Dominic Bradley
Newry and Armagh · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a ráitis. Ba mhaith liom a fhiafraí den Aire cad é an tionchar a bheas ag na ciorruithe Thuaidh agus Theas ar obair Fhoras na Gaeilge san am atá romhainn? I thank the Minister for her statement.”
“<BR /> <BR />Obviously, the £95,000 cap is at the heart of the matter. As others mentioned, there is concern amongst the representatives of public service workers about this issue. The Committee heard from several trade unions, including UNISON and NIPSA.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Thank you very much, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. Yes, there have been a number of reservations expressed about the use of the LCM in this context.”
“It also said that the Department of Finance and Personnel's decisions were not based on evidence, either qualitative or quantitative. <BR /> <BR />Responses to the original consultation argued that the current changes would impact negatively on older people.”
“Those challenges could be on the basis of breach of contract, unlawful deductions of earnings based on the contractual right to payment, and on the unfair application of waivers, which could lead to inconsistency across employing authorities.”
“The Bill as it stands will negatively impact on many public servants and change their contractual rights. The proper legislative authority on this matter should remain with the Assembly here, and the LCM does not give the Assembly the opportunity to exercise its authority fully and to scrutinise, according to its role, the detail.”
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“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a ráitis. Ba mhaith liom a fhiafraí den Aire cad é an tionchar a bheas ag na ciorruithe Thuaidh agus Theas ar obair Fhoras na Gaeilge san am atá romhainn? I thank the Minister for her statement. What effect will budgetary cuts, North and South, have on the operation of An Foras Teanga, the language body, in the time that lies ahead?”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Is the Minister confirming that she agrees that at least a proportion of the £240 million originally set aside for tax credits can now be used to mitigate the impact on those who are most severely affected by welfare changes?”
“The Bill as it stands will negatively impact on many public servants and change their contractual rights. The proper legislative authority on this matter should remain with the Assembly here, and the LCM does not give the Assembly the opportunity to exercise its authority fully and to scrutinise, according to its role, the detail. <BR /> <BR />We will not be supporting this LCM on the grounds that I outlined. I thank you for the opportunity to contribute. Go raibh míle maith agat.”
“It also said that the Department of Finance and Personnel's decisions were not based on evidence, either qualitative or quantitative. <BR /> <BR />Responses to the original consultation argued that the current changes would impact negatively on older people. Hymans Robertson, one of the UK's largest pension professionals working in the public sector, argued that there would be early retirement strain costs within the cap, the statutory entitlement of unreduced benefits, and that the cap's purpose would be unfulfilled as it would target mostly low- and not high-earning public servants. <BR /> <BR />Many groups argued that the consultation process was incredibly limited and that the concerns of the majority of respondents were not taken account of fully.”
“Those challenges could be on the basis of breach of contract, unlawful deductions of earnings based on the contractual right to payment, and on the unfair application of waivers, which could lead to inconsistency across employing authorities. <BR /> <BR />The Equality Commission believed that, in a situation of compulsory redundancy, there could be significant financial impact on individuals who were subject to the cap. Those would be largely older people. As was pointed out, older people who have long public service and are not necessarily the highest-earning civil servants would be disproportionately affected. The commission pointed out that the screening document did not consider the full implications of the situation.”
“<BR /> <BR />Obviously, the £95,000 cap is at the heart of the matter. As others mentioned, there is concern amongst the representatives of public service workers about this issue. The Committee heard from several trade unions, including UNISON and NIPSA. They argued that the LCM would lead to a breach of contract, the denial of statutory entitlements and the breaking of the 25-year no change on public service pensions agreement. They agree that legislation of this type would be better in the form of a Bill, which could be fully scrutinised by the Finance Committee and the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />NIPSA argued that the use of the LCM may bring about indirect discrimination under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act. It further warned, as the Chair pointed out, of the potential for many legal challenges if the cap is implemented.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Thank you very much, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. Yes, there have been a number of reservations expressed about the use of the LCM in this context. The belief is that an LCM should not be used to bring forward such controversial changes and that it denies the Assembly full scrutiny of a matter that is of huge public importance and that impacts on the lives of many people here in Northern Ireland. The short period of, I think,15 days given to the Finance Committee and other stakeholders to scrutinise the proposals in the LCM is far too short and comes on the back of a restrictive Treasury consultation that was held during the summertime, which many believe did not conform to the Woolf/Gunning principles for fair and adequate consultation.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an ráitis a rinne sí. Sílim féin gur teanga thar a bheith deisbhéalach í teanga na mbodhar agus gur chóir í a chur chun cinn agus a chosaint de réir dlí. I thank the Minister for her statement, and I agree that sign language is an extremely expressive language and that we should do all that we can to ensure that people who are deaf have access to the training needed to develop their skills in sign language. <BR /> <BR />Ba mhaith liom a fhiafraí den Aire cad iad na buntaistí praticiúla a bhéas leis an reachtaíocht, agus cad é mar a rachaidh sí i bhfeidhm ar shaol an duine bhodhair ó lá go lá. What practical outcomes would the legislation have for a deaf person in their daily life?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an fhreagra a thug sé dúinn ar an cheist áirithe seo. Thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank the Minister for his answer. He referred to area-based planning in relation to Markethill High School, but does the Minister agree that area-based planning in the south Armagh area has been completed and that there is good cooperation between St Paul's High School, Newtownhamilton High School and St Joseph's High School, Crossmaglen? Can he also give an indication of the progress on bringing forward a new build for St Joseph's, Crossmaglen?”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaimse buíochas fosta leis an Aire. Bhí an ráiteas iontach cuimsitheach, agus caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil mé ag teacht léi in achan rud atá ráite aici ann. Ceann de na deacrachtaí a bhíonn ag grúpaí ealaíne ná maoiniú gearrthréimhseach, agus ba mhaith liom a fhiafraí den Aire an gcuideoidh an comhairliúchán seo le heagraíochtaí ealaíne samhail maoinithe inmharthana a chur chun tosaigh? I must say that I find myself in agreement with the majority of the Minister's statement, but one of the difficulties that arts organisations often bring up is the short-term nature of the funding awarded to them. How will the consultation and, indeed, the strategy help ensure that arts groups have a sustainable form of funding rather than short-term funding?”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for her statement. I, too, welcome the £47·6 million for the health service. The Minister mentioned £6 million to be invested in unscheduled care and other services. I would like to ask the Minister this: will this investment ensure that hospital emergency departments, like the emergency department in Daisy Hill hospital in Newry, have the staff to operate on a 24-hour basis and free from the threat of closure or partial closure? That is a way in which that investment would, as the Minister said, affect the lives of real people.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a chuid freagraí. I thank the Minister for his answers so far. I have been around long enough to remember when O levels were graded from 1 to 9. We then changed to A to G at GCSE, and now the English are changing back, not from 1 to 9 but from 9 to 1. When I was there, the older cynics in the education system believed that one should not rush into any change because you usually ended up back where you started. I do not know whether the Minister agrees with that analysis. Does the Minister have the power to compel external awarding bodies to report in letters in Northern Ireland?”
“I certainly will enlighten the Minister. After the recent review of services, there are only 12 trains leaving Newry for Belfast each day, compared with 46 from Portadown to Belfast and 38 from Lurgan to Belfast. There is a 30-minute service from Portadown to Belfast, yet the Newry service has intervals of up to one and half hours. I hope that the Minister sees that there is an imbalance there. Will she review that situation with a view to increasing services from Newry to Belfast?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Ceist a dó. Question 2, please.”
“I also ask him to look at the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, particularly article 7, paragraph 2. Perhaps he will also think of discussing his proposals with the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, in the light of the responses received on the proposed Irish language Bill. <BR /> <BR />Tá mé sásta tacaíocht a thabhairt don Bhille faoi mar atá sé san am i láthair ag an Dara Céim. Ar ndóigh, beidh faill agus deis againn na moltaí atá sa Bhille a iniúchadh níos míne agus níos doimhne sna céimeanna den Bhille. Gabhaim buíochas leat arís, a LeasCheann Comhairle, as deis labhartha a thabhairt dom. <BR /> <BR />I am glad to support the Bill. We will have the opportunity to explore and delve into its provisions at the various legislative stages, and I am sure that my party will be happy to cooperate with Mr Flanagan.”
“When you are driving through the area — I am sure that Mr Boylan has noticed this — you will see the townlands marked by very attractive local granite stones. I have seen the same thing in other areas, such as the Connemara Gaeltacht. <BR /> <BR />I believe that, in many areas, townland names are not as prominently in use as they could be. Mr Flanagan's Bill will help to put them back into pole position in those council areas that choose to adopt it. I am very much in favour of preserving townlands, and my party agrees with me, I am glad to say. I would pose a couple of questions to Mr Flanagan. Has he taken into account the Good Friday Agreement, particularly paragraph 4 on economic, social and cultural issues?”
“Of course, I am also in favour of the Irish version of the place names being available. <BR /> <BR />I do not frequently attend Orange parades, but I do see the photographs of the Twelfth in the local paper. One of the things that I have remarked on is that almost all the Orange lodge banners have townland names, such as Altnaveigh, Divernagh, Creeve, Finnard and, here in Belfast, Ballynafeigh. The Orange Order is doing its bit to preserve townland names, and I think that we should support them in that. <BR /> <BR />Mr Flanagan spoke of the huge amount of work done by many people locally in County Fermanagh. In my county of Armagh, there is an enlightened awareness of the value of townland names. Some communities have marked out the boundaries of their townland in granite.”
“What a pity that a previous Finance Minister, who knew the cost of everything and the value of nothing, would not provide the match funding to allow the Place-Name Project at Queen's to continue. I pay tribute to the work of Dr Kay Muhr and Dr Patrick McKay, who provided much of the material, and, of course, to the others who helped them and went before them. <BR /> <BR />Place names tell us about the geography, topography and social history of our local area, which families lived in which places and so on. They are well worth preserving for many reasons. The play, 'Translations', which Mr Flanagan referred to, is of course about the adoption of our place names from the original Irish into English. The anglicised versions still hold a reflection of the original Irish.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said, enclosed within our townland names is a wealth of history. Anyone who has had the opportunity of reading any of the publications of the Place-Name Project at Queen's University will know that the process of understanding a single place name involves a huge amount of historical research. I would probably take issue with Mr Boylan's interpretation of Caramoyle and refer it to someone more learned than me for deliberation, but I hazard a guess that "bald friend" may not be the correct rendition of that name. I may be corrected. In any case, as I said, the names are rich in history, as the Place-Name Project shows very clearly.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Éirím ar an ócáid seo le tacaíocht a thabhairt don Bhille. I support the Bill. Rugadh mise i mbaile fearainn darb ainm Cloch Aireamhán a bhí suite taobh leis an Charraig Bhreac. Is doiligh ainmneacha chomh deas, chomh ceolmhar, nó chomh saibhir a fháil ná ainmneacha ár gcuid bailte fearainn. I was born in Cloughirvin, beside Carrickbrack. It would be difficult to get names that are as attractive in their sound, meaning and richness as the names of our townlands. For example, in my constituency, we have Annacloghmullin, Tullymacreeve, Ballymacdermot, Ballimar, Lisummon, Mullaghbane, and I could go on. A particularly attractive one that I came across recently was Achadh na bhFáinleog, "the field of the swallows." That is a beautiful name, is it not?”
“Mar fhocal scoir, a Cheann Comhairle, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leat arís, agus tacaím leis an Dara Céim den Bhille. We will be supporting the Second Stage of the Bill.”
“<BR /> <BR />The rural development network stressed the need for implementation to be taken seriously by the Department. They pointed out as a lesson the failure of the implementation of the biodiversity duty placed on public bodies by the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act 2011. The draft guidelines appeared three years after the legislation and were too vague and ambiguous. They have still not been issued in their final form. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, the SDLP is supportive of the policy aims in the Bill. The thrust of the Bill is to place a statutory duty on Departments to rural proof. That is welcome. However, there is fine tuning to do around implementation and monitoring. The SDLP will engage fully in the Bill process to ensure that that happens.”
“We believe that monitoring should be carried out by an independent organisation properly resourced to enable it to discharge that role. Stakeholders suggested that it would be appropriate for that body to continue research into rural change so that the process could be developed and modified to meet evolving needs. Perhaps Members should consider the mechanisms for rural research more fully as the Bill passes through the House. <BR /> <BR />The potential conflicts of interest that I have mentioned also apply to the proposed role for any interdepartmental committee on rural policy, where representatives of all Departments would be expected to monitor their own performance. An independent monitoring aspect is needed to ensure that not all processes are taking place in-house and to ensure best practice.”
“Mr Irwin pointed out that there are no sanctions to enforce aspects of the Bill. We in the SDLP believe strongly that an independent monitoring arrangement should be built into the Bill. Many stakeholders have expressed to us that independence is required in the reporting arrangements, that it does not make sense for the Department that is promoting the Bill and its provisions to also carry out the monitoring, and that there may be a conflict of interest in that respect.”
“For example, a rolling programme of rural research upon which clear decisions of rural circumstance impact could be made would help any policymaker to rural proof a particular policy or decision. That is not apparent in the Bill, and there is not sufficient rigour to constitute an ongoing analysis that will produce long-term benefit. Other support mechanisms, including the availability of rural information and analysis, need to be included in the Department's processes around the Bill. The SDLP wants to see a consistent database of rural-specific research that can be used to create policy that allows for and promotes the unique characteristics and features of rural communities. <BR /> <BR />One flaw in the Bill can be seen in the form of clause 3, and that is in relation to monitoring.”
“However, it remains the case that no statutory obligation to carry out rural proofing has been in existence and, therefore, there was always the possibility that the rural communities would be ignored. Rural proofing has not received an appropriate amount of consideration and, as a result, many policies have passed through the House and through councils that have had an adverse effect on rural dwellers. One could say that the policy of rural proofing has, in some cases, been more honoured in the breach than in the observance. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is relatively short and contains the main headline provisions that our party would like to see. However, there are some omissions from the Bill and therefore some uncertainty.”
“<BR /> <BR />Effective communication from DARD is necessary to ensure that rural proofing is in place to protect the interests of rural communities, and that, in turn, will strengthen their voice. DARD should always engage readily with rural communities to ensure the best outcome for those communities. The SDLP has said for some time that the Department must have a statutory role in promoting and encouraging other bodies to undertake rural proofing. The SDLP also believes that the DARD rural White Paper should be acted on and placed on a statutory basis. That would mean that voluntary and community-based support services would be given sustainable long-term funding. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP recognises the efforts that have been made since rural proofing was introduced in 2002 to make it more prevalent in departmental policymaking.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Fáiltím roimh an deis labhairt ar an Dara Céim den Bhille seo. Creideann an páirtí seo gur gá le polasaí leas na tuaithe agus go bhfuil gá le reachtaíocht le déanamh cinnte de go bhfuil leas na tuaithe san áireamh agus polasaithe nua a gcur i bhfeidhm. Is ar an bhonn sin a chuirim fáilte roimh an Bhille. The SDLP has always believed that there needs to be strict adherence to a policy of rural proofing and that legislation from the Assembly is necessary to ensure that Departments do not carry out policies that have an adverse effect on the rural population. It is in that spirit that we welcome the Rural Needs Bill. We do, however, have some concerns about its implementation, as I will outline later.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Considering the importance of early diagnosis and intervention for people who have autism, does the Minister, since he is so fond of footballing metaphors, not see that he is in the bottom league regarding autism, given the fact that 1,400 people await diagnosis?”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for her answers up to now. If she is not to hold a formal consultation on her draft Budget, how will she engage with stakeholders?”
“— is a positive outcome, even though there was a petition of concern. It will give the LGBT community an uplift. <BR /> <BR />Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for allowing me to contribute. I support the motion and the amendment.”
“The Minister responded to that and outlined his plans. Many Members referred to the world-leading mental health trauma service. The Minister responded to that: he said that he would take a collaborative approach based on those who suffer because of the Troubles, including individual victims. He also said that there would be emphasis on governance and accountability and that the approach would be cross-sectoral in nature. Daithí McKay mentioned the high rates of suicide. He referred to the LGBT community and the trauma that members of that community suffer through bullying, self-harm and suicide. He referred to today's debate on equal marriage. The vote on that —”
“Recently, in my constituency, starting in Crossmaglen, we had the Slieve Gullion spin-off cycle, which made a tremendous contribution locally to highlighting mental health issues and suicide and urging people experiencing mental health difficulties to talk about them. <BR /> <BR />Mr McCarthy urged that the Mental Capacity Bill be expedited and resourced to the greatest extent possible. The Minister referred to it also and urged Members to bring the Bill forward and make it the best it can be. George Robinson emphasised the need for prevention and, where there is mental ill health, the need for early intervention. That was reflected by other Members. Jo-Anne Dobson and Rosie McCorley mentioned the importance of retaining the Lifeline service intact. We in the SDLP support them in that regard.”
“He said that mental health services were often the Cinderella services of the health system, so it would be good if the Minister were to prove to be their Prince Charming. The truth is that we can talk easily of physical illnesses, even cancer, but there is still unwillingness to speak openly about mental health and well-being. As Mr Nesbitt said, it is time to take it out into the open and champion it in public to remove the stigma and make it OK to talk. Talking is often the first step towards mental well-being. I praise the work of the race against suicide, an island-wide voluntary strategy that seeks to emphasise that it is OK to talk.”
“The proper provision of a quality mental health service is not simply to address the needs of those affected by the conflict; it is for the common good of everyone in Northern Ireland, young and old. Access to properly funded services delivering the best care possible is critical to helping people to identify their own struggle and grants them the tools to manage their mental health. It is critical that the Assembly recognises the scale of mental health issues in Northern Ireland and that we do everything in our power to raise awareness and banish all the stigma that has been erroneously attached to mental illness in our society. <BR /> <BR />Mr Buchanan referred to stigma.”
“She said that that was a problem that needed to be addressed urgently. She also mentioned that the dementia services in her constituency last year had almost 3,000 referrals, which was a 36% increase on the previous year. That is obviously a problem that needs to be tackled.”
“She also mentioned the experience of CAMHS in dealing with chronic alcoholism in people who are much younger than the past norm.”
“The scale of need recognised in the Bamford report and Northern Ireland's own unfortunate position was further recognised by the Heenan-Anderson Commission, which rightly identified that the legacy of trauma from the conflict could only be dealt with through a world-class, universal mental health system. <BR /> <BR />Dolores Kelly praised the professional staff involved in mental healthcare and the work of family carers and friends. She mentioned the need for smarter ways of working and referred to nurse prescribers, who she said are making an excellent contribution. Mrs Kelly also outlined the close connection between domestic violence and the mental health of women and children and emphasised the need to bring forward the sexual violence strategy.”
“This goal was later reflected in Transforming Your Care. The Minister outlined the move towards treatment in the community when he mentioned the hubs. He said that these were based around general practice and involved cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and trauma therapy and evidence-based, recovery-orientated approaches. <BR /> <BR />Mr McCarthy mentioned Transforming Your Care and said that we need to reassess our priorities. Ms McLaughlin mentioned the fact that funding for mental health is now 25% less in real terms, a point that I have already covered. It is frustrating for those involved in the mental health sector and those who rely on it to find that a lack of funding and continued cutbacks continue to stall progress on the Bamford principles.”
“<BR /> <BR />As Mr McKinney and others said, the 2007 Bamford review heralded a new understanding that mental ill health was not only widespread across the region but, further, that it needed serious planning and funding obligations to meet the demand and create new positivity. Bamford held that:”
“In Northern Ireland, this has only been amplified by the conflict, which has left many people with lasting mental scars. <BR /> <BR />Mrs Dobson and Mr McKinney mentioned the figures. One in four people in Northern Ireland has a mental health problem, with the region having a 25% higher risk of problems than England, for example. A significant portion is directly related to trauma experienced during the conflict, with over 213,000 people dealing with mental health issues. As Ms McLaughlin mentioned, further figures note that, between 2008 and 2014, actual spending on mental health services was 25% less than it was in the previous period. Certain figures quoted in today's debate continue to paint a grim picture of our current position regarding mental health aid.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle, as deis cainte a thabhairt domh ar cheist ríthábhachtach seo na sláinte intinne. Éirím ar an ócáid seo le hachoimriú a dhéanamh ar an rún, ach caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil muidinne ar an taobh seo an-sásta tacaíocht a thabhairt don leasú fosta. Tá súil agam go mbeidh mé in inmhe cothrom na Féinne a thabhairt do oiread Comhaltaí a ghlac páirt sa díospóireacht agus is féidir liom. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the opportunity to wind up what has been a very positive debate on the motion. While Members may disagree slightly on the nuances of the implementation of mental health services, they all agree on the scale of mental health issues and that it cannot be ignored. The provision of mental health services is one of our society's greatest challenges.”
“Does the Member agree that the motion does not and will not affect marriages that take place in churches and that it is not a redefinition of marriage but an expansion of the understanding of marriage that makes it more inclusive?”
“Does the Member agree that many sports clubs hold their annual awards ceremonies in the local hotel, restaurant, lounge or whatever? So, many sports clubs increase, rather take away, trade to the hospitality industry.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is the cause of some regret that the petition of concern that has been laid will not allow us to progress this Bill. That having been said, the SDLP agrees with its general principles. We commend the Member for bringing it forward, and we urge all Members of the House to support it. <BR /> <BR />A LeasCheann Comhairle, críochnóidh mé ar an phointe sin. Go raibh céad maith agat.”
“Last night, I watched a programme on BBC Two. It was called 'Taobh Thiar den Gheansaí' or 'Behind the Jersey'. A young man from Belfast, Ainle Ó Cairealláin, looked at the problem of suicide among young sportspeople in the GAA. He also examined the measures that were taken by the organisation to improve the mental health of its young members. The message that constantly came from the various sections in that programme was that it is OK to talk. That is an example of the type of work that community sports clubs do for the mental health of young people. I believe that this measure would give them even more facility to do even more work and to improve even more the mental health of the young people who use their facilities and who are their members.”
“<BR /> <BR />I regret that it looks as if the Bill will not benefit from robust Committee Stage scrutiny. I am sure that the Committee Stage would have enabled members of the Committee to iron out any anomalies and to fine-tune the Bill. Indeed, amendments could have been brought forward at Consideration Stage and at Further Consideration Stage. The laying of a petition of concern is highly inappropriate. I believe that it is anti-democratic in so far as it denies the democratic institutions here the opportunity to examine, improve and scrutinise an important piece of legislation that would benefit the whole community.”
“It is only but right that government should repay that effort in the small way that the Bill proposes. As I said earlier, the investment is miniscule compared with the huge advantages that could ensue from the Bill. The provisions of the Bill would enable community sports clubs to provide greater investment in better facilities and equipment for their members. <BR /> <BR />We heard from the sponsor the wide and diverse support that there is from sports clubs across Northern Ireland and the community. Indeed, he said that the list that he read out, which took some time, was not exhaustive. So there is a huge groundswell of support for this measure among sports clubs and sportspeople, and I think that the Department and the House should take cognisance of that.”
“The health benefits — physical and mental — have been outlined by the sponsor of the Bill. He referred to the beneficial effects that the provisions of the Bill could have on such illnesses as diabetes and obesity, in general, so one could say that the Bill could be categorised as an invest-to-save measure. <BR /> <BR />It is clear that community sports clubs contribute hugely to community cohesion. We all know that sport brings people together, not only in a single-identity community but on a cross-community basis. Sport improves community spirits and lifts communities, and the health benefits from sport range across all age groups, from the young to older people. <BR /> <BR />The voluntary effort that is put into the work of community sports clubs is huge; it is difficult to quantify in monetary terms, but it is huge.”
“<BR /> <BR />In closing, I look forward to further contributions from other Members, and I am sure that, if the Bill were to progress to Committee Stage, the Committee would ensure that it would receive robust scrutiny and that the views of all the stakeholders, including the sports bodies, as well as the business groups, would be heard. <BR /> <BR />That finishes my contribution on behalf of the Committee for Finance and Personnel. <BR /> <BR />I move now to my comments on behalf of the SDLP. The SDLP supports the general principles behind the Bill and will be voting in favour of it at this its Second Stage. The reasons for that are clear: we believe that the general principles behind the Bill are worthwhile, positive and beneficial to the whole community in Northern Ireland.”