Results 1-20 of 478 for speaker:John McCallister

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Rural Schools (17 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: Why then did the Alliance Party not word its amendment to read “in other sectors”? The amendment is too narrow and too prescriptive; that is why the Ulster Unionist Party has issues with it. We must give schools and communities the freedom to come up with their own solution, and that is our argument for maintaining the viability of our smaller schools. We will, of course, support...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Rural Schools (17 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: I thank the Members who tabled the motion for doing so. The Ulster Unionist Party has consistently urged caution on the rationalisation of rural schools. Local schools in rural areas play a vital role at the heart of local communities, and to dismantle a local school is often to dismantle that local community. The Rural Development Council’s submission to the independent strategic...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Block Grant (17 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: The Minister of Finance and Personnel has said: “we know that after the next Westminster election whatever the outcome, our budget could be reduced by up to 10%. We must prepare for that by looking at what spending changes can be made, and what needs to be done to implement them.” Therefore, unlike his colleague Tom Buchanan, who thinks that there is going to be a lynching and...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Private Members’ Business: Northern Ireland Block Grant (17 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: The public are not stupid, but unfortunately the DUP have treated them with contempt, and that is regrettable.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: British-Irish Council Summit Meeting (17 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: I welcome the junior Minister’s statement to the House. I am sure that he shares my disappointment that agreement was not secured at the BIC summit on where the Council’s standing secretariat will be based. What actions has this Administration taken to facilitate a speedier agreement on that issue? Will the junior Minister also inform the House how the Council’s work stream...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: In making my winding-up speech on the amendment, I want to reflect on some of the remarks that other Members made. Mrs O’Neill opened the debate by reflecting on some of the management and administration costs of the Health Service. However, when the trusts gave their evidence to the Committee for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, there was surprise among Committee members that...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: I was coming to the Member’s remarks on wastage —

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: Yes, I will.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: I thought that Ms Ramsey went a little far when she started to use phrases such as “gravy train”. Unlike you, Mrs Robinson, I actually believe —

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: I apologise. Mrs Hanna spoke about ring-fencing front line services, and she said that we need to improve services. I support her call for prevention, early detection and early intervention, which would be a huge benefit in many areas. That is the direction in which we are travelling. Mr Hamilton spoke rather harshly about the Health Service being force-fed money. I remind him that the DUP,...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: I have no more time. If Mrs Robinson had asked me two minutes ago, I would have been happy to give way.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: DUP Members must remember that they cannot have their cake and eat it. At least I am willing to engage in debate, unlike the Member.

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: Will the Member give way?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: Will the Member give way?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: I beg to move to the following amendment: At end insert “; and further requests that the Executive exempts health and social care services from further budget reductions or requirements to deliver any further efficiency savings.” I thank the members of the Health Committee for tabling the motion, which we will support if amended. With the kind support of Dawn Purvis, the Ulster...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: I am grateful to the Member for his intervention. The Member and his colleagues opposed every measure that the Minister proposed to comply with the efficiencies that their party imposed on the Health Service. That is the contradictory nature of their argument: they are cheerleaders for efficiencies, yet they oppose them when tough decisions have to be made. They opposed the Minister on the...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Committee Business: Efficiency and Contingency Deficit Proposals in the Health and Social Care Trusts (9 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: No; the Member had his turn. Would the Minister have been allowed to proceed over a logjam, such as that in the Department of Education? If Members are serious about protecting front line services, they will vote for the amendment. Members need to realise that the Health Service is already in a difficult position; demand on it has increased by 9% in the past 12 months. If we add to that by...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Education: Educational Standards (2 Nov 2009)

John McCallister: What criteria will the Minister set for ESA in respect of area-based planning? Will she ensure that those criteria take into account the impact that they could have on rural communities and areas?

Northern Ireland Assembly: Ministerial Statement: Public Expenditure 2009-2010:  September Monitoring (13 Oct 2009)

John McCallister: I welcome the Minister’s statement. I congratulate the Minister of Health on finding £10 million. I also welcome the news that the Executive have agreed to move forward on the estimated costs for addressing swine flu. I encourage the Finance Minister to put as much pressure on Westminster as possible in order to get funding that meets the demands that swine flu has placed on the...

Northern Ireland Assembly: Agriculture And Rural Development: Animal Welfare Legislation (12 Oct 2009)

John McCallister: I thank the Minister for her reply. I agree that the public expected the legislation to be introduced some time ago. Does she envisage any proposed role for the USPCA or other welfare organisations under the new legislation?