Debate contribution: Windsor Framework

Debate contribution by Mr David Honeyford on 8 September 2025.

MLA

Mr David Honeyford

Party at the time

Alliance Party

Date

8 September 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Windsor Framework

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5068594

Read the official Assembly record

Text

On the first day back, this is the first motion. A couple of weeks ago, we had an announcement that 19,000 young people between the ages of 16 and 24 are not in education, training or employment and have absolutely no hope of anything in the future, yet the DUP brings a motion on the Windsor framework. You could not make this up. It is negative and anti-business. It is not about jobs, skills or stability. It is just more drama and more of the DUP talking Northern Ireland down, as it continually does. The previous Member who spoke confirmed that this has nothing to do with the economy or business; it is about their constitutional rights. That is all that this is about. However, the bit that the DUP cannot get its head around is that it holds the responsibility for the Windsor framework. It did not fall from the sky. It is a result of the choices that you guys all made all those years ago. That is why we got a hard Brexit: your obsession with it, your objection to softer deals and your collapsing this place. You created the conditions for which we needed the Windsor framework. The problems are your own. If you want to go and talk about it, have a committee somewhere in a room, and go and deal with your problems, but do not bring to us your "no, nay, never" politics, which are anti-stability, anti-investment and anti-opportunity, when we want this place to move forward.

You asked what business wants. Over the summer, I spoke to representatives from the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the CBI, and I met representatives from the FSB twice. They all want stability and less drama in order to allow businesses to operate. They want us to stay out of the road and allow businesses to make money. Business is crying out for stability and certainty. It does not need the DUP to talk this place down. Let us talk about facts. Northern Ireland to GB trade is up by 12%. Actually, it is 12·4%, which is more than 12%. GB to Northern Ireland trade went up by 16% in the past year. Our economy is growing faster than that of any other region in the UK. The UK economy is not growing at any rate, but, for the first time in a long time, we are better than anywhere else as the UK limps along. That is thanks to access to the EU markets and the UK market. You quoted the FSB, but, actually, the motion completely misquotes it. Steve constantly makes a declaration of interest at the start of every contribution, so I might as well copy him. I am a member of the FSB, and I declare that. I have huge respect for what it does. I come from a business background. However, there were 778 responses from the 5·5 million businesses that are in the UK. The FSB itself said at Committee that that is not representative of 5·5 million businesses. Of those 778 responses, 112 were from Northern Ireland. The FSB does not claim that a third of businesses have stopped trading, so for the motion to do so is not only inaccurate but a downright, complete manipulation of what was said. I want to give a positive story about a business in Upper Bann that is in an area that will come into Lagan Valley after the next election. We keep hearing in this place that we have not seen dual market access. I have talked about Coca-Cola and that success. I have talked about Monster Energy drinks and that success. I have talked about PRM Group, and Marks and Spencer was mentioned. There has been an increase in business in 1,000 lines for Marks and Spencer in Lisburn because of dual market access. There is also Leckey. I could go on. I will talk, however, about Leprino in Magheralin.

Yes, 100%. On Friday, I met representatives from Leprino, which was Glanbia. Michelle Guy and I met them to talk about skills and the problem that they are having in bringing in workforce. They are bringing in skills, and apprenticeships are growing. The degree pathway is coming in, but there are also opportunities for people who work on the ground floor, as they are able to be promoted from within. That company will grow by 15% in the next two years. Leprino is moving all its production to Magheralin in Upper Bann. What is the reason? I did not say anything; I just asked why it is happening, and the simple answer was that it is because of Brexit and dual market access. From here, we can access Europe, the South, with the all-island economy, and GB. Leprino is creating jobs and more employment in the area to add to the success of Coca-Cola, PRM and Leckey in my constituency. It is a joke that, on the very first day back, a negative motion has been tabled that is inaccurate, looks backwards and completely talks us down rather than allowing this place to grow. Alliance, however, will always tell the story of creating jobs and skills, bringing investment and wanting to see opportunities, be they in Upper Bann, Lagan Valley or North Antrim. We want this place to do well. We want it to be better for people and to create jobs and put money in their pockets.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 01:20 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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