Debate contribution: Legislation Programme 2025-26

Debate contribution by Mr Phillip Brett on 13 October 2025.

MLA

Mr Phillip Brett

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

13 October 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Executive Committee Business

Heading

Legislation Programme 2025-26

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5176057

Read the official Assembly record

Text

First, I thank the deputy First Minister for moving the motion. When the Executive present their legislative programme, it is the opportunity for the "constructive" Opposition to tear into the Executive, highlight their failings and set out the Opposition's alternative legislative programme. It will not be lost on the people of Northern Ireland that we have one Member from the Opposition present in the Chamber now. We have one Member from the SDLP. Others came, read out their pre-scripted remarks and then left the Chamber. The opposition that sit on the left of me cannot even bother to turn up either. Therefore, when those parties call out and challenge the Executive parties, which turn up and speak up for the people of Northern Ireland, let them look at the empty Benches, and that will give them the answer.

Do you want me to give way?

That is another helpful intervention from the Member for Newry and Armagh. I want to put on the record the Opposition's obsession with legislation. Legislation does not always mean good government. We have witnessed legislation passed in the House that has not been good legislation. The Climate Change Act, to which Members of the House tied themselves, is the very reason for the A5 project now being stalled, and our investment strategy needs to be under review because that Act is hampering growth. One of the first acts of this Assembly mandate was to undo a private Member's Bill that introduced free parking at hospitals, and that was necessary because Members lined up behind a populist cause to try to get that legislation passed before the election, even though they knew that it could not be delivered. I have a message for the Opposition: when you win elections, you get to set the legislative agenda. Our Ministers have the right to bring forward whatever legislation they see fit, because that mandate was given to us by the people of Northern Ireland, who placed us in government. I want to speak about a number of the Bills that are included in the programme, the first of which relates to the Department for the Economy. I welcome the Minister's progress on the RHI closure Bill, the detail of which, as we have seen to date, reflects a good deal for those who entered the scheme in good faith and those in the public who want to see a value-for-money scheme. I also welcome the Utility Regulator decarbonisation Bill, though I will look, in my roles of Chair of the Committee and DUP economy spokesperson, to expand the role of the Utility Regulator, who plays an important role here in Northern Ireland. In my view, the Utility Regulator's advice should not just be confined to the Department for the Economy, because the Utility Regulator has a vital role to play in advising other Departments so that we can meet as many of our legislative targets as possible. The 'good jobs' Bill has been mentioned already, and, as a party, we want to see the rights of workers being strengthened and workers across Northern Ireland being treated fairly. We will ensure that any Bill that comes forward from the House has the support of workers and our business community. I have not seen the detail of that Bill, but, once it is published, we will look at it in great detail and consult stakeholders, those in the workplace and businesses, to ensure that we have legislation that is fit for purpose. I thank the First Minister, the junior Ministers and the deputy First Minister for setting out the legislative programme. The leader of the Opposition criticised them for not giving a press conference or issuing a press release on this issue, yet he would be the very first person to stand up and criticise the First Minister and deputy First Minister had they not brought the issue to this very place first. You cannot have it both ways, and it is clear that there is no constructive Opposition in the House, just one Member from Newry and Armagh who shouts out random statements.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:28 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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