Debate contribution: Election of Speaker and Deputy Speakers

Debate contribution by Mr Gary Middleton on 13 May 2022.

MLA: Mr Gary Middleton
Party at the time: Democratic Unionist Party
Date: 13 May 2022
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Speaker's Business
Heading: Election of Speaker and Deputy Speakers
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 4140096

Text

It should come as no surprise to anybody in the Chamber or, indeed, to anybody in Northern Ireland, that the DUP is serious about dealing with the Northern Ireland protocol. Over the past two years, time and time again — in the Chamber and in meetings with the UK Government, the Irish Government and the European Union — we have reiterated the concerns about the Northern Ireland protocol of not just unionists but all our people. We were met with — unsurprisingly, we are being met with it today — laughing, sniggering and the dismissal of unionist concerns as if they were somewhat lesser than anyone else's. We are here today to say that we want to be in a position to elect a Speaker. I want to be in a position where I can deal with the other priorities in our five-point plan. Unfortunately, we are not in a position to do that. I want people to understand that, until the concerns of unionists, of businesses that are suffering at the hands of the protocol and of people who face a rising cost of living and rising prices in supermarkets have been addressed, we will not be back in the Executive. They need to understand that loudly and clearly. Despite all the concerns and views that we reiterated over the past couple of years, we were ignored, dismissed and downtrodden. Unfortunately, whilst we were raising those concerns, Alliance, the SDLP and Sinn Féin were breaking lockdown rules by running down to Dublin to call for the rigorous implementation of the protocol.
There was guidance on lockdown, and people will judge that for themselves. It was clear where the priorities —
As I was saying, it was clear where the priorities of those Members lay on whether they were fighting for the people of Northern Ireland or on behalf of the European Union. That is the point that I was trying to make. Whilst they were doing that in Dublin, they were undermining not just their colleagues in the Chamber with whom they are supposed to be power-sharing but a large section of our community. The DUP has been focused on trying to resolve the issues around the protocol. We have not seen progress. We have met the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State and the Foreign Minister. We have heard a lot of words, but, unfortunately, whilst some of it may be encouraging at this time, it is just words. We need to see that come into action. We made it clear to the electorate that we want to see the Northern Ireland protocol removed. We want to see the Irish Sea border removed. We will ensure that that is the case before we return to the Assembly. As I reiterated, I want to get on with dealing with all the other issues with Ministers in place. I welcome the fact that people want to resolve waiting lists. We have had two years, and, of course, a couple of weeks before the election, everybody wants to resolve everything. Now is the time for you to get your shoulder behind the wheel. Join the rest of us who want Northern Ireland to work. Join the rest of us who want power-sharing to work. It will not work whilst the views and concerns of one section of our community are dismissed, laughed at and called "Rubbish", as they were by a Member across the Chamber.

574 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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