Debate contribution: Supporting Service Leavers, Veterans and their Families

Debate contribution by Mr Jonathan Buckley on 4 November 2025.

MLA

Mr Jonathan Buckley

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

4 November 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Supporting Service Leavers, Veterans and their Families

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5216991

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I am proud to support the motion. It has been a particularly immense privilege to work, from the very genesis of the motion, alongside the UUP's Andy Allen and the TUV's Timothy Gaston to ensure that it could be presented jointly. Our community has long called for such joint leadership, and I hope that that continues. I pay tribute to the Veterans Commissioner for Northern Ireland, David Johnstone, and his team. They have coordinated and worked with us to ensure that we presented a motion that could get broad consensus in the House to reflect accurately our deep appreciation of all the men and women who have served our country in our armed forces. To Members of the House, present and past, who have served, we thank you sincerely for that service. The men and women of our armed services embody courage, professionalism and self-sacrifice. They stand ready, often at great personal cost, to protect our freedoms and uphold peace not just abroad but, indeed, as has been mentioned, here at home. It is only right that the Assembly demonstrates our commitment to them in return. The armed forces covenant is built on two simple principles. The first is "no disadvantage". No serving or former member of the armed forces nor their families should be at a disadvantage when accessing public services such as healthcare, housing or education. The second is "special consideration", particularly for those who have been injured or bereaved in the line of duty. Those principles are not just throwaway remarks or words on paper. They are a moral obligation: the nation's promise to those who have already given this society so much. Through 'New Decade, New Approach' (NDNA), the DUP fought to ensure that the covenant would be properly enshrined in law here, alongside the appointment of a Veterans Commissioner. The legal duty now applies to a range of public bodies across Northern Ireland, but the real litmus test is how we give life to those commitments. Implementation must be robust, not rhetorical.

I will indeed.

I thank the Member. In making my earlier point, I omitted to thank him for his work. He stretches the definition of "young" at times

but I can assure you of his youthful and energetic approach to ensuring that this debate happened. It really was of personal note, and I thank him for it. He makes a strong point. He went on to outline the significant contribution that the UK defence sector makes across the United Kingdom: it provides 440,000 jobs. He highlighted how former service personnel, with their characteristic discipline and highly trained adaptability, can be transformational to industry in Northern Ireland. However, I want to focus on a particular challenge, and we must be honest about the challenges that many veterans continue to experience.

I will, if I have time. I want to make this point. Among veterans aged 25 to 44, the rate of suicide remains higher than that of the general population. That truth cannot be ignored. We owe it to them to ensure that our health services and, indeed, every Department are responsible, compassionate and proactive. That is why the appointment of a departmental armed forces liaison officer, which the motion calls for, would be a vital step in ensuring accountability in this area.

The first point that I will make to the Member is that they do so in service to this nation. The second point is that to brashly put it across that they may not face significant challenges is a denial of the reality that they continue to live in. Whether it is their families, as mentioned by Mr Frew, or their personal security, they continue to face significant challenges. I will just say this: let the motion be a clear example of what the Assembly can achieve when it works together, because we value our armed forces and understand the challenges that they face. We will ensure that —

— their service is always safeguarded and protected. We are so thankful for that service.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:45 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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