Results 1-20 of 839 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:Jeffrey M Donaldson

Oral Answers to Questions — Northern Ireland: Equality Commission (4 Nov 2009) has video

Jeffrey M Donaldson: Surely it is difficult for the Equality Commission to demonstrate fairness, and to be a paragon of fairness, when the composition of its own staff is so out of kilter with the community in Northern Ireland. There is a serious under-representation of Protestants. How can the commission go to local councils and other public bodies and ask for fairness and equality when it has itself failed to...

Opposition Day — [20th Allotted Day]: Future of the Territorial Army (28 Oct 2009) has video

Jeffrey M Donaldson: Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the issue is about not just how we look after our soldiers while they are on the field of battle, but how we look after them and their families at home and in their barracks? Is it not true that there is pressure on the budget to improve the infrastructure for military families, and that it is being cut? He referred to the huge amount of money spent on...

Opposition Day — [20th Allotted Day]: Future of the Territorial Army (28 Oct 2009) has video

Jeffrey M Donaldson: I attended a concert recently where the band of the Royal Irish Regiment was playing in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund. Is it not the case that if bands are cut back and are unable to perform in such a way, it affects not only the public face of the Army through the Territorial Army bands but the ability to raise money through the Army Benevolent Fund and other charitable organisations that...

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Parading in Northern Ireland (27 Oct 2009) has video

Jeffrey M Donaldson: I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate. The hon. Members for Foyle (Mark Durkan) and for South Down (Mr. McGrady) referred to the need to retain the Parades Commission and talked about its success. I beg to differ with that assessment. I do not count it a success that in Northern Ireland today we still need commissions to make decisions for us on the basis that we lack the...

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Parading in Northern Ireland (27 Oct 2009) has video

Jeffrey M Donaldson: I fear that the kind of society the SDLP talks about is a society where there is continued division and continued segregation and that it is about, "Our territory and your territory, and you stay in your territory and we'll stay in ours, and ne'er the twain shall meet." That kind of segregation is not the mark of the Northern Ireland we want for the future—the SDLP as the segregated,...

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Parading in Northern Ireland (27 Oct 2009) has video

Jeffrey M Donaldson: No, I will not give way. The hon. Member had 20 minutes to speak. We on this side will have less time, and I want to take the full opportunity to say what I have to say. Segregation is not the way forward in Northern Ireland. Dividing up our society is not the way forward. Territorialism is not the way forward. A shared future is what we want; that is what the DUP wants. That is what we are...

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Parading in Northern Ireland (27 Oct 2009) has video

Jeffrey M Donaldson: Thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I was outlining why we believe that, as my right hon. Friend the Member for Belfast, East made clear, the Parades Commission has become part of the problem, not the solution. The fact that the situation of a number of parades remains unresolved 10 or 12 years or more after its creation testifies to the reality that it has failed to deal with those issues. We...

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Parading in Northern Ireland (27 Oct 2009) has video

Jeffrey M Donaldson: We might even get the hon. Gentleman a place on the platform. I will ensure that he is issued with an invitation to the 12 July parades; I am sure that the hon. Member for Belfast, South (Dr. McDonnell), who is not here today but who is a contender for the leadership of his party, will be able to find a suitable location for the hon. Member for South Down to view the parade going up the...

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Parading in Northern Ireland (27 Oct 2009) has video

Jeffrey M Donaldson: Let me be the first to acknowledge the role that the hon. Gentleman has played in promoting dialogue in his home city. However, my point is that it is not good enough to have that dialogue in one area only, as we need to promote it across Northern Ireland. Moreover, it was not the Parades Commission that brought about the success in Londonderry, but local leadership. That is precisely why the...

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Parading in Northern Ireland (27 Oct 2009) has video

Jeffrey M Donaldson: Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Opposition Day: [Un-allotted Half Day] — Parading in Northern Ireland (27 Oct 2009) has video

Jeffrey M Donaldson: I was tempted to say that the hon. Gentleman had driven by the point that I had intended to make, but as we have had no drive-by vetoes in his remarks so far, I will forgive him for that. Does he accept, however, that those who do not believe that the Parades Commission offers the best solution are often frustrated by the fact that in many instances in which they have made every effort to...