Results 1-20 of 167 for speaker:Trevor Clarke

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Clause 6 (Operating centres to be specified in operators’ licences) (10 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: Again, I make no apology for being one of those who raised the most concerns about the operating centres. My feelings are similar to those expressed by the Minister in his reply to Mr Ford: I am an elected representative for the people and I want to work for them while I am here. I can see how the Bill’s provisions for operating centres could have caused some difficulties. Although I am...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Clause 1 (Operators’ licences) (10 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: Some Members may wonder why I am speaking in the debate as I am no longer a member of the Environment Committee. I am speaking because I oppose the Bill and, therefore, do not want to disappoint officials by not speaking in the debate. I like my message to be consistent. (Mr Deputy Speaker [Mr Molloy] in the Chair) Although I welcome some of the Minister’s changes to the Bill, I am...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Clause 1 (Operators’ licences) (10 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: The DUP is a democratic party; its members are entitled to their own views. I am taking part in the debate so that I can express my view. Unlike Mr Beggs, I am not sure that the Bill will reduce organised crime. I still have concerns about that, and I hope that the Department will do more work in that regard. The enforcement team will have work to do, because I do not envisage that many...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Executive Committee Business: Clause 1 (Operators’ licences) (10 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: I just do not know how naive Roy Beggs is at times. From my recollection, criminals steal lorries or buy them at auctions. We have heard consistently about illegal fuel lorries on the roads. However, the criminals do not actually acquire those vehicles by legal means. Therefore, I do not believe that the Bill will deter them from continuing that activity. Officials will have a job to do. I...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Multi-unit Development  Management Company Reform (9 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: I know the direction in which the Minister is going. Although we do not have regulation, does he accept that what he said about addressing the issue with Departments is, in its own right, an assurance that we are starting the process, as opposed to what happened over the past number of years when it was not addressed at all?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Multi-unit Development  Management Company Reform (9 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: Is the Member aware that, when people buy into those types of development, the agent can increase the service charge without explanation?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Multi-unit Development  Management Company Reform (9 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: I asked the Member to give way because I know that he has enjoyed standing up and sitting down during the debate. Mr Kennedy referred to the issue of apartments. Does he accept that the regulations relate to developments other than just apartments? People sometimes get confused, but given the open space element, the regulations cover houses, town houses and apartments.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Multi-unit Development  Management Company Reform (9 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: I am confused by the Member’s response. He said that he thought that the issue would be better discussed at Committee, and my colleague asked him which one. The Member came with an assumption that the issue should be discussed at a Committee; all we are trying to find out is which Committee would be best to discuss it.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Multi-unit Development  Management Company Reform (9 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: I beg to move the following amendment: Leave out all after ‘adequate’ and insert “and calls on the Executive to introduce new legislation that will govern the way in which they operate”. I thank the proposer for tabling the motion, although I am a bit confused by what he said. He said that he spoke to other Ministers about the topic, and he said that the DUP amendment...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Multi-unit Development  Management Company Reform (9 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: I would not describe it that way. The Minister’s reply referred to the fact that the Office of Fair Trading had evidence relating to the issue, and I understand that there were similar problems in Scotland. She said: “I understand that the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 (which applies to England and Wales and which is primarily housing legislation) seeks to protect the...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Multi-unit Development  Management Company Reform (9 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: I appreciate the Member’s intervention, and I agree wholeheartedly with him. I was trying to highlight that need for collective action in the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s response. She was more than happy to facilitate meetings on more than one occasion. The Minister accepts that her Department has a responsibility, and does not shun that. In her response,...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Adjournment: Primary School Provision in Ballymena South (3 Nov 2009)

Trevor Clarke: This is not my area, but I am listening with interest because I have a particular interest in education. I have young children, and both are being educated in north Antrim. The Member gave some statistics in relation to Ballee Primary School, and he earlier mentioned other schools in Ahoghill. Can he remind us how many children were enrolled in the two primary schools in Ahoghill combined?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Lisbon Treaty Referendum (20 Oct 2009)

Trevor Clarke: Will the Member give way?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Lisbon Treaty Referendum (20 Oct 2009)

Trevor Clarke: Perhaps I have missed the point, but surely the essence of the motion is that it is not the DUP’s view. The motion calls for the public to be given an opportunity to have a view; it does not necessarily force the view of the proposers upon others.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Culture, Arts and Leisure: Ulster Museum (20 Oct 2009)

Trevor Clarke: Will the Minister tell us how the timescale and budget of the project to refurbish the Ulster Museum compares with similar projects in the rest of the UK?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Childcare for Students in Further  and Higher Education (19 Oct 2009)

Trevor Clarke: Like others, I congratulate Dr Coulter on reaching such a tremendous milestone. I congratulate him on his endeavours and how he continues to work on. I must admit that I was amazed to hear that he is 80 today; I thought that he was much younger. I wish to see him continue the job that he is doing. I support the motion. I am sure that everyone in the Assembly agrees that education is extremely...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Construction Industry Training Board (13 Oct 2009)

Trevor Clarke: I join other Members in thanking the Minister for his statement. He said that direct training will now be contracted out. Does he have any concern that, when that training is contracted out, it will not be of the same high standard as that which the CITB delivered? I am sure that part of the rationale for contracting out is that it is cheaper. However, the word “cheaper” sometimes...

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

Trevor Clarke: Will the Member give way?

Northern Ireland Assembly: environment: Plastic Bag Levy (5 Oct 2009)

Trevor Clarke: I ask that the Minister does not make a rash decision about the price of plastic bags, because last week the media were very interested in the fact that I spent £2 on plastic bags for my office last year, and I do not want to increase that cost to the taxpayer.

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

Trevor Clarke: Will the Member give way?