Mr Oliver Gibson: I am rather disheartened by some of the words used in the debate. I was surprised that the Executive, and indeed the Minister, who is responsible for emergency services, should think of making a distinction between the level of bravery and the level of award. What is so different about an Indian surgeon in Omagh receiving an OBE — a state award? Have the Minister and the Executive caved in...
Mr Oliver Gibson: I echo entirely the sentiments raised by Mr Close, Mr Weir and, originally, Mr Leslie. Most Committee members feel that there is inadequate time to scrutinise properly everything that they are supposed to. That raises a question about the role of Committees. Are they sufficiently resourced and able to carry out their tasks? The Committees believe that there is not enough time, but if more...
Mr Oliver Gibson: Is the Minister aware that the only time the border with the South of Ireland has been sealed was when BSE first broke out in Northern Ireland? I note from his statement on the North/South Ministerial Council sectoral meeting on the environment the proposal to develop co-operation on the environmental impact of agriculture. What has been initiated by the joint committee to prevent the illegal...
Mr Oliver Gibson: I have heard many comments about this document today. Some people have called it transparent, and I would certainly call it transparent — to the point of opaqueness. It is a great wish list. It is a weaker document than many believe, for it is transparently unrealistic. Let us turn to the last three paragraphs on page 10 that pay particular attention to the needs of victims. The sum of £4...
Mr Oliver Gibson: The Minister is quite right when he says that an industry is growing up — it is called "the development industry" — around trying to attract money. In view of the fact that there has been such a downward trend in the farming industry and we now have the new poor in great measure, what is being done by LEDU to encourage indigenous industries? We need new infrastructure such as the Strabane...
Mr Oliver Gibson: I thank the Ministers for their report today, and I particularly welcome the Phillips report. May I ask both Ministers what measures are being taken and what research and monitoring is being done to ensure that there is no further transference of disease? Yesterday Mr McCartney referred to the introduction of sewage pellets as a means of ground fertilisation. What efforts are being made to...
Mr Oliver Gibson: I listened with some interest tonight, but school management was not mentioned. A successful school must have successful management. The current system is probably feudal and is a result of transfers from religious institutions that took place well before anyone here was born. School management is vital, and someone has to make a wise choice that does not depend on social needs, poverty, or...
Mr Oliver Gibson: Generally speaking, I welcome the Bill. It will certainly help those of us who live in areas in which there is urban dereliction. There is one thing, however, that I would like to take up with the Minister. Dereliction may occur because of a dispute over ownership of the property or because there has been a family feud and no one can say who really owns a property. There is often a long legal...
Mr Oliver Gibson: The Minister mentions a number of areas of concern — educational underachievement, special education and teacher qualifications. Which university or college in the South is dealing with underachievement? How are the issues apportioned? Who is funding the investigations, and when can we expect a report on the areas of concern? Can the Minister explain what is meant by "coherent, integrated...
Mr Oliver Gibson: Will the Minister give way?
Mr Oliver Gibson: I welcome the debate. I also welcome the £15 million for the A5 road. The SDLP and its cohorts in Sinn Féin grudgingly did not acknowledge it. They said it was only a line on the map. I welcome the provision of the Toome bypass. I further welcome the fact that the A5 is to include the Strabane bypass, the Newtownstewart bypass and the Omagh throughpass, which were all predicted not to...
Mr Oliver Gibson: Does the Minister accept that in the case that he cited there was geographical discrimination? A pupil with a similar grade was refused a place because he lived in Castlederg. The place was allocated to the person living closest to Strabane. Does the Minister accept that allocating grammar school places on a geographical basis requires further serious consideration?
Mr Oliver Gibson: 9. asked the Minister for Regional Development what are the completion dates for stage 3 of the Omagh bypass, the Newtownstewart bypass and the Strabane bypass and to confirm that funding is not dependent upon the sale of Belfast harbour, and if he will make a statement. (AQO 293/99).
Mr Oliver Gibson: I thank the Minister. By 2002 we will be looking for a much-improved trans-European route. Would he meet again with the sub-regional district councils of Strabane, Omagh, Cookstown, Dungannon and Enniskillen, since they supplied many documents relating to ‘Shaping our Future’? His visit to ICBAN was appreciated, and since £20 million is involved on our side of the border, would he...
Mr Oliver Gibson: Cloud-cuckoo-land.
Mr Oliver Gibson: I have listened to some of the contributions with interest. I support the amendment, particularly as Members are talking about a person who came from the mainland and who, on his return, brought Christianity to this island. I mentioned in an earlier debate how we, at Christmas, had not acknowledged our Lord’s birthday. We were celebrating the second millennium but could not raise our flag...
Mr Oliver Gibson: Is the Minister aware that in my constituency of West Tyrone there is cause for alarm with regard to the allocation of money from the Millennium Fund by the Sports Council? Only 3% of that funding has gone to football, whereas 49% has gone to the GAA. Would he admit that that could be a cause for concern, if not dissent, among a large number of people? Will the Minister investigate that and...
Mr Oliver Gibson: Does the Minister accept that there is an urgent problem in respect of drainage in rural areas? Some 15 or 20 years ago a great deal of improvement work was carried out on drainage systems in rural areas, but due to the clogging of the systems, all this good work has now been undone, and water is pouring out on to the roads, thus causing a great deal of damage. Would the Minister be prepared...
Mr Oliver Gibson: Some 15 or 20 years ago a great deal of improvement work was done on drainage systems in rural areas. Many of these drains have now become ineffective. Water is pouring off the land and on to the surface of the roadways, causing great damage. Will the Minister help remove this excess water by increasing land-drainage grants?
Mr Oliver Gibson: A great deal of work has to be done to build the community infrastructure. For example, in West Tyrone there is deep-seated grief in 97 families, who have been left isolated and ignored. How will the Minister provide this part of the community with the help that is essential to the livelihood of West Tyrone?