Arlene Foster
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Yet, like too many projects, it has been tied up in legal wrangles. Too many infrastructure projects are being swallowed up in the courts. We need to improve the expertise in infrastructure delivery. We need better infrastructure for the next generation, but key projects being delayed by 10-plus years is unsustainable.”
“Any agreement involves compromises but NDNA had two central pillars that, I believe, remain important: ambition for devolution and a new cultural deal. The breadth and depth of issues that NDNA set us all to deliver on would have been enough to fill an entire term or perhaps more, let alone two years of government.”
“That confidence-and-supply agreement will leave a legacy but also highlights our challenges. Some £150 million has been rolled out via Project Stratum to bring broadband to rural areas and leave Northern Ireland as the best-connected region in Europe. When it is completed, the project will be transformational to our economy.”
“However, such short-term advantage comes at the cost of long-term harm to relationships. It is not a real partnership. Imbalance and instability are built in that will fester and deteriorate. If Brussels continues to think that the protocol is enough, it is in denial.”
“Colleagues inside and outside the House know very well that all periods of leadership must come to an end. That is why, when we are privileged and, indeed, honoured to hold such a position, we must not waste a moment in frivolous brinkmanship but forge ahead on behalf of those whom we represent.”
“The recommendations of the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition (FICT) are to be taken forward as well. I encourage all of you to do all of it, to take it forward in its totality and to speak of and implement it as one complete, independent package: a new cultural deal for Northern Ireland's new century.”
The complete record
Every one of 3,345 lines we hold for Arlene Foster, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 15 of 67.
“I thank the Member and wish him a happy Ulster Day as well. <BR /> <BR />Non-COVID healthcare concerns the Executive greatly. I was pleased that the Health Minister brought forward his new cancer strategy paper to the Executive last week and informed the House in a written statement about all that. It is very important that we look at the short and medium-term plan to rebuild and, indeed, to stabilise our cancer, oncology and haematology services, because that rebuilding plan is critical in trying to deal with all those very difficult diagnoses. We very much want to focus on that as well, of course, as dealing with COVID. We want to make sure that the trusts have their plans in place in order to deal with all the non-COVID healthcare as well.”
“The Executive's high-impact, cross-platform public information campaign continually reinforces the message on social distancing, maintaining good hand and respiratory hygiene, wearing face coverings and downloading the StopCOVID NI app. We want to ensure that that information is communicated to as wide an audience as possible, and last week the deputy First Minister and I made a public address to update everyone in the community on the current situation and to reinforce those crucial messages. That was broadcast live on a number of platforms, and the viewing figures for the BBC alone were over 230,000.”
“The focus of those restrictions on household settings is informed by the evidence that we have from the test, trace, protect programme, which tells us that household transmission and informal interactions in the community are playing a role in increased positive case numbers. We continue to keep the situation under very close review, and we are prepared to respond as necessary in order to flatten the rate of infection and, ultimately, save lives. <BR /> <BR />These have been the most challenging of times for people, and we understand that they are weary of COVID-19. However, it is crucial that everyone continues to follow the consistent public health messaging.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, I will answer questions 2 and 9 together. Whilst COVID-19 is primarily a health pandemic, it is also causing significant societal and economic impacts. The Executive's response, therefore, aims to deliver a balanced package of measures that will target support where it is needed most across all the areas. The Executive's approach continues to be flexible in responding to the emerging situation. Most recently, it included the introduction of restrictions in domestic settings, initially on a postcode basis and then extended to all households given the concerning levels of transmission across the community.”
“We have made good strides in listening to victims' voices. I will answer a question later about the commissioner appointment. It is important that we also reference the fact that Judith Gillespie is proceeding with her piece of work and is working with victims and survivors as well. That is important. The piece of work that she is taking forward is very difficult but important. We wish her well and look forward to what she has to say when she has finished it.”
“People who were in institutions such as the mother and baby Homes up to the age of 18 can apply for redress through the scheme that exists. We will have to see, after the piece of work by Judith Gillespie is done and, indeed, given the wider terms of reference for clerical abuse, whether any gaps remain. I should say, very clearly, that those who were in mother and baby Homes up to the age of 18 can seek redress through the historical institutional abuse inquiry.”
“The Chair, better than most, will realise that this is a legal process, and, therefore, we are dealing with our lawyers. They are dealing with all these matters. It would be wrong of me to intervene on those matters because some of them will end up in court. It is important that we reference and respect that.”
“It is important that we move all these issues forward so that people can get closure and the restitution and justice that they so rightly deserve.”
“I thank the Member for her question. Indeed, I know that many of the victims have been lobbying hard on that. I very much would like to see the work being taken forward in a more timely fashion. As the Member will know, the Department of Health appointed Judith Gillespie to take forward some of the work in relation to the mother and baby Homes. As part of that, she has been engaging widely. She succeeded Peter McBride, as the Member probably knows as well. All of that was happening during suspension, and then Ms Gillespie was appointed by the Department of Health recently. <BR /> <BR />It is important that we take the issues forward. There is a lot to be done on the matter. In some ways, it also goes alongside the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA) appointment, which I will address later.”
“The Department of Health leads the work on the mother and baby Homes and Magdalene laundries, while the Executive Office leads the work on historical clerical child abuse. Ministers are aware of the impact that clerical abuse has had on many individuals' lives and the importance of progressing the work. The working group intends to commission a research project on clerical child abuse later this year. The terms of reference will be formally agreed later, but it is intended that it will cover opportunities to improve existing safeguarding practice as well as how best to engage with victims and survivors.”
“If I can point the Member to some of the tweets that were put out by some of my Executive colleagues, he may find the answer there.”
“It is only fair that I say this: the power does not sit with the Department for the Economy. The Minister for Infrastructure has argued that it does not sit with her, so what we have done is to say that she can use the Financial Assistance Act 2009, which was put in place after the local flooding some time back in 2007, if I am not mistaken. I think that I was the Minister of the Environment when the Financial Assistance Bill came through the House. We are designating the Department for Infrastructure to take forward the actions for taxis and haulage.”
“That is fair enough. What we are trying to say to people, however, is this: please, please use your common sense. Work with us. Try to stop the spread of COVID. In that way, we can control the spread. Do not forget that Northern Ireland, out of all the regions of the United Kingdom, is the best-performing region when it comes to COVID. Let us make sure that it stays there.”
“I remind Members of why we intervened back in March. It was to try to push down the curve and make sure that we did not have the number of deaths that were being predicted at the time, but it was also to protect the NHS from being overwhelmed. There are concerns about that at present, given that we are now entering the autumn/winter period, with all the usual seasonal dysfunctions that happen then. We are therefore very conscious of that. <BR /> <BR />I agree with the Member that the glass is half full. We are making limited interventions. We are not closing down businesses but are instead trying to say this to people: the evidence points to household spread, so we are asking you to work with us on all these issues. I know that people can come up with all sorts of scenarios in which they think that there are difficulties.”
“I think that we do have good guidance at present, and that guidance has not changed, but we can always revisit guidance in the light of where we are with particular circumstances. Of course, the Member will be delighted, as I am, that Fermanagh and South Tyrone continues to be a compliant area.”
“I say to the Member that that is a very good point. I am sure that he knows that the Health and Safety Executive have been proactive in working with employers and trade unions in the LRA forum to try to deal with some of the issues that have been brought forward. The LRA forum was a good sounding board when we were in the midst of COVID and in trying to get people to come back to work at that time.”
“The Member should know that the Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Finance have tried to get that data from the Treasury, but without success. <BR /> <BR />I have no doubt that we will have a full debate on those issues tomorrow. Be assured, that we do want to help and assist where we can, within our Budget, but we will also lobby Westminster to help those who have been excluded.”
“Can I say to the Member, I hardly think that Sammy Wilson would ever be called a "little local difficulty", and I would defend him on that to the very end. <BR /> <BR />In terms of Excluded NI, we are, of course, wanting to assist everyone who has had difficulties relating to COVID-19. That is why we introduced a range of schemes. However, when introducing a range of schemes there are always those who will fall through the gaps. What we now need to do is to deal with furlough and the self-employed scheme, and we have the backing of Westminster to do that. I also say to the Member, because we do not have tax-raising powers in Northern Ireland, we do not have the data on those people who were newly self-employed. The Member may not agree with it, but that is the reality.”
“Unfortunately, since the Executive returned, we have seen parties briefing out and putting things on Twitter after Executive meetings. There was a case on Thursday evening, after the EU exit meeting, where a full summary of that meeting was given to the BBC. That certainly did not come from the First Minister's party or the deputy First Minister's party. Unfortunately, we have leaks. We have some Ministers who love to resort to Twitter, who love to brief 'Good Morning Ulster', and then the rest of us are left to deal with those issues. <BR /> <BR />I say this very sincerely: everybody should wise up. We are dealing with huge issues in the Executive. People should stop briefing against each other. We are supposed to be in a five-party coalition dealing with all of these issues, and that is what I hope that we do moving forward.”
“I hope that the scheme for taxis and the haulage industry can come soon and as quickly as possible.”
“I thank the Member for her question. She will know that the deputy First Minister and I intervened to direct that the Minister for Infrastructure should take forward that scheme. It is disappointing that the scheme has not been put in place until now. It is wrong that that sector, in particular, has not had the help and assistance that it has been looking for. <BR /> <BR />We have also intervened in the area of childcare. She will know that, having been to the Executive Committee and spoken about this. Again, that was a split between policy and regulation, and the difficulties that pursued there. We are trying to make sure that it is an approach by the whole of the Executive, and that is what it is about. We are trying to identify the gaps in provision and then, if we can, to intervene and to assist.”
“I think that we all accept that it will have to end. However, the point is that we are saying that we cannot have a cliff edge to the furlough scheme. <BR /> <BR />I know that, on 15 September, the House will debate Excluded NI. Of course we want to help citizens who are in difficulty and have not been able to gain from some of the schemes that we have introduced. However, it is a matter of having the financial wherewithal to be able to do that and, indeed, to identify those people in a way that does not allow fraud and ensures that we get the money out to the people in need. Again, I am sure that the Minister for the Economy will address some of those issues in that debate. It is about ensuring that we have the finances available, and not making promises on which we cannot then deliver.”
“As the Member and House know, we have been able to make a number of interventions, both our own interventions through the Minister for the Economy, working with the rest of the Executive, and, indeed, through UK schemes that we have been able to take advantage of, such as the furlough scheme and the scheme for the self-employed. If one looks at the furlough scheme, for example, and the number of people in Northern Ireland who have been put on furlough, which, I think, was in the region of 211,000, one will see that there is no way that we would have had the financial wherewithal to support that scheme. We needed the Whitehall intervention to enable us to furlough those people. That is why we are appealing to Whitehall and the Chancellor again to intervene, so that we can have a tapering off of the furlough scheme.”
“It is not for me to commit on that issue. It is for the Minister of Health, of course. He has provided us with that evidence. The reason that we talk about households is because everybody is quite relaxed when they are in their household, as one would expect — it is their home — rather than in a regulated environment. I have had the chance to visit some schools to see how they are managing the COVID restrictions — very well is the answer that I gained from doing so. Of course, there has even been very good regulation in hospitality outlets as well. Those are regulated environments, where people are taking precautions. That is why we are asking people to be alert in the household setting, and to stay safe in order to save lives.”
“On a quadrilateral call with Scotland and Wales, both those jurisdictions raised the issue of the support that is available for people who have to self-isolate, stay at home and not go to work due to COVID's being in the community. We know that some people, such as those who are on zero-hours contracts, will not have an income if they have to stay at home. The Department for Communities is looking at that issue. We already have a helpline to deal with issues of severe stress. Again, there is no perfect answer to any of this, but we are tying to make sure that we put measures in place if we do have to move to close businesses. I very much hope that that will not be the case.”
“I thank the Member for agreeing with the MP for North Antrim. In relation to that, we do have to learn to live with COVID, so I agree with the MP for North Antrim as well. We do need to protect our businesses and grow the economy, but we also have to protect people's lives. It is about livelihoods and lives. I say that very sincerely today. <BR /> <BR />As I have indicated, in Great Britain they are looking at a scheme whereby, if businesses have to close, they can be supported with a grant of £1,000 to £1,500 if they are closed for a period of three weeks. That is something that we would support, and we want to hear what we can do in relation to it and whether there will be Barnett consequentials, given our very tight budgetary position.”
“Really ask yourself how important the journey or other planned activity is, how much additional risk you would bring to others by going out and engaging in that activity, how difficult it is going to be to maintain social distancing if you go to that activity, whether good hand hygiene is being operated and whether people are wearing masks. It is about trying to strike the right balance at this early stage. We may have to be more interventionist in the future, but we are trying to say to people at the moment that our evidence shows that it is around household contact. That is why we have taken the measures that we have.”
“I thank the Member for her question and declare an interest, because I have two children returning to university in the very near future. We have an ongoing dialogue with Queen's University and the Ulster University. At the moment, we are not advising that people should not go home at the weekend, but it is something that we are going to continue to work on with the universities as to whether we need to look at more online learning so that people can remain in their own homes, as opposed to coming to Belfast. <BR /> <BR />The published guidance has been outlined on nidirect. When it comes to issues like travel, socialising outside the home, work, shopping and attending functions, people should use their discretion and common sense and continue to work from home where they can.”
“We have looked on with interest at the economic indicators that were put out today. Northern Ireland is very low in terms of economic recovery. We look at those stats very closely to see what we need to do to try to assist the Northern Ireland economy. You know as well as I do that we have an economy very much public-sector focused here, and we need to try to make sure that the productivity of our economy grows again in a sustainable way. That is one of the issues that I am sure the Minister for the Economy is looking at. <BR /> <BR />Yes, we have made representations on the furlough scheme. This is not about closing businesses; it is just about household contacts at the present time. We hope that it will be effective, but it will only be effective if people work with us.”
“I thank the Member for that question. We have made representations in relation to the furlough scheme both through our own party representations and, indeed, through the Minister of Finance, who wrote to the Chancellor of the Exchequer two weeks ago now saying that a cliff edge coming on furlough was going to cause a lot of hardship for a lot of people here in Northern Ireland.”
“The Member has summed up the challenge that lies ahead of us. We want to protect the citizens of Northern Ireland from COVID-19 and to alert them to the dangers, but, at the same time, we want to effect a recovery for our economy, and, therein, lies the challenge. We have taken these limited intervention rules so that we can say to people that they need to be alert and they need to be aware in households settings. We hope that that will stem the spread of COVID-19 in that way. <BR /> <BR />It is a balancing act. We acknowledge that. That is why the Executive spend considerable time looking at the evidence that is presented to us and looking at the interventions that we can take. We make no apology for that because it is right that we have all the evidence in front of us.”
“We will review it in two weeks' time, and if it has not had the desired impact, we will have to revisit the restrictions. <BR /> <BR />It is a limited intervention. It does not impact on businesses at this stage. It is just about household contact. I understand the Member wanting to raise issues about support in the future, and we are certainly keeping that under review. The Minister of Finance is engaging with his counterparts in Westminster because you may have seen that there has been an announcement of £1,000 to £1,500 of support for businesses that have to close for three weeks. We are looking at that and the Minister of Finance is looking at that, and, indeed, we are speaking with the Minister for the Economy on this issue, and it is something that we will continue to monitor.”
“I know that some people were rightly surprised by the level in some of those areas, but if you look at Belfast City Council area, some areas in Ballymena and some areas in Lisburn, there are now over 80 cases of COVID-19 per 100,000. When you look at other areas of Northern Ireland, it is as low as 10 and 11. That is why we decided that we needed to intervene in those postcode areas of concern. <BR /> <BR />I know that some people in those areas feel that we should have put it right across Northern Ireland, but that would not have reflected the danger that we felt some of those postcode areas were in. That is why we took the decision to put what is, I think, the House will accept, a minimum intervention at this stage. We hope that it works.”
“So, from now on, changes to the coronavirus regulations will be led by the Department of Health. <BR /> <BR />Why did we do that? Often, we had to get briefing from the Department of Health to the Executive Office and that was slowing the response down, and we did not think that that was the best use of time. So, that is one of the reasons, and we apologise, Mr Speaker, that you felt that there was a need to make your statement today, but that is one of the reasons why, today, we find ourselves in a sort of handover situation with the regulations. I just want to make that point so that people are clear around that. <BR /> <BR />With regard to the restrictions, we received a very full briefing from the Chief Medical Officer.”
“I thank the Chair of the Committee for his question. First of all, Mr Speaker, I will address the issue that you have rightly raised. At the beginning of COVID-19, the deputy First Minister and I felt that the Department of Health and, in particular, the Minister of Health had a heavy burden in relation to a lot of the health regulations. We offered up — I am not sure whether they were delighted about it or not — the two junior Ministers to help navigate the health regulations through this House. Given the pressures that are now on TEO around a number of issues, including high street task forces and other issues that we are involved in, we have decided that the time is now right to allow the Health Minister to bring the health regulations to the Floor of this Chamber.”
“It is not a lockdown, so hospitality and other businesses will continue to operate, but they will be subject to strict guidance, regulation and appropriate enforcement where necessary. The Executive have put a range of support measures in place for businesses to help to deal with the impact of COVID-19, and we will continue to explore ways of continuing support in the future.”
“Thank you very much. The local restrictions that were put in place last week were a necessary and proportionate approach to address the increasing number of COVID cases that we have witnessed since early July and which have accelerated over the past week. If allowed to continue, that would, inevitably, lead to an increase in hospital admissions and deaths, which we cannot allow to happen. <BR /> <BR />Let us be clear: rapidly rising rates of infection are not good for businesses or employees. The Executive are, therefore, bringing in restrictions now to try to slow and stop the worrying increase in cases. The new restrictions are focused on reducing contact between people in household settings, which is viewed by the Executive as the most effective way to reduce the interactions between people at this time.”
“I think that there is a conspiracy going on here, Mr Speaker. One is quite concerned about it.”
“I very much welcome the appointment of the Veterans Commissioner by the Northern Ireland Office. I think that all of us in the House know Danny well and know that he will be very committed to working on behalf of veterans across Northern Ireland. He has a big job of work — we all acknowledge that — because there are some difficulties for veterans in accessing what they need. I very much look forward to meeting him in the near future so that we can discuss what he has identified as the needs of that community.”
“I have indicated elements in New Decade, New Approach that we have not yet been able to implement. That does not mean that work by officials has not been ongoing on those. There have been a number of meetings in relation to the Office of Identity, the Irish Language commissioner, the Ulster-British commissioner. It is important that we continue along the road and get moving on all of our NDNA commitments. It is important that we deliver on the reason why we came back into the Assembly.”
“I seem to be answering questions for a whole range of people today. I am sure that the deputy First Minister will want to address the issues that the Member has raised. I have already answered Mr Allister in relation to that. It was important to reflect on what was said and done back at the end of June. We are now very much focused on delivering very strong messaging on COVID-19. It is important that we continue to do that.”
“Ah, Steve, Steve. It is good to have a bit of fun in the Assembly. What is important is that the Executive continue to give a very clear message on COVID and the fact that we are in a dangerous position. I think that I have underlined that through what I have said today. Others will challenge and maybe even criticise at times but, when we are in the Executive Office, we have to show leadership in the functions and advice that are given to us. That is what I — I — will continue to do.”
“I think that he meant the First Minister, not the deputy First Minister.”
“We have a very clear understanding, right across the five parties in the Executive, that we came back into this place on the basis of the NDNA agreement. Do not forget that there are things in NDNA that we need to discuss around prioritisation and funding. Those are not the matters that he has discussed; there are other issues that are just mentioned as "possible" or "could". However, there are things that we have all committed to and, therefore, we need to proceed.”
“We have also had confirmation that contaminated blood victims in Northern Ireland will have increased payments in line with Great Britain. Those are just some examples of the things in NDNA that we have been able to proceed with. Of course, there is much more that we need to do as well.”
“As the Member knows, we entered government again back on 11 January with a whole raft of issues under New Decade, New Approach. Unfortunately, with the interruption which has been caused by COVID, we have not been able to proceed in as fast a manner as we would have liked. Having said that, we have been able to proceed with a number of NDNA commitments. We will certainly look to proceed in 2020-21 with those that we have still not been able to proceed. <BR /> <BR />As regards what we have achieved, the Northern Ireland Office has appointed a Veterans Commissioner. We have established an expert panel on tackling educational underachievement, and work is under way there. Just today, we have had the Flags Regulations laid in the Assembly. We have the interim mental health champion, who I have just referred to, appointed and in place.”
“Absolutely. It is important that we understand where every jurisdiction is on the battle against COVID. We raised this issue with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster — just last week, the deputy First Minister raised this issue again, and he said that he was in favour of holding a British-Irish Council meeting to discuss these matters. We hope that that will happen in the near future so that we can discuss the totality of issues that we want to discuss.”
“As you know, the deputy First Minister and I had requested a British-Irish Council (BIC) meeting. Unfortunately, we do not have a date as yet. I understand that the standing date for a British-Irish Council meeting is coming up very soon. If we do not get the free-standing meeting before that meeting, you can bet your bottom dollar that we will definitely bring up this issue at the BIC.”
“One of the things that we are doing is having some scoping work carried out so that we can try to identify where the need is and whether different interventions are needed in different areas. That is important to acknowledge. <BR /> <BR />I should have also said that one of our NDNA commitments was to appoint a mental health champion and I am very pleased that Professor Siobhan O’Neill has taken up that role. She is already providing leadership in this area and we are very pleased to see that.”
“This is indeed a very important issue that we resolved to deal with at one of our very first Executive meetings. The Minister of Health, if I am correct in quoting him, said that it was one of the most apolitical meetings that he had ever seen because everybody just wanted to try to find solutions which, at the time, was pre-COVID. Now, we are having to deal with COVID as well as all the other pressures facing people right across Northern Ireland. We have had a number of meetings of the working group. It is something that we are all very much committed to working through. After that, of course, we have to find the funding to deal with many of the issues that will be identified.”