Results 1-20 of 2,200 for (in the 'Commons debates' OR in the 'Westminster Hall debates' OR in the 'Lords debates' OR in the 'Northern Ireland Assembly debates') speaker:David Simpson

Northern Ireland Assembly: Assembly Business (9 Nov 2009)

David Simpson: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. You will be aware that this morning I submitted a question for urgent oral answer that relates to reports in today’s ‘News Letter’ that concern the actions of the former Children’s Commissioner. He said that language in a report should be couched in such a way as to protect the system and its stated position that the commission played...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Assembly Business (9 Nov 2009)

David Simpson: Under the criteria of urgency, public importance and availability of the Minister, on what grounds was the question refused?

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

David Simpson: In supporting this very important motion, I declare an interest: my membership of the Orange Institution, the Royal Black Institution and the Apprentice Boys of Londonderry. My family have been associated with those organisations for well over 100 years, and I am very proud of that fact.

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

David Simpson: I'm not that old, no. I am aware that the significance and centrality of parading in Northern Ireland is not always fully appreciated or understood on the mainland, but, whatever view one holds of Ulster's parading tradition, the motion raises some fundamental points of principle that go to the heart of democracy. Famously, it has been said, "I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Catholic Church Services (12 Oct 2009)

David Simpson: If ever there was a debate in this Chamber that shows the true depth of Sinn Féin’s moral, ethical and political bankruptcy, this is it. In the past year, we witnessed the fortieth anniversary of the civil rights movement. All those Members on the Sinn Féin Benches, including those who cobbled together this motion, would claim to be inheritors of that movement. I may be wrong,...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Social Tariff System (29 Sep 2009)

David Simpson: I beg to move the following amendment: Leave out all after “Assembly” and insert “, being mindful of the alarmingly high levels of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland and the negative impact high energy prices have on the fuel poor, calls on the Minister for Social Development to work with her Executive colleagues to obtain an accurate assessment of actual need in respect of...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Social Tariff System (29 Sep 2009)

David Simpson: My colleague has shouted it out before I got to it. Energy companies make substantial reinvestments. The Member also sits on the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, which only last week was told that all energy companies were limited to a profit margin of 1·5%. Therefore, a substantial amount of money is reinvested. I believe that the motion is a dangerous option. Let us look...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Education: Educational Underachievement (28 Sep 2009)

David Simpson: 2. asked the Minister of Education what steps she has taken to end educational underachievement in working-class Protestant areas.            (AQO 91/10)

Northern Ireland Assembly: Education: Educational Underachievement (28 Sep 2009)

David Simpson: I take it that the Minister agrees with her Department’s document, which gives eight reasons why underachievement exists. Only one of those eight reasons deals with the transfer to post-primary schools; every other point is about social and economic issues.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Second Stage (22 Sep 2009)

David Simpson: Have you protested outside Lurgan police station?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Second Stage (22 Sep 2009)

David Simpson: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Will Mrs Kelly please make up her mind? First, I understood her to say that I made that comment, but she now attributes it to one of my colleagues. Will Mrs Kelly please confirm what she said?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Second Stage (22 Sep 2009)

David Simpson: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I want Mrs Kelly to confirm in writing where I said that, whether in this House or another House, because I did not say it. Had I said it, I would stand over it. The Member should prove that I said it.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Second Stage (22 Sep 2009)

David Simpson: Further to that point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker, if Mrs Kelly checks the House of Commons Hansard report, she will realise that I did not say that.

[Ann Winterton in the Chair] — Abortion Law (Northern Ireland) (15 Jul 2009)

David Simpson: I welcome you to the Chair, Lady Winterton. I congratulate the hon. Member for Reading, West (Martin Salter) on obtaining the debate. As he said himself, it is on an issue that is very controversial across the United Kingdom, including, of course, Northern Ireland. Each time that the subject of abortion is debated or referenced in Parliament, I am struck by a number of things that quickly...

[Ann Winterton in the Chair] — Abortion Law (Northern Ireland) (15 Jul 2009)

David Simpson: My speech will be short, so I will not give way. What I have described is an anti-democratic stance. Why did I use the term "anti-libertarian"? Again, whenever the subject of abortion comes up, it quickly becomes evident that if hon. Members speak against abortion, speak in favour of tightening up abortion provisions or express a principled anti-abortion and pro-life position, there are some...

[Ann Winterton in the Chair] — Abortion Law (Northern Ireland) (15 Jul 2009)

David Simpson: No, I will not; I shall be finished in 30 seconds. Rather than making Northern Ireland like the rest of the UK on this issue, it would be far better if hon. Members were to campaign for the reverse and to show the same commitment to the life in the womb as they show for consumer parenthood and disposable babies. The abortion laws across the UK do need to be reviewed, updated and amended, but...

Oral Answers to Questions — Home Department: Building our Common Future (6 Jul 2009)

David Simpson: I also welcome the Secretary of State's statement. He will be aware of a recent meeting that I had with him and an agency called Christian Blind Mission, which works in the field of preventive procedures against blindness and child poverty right across the developing world. Does he agree that organisations such as CBM and others in the UK deliver the value for money that he mentioned in his...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Supply Resolution for the 2009-2010 Main Estimates (15 Jun 2009)

David Simpson: I apologise for not being in the Chamber for the start of the debate, but I had to attend a Committee meeting. As part of its review, the Committee for Social Development considered the Department’s Main Estimates and compared them with figures and targets included in the 2008-2011 Budget. A number of debates on social housing and the Department’s budget deficit have been held in...