Jim Wells
South Down · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. In November 1982, I made my maiden speech in the Chamber, and, here we are, 40 years later, and I am making my last speech in the Chamber as a DUP MLA. I was the last person in the Public Gallery when the Assembly collapsed in 1976.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank you for your indulgence and for your patience with me over many years. Unfortunately, Mr McGlone has just left the Chamber; I was about to thank him. I have enjoyed my 27 and a half years in this Building.”
“I wish that I could, but I have only five minutes. <BR /> <BR />That was so that a very small number of Irish language zealots could go in and register their marriage or civil partnership in Irish or in dual language: £261,000. Did anybody stop to think about whether there was a more cost-effective way of doing that?”
“We are all perfectly happy with a genuine expression of people's culture. That is fine. However, when the language is so cynically used by militant republicanism, unionism has difficulties. Why, for instance, is there no translation into Irish of the words, "United Kingdom", "Londonderry", "Northern Ireland" or "Her Majesty The Queen"?”
“The Member has made the point for me. The official who came to the Committee made it absolutely clear that £261,000 had been spent already. It was farcical to bring that before either the Finance Committee or the Assembly, because the money had been spent and the processes had been set up.”
“If they want the unionist community to accept the Irish language as a genuine cultural expression, they should get rid of the political baggage and extremism, and stop using the Irish language as a political weapon to try to subjugate unionism.”
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“I was greatly heartened by Minister Varadkar's view on the matter. I also met the Health Ministers for Wales and Scotland, and we are all singing off the same hymn sheet. <BR /> <BR />I welcome comments from the parties in the Assembly on their views on minimum unit pricing. We announced it just before Christmas and have not had an opportunity to consult. It is important that we work together as an Assembly on that vital issue. <BR /> <BR />I got the clear impression from my counterpart in the Irish Republic that he is as committed to its introduction as I am. He can see clearly the logic of us working together. If we did not, and we were to introduce, say, a minimum price of 50p a unit in Northern Ireland, and the Irish Republic refused to do that or was a long way behind us, it is obvious what would happen.”
“I thought that it was a very good, positive meeting. I have had various contact with the Minister since, and I think that we can establish a very good, cooperative relationship on issues of mutual concern.”
“At that time, I will also be keen that he visit the new South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, where a significant number of patients from the Irish Republic are having various procedures.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ministers noted the position with regard to Tourism Ireland’s annual report and accounts 2013, which have been laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly and will be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. Finally, we agreed that the next NSMC health and public safety meeting will be held in spring 2015. <BR /> <BR />I should say to Members that I had formally invited Minister Varadkar to Londonderry to visit the new radiotherapy unit, which his Department is partially funding. I am glad to say that the revenue from the Republic continues to flow for that scheme and that there has been good cooperation on the funding of it. I understand that the visit will take place in May.”
“We also noted the success and development of the community food initiatives and a range of research projects and surveys completed in recent months. <BR /> <BR />The Council was advised that safefood had established a draft 2015 business plan and budget. These will be submitted to NSMC for approval once they have been approved by the sponsoring Departments and Finance Ministers. The Council noted that safefood has prepared its annual report and accounts for 2013, which have been certified by the Comptrollers and Auditors General. Once the annual report has been approved by both sponsor Departments, it will be laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly and both Houses of the Oireachtas.”
“<BR /> <BR />Ministers also welcomed the update on the ongoing work of the All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care, including the recent launch of the children and young people's website. <BR /> <BR />The Council recalled the discussion at the NSMC plenary in Dublin on 3 October. Ministers noted that the child protection work programme continues to be progressed and that updates will be reported at future meetings. We also noted that a North/South child care in practice conference on authoritative early intervention was held on 22 October 2014 in Dundalk. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted a progress report provided by the recently appointed chief executive of safefood, Ray Dolan. Ministers were briefed on the continued development of the awareness campaign targeting childhood obesity and overweight.”
“I am sure that everyone in the House will welcome the considerable progress that is being made in that much-needed and much-welcomed project. Ministers welcomed the continued progress of the Ireland-Northern Ireland-National Cancer Institute cancer consortium and the proposals for sharing information to support the work streams of the consortium. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted the report from the latest meeting of the tri-jurisdictional steering group for the US-Ireland R&D Partnership which took place on 29 September 2014. We noted that the meeting included discussion on the various application success rates in the different research priority areas, opportunities for promoting partnerships to increase visibility, particularly in the USA, and new funding mechanisms, including centre-to-centre cooperation.”
“Ministers noted the ongoing work under the EU action plan on childhood obesity. Ministers welcomed the progress on the development of the two new suicide prevention strategies. We also welcomed the commitment to share knowledge arising from media and public information campaigns on mental health. <BR /> <BR />It is unfortunate that the Chair of the Health Committee is unable to be with us this morning because I am sure that she would be very interested in the next section of my contribution, which deals with Altnagelvin Hospital. The Council noted that a memorandum of understanding and a service level agreement for the operation of the radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin had been signed, that works had commenced at the site and that the project remained on target for completion with an operational date of autumn 2016.”
“The Council noted the ongoing work on minimum alcohol unit pricing. We discussed the jointly commissioned University of Sheffield study on the potential impact of minimum unit pricing in both jurisdictions. Minister Varadkar and I are committed to working towards the introduction of minimum unit pricing at the same time. That commitment from the Minister in the Republic that we will work together on this issue was a very welcome outcome of the meeting. We can all understand why that is important because if Northern Ireland was to go down the road of minimum unit pricing on its own and the Irish Republic did not, that would obviously lead to many smuggling opportunities. <BR /> <BR />The Council was informed that the tobacco products directive came into force in May 2014, following European Union member states' final approval.”
“We welcomed the collaboration that is taking place to draw down funding, in particular the Cooperation and Working Together (CAWT) project, which is delivering cross-border health services to improve patient care. <BR /> <BR />Ministers noted the progress on the alcohol-related harm prevention strategies in both jurisdictions. That included the work of the North/South alcohol policy advisory group and the establishment of a North/South hidden harm group, facilitated by Cooperation and Working Together.”
“I wish to make the following statement on the seventeenth North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meeting in the health and food safety sectoral format, which was held in the NSMC joint secretariat offices in Armagh on Wednesday 12 November 2014. Minister O’Neill MLA and I represented the Northern Ireland Executive at that meeting. The Irish Government were represented by Leo Varadkar TD, Minister for Health, and Dr James Reilly TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Minister Varadkar chaired the meeting. This statement has been agreed with Minister O’Neill, and I am making it on behalf of both of us. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted that considerable EU funding opportunities are available in the health sector, and we have encouraged our respective officials to continue to identify joint projects that can attract European funding.”
“— that that is my job certainly does not help one iota.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will finish with this, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker: of the last 12 Adjournment debates, this is probably the fifth secured by MLAs from various constituencies in Northern Ireland berating the fact that the trusts have made cuts in their area. Not one of them has told me where those savings could be made, apart from Ms Boyle who made some comment. For somebody from West Tyrone to stand up and say —”
“It is important to realise that this is not a reduction in service to make savings but part of a redesign of older people’s mental health services across the Western Trust. <BR /> <BR />Dementia care is an important issue facing us all in Northern Ireland. The expected increase in the number of people with dementia will bring further pressures on our health and social care services, and we need to start planning now to ensure that our services are configured to meet demand. <BR /> <BR />It is estimated that the health and social care system already spends £250 million supporting people with dementia. With demand increasing alongside budgetary pressures, there is an onus on all of us to consider how best to provide services to ensure that safe, high-quality services are available.”
“I will reflect on that. <BR /> <BR />Members have also expressed concern about the proposals relating to Ash Villa, a 20-bed unit that provides short-term treatment for people with dementia.”
“— will occur. Thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I will move on quickly to Ash Villa. In response to several Members, I want to say that the reduction in palliative care beds was the result of a reduction in usage. Indeed, in 2013-14, there was a bed occupancy rate of only 70%. That gives me a clear indication that there was a need for a reconfiguration.”
“When the time comes in 2016 for the transfer to the new enhanced local hospital — I was out about a month ago doing the stone laying — all staff will have the skills and knowledge to work across both areas competently, and a seamless transfer of services —”
“Since my appointment, I have explained at length that we were in a very difficult position. We had to find £70 million very quickly, and there was not enough time to consult. If we had consulted, by the time the consultation had finished, we would not have saved a single penny. That is the difficulty the trust is having. <BR /> <BR />There have been other changes to services in the Tyrone County Hospital relating to the merger of the cardiac assessment unit and urgent care and treatment centre overnight. The Western Trust has advised me that there is no direct impact on patient care from that proposal. Indeed, the merger will help to establish a single team and give staff the opportunity to build up skills in both areas.”
“The staff have remained unchanged, but the pressures have developed. The wards —”
“I cannot accept words like "moronic", or "mismanagement", which Mr Flanagan used, about the Western Trust. It is under extreme pressure to balance the books. How can a trust be high-performing and doing well in meeting its targets one year, yet become moronic and mismanaged the next?”
“In response to the concerns expressed by staff, patients and their families and, of course, MLAs, the trust changed its proposal. I cannot understand. If the trust listened to the concerns of MLAs and changed its proposals, why should it be criticised? For listening to —”
“You are not a very shy and retiring lot when it comes to asking questions about health in West Tyrone. I understand your fears that temporary reductions in beds could become permanent and that the realignment of dementia services might mean a worse service for the people of Omagh. However, let us look at the facts. <BR /> <BR />Looking first at Tyrone County Hospital, I said in my statement of 30 October 2014 that I expected the full engagement of the trusts in their local areas so that the public would be fully aware of the changes and their impact. The Western Trust has engaged with local people and listened to them. I know that the trust’s original proposal temporarily to merge the palliative care ward and the rehabilitation ward caused a lot of concern in the mid-Tyrone community.”
“Demand is growing so fast that even the most efficiently managed trusts cannot make the books balance. <BR /> <BR />Each trust, including the Western Trust, has provided assurances that their services will remain safe, with appropriate staffing levels. Such proposals, including the closure of some beds, will be implemented on the understanding that alternative arrangements are to be put in place to maintain safety and mitigate the impact on patient flow. <BR /> <BR />That brings me to the Western Trust’s contingency plans. I have listened to Members’ contributions, and I have answered the flow of questions for written answer from Mr McElduff, Mr Buchanan, Mr Hussey and so many others. Indeed, dealing with those questions has ruined many's an evening at home.”
“I was waiting; I would have opened a book on who was going to make that point. First of all, I accept entirely that the Western Trust has been a very effective and efficient trust and has achieved outstanding performance. Indeed, until this year, it was able to balance the books in terribly difficult circumstances. The fact that the Western Trust and other very effectively managed trusts in Northern Ireland are telling me that they are finding this extraordinarily difficult tells me that there is no problem inherent within the trust's management structure.”
“A range of competing pressures and priorities have had to be considered across the health and social care system. The focus has been to ensure that the services that we provide are safe and effective, whilst seeking to achieve financial balance for the Department. <BR /> <BR />To achieve these twin aims, in addition to the £170 million of savings that are required this year, the trusts have been required to implement a range of contingency proposals. That is why we are here this evening. Each trust —”
“We are well aware of the pressures on services from the increasing demand on hospital services, the increasing number of people living with long-term conditions, growing public expectations, and new medical technology and interventions. This year, however, has been extremely challenging, exacerbated by the financial position. I have outlined those problems to the Assembly on many occasions. <BR /> <BR />To summarise, the financial challenge that we are facing for 2013-14, even with the additional funding secured in the June and October monitoring rounds, still leaves us with consequences for provision of health and social care services. It is simply not possible to maintain current levels of service provision in the absence of all the required funding.”
“I will be coming to the Ash Villa issue later on, but I think we need to get this in perspective. There is some extremely good work being done by the Western Trust. Indeed, some of that is based in the Omagh area, such as the staff of Beltany House respite care home for adults with learning disabilities, which received an award at that event. Others deliver trust-wide services that bring them into frequent contact with people from the Omagh area, such as the dementia services and the sensory team. <BR /> <BR />I hate to keep coming back to this issue, but I have to, and I suspect I will be doing so for the next 18 months: the financial challenge that is facing not only the Western Trust but all of health and social care in Northern Ireland. Delivering excellent health and social care services has always been challenging.”
“I wish that all of the MLAs for West Tyrone had been at that event, because they would have seen the most extraordinarily high standard of dedication and commitment from staff in every corner of the Western Trust. I have to say, it was probably —”
“The Western Trust not only delivers an enormous volume of care to people in its area, but does it to a very high standard — over, can I add, an extraordinarily large area that stretches from Belleek to Magilligan Point. <BR /> <BR />Time and time again, Western Trust staff have featured prominently in regional and national awards such as the allied health care profession awards, the Royal College of Nursing awards and the Northern Ireland Healthcare Awards, to name but a few. This excellence extends to all fields — medical, nursing, AHP, pharmacy and support staff — and all specialities, including dementia and maternity services. Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of meeting many of the excellent staff of the Western Trust at their staff recognition awards.”
“As expected, the focus of the debate is on the Western Health and Social Care Trust’s proposals for temporary reductions in services in the Omagh area. First, it is important to set the changes in context and acknowledge the service provision that the Western Trust is delivering. <BR /> <BR />Last year, 2013-14, the Western Trust treated more than 62,000 inpatients and saw over 100,000 outpatients or day cases. There were 106,000 emergency department attendances, including almost 18,000 at the urgent care and treatment centre in Tyrone County Hospital. Add to that, 385,000, allied health-care professional contacts, 202,000 district nursing contacts, 3,500 domiciliary care packages for older people and a range of child protection, social care and adult day care services.”
“It is no good for 12 different sets of MLAs to stand up and make 12 different pleas not to reduce services in their area without offering any alternative to what can be done to balance the books.”
“This is one of many similar debates that we have had in the House on areas in every corner of the Province — from Dungannon to Downpatrick to Ballycastle — and I have no doubt that there will be many other groups. In answer to Mr McElduff, I do listen. However, it would be very helpful if someone could suggest to me a less painful way of balancing the budget in the Western Trust, the Southern Trust, the Northern Trust etc, rather than simply berating the fact these contingency plans have been made and saying that you do not like the fact that we have to find the reductions. Could the people who speak during the rest of the debate suggest to me a way of balancing the books in the Western Trust and in the health and social care system generally that will cause them less pain?”
“Yes, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, but in intervention to Mr Agnew, at the Committee, I was very open and clear with the witnesses. I made those accusations straight to their face, and I named them. On this occasion, I am not, but, as the issue was raised by Mr Agnew, I will say this: one of the references I made in Committee directly to the person concerned was that her computer domain name for her so-called group supporting the needs of prostitutes was paid for by the wife of one of the largest pimps in the United Kingdom and that, therefore, it was quite clear that she was very much controlled by the industry. I made that point and named her in the Committee. How independent can someone be in representing the needs of sex workers when her office is maintained by one of the largest prostitution rings in the United Kingdom?”
“He said that he is still concerned about clause 15. Sweden, Iceland, Norway and, now, the Irish Republic have all looked at exactly the same situation as us. All are liberal democracies in which the Greens are an important political element, and they have all come to the same conclusion that the best way forward is to introduce the equivalent of clause 15. How does he know better than all those Western liberal democracies?”
“The reason that the questioning by Mr Givan and me was so strident was that we knew that what we were dealing with was not a genuine sex worker but a spokeswoman for the sex industry — someone who was inextricably linked to a ring using over 300 women in Ireland for prostitution. We never met someone who was a genuine sex worker as such; we were introduced only to frontwomen who were working for the big conglomerates in the sex industry, which are using both trafficked and non-trafficked prostitutes throughout Ireland.”
“All that I can say to Lord Morrow is "Well done and remember that, in 100 years' time, you will be remembered when all the rest of us are forgotten".”
“There were considered views on the Bill, and I will even say, though it hurts me to say it, that some of the Alliance Party's contributions were well considered. They were well considered and totally wrong, but at least they were well argued. I am very glad to say that, despite their protestations and the ambivalence of the Minister, when it came to the crucial vote at Further Consideration Stage the Bill had overwhelming support right across the Chamber. Through private Members' Bills, whether it is John McCallister's Bill on caravans — it grieves me to say it, but it was very good legislation — Mr Allister's Bill on advisers and now this Bill on trafficking and human slavery, we have a strong message to tell the community: when the Assembly is left to have a free, educated and intelligent debate, it can make good legislation.”
“I believe that Lord Morrow's Bill will stand the test of time and that, when we look at the provisions in three years' time, we will ask ourselves why we did not do this earlier and allowed this situation to continue. As we speak, in Northern Ireland there are women locked in rooms being terribly abused. As Lord Morrow says, we no longer have deniability; we know that this goes on. We cannot turn the other way. We have a responsibility to do what we can for these people. My message today is this: well done, Lord Morrow; you are to be congratulated for your tenacity and perseverance and for having the vision to identify this problem and devise legislation to tackle it. <BR /> <BR />This is the Assembly at its very best. We had long discussions, both in Committee and on the Floor of the House.”
“I am glad, therefore, that we have reached agreement that my Department, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, will provide the high level of care that is necessary. It stands to sense, as some even in the Alliance Party spotted, that if we do not give these women an alternative, they will inevitably be drawn into drug trafficking or petty theft to sustain a drug addiction or to support their family. What we now have in place is something that we can stand over and say, "That will give an alternative to those women, who are at their very lowest". <BR /> <BR />The Bill was amended to provide for a review after three years. I agree with that; it was right to consider that.”
“If one person can be spared the degradation, the humiliation, the loss of personality and the incredible emotional distress of being trafficked and used for prostitution, it will have been worthwhile. <BR /> <BR />I stand here pleased that my Department has been able to do much to encourage the Bill in various respects. Some of those who criticised the Bill initially were absolutely right. If the Bill is to be a success, it is essential that when women leave the prostitution industry we as a society have the health provision, accommodation, retraining and emotional counselling in place. We must give those women — it is mostly women — the full support that they will need when they come out of this dreadful industry.”
“The repeat rate in Sweden is a mere 6%, and that is in a large, cosmopolitan society of 12 million people. I suspect that in Northern Ireland when that full and frank discussion has occurred between husband and wife the repeat rates will be a lot lower indeed. <BR /> <BR />The Bill has had many detractors in the Alliance Party, who pretend to be concerned with various aspects of clause 15. Without clause 15 the Bill is meaningless. Lord Morrow was absolutely right to stick to his guns and make it clear that he was determined to see this through. No doubt they have their concerns. However, I will just say this: if the Bill saves one woman from being trafficked and abused in a cellar or flat in Northern Ireland, it will have been worthwhile.”
“The ultimate deterrent in the Bill is that any man abusing a woman through prostitution in Northern Ireland can, if caught, be named in court. In a little society such as Northern Ireland, with 1·8 million people, that is an extremely powerful deterrent. <BR /> <BR />I went to Sweden with the Justice Committee delegation. The Swedish have the Nordic model, which is the genus from which this is largely derived. That legislation has been operating in Sweden for several years, and, if you are caught abusing a woman through prostitution, you are taken home by the police and introduced to your wife or girlfriend. The police explain where the husband or boyfriend was caught. You are then left with your wife or girlfriend for what is known as a very full and frank discussion.”
“Who else could bring together the Human Rights Commission, the Church of Ireland, Women's Aid and the Evangelical Alliance? They all, in unison, said that the Bill simply had to be pursued and had to be a success. We then had the PSNI, which, initially, I have to say, had a relatively hostile approach to the Bill, particularly to clause 6, as it was then, which is now clause 15. When the PSNI listened to the rational argument of those who had been trafficked, those who had experience of rescuing trafficked victims and those who had been directly involved in the prostitution industry but got out, it changed its stance on the Bill and will now enforce it.”
“We had this dreadful situation in which the punters, as they are called, used or abused these women — there are no other words for it — and then rated them according to the sexual services that they performed, giving them a score out of ten. Each woman carried with her a score as to her suitability for various acts. That is no way to treat the women of Ireland, North or South. We then heard that those women were trafficked weekly from one venue to the next because the men who used them demanded fresh entertainment. It is another flagrant abuse of the rights of half of our population that that should be even considered. <BR /> <BR />Uniquely, Lord Morrow gathered together, in unison, a wide range of bodies in favour of his Bill.”
“They had their passports removed, were kept as slaves in various houses and flats throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic and were expected to entertain or service large numbers of men. <BR /> <BR />We all remember the story of the Romanian nurse who very bravely gave evidence to the Committee. She was walking down the street when she was kidnapped and flown to Galway. She was locked in a room and expected to see between 20 and 22 clients a day. She escaped 11 months later, her life completely destroyed by this evil practice, but still she had the courage to come forward to the Committee to tell us how evil this process is. <BR /> <BR />We also saw what was going on in the prostitution industry in Ireland. One large concern seems to have cornered the market and advertises, on any given night, 300 women available for sexual services.”
“Many people came before the Committee, pretending that they were in favour of rights for sex workers or in favour of civil liberties, but, when one dug a bit deeper, inevitably, one discovered that all had a very substantial pecuniary interest in this trade of trafficking women throughout the world for purposes of prostitution: a wicked trade and a fundamental breach of human rights, mostly those of women. <BR /> <BR />During that long process, many of us were exposed to tales of the horrific treatment of women who had been trafficked to Ireland, North and South, from all parts of the world. These women were promised that they were coming here to take jobs in shops, as household staff, in the tourist trade or whatever.”
“I am sure that he could not have envisaged then just how complex, difficult, fraught and time-consuming his private Member's Bill would be. However, he has "stickability", and he kept at it. Many hurdles were put in his way. The one thing that I must say about our party chairman and Member of the House of Lords is that he has tenacity and keeps at things. He really needed to show those talents because there were times when many thought that the Bill would never get any further than First Stage. There were times in the Committee when many hurdles were put before it, and still he persisted. <BR /> <BR />There was a vociferous campaign against his Bill, led by those who have a direct pecuniary interest in the pursuit of prostitution. I sat on the Committee almost throughout the entire passage of the Bill.”
“In 100 years' time, very few people will recall who Minister Kennedy or Minister Wells was, or even, dare I say it, Minister Durkan. They will scratch their head and wonder who these individuals were and whether they made any contribution to Northern Ireland society; whether they were any good at what they did; and whether they were worth putting into those positions of influence. However, in 100 years' time, everyone will still know the name of Lord Morrow of Clogher Valley because of the decision today to back this absolutely crucial legislation — one of the most important pieces of law that the Assembly will pass in this mandate. <BR /> <BR />Lord Morrow started out on this pilgrimage, or very long journey, three years ago.”
“The honourable Member is absolutely right. I should have paid tribute to the enormous contribution that Una Crudden made to the ovarian cancer campaign. I regarded her as a friend. She was a wonderful campaigner, and she achieved so much in her life to further the cause of those with ovarian cancer.”
“I pay tribute to those members of our medical staff who will face a very difficult Christmas. People will come in worse for wear, and those staff will take abuse, violence and extreme bad manners. We as a society have to stop that happening. All the scientific evidence shows that, if you make the price per unit higher, demand and consumption reduces significantly, unlike what happens with cigarettes, where I do not believe that happens. Therefore, we have to do something to protect those health service workers who are having a very difficult time. If we do not do something, we are going to find it increasingly difficult to keep those A&Es open, because staff, particularly nurses, simply will not take on the role of being abused for several hours at the weekend.”