Alex Easton
North Down · Independent · Northern Ireland
“I, too, want to raise the issue of Bright Sparks Preschool, which is a feeder preschool for Crawfordsburn Primary School. Last Wednesday, the Education Minister visited Bright Sparks to hear about its excellent work and see all the pupils in the preschool.”
“<BR /> <BR />My annoyance is that I have met the Education Authority with Bright Sparks many times over the past several years, and there has been a lack of effort by the Education Authority to find a solution for a building that it owns.”
“The map shown in the consultation included the entire Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area, which has nothing to do with the South Eastern Trust area. <BR /> <BR />We therefore know that the consultation and the equality impact assessment were a farce and a foregone conclusion.”
“<BR /> <BR />The South Eastern Trust proceeded to say what its plans were. Closure, with the announcement of a new minor injury unit at the Ulster Hospital site, was the only option.”
“How accurate my prediction was: the Bangor minor injury unit never reopened its doors. It was stripped of its equipment even before the consultation was finished.”
“I quote two Alliance councillors, who said that the units had not been "of any use". If they were of no use, why did 22,000 people use the two minor injury units at their height? <BR /> <BR />Over 20,000 people signed a public petition opposed to the closure of the units.”
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“Indeed, residents recall that accidents that happened were never reported because they did not believe that Transport NI would ever do anything to reduce the speed limit. <BR /> <BR />Since I was elected in 2003, I have been trying to get traffic-calming measures put outside the Cotton and the speed limit reduced. Unfortunately, since then and before my time, residents have never been able to get the speed limit reduced, despite this being a rural community.”
“Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to present this petition to the Assembly. It is not the biggest petition in the world, and it has only 100 names, but, as I briefly speak, the reason why I am presenting it will maybe become clear. <BR /> <BR />The petition is to ask the Infrastructure Minister to have the speed limit on the A48 Cotton Road reduced from 60 mph to 40 mph. That is an extremely busy road and is the main thoroughfare between Donaghadee and Bangor, Newtownards and, indeed, Belfast. There are 334 people who live in the rural community of the Cotton, which is also a townland. We visited over 100 houses when we were calling round before the lockdown. Many harrowing stories were recounted of near misses with cars that were trying to get out from Bailie Terrace on to the Cotton Road.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Will he give a reassurance that his Department will continue to look at all avenues to try to resolve this issue, which has been imposed on our pet owners?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Would she agree with me that, with such an old case, any records that could be released to help find out the truth would be welcomed?”
“I, too, put on record my thanks to the UK Government for rolling out the vaccine; the first in the world to do so. Can the Minister outline plans for the roll-out of the vaccine in North Down and potential venues that are being looked at?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Can he outline the impact that Together: Building a United Community is having in North Down?”
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />Yes, that is crucial. While the Oxford vaccine has shown signs of reducing the transmission of the virus, are we to prioritise certain vaccinations over others once they are approved? Some vaccines require one dose; others require two. Will there be some logic in deciding which individual receives which vaccine? I would like confirmation from the Minister that the vaccine will be voluntary, which is also very important. <BR /> <BR />I want to make it clear that I want the funding in place now to roll this out. I want hundreds of trained people ready to roll this out. I do not want any excuses or delays. I want to get back to a normal life, as does everybody else.”
“Have universities or other suitable venues, such as leisure centres or church halls, been identified as potential sites for mass vaccination — particularly in north Down, by the way? On the vaccines themselves, what would happen if more than one vaccine were approved for use at around the same time? We do not yet know the conclusions on the effectiveness of each vaccine. From what I have read, it appears that some vaccines are more effective at reducing an individual's risk of serious illness from COVID-19.”
“While I appreciate that practices have taken thorough measures to become COVID-secure, that allowed those people who were most clinically vulnerable to avoid the majority of those who were receiving the flu vaccine and to have private appointments. Some of those people may not have left their homes a great deal since the beginning of the pandemic. Some may be very elderly or fearful and daunted by the thought of being asked to attend a site where mass vaccination is taking place. Can the Minister advise the House whether private appointments for vaccinations could be an option for those who were shielding? <BR /> <BR />That brings me to the issue of location. I am aware that, in England, sites are being readied in preparation for the roll-out of the vaccination.”
“<BR /> <BR />I highlight the point following the roll-out of the annual flu vaccine and the shortage of supply. The chairperson of the BMA's Northern Ireland general practitioners committee said that, if the issue in the flu vaccine supply chain had been known about earlier, the over-65s who were most at risk could have been prioritised. Given the potential issues in obtaining a supply of COVID-19 vaccines when one is approved, it is imperative that the priority list is clear and well publicised. <BR /> <BR />With regard to those who were instructed to shield earlier in the year, some of the practices that delivered the flu vaccine in my constituency allowed those individuals to have their vaccine administered during an appointment.”
“I understand that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has released a draft priority list for those who will receive the vaccine, with care home residents and staff, rightly, at the top, followed by Health and Social Care workers and people who are over 80 years of age. However, the list goes on to make a distinction between those who are under the age of 65 and at high risk from the virus and those who are under the age of 65 and at moderate risk from the virus. We have all heard about the conditions that put one at increased risk of hospitalisation: cancer, diabetes and obesity. Can the Minister advise the House which conditions may be prioritised over certain other conditions and whether the body of evidence on which such decisions are made will be published?”
“<BR /> <BR />On the delivery of the vaccine, it is obvious that current staffing levels will not be enough to cater for the demand. What discussions has the Minister had on the potential for former NHS doctors and nurses to come back into service to assist in that roll-out? Likewise, has he discussed the potential for current student doctors and nurses to administer vaccines? What about the use of the army? Obviously, training will be required for administering the COVID vaccine. Can the Minister update the Chamber on that? Given that a large number of staff will presumably be involved in administering the COVID vaccination, can he assure the House that GP practices will be able to continue to operate for those who need telephone or in-person appointments? <BR /> <BR />Another important aspect is prioritisation for the vaccine.”
“We can all agree that the recent news about a number of vaccines being developed is extremely positive. It gives us all hope of a return to normality. I must say that I am quite optimistic and excited about it. <BR /> <BR />The roll-out of vaccines will be on a scale that we have never seen previously. Given the recent issues with the distribution of the annual flu vaccine, thorough preparation must start now. A clear action plan must be developed in order to achieve a successful roll-out. The motion calls for the appointment of a medical professional to lead on the programme. I agree with that wholeheartedly. I note that, over the weekend, the UK Government appointed a junior Minister to have oversight of the vaccination in England for that specific reason.”
“Will you outline some of the impacts that were discussed?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement so far. Minister, in your statement you mentioned that:”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Another worrying statistic is that 453 items of drugs have been found in our prisons over the past five years. Is there cooperation between the PSNI, the Prison Service and your Department to try to close down those avenues of drugs coming into our prisons?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. It is a good news story, so well done. Can I reaffirm with the Minister that anybody who has to self-isolate three or four times will still be able to apply for this? Will it also affect those on tax credits?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Does the Minister agree that it is vital that all funding is not held centrally and that it gets out to the Departments, especially Health and Finance, so that we can tackle the COVID-19 pandemic? Can the Minister also tell us what he is doing to ensure that none of that money gets handed back to the Treasury?”
“In closing my remarks, I will touch briefly on the hospitality and small business sectors. The Bill allows for extended opening hours for the hospitality sector, which will also benefit the tourism industry as travel begins to open up in the aftermath of the pandemic. Additional revenue can also be gained from hosting underage functions under the strict conditions that are outlined in the Bill. That will be welcomed by a sector that has been badly hit by global events this year. <BR /> <BR />The Bill also provides for the introduction of producer licences for breweries and distilleries to allow them to sell their alcoholic products on their premises. That measure has received a great deal of support, and it will be a boost for those small businesses, particularly as they attempt to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“<BR /> <BR />With the rise of online shopping, which has been further boosted by COVID-19, clause 13 introduces a fine of up to £5,000 and potential imprisonment of up to six months for licence holders or their staff who deliver alcohol to someone under the age of 18 at their home. <BR /> <BR />Part 2 of the Bill largely replicates the clauses from Part 1 of the Bill and applies them to sporting clubs. I would highlight that the lifting of advertising restrictions on private sporting club functions will help them to finance the activities that they provide to their local communities and that would otherwise be unavailable. Those clubs clearly provide health and social benefits to local people and should be supported in recovering from COVID-19.”
“<BR /> <BR />Clause 11 establishes a fine for bars that host underage functions and fail to meet certain requirements, such as preventing access to the area of the premises that sells alcohol, or selling alcohol to an adult in the designated area of the underage function. The clause also inserts an amendment into the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements Order to prevent gambling machines from being used in the area in which underage functions are taking place. <BR /> <BR />As for private functions in licensed premises, clause 12 provides that children must be accompanied by a parent, a meal must be served away from the bar area and no member of the public should have access to the private function area.”
“Those measures may go some way to assisting the problem of excess alcohol consumption at home, which currently costs our economy around £900 million per year. However, that is clearly a complex issue, many of the solutions to which are beyond the scope of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Health organisations also expressed concerns during the consultation about underage young people drinking. The Bill, therefore, seeks to restrict their access to alcohol in a number of ways. Clause 10 requires businesses that provide meals and sell alcohol to ensure that young people are accompanied by an adult and sit away from the bar. It also requires young people to leave premises by 9.00 pm or 9.30 pm depending on whether a meal is ordered.”
“<BR /> <BR />Clause 17 prohibits loyalty schemes and bonus points related to the sale of alcohol for all licensed premises. That will be punishable by a larger fine of up to £5,000. That should further serve to deter customers from purchasing excess alcohol, as they will receive no economic benefit from doing so. <BR /> <BR />Clause 15 concerns further policing access to alcohol. It states that self-service and vending machine options should be prohibited from selling alcohol, with some specific exemptions for vending machines in the likes of hotels that meet certain conditions. Self-service and vending machine options also allow easier access to alcohol for those under the age of 18, and the clause will ensure that a member of staff must have direct supervision of any sales that take place.”
“The interested health organisations that responded to the consultation expressed concern about prevalent excess drinking in the home. COVID-19 will have only exacerbated that problem and the potential harms that it can bring, including domestic violence, cases of which, as we know, have risen during the pandemic. <BR /> <BR />The Bill aims to reduce the amount of alcohol that people purchase in supermarkets and off-licences. Clause 16 restricts the advertising of promotions and sales of alcoholic drinks to specific areas of the supermarket in which they are being sold. The clause seeks to deter individuals from purchasing more alcohol on a shopping trip than they had originally intended. For any company in breach of the new regulations, the Bill creates a fine of up to £1,000.”
“Whilst government support has been put in place for the sector, it is clear that that loss of revenue and the ongoing restrictions are causing many businesses to struggle. <BR /> <BR />The end of last year saw a follow-up consultation on licensing laws. The Department for Communities met interested groups, and there was general agreement among all the groups that there needed to be legislative changes on these issues. Given the ongoing pandemic, it is particularly important that the concerns of the hospitality sector be taken into account as we begin our economic recovery. <BR /> <BR />As a former member of the Health Committee, it is on those issues that I will focus most of my remarks. The Bill has significant implications for the health of our population.”
“Even when those businesses were allowed to open, they had to operate with a lower capacity to allow for social-distancing measures.”
“The Bill has been brought forward because a similar Bill fell when the Assembly was dissolved in 2017. I will give some context to the Bill's introduction. A review of licensing legislation began in 2012, and it revealed that the problem of alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland was growing. The number of deaths related to alcohol consumption in recent years has been over 15% higher than that which was recorded just over a decade ago. That comes at a considerable cost to our economy and brings with it many social problems. <BR /> <BR />The hospitality industry has also raised concerns about licensing laws and feels that more could be done to support the sector. COVID-19 has obviously had a serious impact on the hospitality sector in recent times. Businesses have been forced to close, allowed to reopen and then asked to close again.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement on what promises to be the biggest shake-up in housing ever. It is all very exciting. <BR /> <BR />In my constituency, there are over 1,700 people on the housing list. Can the Minister guarantee that different types of housing will be looked at in order to address the different social needs and deal with adaptations, which there is a chronic shortage of?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Even before COVID and even before his time, waiting lists were a disaster for absolutely ages. Does the Minister agree that it will be incredibly hard to get the waiting lists down, especially when we do not have enough nurses or doctors? Even with independent sector providers' help, the waiting lists were hardly moving before this. What more can we do collectively to try to get waiting lists down once we get through the COVID pandemic?”
“We have hundreds of nurse vacancies across Northern Ireland, and there are even some GP vacancies. Are we in a place to be able to handle the surge and the capacity issues? <BR /> <BR />I hope that the Minister can give me some updates on those issues. However, I am becoming increasingly worried about mental health and the increase in suicides. What we are doing affects people's lives, so I look forward to hearing more from the Minister on whether he can help.”
“It is good that cases are being picked up in testing, but are we now reaching capacity with our testing? I hope that the Minister can update us on whether we can increase that capacity. I look at the mini lockdowns, as I call them, in Londonderry and Strabane and wonder whether those semi-lockdowns, as I should call them, are having any effect on reducing numbers in those areas. I really want to know about those things. <BR /> <BR />I am also worried about our capacity to handle the increase in coronavirus cases.”
“Something like that should be at the Executive, and it should go to the Health Committee for discussion and to let us hear the reasoning behind it. It has caused absolute havoc out there for people who were listening, because they are not ready for it. <BR /> <BR />I hear about the ways in which people are handling the virus in different countries. Mr Allister mentioned the Swedish model last week, and Mr Chambers has just mentioned herd immunity: that is the same topic. Are we looking at that? Is the Chief Medical Officer looking at that? It is becoming a prevalent issue on the news, and I would like to know more about it. I am not a medical expert, but I would like us to know more about it. <BR /> <BR />I am becoming more worried as more cases are being reported.”
“I intend to keep my contribution short. I am becoming more and more concerned about lots of issues — as, I am sure, the Health Minister is — including the lack of time to consider these restrictions. While I understand the need to adapt to the ever-changing circumstances of coronavirus, the inability to scrutinise properly is becoming a worry for me. The scene is changing rapidly; we change things every few days. I understand the need for that, but it is a worry because what we do and accept will have a huge impact on the population of Northern Ireland. I worry about the impact on our economy and any potential shutdown. It was deeply worrying and annoying to hear about that on 'The Nolan Show' this morning.”
“In his statement, the Minister mentioned the StopCOVID NI app and said that over 400,000 people had downloaded it. What more can he do to encourage more people to download the app? It is an essential tool for tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“I am still slightly confused about this, because the Minister for Communities replied to a question for written answer that your Department had confirmed that there had been additional funding. That funding could be vital for jobs, so would you support such a scheme coming to Northern Ireland?”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I urge the Assembly to reject the amendment and to support the motion. I also urge the Assembly to show that it is serious about being tough on crime.”
“If that is the case, why should we hesitate to put it into law? This is not in every case, so why has Simms been allowed out on licence? The amendment deflects focus from the current limited Department of Justice consultation with stakeholders and sentencing review and is less committed to bringing forward dedicated legislation. The Minister of Justice has already commissioned a focused consultation with key stakeholders on Helen's law. A consultation makes no guarantees or commits the Minister to bring this into law. The amendment uses words such as, "including legislation where appropriate": what type of language is that to use in the case of murder and loved ones having no body returned to them? There is nothing more appropriate than the Assembly listening to the victim's family and making this law.”
“The number of recorded sexual offences against children in Northern Ireland has reached an all-time high, according to statistics procured in 2019. In that 12-month period, 2,036 sexual offences against children were recorded, a significant rise of 34%. That is just unacceptable. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I am frustrated and disappointed by the Alliance Party's amendment. It is clear that the victims of the families were not listened to. I appeal to the Alliance Party to withdraw the amendment. The amendment states that the issue is:”
“It is vital that offenders have an understanding that non-disclosure at each stage of the criminal justice procedure will lead to stricter penalties than if they disclose. <BR /> <BR />There needs to be an overhaul of the current process to ensure a victim-centred approach at every stage. However, the delay in processing the sentencing review continues to be of deep concern to victims and, indeed, many who work in the courts. We cannot kick the can down the road any longer. Parole decisions are more sensitive than sentencing because, if officials get it wrong, release of the uncooperative perpetrator can cause new and ongoing trauma to their victim's family. <BR /> <BR />We welcome the focus of Helen's law on serious sexual offences where the victim is not identified.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. When those who are involved in murder do not give up the location of the body after being sentenced, it shows me that they are not genuinely sorry for their actions. It is important that those disclosures take place. <BR /> <BR />It seems that victims' health and well-being are not prioritised compared with the risk to the wider community. That is wrong. Helen's law may act as a driver for offenders to cooperate and disclose information early. We believe that there is an opportunity for offenders to provide accurate information on the location of their victims' remains or the identity of their child victims earlier if decisions on parole are seen to differ on the basis of disclosure versus non-disclosure. The problem that we have is that such a distinction is not readily made in current decisions.”
“The Minister is correct that those matters are routinely considered, but, if that is the case, why should we hesitate to put it into law? Routine statutory consideration alone cannot change outcomes and decisions; there also need to be binding obligations on parole commissioners to give non-disclosure and the added trauma to victims' families greater weighting in assessing risk to the public. Someone who fails to disclose that information is a greater risk to the public than somebody who has done so.”
“The determination and dignity of the local families of those who have been murdered and the location of whose remains is unknown are what drives the debate. We in the Chamber must give them real hope that their genuine concerns will be met not just through our words but through our actions in the Assembly. Ultimately, the debate is about how we support the victims of serious crime and value their grief and trauma. <BR /> <BR />The Minister should not lose sight of what is at stake. It is not a time for deflection and sidestepping. Non-disclosure of victims' information should always be taken into consideration. It is vital that any decision to release a prisoner who is serving time for these serious offences makes statutory consideration of a failure to disclose their victim's whereabouts or identity.”
“Another such family in Northern Ireland is Lisa Dorrian's family. Lisa Dorrian, a 25-year-old shop assistant from Bangor, went missing in my constituency in 2005. She was murdered and secretly buried, and her remains have never been recovered. The 25-year-old was at a party in Ballyhalbert caravan park, which was deserted because it was off-season. Mark Lovett, the last man to see her alive, was also there drinking and taking drugs. Detectives believe that Lisa was strangled in the Ballyhalbert caravan and her body secretly buried. <BR /> <BR />The family of missing murder victim Lisa has come out to support the proposed law, which would keep convicted killers behind bars until they revealed the location of their victim's body. They say:”
“I met the Murray family with the First Minister. The family have called on all local politicians to bring in the law to prevent killers who conceal the whereabouts of their victim's body receiving parole. It is working its way through Westminster. Charlotte's identical twin sister Denise said:”
“Miss Murray's family said Miller had put "a cruel suffering" on their family by not revealing where her body was.”
“Unfortunately, it has come too late for the family, as the process of this law through Westminster has not passed all the hurdles, and Simms is now out on licence. Here in Northern Ireland we have a separate justice system, and much of what we ask for and support today will require our Justice Minister to support and introduce it. I hope that she will not be found wanting, because my hopes, and those of the victims' families, rest on her shoulders today. <BR /> <BR />In Northern Ireland we have our own equivalents of Helen McCourt. We have the Murray family. Johnny Miller was found guilty of murdering Charlotte Murray, his former fiancée. He must serve a minimum of 16 years of his life sentence. Charlotte's body was never found.”
“Murderers who refuse to reveal the location of their victims' bodies could be denied parole under a new law. Helen's law follows a campaign named after Helen McCourt, who was murdered in 1988. Her killer, Ian Simms, has not revealed the location of her remains. Miss McCourt, aged 22, disappeared in 1988 on her way home from work. Simms was convicted of murder, but never revealed the location of her remains so he can continue to have a hold over the family. He was jailed for life in 1989 and told that he would have to serve at least 16 years before he would be considered for parole. <BR /> <BR />Nearly 600,000 signed a petition launched in 2015 calling for the introduction of Helen's law to block parole for killers who conceal the whereabouts of their victims' bodies. Mrs McCourt, who is still involved in searches for her daughter, said:”
“This is a very important motion. It is vital for families who have had a family member or loved one murdered, but have never had a body returned for Christian burial. That is why I state from the start of this debate that the motion is not political in nature. There are no hidden agendas and there must be no politics in this debate, because of the families. I ask the Assembly to back the motion wholeheartedly as we seek to support those families and to send out a message to those who have killed someone and refused to give up the body: "You will stay in jail". <BR /> <BR />What is Helen's law, or Charlotte's law? It is killers who have concealed victims' remains, who have been sentenced for the crime of murder and done their time, but who then face parole refusal.”
“Given the ongoing challenges that these children face in the coming months, it is only right that we do everything that we can for them. I call on the Minister of Health to urgently address the backlog of appointments and surgical procedures.”
“Restrictions due to COVID-19 have created an isolating and lonely time for many. For a child with hearing difficulties, starting a new school —.”