Debate contribution: Health and Social Care: Pay Awards
Debate contribution by Mr Robbie Butler on .
- MLA
- Mr Robbie Butler
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 12 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Health and Social Care: Pay Awards
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5786317
Read the official Assembly record
Text
That is without doubt. I sat with colleagues last week in my fourth Executive meeting, and I will be fair to my Executive colleagues: it was the number-one item on the table. Whilst I agree — we all agree — that it is the first priority, addressing it comes with complexity, and bringing down the Assembly would mean that we could not deliver it. It is as simple as that; that is what we are talking about. We are talking about going into winter, and I am rightly being cross-examined on winter preparedness, because all Members in the Chamber want our hospitals and our GP practices to work and want access for their constituents. We are facing into the time of year of greatest risk. I have spoken to the unions a number of times. They feel deflated and defeated, because they should not be in this position — they really should not — and I do not blame them for their thoughts. I hope that they do not take industrial action, but I expect that they will. Those who seek to bring down this institution need to factor that in. As I said, within the next month, I expect the ballots to indicate a vote in favour of taking action. It is incumbent on us, whether at Executive level or Assembly level, to make this place work, because making this place work means that we can help to heal the health service.
243 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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