Speeches by Swann.

“I recently met Voices for Impacts youth advisory group in Glengormley. Unfortunately, the funding for its youth centre has been cut to one night per week. What encouragement can the Secretary of State give those young people that the youth hubs he is talking about can be extended to Northern Ireland?”

“The Minister said that the road map was not written in Whitehall and handed down, but it is an England-only document, despite Baroness Batters receiving submissions from Northern Ireland. All family farm structures in Northern Ireland are impacted by Treasury decisions, from the family farm tax to the cost of fuel. Wha…”

“You have talked about the individuals who have come into the organisation. Your report notes that a number of ICRIR staff are currently seeking other roles or secondments, and that reflects the cultural health of the organisation. Have you any suggestions as to how that high turnover of staff is affecting the functioni…”

“Peter said he had eight letters that were not responded to. A Garda unit has been set up, but the phones are not being answered. You can understand how that feeds into the frustration in the organisation.”

“Do you think there was also a public expectation that did not allow senior leadership at the time to establish that culture, because so much was expected of them when the organisation was initially stood up?”

“You have talked about the individuals who have come into the organisation. Your report notes that a number of ICRIR staff are currently seeking other roles or secondments, and that reflects the cultural health of the organisation. Have you any suggestions as to how that high turnover of staff is affecting the functioni…”

“Sir Declan and Peter, you have both mentioned the frustrations due to the lack of engagement from the Irish Government and how that played into the frustrations within the organisation. Do you want to unpack what an unsettling impact that has? We got told that the Garda have set up their own establishment unit. Some of…”

“Peter said he had eight letters that were not responded to. A Garda unit has been set up, but the phones are not being answered. You can understand how that feeds into the frustration in the organisation.”

“Let me declare an interest: I worked with Peter for a number of years. I want to make that transparent. Peter, your report noted that culture was the element most remarked on during your meetings with staff, and you made a number of recommendations. Are you confident that the culture of the current organisation can be …”

“Holly, from an NIO point of view, what is your reaction on hearing that?”

“Do you think there was also a public expectation that did not allow senior leadership at the time to establish that culture, because so much was expected of them when the organisation was initially stood up?”

“Sir Declan and Peter, you have both mentioned the frustrations due to the lack of engagement from the Irish Government and how that played into the frustrations within the organisation. Do you want to unpack what an unsettling impact that has? We got told that the Garda have set up their own establishment unit. Some of…”

“Holly, from an NIO point of view, what is your reaction on hearing that?”

“Let me declare an interest: I worked with Peter for a number of years. I want to make that transparent. Peter, your report noted that culture was the element most remarked on during your meetings with staff, and you made a number of recommendations. Are you confident that the culture of the current organisation can be …”

“In an earlier answer, the Minister ruled out a VAT reduction for hospitality businesses across the United Kingdom. Will he at least meet me, Hospitality Ulster and the Northern Ireland Food to Go Association to discuss the concept of a Northern Ireland-specific pilot?”

“Thanks for coming to give evidence, Matthew. In your comment there, you talked about the impact of not making decisions on spending money. We are now 10 weeks into this financial year, and the Executive have yet to agree a budget. You are Chair of the Committee for Finance, so what impact is that having and what impact…”

“The Secretary of State has said that the UK Government are “open to conversations about ideas which can command a consensus” on reform; are you saying that you will not engage?”

“Matthew, you used the phrase “cannot go on like this”. Without reform, what do you see as the future of the institutions?”

“In what timeline do you think that that should be done? Before the next election, or after? That is why I asked you at the start about the synchronisation of Programme for Government and budget before d’Hondt. A review could be put in, but—I say this as someone who was also involved in earlier conversations: the Stormo…”

“You mentioned Opposition. I was there at the time when both our parties went into formal Opposition voluntarily. Some have said that the reason for collapse at that stage was because of the pressure we put on the DUP-Sinn Féin duopoly at that stage, and the fact of politics. You mentioned a number of reforms such as ch…”