was told that he was too old for his particular apprenticeship - too old - how dare we……how dare we.
- How does that young man believe in better?
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- These days, being prepared for the future involves more than hard work and determination.
These days our children and young people need their skills to match the gaps that employers are creating.
- We need our entire education system to be as agile as the most successful global companies, who watch and anticipate future trends and program themselves to respond, rather than react.
- In a properly synchronised economy, business should be taking on greater responsibility by helping with grants, and bursaries, for our most able students.
- At the other end of the scale, we need to perfect a state of the art apprenticeship scheme - synchronised to the expressed needs of the business community.
- For those whose talents do not lie in the high end technology or in the commercial arenas, let us move them out of classrooms occasionally and expose them to hands-on technical experience.
……let's get our young people on to the first rung of their chosen career ladder - BEFORE they leave school.
- Let's produce a work-ready generation who know what a good day's work feels like.
- Let's expand technical schools and science parks to cover all of Northern Ireland.
- We can pioneer a 'world advisory body' that builds a database from its studies....knowing exactly the skills that we need to future-proof Northern Ireland's prosperity...knowing Northern Ireland's people worldwide ....and by engaging with our finest economists, and businesspeople and educators and entrepreneurs, engineers, designers and creators.
Let's not just have a "homecoming"
Let's have a Celebration of all
Northern Ireland has been and is throughout the World...
showing what we can do.....
forging our contacts...
building on every contact that exists...from all our Northern Irish, British and Irish who have left our shores.
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- In the rest of the United Kingdom, the main political parties all use independent, THINK TANKS - drawn from those who know. We need to be doing the same.
We need to be ready to respond ….
To be agile
If the Republic of Ireland reduces V.A.T.on the hospitality industry to 9%, - we are
at 20% then we need to match it, or better it, NOW!…… Agility is the key
It is not acceptable that proposals for a reduction in Air Passenger Duty were allowed to stall because DUP/SF are in dispute over the name of our country -
"NORTHERN IRELAND"
It is simply not acceptable!!!
It is not acceptable that Tourism Ireland Limited is so very Republic of Ireland centric with what seems so very little emphasis on Northern Ireland - we contribute one third of the budget.
It is not acceptable to have a Minister sitting on a decision affecting nearly 200 landowners...
They really just don't understand the concept of agility
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- Let's have enterprise zones:
In my constituency Belfast International airport called for an enterprise zone. They have the space.
Planning permission exists to develop a million and a half square feet of office space.
Just think - warehousing, leisure facilities and logistics, on our doorstep, for everyone .
- we could double the workforce there to 8000
- 4000 new jobs, 115 million pounds … more for the economy.
We could do the same in Newry, in Larne and in Londonderry.
….just think
the Americans,
the Chinese
the Indians ...
ALL the BRIC nations and others…
…… all investing and flocking to Northern Ireland:
….....let's not think outside the box - let's throw the box AWAY!
For this to happen we all need to change our thinking:
- Government
- politicians
- civil servants
- and every member of every work force:
- We need to create enervating, vigorous
workplaces - not soul-less constructs where
blame culture and costly work-based
anxiety thrive.
- We need to change the way we speak to one another in the workplace,
- We need to take risks, big risks with the possibility that they will be accompanied by
Big failures:
- We need to learn to be OK with that.
In America the average entrepreneur fails 3-4 times before hitting on a winning formula for a successful small business:
….AND IT'S OK!
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Every single one of you is brimming with ideas:
- full of knowledge...you all know how things can be done better.
When do you get your chance to express those ideas?
Let's set aside one day a year to 'transform your workplace'
Brainstorming - no idea too outrageous
"The person who risks nothing, does nothing, is nothing"
- Be brave ....take risks
- We have departments that are Silos,
We have agencies that are Ivory Towers ...
and we have individuals everywhere fizzing with ideas and passion, yet clothed in corporate propriety….fearing the comatose caution of their peers.
- We must breed a nation of risk takers and of entrepreneurs.
Let's help our children to become the same, and OUR education and training systems do the same.
Let's go further and create a 'Ready for Work' Certificate for all pupils who plan to leave school at 16. A program which instils in them their importance in the workplace - even in a junior role.
- the need to turn up on time looking presentable,
- have the ability to field a phone call,
- and the ability to look customers in the eye and shake hands confidently,
- to handle a crisis,
- to follow through on promises
- and to work until the job is finished, ……
All too often I am hearing that these are the skills that employers find lacking.
Ladies and gentlemen, …..
We need to believe in better:
"Catch the trade wind in your sails,
explore, dream, discover"
We must have...
- Better education
- Better employment prospects
- Better healthcare
- Better reputation abroad
- Better executive to deliver it all!
It's time to believe - I commend the motion
to you.