Debate contribution: Waste and Inefficiency in Government

Debate contribution by Mr Timothy Gaston on 23 March 2026.

MLA

Mr Timothy Gaston

Party at the time

Traditional Unionist Voice

Date

23 March 2026

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Waste and Inefficiency in Government

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5465992

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I have certainly enjoyed the Executive parties cutting the tripe out of one another. It is going to be a long year, and, my goodness, it looks as though it will be enjoyable, with plenty of hurty words exchanged throughout the proceedings. I will concentrate on one aspect of the motion to start with. The motion:

"criticises the use of public money to advance transgender ideology".

The wokery that has captured this place is a matter of deep concern to many members of the public. I think about the Civil Service inclusive language guide. On page 16, civil servants are advised that, instead of using words such as "Mum" or "Dad", they should use "Parents", "Adult" or "Caregiver". Think of it: Parents' Day? Adults' Day? Caregivers' Day? Are those the depths that this place has sunk to, where civil servants should not talk about "husband", "wife", "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" but, instead, "partner" or "spouse"? While the document was produced on the watch of a Sinn Féin Finance Minister, how did it get past the Executive on the watch of the DUP and Ulster Unionists? A number of months ago, I asked officials working with the First Minister and deputy First Minister on ending violence against women and girls to list the genders to which money from that scheme goes. They told me that it was awarded to groups including men, women and other. Oh? When I pressed them on what that meant, they could not give me a definition. Likewise, a couple of weeks ago at the Committee, when we were talking about the feedback forms from events that have taken place in the community, they told me that the data was captured from men, women, neither — there is a new one — and people who prefer not to say. Thankfully, my colleague on Belfast City Council, Councillor Ron McDowell, had more success in getting clarity on some of the issues, and he established that some of the groups receiving funding under that flagship scheme include in their number trans women. Put more clearly, money for ending violence against women and girls is going to men who want access to female toilets. Money is going to groups that include men who are pretending to be women. Let that sink in. Female-only spaces exist for a reason, and granting men access to female-only spaces is certainly not a step towards equality. That is being supported, however, and not just by the Sinn Féin side of the Executive Office. Remember that TEO is jointly headed by a DUP deputy First Minister. While I welcome the motion before the House, I would extend it a warmer welcome if its logic were being followed by Emma Little-Pengelly's office. I also add that, during the winding-up speech, the DUP should outline the steps that it is taking to ensure that the Assembly Commission stops the trans invaders from being able to use whatever toilet they want to in this Building. For far too long, a blind eye has been turned to how taxpayers' money is spent. For far too long, Members in here have taken for granted the people out there. It is good to see the spotlight being shone on the issues. Think about the waste in hospitality, travel and procurement. Think about the amount of "North/Southery". We have bodies that produce nothing for the people of Northern Ireland. Think about the bloated Civil Service, and I do not leave councils out of that. There is plenty of money for back-room officials and office workers yet limited money for foot soldiers to deliver on the ground, which is what people see. I welcome the motion. I trust that it is only the start of the energy that we will see now that MLAs have successfully got their £14,000. If we want to talk about waste in government or in the public sector, let us talk about how Members have just awarded themselves £14,200 each. The Assembly should be the last place to lecture anybody out there.

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

Assessment

Flagged Gender, sexuality, abortion and related social issues

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 15:08 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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