Robbie Butler MLA delivered his Maiden Speech in the Assembly Chamber on Tuesday 7 June 2016.
Mr Butler said:
“It is a privilege to address you all in the House as an MLA. I also think it is important that the first topic I am speaking on is the greatest challenge facing the Executive at present: the very serious crisis in our local health service.
“As a former councillor in Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, I acknowledge that I have limited knowledge of the procedures of the House. However, I have spent over 20 years as an employee and manager in the public service. Training and experience in that capacity have taught me that working together for the common good can be achieved only by recognising respect for all. As a Christian, I believe there is no place for hatred or bitterness towards those who express opposing views; indeed, I suggest that angry and aggressive positions adopted in that regard suggest an inability in people to defend their position and are an attempt to appeal to an audience.
“I am here to represent all the people of Lagan Valley — I was born in Lagan Valley and continue to live there — and I will give my best to do so. I am a proud member of the Ulster Unionist Party, which has a rich heritage in Lagan Valley. The party enjoyed a return to form there with me and my running mate Jenny Palmer enjoying electoral assurance from the voters. I would like to thank the electorate of Lagan Valley for their unequivocal support and their vote of confidence, and I would like to put on record my commitment to the role of scrutinising and holding the Executive to account for their actions, inactions and performance in this mandate. Our collective duty is to work tirelessly, represent the concerns of the community and remember that we work for them and not for ourselves.
“Northern Ireland is a country that we should all be proud of. We could remember that so many United States presidents had their roots in Ulster. We have produced leaders in sport: in golf, rugby and boxing, to name but a few. As mentioned earlier, the national football team is preparing for the Euros in France, and I wish them great success. If we consider the achievement of our country's football team, perhaps we, as a House, can draw on their process for working together to make this country great again.
“I hope we can all agree that health is an issue that is far too important to get caught up in political wrangling. The 376,000 people referenced in today's motion deserve better. I was delighted and honoured to be given the role of spokesperson on mental health for the Ulster Unionist Party. My party recently produced a policy paper on mental health, and no one can deny the shameful statistics that have been published on this country's atrocious rates of suffering due to poor mental health and well-being. The legacy of the Troubles, terrorism and associated criminality contribute heavily in this regard, and, coupled with poor government strategy and direction, that is leading to the social inequalities and social deprivation that blight our society.
“There are problems with our waiting times that do not simply apply to physical ailments. For instance, regionally, at the end of March 2016, the number of patients waiting longer than nine weeks to access adult mental health services had increased compared with the position at the end of March 2015. At the end of March 2016, 338 patients were waiting longer than nine weeks, which was an increase of 201 compared with the previous year.
“My various roles whilst working in the Fire and Rescue Service taught me that, although intervention is a vital component to ease the suffering and save the lives of those affected by trauma, the most effective strategy must be prevention. It is to that end that I would like to see a process developed that delivers an infant mental health framework that identifies and addresses issues at children's earliest stages, coupled with a compulsory educational element for schoolchildren that looks at social and emotional learning and will complement the development of our children into healthier and happier adults. I give my personal and party commitment to raise the profile of mental health and well-being with the Minister and the Health Department and to seek parity of funding that will ensure that those who suffer are afforded the care required to help them live their life to their full potential.
“The need for timely access to professional medical assistance is fact and cannot be a point for debate in the House. Sadly, my constituency of Lagan Valley has suffered over the last two mandates with the removal of the 24-hour accident and emergency facility, which was replaced by almost office-hour access. Patients are unarguably being put at greater risk through lengthy waiting times that contribute to poor health and increased recovery times. Sadly, earlier this year, in Lagan Valley alone, 2,944 people were waiting longer than 18 weeks for their first consultant-led appointment. That is 2,944 people whose physical and mental health suffer, not due to their own actions but because they cannot gain access to a specialist or a consultant within the prescribed 18-week time frame. I look forward to working with my party colleague Jo-Anne Dobson and, indeed, all members of the Health Committee, who I know share a common vision to see a healthier community with a greater sense of well-being for others.
“I listened attentively to what was being said, and it was probably one of the best sessions that I have sat in on. I believe that there may indeed be a collective will in the House to see increased health and well-being for all the people of this community.
My colleague Jo-Anne Dobson opened the debate and pointed out a number of well-documented statistics. Perhaps the most startling of those is that over 20% of the population is on extended waiting lists. I do not think that there was a Member who disagreed with that. However, she was disappointed by the Minister's response to my question yesterday. Jo-Anne pointed out that there were increased pressures on carers, professionals and the healthcare system, and she called for genuine reform.
“Catherine Seeley praised the Minister and front-line staff. She called for an overhaul of the health service and welcomed Professor Bengoa's report. She looked forward to possible cross-departmental strategies, which I like the sound of, given my call for education as an essential component.
“Mark Durkan supported the motion and stated that statistics cannot be ignored because they are not statistics but people. He said that the statistics were scandalous and that demand was fast outstripping capacity. Mr Durkan ended by saying that investment, not profit, was the way forward.
“Paula Bradshaw gave her maiden speech, and I congratulate her on that. You did not seem to have the nerves that I had, Paula. She paid tribute to Anna Lo, the former MLA for South Belfast, and commended and supported the motion. She spoke about the psychological burden of the lengthy wait that people were forced to endure.
“Trevor Clarke said that it was an issue that had been topical on the doorsteps throughout the canvass. He reminded us that reform requires change, which I think we would all accept. Trevor had no issue with the motion. He encouraged the Minister by saying that he looked forward to working with her and hoped that health would be depoliticised.
“My leader, Mike Nesbitt, said that the number one issue had to be health. That was the number one issue on the doorsteps pre-election. Regrettably, it was the last Department to be selected in the d'Hondt process, which we all noted. That was disappointing, given that it was the number one issue for the electorate. I was glad to note that he raised the profile of mental health. I have already stated that I am privileged and proud to take on that mantle. I hope that other Members will take on board the importance of mental health and where we need to put it within the Health Committee.
“I cannot really talk about the Minister because I do not have much time to finish the winding-up speech, but I thank her and look forward to working with her.”