Diane Dodds
West Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Minister, that is a brilliant segue into the question that I will ask. Just over 5% of women who are now seen within the 14-day target for a suspected breast cancer in Northern Ireland. That has happened since the list was regionalised. I get the fact that cancer cases are rising, but —”
“Minister, for Members and those who are listening to the debate, it is important that you tell us what "actively being considered" means on a day-to-day basis.”
“Thank you, Minister. The Muckamore inquiry report demonstrates a shameful period for our health service, and no one involved can, in any shape or form, come out of this with any kind of credibility.”
“Let me be clear: experimental treatment on children that can have lifelong implications is unconscionable. Children of 11 or 12 are in no position to give clear consent to the use of such drugs, especially when those administering the treatments had them banned because of the lack of evidence on their long-term impacts.”
“Once again, I will speak in the House about puberty blockers and the nationwide trial run by King's College. I now understand that the Government will issue new guidance that will allow such a trial to go ahead.”
“It is now anticipated that more than eight out of 10 couples in which the woman is under 40 will conceive naturally, but that leaves two out of 10 who will need additional interventions. Over a lifespan, that is a fairly substantial number of people.”
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“We are working on a recovery plan in conjunction with Executive colleagues. The Member will be aware that the latest figures show that around 68,000 people in Northern Ireland remain on furlough. Therefore I suggest that the Executive write to our national Government, as I have done and the Executive may feel it should do, to ensure that national support schemes such as the job retention scheme continue, particularly for the aerospace and hospitality sectors, for instance, where, I believe, the tail of recovery will be longer. <BR /> <BR />I am also working on a specific and tailored plan for the Northern Ireland economy. In that, I want us to look not just at the here and now but at our economy of the next 10 years: where we see opportunities and how we see the economy developing.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I remind the House that, during the pandemic, my Department has made available almost £400 million in support to tens of thousands of businesses in Northern Ireland. We are working on a range of schemes for businesses, including the COVID-19 restrictions support scheme, the tourism schemes and a range of others. I understand that businesses need to have their finance in a timely fashion and will continue to push Invest Northern Ireland to make sure that that happens. I also remind the Member that there are many other schemes across government for financial support for businesses not administered by my Department.”
“As the Member knows, I have also been working on issues with second-hand cars, steel and a wide variety of issues to bring practical solutions to this most difficult of problems.”
“The Member makes a pertinent point. I repeat for the parties in the House that call for the full implementation of the protocol that we are now seeing what that full or, should I say, rigorous implementation looks like: greater cost, less choice and more bureaucracy for our firms as they do business with our biggest market. I have said over and over again in my Department and on behalf of my party that my greatest challenge is to ensure that we can trade in the United Kingdom's internal market, which is our greatest market and the one in which we do more trade than we do with the Republic of Ireland, the rest of Europe and the rest of the world added together. That is crucial for Northern Ireland's prosperity and for all sectors of our economy.”
“We will have a dedicated conversation about the issue. We need to resolve it, particularly since, as I said in my previous answer, many of the mitigations are short-term; they will visit us over and over again unless we find long-term solutions. Our hauliers and logistics industry must be part of that solution.”
“<BR /> <BR />One of the things that I warned against when speaking about the protocol on many occasions in the House and other places is that the protocol will bring more cost, less choice and more difficulties for the interaction of the UK's internal market in Northern Ireland. Indeed, last week, I spoke to my colleagues from Scotland and Wales and the new business Minister, Paul Scully.”
“Again, I thank the Member for her question. I have been meeting members of the haulage industry in Northern Ireland, and they report significant and ongoing problems. As I said in my first answer, some of these problems are related to the lack of preparedness by GB businesses that are simply unprepared for the level of paperwork now required for access between parts of the United Kingdom's internal market. They report that, while trade is flowing reasonably well between Northern Ireland and GB, because of the lack of preparedness, they are at times bringing back empty lorries, at a significant cost to the consumer.”
“However, I am mindful that many of the mitigations that have been found are short-term and require longer-term solutions. Every option should be explored, including article 16 of the protocol. My Department continues to provide guidance and support to businesses navigating the new trading environment and continues to offer support through Invest NI and InterTradeIreland. <BR /> <BR />Despite these challenges, I remain ambitious for our economy. I want to ensure that we can resolve issues, seize opportunities for growth within our own UK internal market, secure foreign direct investment and increase exports to the rest of the world.”
“Late guidance on parcel deliveries has led to firms suspending deliveries to Northern Ireland, although many have since resumed. Over the last number of days, I have been working with my Westminster colleagues and industry representatives. I am glad to report that we have found a resolution to the issue of steel. If tariffs of 25% had been implemented, our local manufacturing economy would have been decimated. <BR /> <BR />I continue to work with the Government to secure wider clarity and guidance on the complex situation with at-risk goods, rules of origin, tariffs and, importantly — if little talked about by our Government — the reimbursement scheme that has been promised. I will continue to engage with our Government on all these issues. I welcome the reintroduction of the VAT margin scheme for second-hand cars.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission I will group questions 3, 4 and 12. Again, with your permission, I will avail myself of an extra minute to answer. <BR /> <BR />I have always been clear that, despite extensive business preparedness activity in Northern Ireland, a lack of detail on the trading arrangements for after the end of the transition period would impact on our economy. Late clarity on the operation of the protocol and the UK-EU trade and cooperation agreement has left businesses in a difficult position, and this has been exacerbated by COVID restrictions. I remain concerned about the lack of preparedness by GB suppliers around the customs requirements for goods destined for Northern Ireland, leading to disruption for the haulage and logistics sector and difficulties with supply chains.”
“We are well on our way to producing the consultation paper on our new energy strategy for Northern Ireland, and I hope that that will come in late spring of this year. I hope that it will be a catalyst not just for energy efficiency but for the green growth recovery that Northern Ireland requires and that many of its citizens expect. I want to see a wide-ranging consultation, including with local communities, looking at their contribution to the decarbonisation of energy in Northern Ireland. I therefore hope that the Member will take the consultation to his local community so that we can talk to people about how, together, we can decarbonise energy for the future and, in doing so, create not just a more sustainable environment and climate for Northern Ireland but jobs and prosperity.”
“The full impact of the change in the GB SEM trading arrangements is still being assessed, but it is clear that, as expected, the loss of efficiency is placing an upward pressure on prices.”
“The Member brings up an interesting and important question on the impact of the Northern Ireland protocol on the SEM and, indeed, on capacity. I will answer in general at first. The Northern Ireland protocol, in this instance, has provided the level playing field necessary for the continuation of the single electricity market. One inevitable consequence of EU exit is the loss to European platforms of cross-border trading in electricity. As a result, trading between the SEM and GB has moved to baseline arrangements, which are less efficient and more difficult. The market operator reports that the changeover to the new arrangements has gone smoothly and that all systems are working well.”
“My officials are working to ensure that the benefits of those connections are available to consumers here through lower prices and security of supply. The calculation of adequacy for the purposes of forecasting by the System Operator for Northern Ireland deploys a 4·9-hour loss-of-load expectation standard in Northern Ireland and an eight-hour loss-of-load expectation standard in the Republic. An eight-hour loss-of-load expectation is used for the SEM capacity options, which also seek to procure local capacity when and where it is necessary in the absence of sufficient interconnection.”
“I take all those issues very seriously and recognise the danger to supply in Northern Ireland. In recent weeks, as the Member is aware, there have been a number of amber alerts in Northern Ireland, driven by high demand, low levels of wind and correspondingly tight conditions in Great Britain. Had the second North/South interconnector been present, security of supply in Northern Ireland would have been substantially stronger, with power from excess capacity across the single electricity market (SEM) being transported to Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The second North/South line, along with the introduction of the Greenlink interconnector and the Celtic interconnector, is expected to improve strongly security of supply in both jurisdictions as those assets come online in the next few years.”
“The electricity transmission network operates on an all-island basis. However, there is only one high-capacity interconnector linking both jurisdictions. That restricts the amount of electricity that can flow from North to South to support security of supply. North/South interconnection is, therefore, critical to ensuring electricity security of supply for Northern Ireland electricity consumers in the long term.”
“The North/South interconnector will increase the capacity to transfer electricity into Northern Ireland and reduce the risk to Northern Ireland electricity consumers of insufficient generation supply to meet demand. Pressure on maintaining the security of supply can be affected by a range of factors, including low wind resulting in reduced renewable generation, thermal plant generator outages due to maintenance or repair and traded export of electricity to Great Britain through the Moyle interconnector. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland has a relatively small electricity network with a limited number of thermal power stations. There is a greater risk of loss of supply than with a large and highly interconnected system where a large number of power stations can depend on each other for support in the event of unforeseen disturbances.”
“That formed part of our conversation this morning. I understand that for those young people who have asked, Queen's have offered them a holiday from their accommodation fees. Originally, this was up to the end of January, but the vice chancellor assures me that it will be until the restrictions end. I have asked Queen's to look at that again. Ulster University has taken a slightly different approach of looking at the issue on a case-by-case basis. I have asked Ulster University to review that as well and to come forward with proposals.”
“I have had a conversation with the Student Loans Company. It was not the most fruitful of conversations, but we will continue to pursue the issue to see whether there is a mechanism to help students in this most difficult of years. I reminded the universities of their requirements under consumer protection law and told them to work with students, provide clear information on how their courses are delivered and ensure that they are providing value for money to each young student in Northern Ireland.”
“I will start with the last point first. We are always accused of focusing on universities, but a significant number of young people and students of all ages do the foundation courses for their degrees through our further education colleges. Of course, anything that we do will be replicated there as well, and it is very important to say that. <BR /> <BR />I reiterate that I have been speaking with the two vice chancellors. I have asked them to work with my officials to look at how we can get more funding out through the student hardship fund and make it available to students in Northern Ireland.”
“Those interventions and more will be required, and, as I said, I am committed to bringing forward that paper to the Executive.”
“I hope to have a conversation later on in the week with student representatives as well. This is an extremely important issue, which has been exacerbated by the COVID restrictions. <BR /> <BR />I will list the interventions that we have already made in additional help for higher education, including an uplift in the number of students — that was before we had the uplift for the additional requirements after A levels — additional support for The Open University; providing a safer environment, taking COVID restrictions into account; additional money for research and development; additional funding of over £2 million for the postgraduate awards scheme; additional money for the COVID rapid response research and innovation funding; and student support loans.”
“The Member raises a really important question, which has been communicated to me as a constituency MLA and as Minister. I spoke to the vice chancellors specifically about that this morning, and they reported increased demand for mental health services for young people who feel under significant levels of stress either through financial hardship or because of the remoteness of the way that their courses are being taught etc. <BR /> <BR />I have asked the universities to look again at their provision for mental health on campus and to bring me proposals that would add to that provision for those young people while they are students at university here in Northern Ireland. We will do our best to make sure that we meet those needs as identified by the universities.”
“I reminded them of their duty to ensure that students have access to the funds that have been made available in Northern Ireland. I also reminded them that they should review their compliance with consumer protection law in the way that courses are being offered and the levels of fees that are being charged. This morning, they assured me that they will follow up on my letter to them. However, I want to make it clear to universities that they need to be clear and up front with their students as to the type of teaching that each student will have as they go through university in what has been a really difficult year for many students.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The one thing that I have learnt in all of the wide-ranging funds that we have administered in the Department is that we do not need to replicate what is already there but rather to use it more effectively. With that in mind, as I said, this morning, I spoke to the vice chancellors of Queen's University and Ulster University, urging them to bring forward proposals as to how they might look at the eligibility for the existing hardship fund and how that might be improved to ensure that students have greater knowledge of it and greater access to it and that we will be making further funding available to them on this issue. <BR /> <BR />Last week, I wrote to the vice chancellors of Queen's University and Ulster University.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The Member will recognise that the contract between the student and a private landlord is a matter for them and is legally binding between them. However, this morning, I spoke again to the vice chancellors of Queen's University and Ulster University. I indicated to them that there is additional hardship funding available but that funding needs to be available for those students who are having increasing difficulties with their rental contracts because they have, for example, been unable to seek additional part-time employment that students would normally have during this time. I hope that, in the reasonably near future, we will be able to bring forward a fuller paper on this issue, and I will revert to the Member in due course.”
“<BR /> <BR />My Department, through the universities, continues to provide support to any students who face genuine financial hardship for whatever reason, including difficulties with their accommodation contracts. In recognition of those difficulties and the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have indicated to the Finance Minister that I will be seeking additional funding to increase the total amount that is available for student hardship in the current financial year. I have also instructed the universities to publicise and promote the availability of those additional funds to ensure that they reach eligible students as quickly as possible and to consider whether any requirements set by them for students to access funds can be relaxed or removed.”
“I have therefore been examining ways to provide additional levels of support. For example, I have spoken to the Student Loans Company to investigate whether it can deliver payments to all Northern Ireland students. I have also written to local universities to encourage them to widen the criteria for assessing hardship, and I have spoken to the vice chancellors of Queen's University and the University of Ulster to reiterate my commitment to making more funds available for student hardship support. I am pleased to see our universities taking some steps to support students who have experienced difficulties with their accommodation contracts.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will group questions 1 and 10 and avail myself of an additional minute to answer them. I thank the Members for their questions on this very important issue. <BR /> <BR />While my Department is responsible for higher education policy in relation to teaching and research in Northern Ireland, student accommodation, whether in university halls of residence or private rental housing, is a matter between the individual student and their landlord. Whilst my Department has no remit or legal basis for determining whether students should receive a refund or reduction of their accommodation fees as a result of the disruption caused by the COVID pandemic, I recognise the very difficult position that many students find themselves in as a result of the COVID restrictions.”
“This is a serious issue for manufacturing in Northern Ireland. The Government have promised a solution. We have made representation about that, and, of course, I look forward to seeing the detail.”
“I asked this question about the steel that comes from GB. I have talked a lot about steel in the last week, perhaps more than I have talked about it in a very long time. One company indicated that we buy steel from GB because it is seen as a transit destination and is a natural market for us to import from. The reason for the tariff is that that steel may then, in the manufacturing process, find its way into the single market. <BR /> <BR />As a party, last Friday we asked Michael Gove to turn his mind urgently to a solution to the issue. It is vital that we have that. We do not want Northern Ireland manufacturers to be uncompetitive in their marketplace, nor do we want Northern Ireland manufacturers to feel that they have to move to Great Britain in order to continue their manufacturing process.”
“The Member will be pleased to note that I talk to the Minister in DAERA, who is a ministerial colleague, on a frequent and regular basis, particularly on our joint concern about chilled meats coming into the single market and even into Northern Ireland, where we are forced to abide by single market rules. Of course, I remind the Member that this is what his party wanted. This is what his party leader went to Dublin and asked for: the full implementation of the protocol.”
“I am not aware, at this moment, that they have moved on the particular mechanisms in the settlement to address some of those issues. It is unsustainable for our Government continue to address them on an ad hoc or temporary basis. If they cannot do that, they need to take the unilateral action that article 16 allows for.”
“I do indeed agree that the application of the protocol has brought disruption to Northern Ireland and endangered some of its supplies. Importantly, even though Michael Gove was at pains to announce some temporary relief from the protocol, I encourage the parties in the House to ensure that our Government hear loud and clear that we need long-term solutions to export health certificates and the issue of chilled foods. Indeed, the importance of our internal UK market cannot be overstated. Perhaps as a slight add-on to the previous Member's question, I look forward to the UK Board of Trade meeting in Northern Ireland and to enhanced cooperation on UK internal trade, and I will work towards that end.”
“However, in the event that our Government still have not decided to do that, I will focus my mind on the mitigation of problems in the here and now that local companies bring to me about the application of the protocol in Northern Ireland. The Member is absolutely aware that I do not support the protocol. I did not vote for the protocol and neither did my party.”
“Article 16 of the Northern Ireland protocol identifies economic, societal or environmental difficulties that may occur as a result of the application of the protocol. Such difficulties are already manifesting themselves, particularly economic difficulties. We have heard daily reports of those economic difficulties on news broadcasts. The protocol allows for unilateral decisions to be taken, should the difficulties persist. I certainly would support the application of article 16 in those circumstances. I note that the Prime Minister has indicated that that is a potential route to resolving those problems, although I remind the House that the EU is likely to take some retaliation in response to the application of article 16. <BR /> <BR />It is an important safeguard, and I would support its use.”
“The Member may laugh, but this is important to Northern Ireland businesses. If he listens, he might learn that 20% of Northern Ireland's agri-food produce traverses to Great Britain through the port of Dublin. We need the chaos there to be sorted out.”
“I thank the Member for his statement. I remind the Member that I voted against the withdrawal agreement in the European Parliament because the Northern Ireland protocol levied differences in how each part of the United Kingdom was to leave the European Union. I believe that we should have left as one nation. I regret that our Prime Minister did not hold out in the face of EU intransigence on that particular matter. <BR /> <BR />I will continue to work with Northern Ireland firms and HMRC to try to mitigate some of the problems that our hauliers now face. My party colleagues and I are in constant contact with the industry. We are trying to work with them and the Government to ensure that the system is more free-flowing. However, we need the Irish Government to step up and take some responsibility for the chaos at the port in Dublin.”
“I have spoken to manufacturing companies that are also worried about how this would make us uncompetitive in the market. <BR /> <BR />I have been working on this issue throughout the past number of days. On Friday, party colleagues in Westminster and I had a meeting with Michael Gove. We have been promised a resolution in the early part of this week. We have yet to see the details of that. However, I am encouraged that, following our representations, the Government know that this is a huge issue for Northern Ireland and that we need a resolution. Whether that is expansion of the quota of steel from GB coming into Northern Ireland or other measures, we need our Government to act. In the coming days, we will see a statement from them with some kind of resolution.”
“Although the trade and cooperation agreement allowed for tariff- and quota-free access to each other's markets, this is not the case for all goods. Trade in steel is subject to a complex tariff and quota system based on the EU steel safeguarding measure, which is largely an anti-dumping measure. In the Northern Ireland protocol, steel coming into Northern Ireland from GB is deemed to be at risk of entering the single market and is therefore subject to tariffs. Rightly, Northern Ireland companies are very worried that steel in GB, which is already in scarce supply, will be sold on a preferential basis and that, because of the cost and bureaucracy of bringing it into Northern Ireland, the quota will be filled by GB companies.”
“I thank the Member for asking about an important and significant issue for Northern Ireland manufacturing. There is a threat of 25% tariffs on steel coming into Northern Ireland, which would simply devastate our manufacturing. It would leave us less competitive and force firms to move their manufacturing base to GB.”
“The Member makes an important point. I have consistently raised all those issues with our Government in recent days and in the months leading up to the end of the transition period. We have communicated with our Government on the issues of parcels, VAT and state aid and the potential for Northern Ireland consumers to have more costs and less choice. I and, indeed, my Department's arm's-length bodies and the Consumer Council have been consistent in doing that and will continue to do so. We will seek practical mitigations to the issues that face Northern Ireland, because we need Northern Ireland to succeed and be stable and economically prosperous.”
“I assure the Member that, in this important year for Northern Ireland, I will not be found wanting in promoting Northern Ireland as a good place to do business, live and educate children.”
“I thank the Member for his reassurance that he will work with me to ensure that Northern Ireland is best placed to succeed. As Northern Ireland starts its second century, it is really important that we work for all parts of our community and ensure that success and stability are uppermost for all members of it. That is extremely important to me, and I will gladly work with the Member to ensure that it is the same across the board. <BR /> <BR />The Member will recognise that it is a very short time since the Government signed the trade and cooperation agreement. We in the Department are looking at the terms of that agreement, at how it can benefit Northern Ireland and at what mitigations we need to have in place because of the protocol. That is a work in progress.”
“I will continue to focus on doing what I can to ensure that Northern Ireland consumers and businesses have access to choice and the freedom to bring goods into Northern Ireland from our largest market.”
“I thank the Member for her question. Of course, I recognise completely the issue around the very short and inadequate time frame that businesses had to prepare for the rules that they now face. That is one of the reasons why I, unlike the Member's party, opposed the protocol and the application of differences between us and our biggest market in Great Britain. <BR /> <BR />We have had reasonable access to our market in GB with Northern Ireland hauliers, but there is significant concern among hauliers about the lack of preparedness of GB companies that need to bring goods into the Northern Ireland market. Over the past number of days, I have been speaking to Her Majesty's Government on a wide range of issues, including parcels, food and second-hand cars. Second-hand mobile phones is another issue that has been thrown up.”
“Northern Ireland companies need to have unfettered access to that market, and GB companies need to be able to access the Northern Ireland market. I have said consistently that that is a matter of priority.”
“I thank the Member for his statement/question. There is no doubt that there is significant disruption. That disruption is based on the application of the protocol. I remind the House and the Member that my party and I have consistently opposed the protocol. The Member referred to the issue of chilled foods and export health certificates. I remember speaking about those issues in the European Parliament. At that time, no one listened. They are listening now; they realise that the warnings that I gave as far back as 2017 and 2018 were absolutely accurate. I do not hear so much these days from pro-protocol parties in the Assembly about its full implementation. <BR /> <BR />We need to be absolutely clear: this is one United Kingdom with one internal market.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is vital that Northern Ireland continue to be able to access goods from Great Britain without hindrance, and I will continue to hold our Government to account on their promises that Northern Ireland remains an integral part of the UK's internal market with equal access to the other nations.”
“There are particular issues with steel at the moment, and they need to be resolved to ensure that supply chains can continue to operate. <BR /> <BR />A 25% tariff on steel coming into Northern Ireland from GB would devastate local manufacturing. In our discussions with the Government last week, they promised a resolution to the issue this week. Following representations at Westminster and from local traders, I am pleased that the VAT margin scheme for second-hand car sales here has been reinstated. That means that Northern Ireland dealers operate on the same terms as those in Great Britain. We continue to press the Government for long-term solutions on export health certificates and chilled foods.”