Debate contribution: Cost-of-living Crisis
Debate contribution by Mr Peter Martin on .
- MLA
- Mr Peter Martin
- Party at the time
- Democratic Unionist Party
- Date
- 19 October 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Private Members' Business
- Heading
- Cost-of-living Crisis
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5796033
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. When I asked the Members opposite about revenue raising, they ducked the question, not once but twice. They were calling for greater fiscal powers for Northern Ireland. If we were getting greater fiscal powers in Northern Ireland, I would want to see what those would be used for. The Members opposite can argue for greater fiscal powers, because it makes a nice sound bite, but they refuse to say what those fiscal powers would be used for. You do not seek power unless you have some idea about how you will use it. I do not know how we got into a debate about foreign wars, but the Members opposite made a lot of reference to foreign wars and spending by the British military in that area. I assume that they understand, first, that MOD spending is reserved at Westminster and, secondly, that the United Kingdom's armed forces not only protect the sovereign people of the United Kingdom but provide security for the Republic of Ireland. The Republic of Ireland is glad to have that, and we do that for free for the good people of the South. The Members opposite should reflect that as well.
They know that it is true. They can shout at me all that they want, but His Majesty's forces support and defend not only Northern Ireland but the South.
I will give way.
I thank my colleague for his intervention. I completely agree that it is important to protect democracy. We are proud to have done so in Ukraine. I will return to commenting on the motion. A lot of the things that the proposer of the motion said were absolutely right. There is a cost-of-living crisis in Northern Ireland. Everyone feels it. The Member for South Belfast Ms Nicholl also referenced how it is affecting childcare. Families are bearing significant pressures in Northern Ireland, and we have to find solutions. It is an issue for the Executive. It should not all be parked at the door of the Department for Communities, as happens so often in the Assembly, although, to be fair to them, the Member who proposed the motion and his party have not done so. The issue is so large and comprehensive that the whole Executive need to take it on. I therefore completely concur with those comments, but, in my contribution, I wanted to clarify for the record some simply erroneous things that I heard during the debate.
415 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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