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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“Sustaining the service in the medium to long term without the help, support and assistance of the Minister and his departmental team is a significant challenge for the trust. Hopefully, we will not have to continue too long with the "Here today, gone tomorrow" Ministers, who are leaving the health service in the lurch. I want a Minister here in the House who is answerable and accountable to Members and the public at large. We do not have that at present, so I repeat my appeal to the Department and the Minister, when he returns, to lend the Southern Trust the help, support and assistance that it needs to ensure that it is able to attract the staff that it needs to keep the Daisy Hill emergency department open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That is what Members want, and it is what the public and the patients want.”
“In such a situation, there needs to be ministerial involvement in order that attractive packages can be put together to ensure that we are able to attract the level of staff needed. <BR /> <BR />A detailed action plan has been drawn up by the trust and has been agreed. This will support the continued provision of emergency care overnight, but only on a short-term basis. We want a sustainable service that will continue into the future and which will not be threatened by staff shortages. As I said, we do welcome the efforts that are being made by the trust, but the service remains extremely vulnerable to any further loss of medical staff.”
“There is a problem with recruitment of staff at the middle-grade level needed to sustain the service, but I want to see the Minister and his Department at central level lending support and assistance to the trust to ensure that it can recruit the people it needs to keep the emergency department in our hospital open. <BR /> <BR />I have met the previous chief executive, Mrs McAlinden, and the current acting chief executive, Mrs Clarke, and the executive team. As I said, I appreciate the efforts they are making to address this problem, but, without the help of the Department and the Minister, there is only a certain amount they can do. The Southern Trust has already engaged in recruitment exercises on a continual basis on some 16 separate occasions, yet it has not managed to attract the staff that it needs.”
“<BR /> <BR />Earlier, I referred to my personal experience with a close relative. I spoke to ambulance paramedics and the staff in the emergency department that night, and they told me very clearly that, had the emergency department in Newry been closed and had the journey had to be made to Craigavon or elsewhere, that relative would not have survived. That is why I say that it is a very serious matter. <BR /> <BR />I believe that this restriction of hours, reduction of hours and closure at night cannot be allowed to happen. I do take the word of the trust that it is making every effort to deal with this situation.”
“We also have the trust's proposal to permanently close the minor injuries unit in Armagh. <BR /> <BR />These may be viewed as different parts of our health service, but, taken together, the picture they paint is not a very good one. In fact, taking these issues together, it is no wonder that the emergency department in Daisy Hill has had increases in attendance of up to 10%. Numbers presenting to the service are continually increasing. People are waiting longer to be seen, and the trust is struggling to recruit the staff required to maintain the 24-hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week service. It is indeed that which has prompted me to take this matter to the House, because there are real and genuine concerns among the hospital staff and in the community at large that this could lead to reduced operating hours.”
“The members of the public who are viewing today's proceedings and those in our constituency who are interested in the sustainability of the emergency services at Daisy Hill will quite rightly take a very dim view of the Minister's non-attendance. <BR /> <BR />Obviously, our health service is under great strain. I do not have to leave my constituency to see that for myself. I referred to the decision to withdraw the stroke services from Newry. In south Armagh, we also have extremely poor ambulance response times to the extent that the local community had to get together to form a first responders group. I praise the local people who had the foresight to do that under circumstances where, because of the terrain, the roads and the location, many people's lives would be in danger in an emergency situation.”
“Whilst I raise this issue here today, it is not a question of pitching one hospital against another. Obviously, we need both hospitals, but we need to sustain proper investment on both sites. In recent years, there has been the perception that services have been withdrawn from Daisy Hill and transferred to Craigavon Area Hospital. The most recent decision was that to relocate the stroke unit from Daisy Hill to Craigavon. That incensed the local people, and it is a decision that I am on record as opposing in the House and elsewhere. <BR /> <BR />Today, I want to raise the issue of the pressures on the emergency department at Daisy Hill Hospital. Obviously, I am bitterly disappointed that there is no Minister here to respond to the speeches made by Members, including me.”
“I begin by placing on record my sincere thanks to and appreciation of all the dedicated staff in the hospital for their continuous care, compassion and professionalism as they care for the thousands of patients who pass through the hospital each way. On a personal note, I thank them for the emergency care that they gave recently to a close relative of mine who was admitted in the early hours of the morning and received excellent care — care, I have to say, that saved his life. Whilst I speak here today, I have to say that this is not something that is theoretical to me or to anyone here. It is a life-and-death topic to our constituents and our families in the area. <BR /> <BR />As I said, Daisy Hill is one of two acute hospitals in the Southern Trust area; the other, of course, being Craigavon Area Hospital.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Tá áthas orm an díospóireacht seo faoin roinn éigeandála in Ospidéal Chnoc na Nóiníní in Iúr Cinn Trá a mholadh. Thank you very much. I am pleased to propose this topic for debate on the emergency department at Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry. I thank those colleagues who have remained behind to participate in the debate. I am aware that Mr Kennedy and Mrs McKevitt have been in touch to send apologies. They are unable to attend because of other matters. <BR /> <BR />As you probably know, Daisy Hill is one of the most outstanding hospitals on this island.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Does the Minister agree that, if the public or, indeed, Members have the impression that something is being withheld by any party or Department, that creates the impression in the public mind that there is some sort of cover-up? Does she agree with me that there is a necessity in these matters for total transparency?”
“Go raibh míle maith agat arís, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an méid atá ráite aige ina fhreagra. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister for his answer. Will he agree with me that one of the key aspects of ensuring that children with autism develop to their fullest potential is early intervention and that that means early diagnosis and early statementing? Will he undertake today to do everything possible, as soon as possible, to ensure that those two processes are expedited?”
“Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire faoi na samplaí de dhea-chleachtas sa luath-chúnamh atá aitheanta ag an Roinn s’aige.”
“They are the facts behind the waiting lists, and those people should be at the heart of this debate.”
“His condition has deteriorated over the last two years to the extent —”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, we in the SDLP want to see a Health Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive, and we want that Minister to do everything in his power to tackle the huge issue of waiting times in Northern Ireland. I am sure that, like me, nearly every Member, if not every Member, in the House has had representations made to them from patients who were in dire need of procedures, and I have had a number recently. One person has been awaiting an orthopaedic procedure at Musgrave Park.”
“The motion calls on the Minister to identify and resolve the causes of the delays in appointments, and the amendment calls on the Minister to take immediate action to alleviate the current pressures. The absentee Minister of Health has been negligent in abandoning his role at this time of crisis in the health sector. He has left large waiting lists in his wake and has walked. He has been highly irresponsible and put the Northern Ireland health system under even greater pressure. In turn, he has put many people at risk with no end in sight. As I said earlier, this is the behaviour of a renegade, and this is the behaviour of a rogue who has deserted those in our society who are most in need.”
“The SDLP has proposed a short-term solution and a longer-term solution. Transforming Your Care recognised the issue of waiting times and said that waiting lists would lengthen if changes were not made. The issue has not been dealt with and, not surprisingly, waiting lists and waiting times have increased. Previously, the Department used the private sector to alleviate such waiting lists and, even then, they increased on a year-on-year basis. The decision of the Minister to cut that funding has put more and more pressure on the public sector and, therefore, waiting lists have increased again. <BR /> <BR />We believe that we need a system that can deal with the demand from within effectively and efficiently without relying on the private sector.”
“We are also aware that we need 110 newly trained GPs annually in Northern Ireland, but we are training only 65 annually. That means that there is an annual shortfall of 45 GPs. Anyone who has spoken to general practitioners and their representatives will tell you that this spells more trouble in the future. Unless that situation for GP services is corrected, a serious train wreck lies ahead. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP's amendment calls on the Minister of Health”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. It has been an interesting debate. I regret the fact that it was reduced to a spat between Mr McCrea and the Ulster Unionist Party. Mr McCrea made the point several times that the issue would not be resolved by finger-pointing, but that was after he had pointed the finger at almost everyone in the House. <BR /> <BR />We have heard the statistics, the figures and so on, and people have pointed out that there are long periods of waiting: there is a waiting time even to see your GP; there is the time between seeing the GP and the commencement of tests; there is the time waiting for specialist referral from the GP; and there is the time between seeing the specialist and the start of a treatment.”
“Does the Member agree that the real renegade and roguish Ministers in this House are those who are absent today, especially, in this context, the Health Minister?”
“The Irish language community in this region has been waiting for legislation that would give it the rights that it so richly deserves. I hope that the process that the Minister has initiated will eventually bear fruit and bring it that legislation. How does the Minister intend to proceed post-consultation?”
“Go raibh milé maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a freagra. Is fada muintir na Gaeilge anseo sa Tuaisceart ag fanacht le reachtaíocht chuí a thabharfadh a gcearta dóibh. Tá súil agam go mbeidh deis againn an iarraidh seo reachtaíocht a thabhairt faoi bhráid an Tionóil agus cearta a thabhairt do phobal na Gaeilge.”
“In conclusion, we support the motion and commend it to the House, with the proposals that I made in my speech. Go raibh míle maith agat.”
“Whereas, obviously, the Department of Finance and Personnel could lead the approach, it is important to include other Departments that also have an interest in rural affairs. <BR /> <BR />I note a question that was asked of OFMDFM around nine months ago on what work that Department was doing, along with other Departments, to address multiple deprivation indicators in rural areas. To date, that question has not been answered, so I hope that is not an indication of the interest that that Department has. In conclusion —”
“These include the measures used in the Republic of Ireland — the Pobal HP method — which are designed to remove, or minimise, these issues, and measures used in Wales that were developed specifically as rural multiple deprivation measures. <BR /> <BR />The motion calls on the Minister of Finance and Personnel to review this urgently. I believe that it should be urgently reviewed so that we can learn the full extent of deprivation. However, I believe that there should be a cross-departmental approach with responsibility on all Northern Ireland Executive Ministers as opposed to focusing solely on DFP. Deprivation is the responsibility of many Departments, not least DSD and DARD.”
“Rural regions have the highest proportion of people with Post Office card accounts. The rural west, however, is more likely to have people with no savings; that figure is 53%. Rural areas also had the highest percentage of households, 8%, that were behind in one or more household bills. This rose to 10% in the rural west compared to 6% in urban areas. <BR /> <BR />I do not think it is as clear in the Northern Ireland multiple deprivation measures as it could be. There are changes to the system of measurement which could be made to improve the identification of multiple deprivation areas in the rural region.”
“According to NISRA in 2010, approximately one third of the super-output areas were classified as rural and two thirds were classified as urban. The average size of the urban areas was 2·1 square kilometres compared to rural areas, where the average size was 45·1 square kilometres. <BR /> <BR />The 2011-15 DARD tackling rural poverty and social isolation framework found some very startling figures when looking at rural deprivation. The rural west, for example, had some of the highest proportion of households scoring on each of the deprivation indicators. These indicators included not being in a position to save at least £10 a month, not being able to replace worn-out household items such as furniture, not being able to keep accommodation sufficiently warm and not being able to meet household bills and so on.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Tá áthas orm bheith ag labhairt ar an rún tábhachtach seo inniu. I dtús báire ba mhaith liom a rá go bhfuil mé i bhfabhar an rúin agus tá roinnt moltaí de mo chuid féin agam i leith an rúin. At the outset, it is important to be clear about what deprivation is. Deprivation is usually taken to refer to unmet needs across a number of areas or domains. <BR /> <BR />The most recent Northern Ireland multiple deprivation measure was in 2010, five years ago. It provided a relative measure of deprivation in small areas across Northern Ireland. It was constructed from around 52 different indicators relating to seven separate types of deprivation; income, employment, health, education, proximity to services, living environment, and crime and disorder.”
“Gabhaimse buíochas leis an Aire inniu as a chuid freagraí. I thank the Minister for his answers. I do not know where he gets the idea that only a small number of people are concerned about this issue. I attended the public meeting in Armagh courthouse, and all of the political parties on the then council were against its closure. Does the Minister agree with me that the closure of Armagh courthouse will downgrade Armagh's status as a city and deny people access to justice locally? The legal profession believes that it will lead to the backlogging of cases in Craigavon and Newry courthouses.”
“I wish to conclude by saying that it will be important that the lessons from the 2015-16 Budget process are learned. That will mean the Executive building in sufficient time to allow Departments to work up detailed spending plans in order for them to be fully scrutinised by the Assembly Committees through timely and meaningful engagement at the earliest possible opportunity.”
“Go raibh milé maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a fhreagraí. I thank the Minister for his answer and very much welcome what he had to say about the paediatric centre of excellence. <BR /> <BR />We had a centre of excellence for stroke services in Daisy Hill Hospital, and that has been moved, against the will of the people of Newry and the greater Newry area. Will the Minister undertake to review that decision with a fresh and open mind?”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Thanks very much, Mr Speaker. I thank the Minister for her answers up to now. During her answer, she mentioned her meeting with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Did she receive any indications from the Chief Secretary of the impact on this region of the Chancellor's planned statement?”
“Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, if you allow me one more minute, I will finish.”
“It would therefore be useful if the Minister could at least outline the indicative timetable for the next Budget process. In that regard, it will be important that the lessons of the 2015-16 Budget process are learned. That will mean the Executive building up —”
“<BR /> <BR />Looking ahead and subject to a resolution of the more immediate sticking points, it would be useful if the Minister could clarify some further issues. What is the time frame envisaged for the next UK spending review? What local Budget process might flow from that? Is the next spending review likely to set ceilings for a multi-year Budget as we move into the next mandate? How might the proposed reduction in the number of Departments be factored into the next local Budget process? <BR /> <BR />Clearly, the immediate focus has to be on reaching the necessary agreement to see this Budget implemented. However, we must also be mindful of the process that will need to be followed for the 2016-17 Budget and even beyond.”
“Regarding the challenges that lie ahead for the remainder of the financial year, Committees will need to be facilitated to undertake regular, timely and effective scrutiny of the financial forecasting and performance of their Department. They will also need to examine the impact of any further budgetary reductions that may arise from decisions by the Westminster Government. As we know, some of those are imminent. Regular scrutiny by Committees will, no doubt, help ensure that no moneys are returned to the Treasury as a result of underspends, beyond the thresholds agreed in the Budget exchange scheme, and that retrospective action will not be needed to regularise any excess expenditure.”
“Indeed, as you are, no doubt, aware, the Committee has carried out a review of the financial process, and its main outcomes have been referred to in speech after speech during Budget debates here by me and, more particularly, Mr Cree. We have, however, seen little change on that front. Perhaps the Minister will take the opportunity to give us her view on where she sees the review of the financial process going — if it is going anywhere. <BR /> <BR />We need a focus on strategic and cross-cutting finance issues. That will be important in the remainder of the current financial year, both in implementing the 2015 Budget and in looking forward.”
“Thirdly, how might the departmental budgets reflected in the Bill be altered by the further calculations being made by the group led by the head of the Civil Service? Perhaps that is something that we will finally receive some clarity on today, notwithstanding the work by the head of the Civil Service on refining the figures. <BR /> <BR />I think that it is fair to say that, while the absence of that strategic information to date may reflect the particular circumstances of the 2015-16 Budget, it underlines the importance of facilitating Assembly scrutiny. By being enabled to undertake more effective oversight of the Executive's Budget and expenditure, the Assembly could easily add further value by helping to ensure efficient and effective delivery of the Executive's strategic priorities.”
“Given that projected savings have already been accounted for in the Main Estimates and budgets for each Department, it is difficult to see why figures are not readily available. That raises a number of questions. First, do Departments not know what pay-bill savings they have built into their budgets? Secondly, if Departments have these figures, why has DFP not collated them, given its central monitoring role?”
“<BR /> <BR />On the theme of continuing to press for better information on budgetary issues, I reiterate the Committee’s desire to gain some clarification on the savings from the voluntary exit schemes. During recent evidence sessions, the Committee pressed senior officials to provide further detail on each Department’s projected savings from the voluntary exit schemes that have been factored into their pay bill budgets for 2015-16. Indeed, the Chairperson also asked the Minister to clarify the position during last week’s Second Stage debate. <BR /> <BR />However, in her concluding remarks on the debate, the Minister stated:”
“On 10 June, a briefing was received from the head of the Civil Service, as chair of the public sector workforce restructuring steering group, on the voluntary exit schemes. Finally, on 17 June, there was a ministerial briefing on the Main Estimates and the Budget (No. 2) Bill. <BR /> <BR />It is undeniable, therefore, that a significant process of consultation with the Committee took place on the Budget for 2015-16. While the Committee was forthright in pointing out the shortcomings and in seeking assurances, it nonetheless recognised the particular circumstances around the process. A balanced decision was therefore taken by the Committee to grant accelerated passage to the Bill on this occasion.”
“<BR /> <BR />Following publication of its report, however, the Committee undertook a programme of follow-up engagement and scrutiny, including, for example, the following dates on which relevant issues were considered: on 12 January, the Committee led a take-note debate on the draft Budget; on 19 January, there was a ministerial statement on the final Budget; on 21 January, there was a briefing from DFP on the final Budget and outcomes; and on 27 January, there was a plenary debate on the final Budget. That was followed on 25 February by a briefing from DFP on the Northern Ireland Civil Service voluntary exit scheme; then, on 11 March, we had a briefing from DFP on its response to the Committee’s report on the draft Budget.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee recognised in its report that, despite DFP's best endeavours to gain Executive agreement on the draft Budget 2015-16 earlier, circumstances had resulted in a truncated budgetary process with considerably less scope than normal for input by the Assembly and, indeed, by the wider public. In that regard, the Committee highlighted its concerns about the resultant time pressures and absence of detailed information on some key issues during the draft Budget process.”
“To ensure that everyone understands fully the basis for the Committee's decision, I will, with your permission, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, take a few moments to provide further background and explanation. <BR /> <BR />Members should be clear that the briefing from the Minister on 17 June marked the culmination of a process of engagement between the Committee and DFP on the Budget for 2015-16. That process commenced in November 2014 and included a series of written briefings and oral hearings to inform the Committee’s coordinated report on the Executive’s draft Budget, which was published on 17 December. The report included recommendations on strategic and cross-cutting issues, as well as reflecting the positions of each statutory Committee on the draft budgets at a departmental level.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. As previously outlined, the Bill makes provision for the balance of cash and resources required to reflect the departmental spending limits in the 2015-16 Main Estimates. <BR /> <BR />As the Chairperson indicated during the previous debate, the Committee agreed, under Standing Order 42(2), to grant accelerated passage to the Budget Bill on the basis of having been consulted appropriately on its expenditure provisions. It is imperative that the Department meets the requirement for appropriate consultation on each occasion, given the importance of such Bills progressing through the Assembly before summer recess. <BR /> <BR />During the remainder of the Second Stage debate last Wednesday, mention was made of the Committee's decision to grant accelerated passage to the Bill.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I agree with the Minister that Newry, located as it is on the North/South economic corridor, is a first-class location for industry and commerce. We have fantastic schools in Newry and all the skills that are required. Does the Minister see the extension to the industrial site at Carnbane having a role in attracting more inward investment?”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a ráitis. An dtig liom a fhiafraí den Aire cá mhéad airgid a caitheadh ar an suíomh go dtí seo? How much has been spent to date on the Líofa website?”
“One of the recommendations in the report is that DFP put forward proposals on how the Assembly can be afforded the opportunity to scrutinise effectively any planned adjustments to the Northern Ireland block grant. We are very concerned about the secrecy — some would say "the black arts" — surrounding the calculations of the Barnett formula that result in changes to the block grant. We call, strongly, for transparency and for an opportunity for the Assembly effectively to scrutinise adjustments. That means that the British Government — the Treasury — should provide us with clear and transparent data on which we can assess and scrutinise those changes. With that, I will end. Thank you.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee report on the review of the formula made recommendations, including that DFP establish how a needs-based assessment mechanism could be best designed to take account of the context here. We also recommended that the chosen methodology be piloted using current data. The Committee suggested that the Minister engage with her counterparts in the Scottish and Welsh Governments, with a view to presenting jointly agreed proposals to the UK Government for at least initial improvements to the operation of the Barnett formula and related devolution funding arrangements. The SDLP supports that Committee recommendation. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I will underline some points.”
“A major flaw in the Barnett formula is the lack of transparency on the data used for calculations and on the basis for decision-making surrounding the formula. That lack of transparency is very concerning indeed. There should be transparency. The fact that the Institute for Fiscal Studies has access to the data that determines Barnett consequentials, and the data is not available to the Executive or the Department of Finance here, underlines the lack of transparency and hinders the ability of the Assembly to scrutinise effectively adjustments to the block grant. Without a doubt, one of the initial changes could be to make that data freely available to the Department and the Assembly.”