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
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“I thank the Member for her question. Yes; as I understand it, there has been ongoing discussion between the Department for Communities and the sporting bodies. They are very keen. You will have heard a lot of stellar people telling us that we need to allow our young people, in particular, to get back to sport for their well-being. We spoke quite a lot at the Executive about the need to be out in the fresh air and enjoying sport. That is why 10 people from two households can undertake outdoor sporting activities from 1 April; that is before Easter. After Easter, it will be sports training, which is governed by the sporting bodies, of up to 15 people; again, that is not indoors but outside. The sporting codes will welcome that, as will a lot of young people, and not so young people, who want to get out.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I agree with him wholeheartedly that Sure Start provides a great resource for vulnerable children and their families right across Northern Ireland. I hope that we will be able to have that matter dealt with through the task force that is set up to look at all these matters. As I have said, there is flexibility, so we should be looking at Sure Start and other schemes that are there for our young people. We recognise that, for some young people, home is not the safest place. School is probably a much safer place for some young people, and some very much need the support of their youth leaders. I hope that we can come to this place and make an announcement in relation to Sure Start and other youth programmes in the very near future.”
“It will be about taking some time to reflect and, from my point of view, to thank God for his mercies over the past year. That is very important.”
“It is very important that we recognise the challenges for teachers and pupils but, at the same time, allow them to do those testing processes so that young people have something to move forward with. That is very important for their life chances. <BR /> <BR />In respect of linking hope to what we are trying to do, we had a very good meeting with leaders of the four main Churches yesterday. We talked about hope. We talked about the fact that we have been in a very dark place over the past year and that many people have lost loved ones. We hope that most people will recognise this time of reflection — and if you are Christian, this time of prayer — on Easter Sunday as a coming together, though, obviously, apart in our homes.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Executive have tried to prioritise children's well-being and educational life chances. We are parents as well as Ministers, so we know the impact that schools not being open has had. We pay tribute to teachers on the way that they have engaged in remote learning with our young people. However, it is so important that young people get back into the face-to-face environment, not just with their teachers but with their peers so that they can socialise. <BR /> <BR />As the Member will know, the Education Minister leads on all issues of exams and testing. He is very alert to the fact that, while they will not sit GCSEs this year, we have to find some form of academic achievement for those young people who have spent so long building up to years 12 and 14.”
“We have tried to prioritise young people and children, and we absolutely recognise the need to get our economy into a state in which it can start to recover as well.”
“<BR /> <BR />From the economic data, we are looking at how, unfortunately, the economy has shrunk since the beginning of last year and at the number of people who are unemployed. Again unfortunately, we learned yesterday that Thorntons has decided to leave the high street. We are looking at how the high street is coping with the pandemic. From the societal data, we are looking at how people are dealing with the lockdown and how they are dealing with their well-being and not being able to socialise and play sports in particular. That is one of the reasons that we have front-loaded allowing people to get out and about, enjoy the outdoors and meet outside. <BR /> <BR />Those are the sorts of conversations that are going on at the task force, where we are trying to balance all the different metrics. It is not an exact science.”
“I thank the Member for his question. From the health data, we are looking at the rates of transmission. At the moment, Northern Ireland's infection rate is 66 per 100,000, while in Scotland it is around 64. In Wales, it is much lower, in the mid-40s, I think. In the Republic of Ireland, it is about 75. We are looking at that data. We are looking at the number of people in hospital, the number of people in ICU and the number of positive cases, and we are also looking at the fact that this is a new variant that is more transmissible than the original variant. That is the health data that we are looking at. As I indicated, we are waiting on the efficacy data from hospitals on vaccinations so that we know how they have impacted on the number of people going into hospital.”
“Driving tests are deemed to be a close-contact service, so there will be no resumption of them at this time, but we will come back to the House on that. We understand that there are a lot of young people affected, and I know some young people who are desperately waiting to do their driving test. Again, we hope that driving tests will be able to happen in due course.”
“As I understand it, the CRBSS will continue for as long as it is needed for those businesses. As I said to Mr Clarke, it is not ideal that those businesses are closed, but we are trying to support them as much as we can. The good news is that golf can now occur, as long as it involves only two households. We very much believe that walking along a golf course is the same as going out for a walk, but those who play golf will probably disagree with that. In any event, golf and tennis are allowed, as are those outdoor sports that engage only two households. That is important. What was your final question?”
“It is important, because we know that spring will move into summer, and many gardens need to be planted out. Many people take solace from their garden, so it is important that we allow that to happen. On 12 April, click and collect will be allowed for all non-essential retail. <BR /> <BR />It is only a modest proposal, and I accept that. We need to continue to work with the retail sector as we need to work with other sectors, whether that be hospitality, the Churches or all of the sectors with which we have been engaging, so that we can move forward together and there are no surprises in how we do our business. I acknowledge that this is a hugely difficult time for our business community, but we will keep engaging with it as we move along.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I absolutely acknowledge the fact that Her Majesty's Government have put in place a large amount of resource to assist people who, through no fault of their own, have found themselves in the position that they are in, particularly on our high streets. However, we also recognise — if the Economy Minister were here, she would say this very clearly — that grants are no substitute for being able to open, to do business and to trade. We want to be able to allow our businesses to reopen as quickly as possible. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the fact that colleagues have now agreed to a suggestion that garden centres and plant nurseries be included in the click-and-collect scheme from 1 April. That is before Easter, so it will allow people to avail themselves of those facilities.”
“As I understand it, he has plans to put more money into schools and into the front line so that people can deal with the mental health issues that, unfortunately, we will have to deal with.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Yes, we absolutely need to get our young people back to school for their mental well-being and their socialisation but also for their education and their life chances. That is really important, given that they have missed out on so much face-to-face teaching. I have said many times that the kitchen table is no replacement for the classroom. Those of us who have been homeschooling are in no way substitutes for the professional teachers in our schools. <BR /> <BR />I understand that the Education Minister has indicated that he is putting more resources into schools. Since last year, he has already done that for mental health support. I know that he would want to do more on that. However, again, that will be resource-led, and he will need to have the resources made available to him to do that.”
“It has been physically and mentally difficult. We hope that the easements that have been granted to allow people to get outside and meet another household will allow people to get out and about and to enjoy what I hope will be good weather over the coming period. I know that it is only a modest relaxation, but I hope that it will help some of those people.”
“When we came to the House with the pathway, Mr Speaker, you will recall that the only dates in the document were the actual formal review dates on which the Minister of Health has to review the regulations. There is flexibility in the pathway to allow us to take decisions outside those formal review dates. We will want to assess what social contact we have in terms of the capital that we have to spend, so we will have to see what way things are moving. You will recall that, last year, we moved at a faster speed coming out of some of the regulations because of the fact that we were moving in a very good way. Hopefully, that will be the case again, but we need people to work with us so that we can achieve that. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge what the Member said about it being such a difficult time for so many people.”
“I am glad that the Member asked that question, because the "Stay at home" message will be in place until 12 April. It is important to say that. We are all concerned about the Easter holidays and about people coming together in the ways that we have seen, unfortunately, sometimes in holiday destinations and country parks. Of course, we want people to get outside and enjoy the outdoors, but I ask people to do that in a way that does not cause crowds to accumulate. That is very important. <BR /> <BR />After 12 April, the message will change from "Stay at home" to "Stay local". We hope that that is self-explanatory so that people do not move very far away from home and still work at home where possible. We understand that a lot of people cannot work from home and have to go into work, but the message up to 12 April is still "Stay at home".”
“I do not have the details of that. I will get the Minister for the Economy to come back to you on it, because I know that she has been looking at the return for some students. If there is a need for a student to be back at Queen's, for example, if they study medicine or engineering or something like that, it may well be the case that further education colleges are in the same place. However, as I said, I will get the Minister for the Economy to detail that for you.”
“We look forward to receiving that data because it will be very important. That has been done in Scotland. I do not know whether it has been peer-reviewed as yet, but it suggests that the vaccine is having a real and tangible impact on the numbers of people who are going into hospital, so that is very much welcomed. <BR /> <BR />The vaccine programme continues. I pay tribute to Patricia Donnelly and her team for the way in which they have rolled out the vaccine programme right across Northern Ireland, and I look forward to receiving the vaccine as soon as possible.”
“<BR /> <BR />Some work is ongoing to look at how the vaccine is impacting hospital admissions, particularly among our older residents.”
“I thank the Chairman of the Health Committee for his question and comments. People will welcome the relaxation of restrictions in being able to come together. They will not have been able to do that unless they were bubbling or in caring positions. There have been great strains, and people have sacrificed a lot. It is important that we acknowledge that so that we can get COVID-19 under control and in a manageable situation. That is important. <BR /> <BR />On the vaccination processes, as the Member will know, we are now in the position where we can take bookings for the over-50s. Yesterday was a phenomenal day of online booking. The Health Minister tells us that, at one point, 350 people were taking up vaccine slots per minute. That is a good indicator that people very much want to avail themselves of the vaccine.”
“I hope that we have provided that clarity. P1 to P3 and preschool pupils are already back in school. Years 12 to 14 will be back next Monday. We are now saying that years 4 to 7 should also return next Monday. <BR /> <BR />I was a bit surprised when Mr McGrath said that some schools are closing tomorrow and would not be coming back until next Monday. My goodness. I would like to go to that school to have such holidays for St Patrick's Day, especially when the schools have been off for such a considerable time. I have never heard of that before. <BR /> <BR />Of course, years 8 to 11 will return in full after the Easter holidays on 12 April. The Easter holidays will allow us to assess the impact of the children having gone back. It is useful for us to have that break and space to find out how that has impacted the transmission of the virus.”
“We are big girls and boys and can deal with that. <BR /> <BR />What we have brought forward today are cautious steps, but they very much point in an optimistic direction. As we move through the different steps, the fact that the task force is meeting every week to look at where we are with the transmission of the virus is a very helpful way forward. We have always said that we will be as flexible as we can be and that we will keep the restrictions only for as long as they are necessary and proportionate. That is what we have tried to do today. I hope that people will take advantage of the nice weather, but cautiously and recognising that COVID is still very much with us.”
“A modest lifting of restrictions is what he is comfortable with, given where we are with the pandemic <BR /> <BR />The Department for Communities is working with all the sporting codes, and the Minister is having discussions with the various sporting bodies. We believe that giving the go-ahead for training outdoors from 15 April will be welcomed. The fact that people can come together in public spaces for outdoor activity from 1 April will be welcomed as well, albeit that it will be people from two households before 1 April. <BR /> <BR />On the communication, it is incumbent on all of us as public representatives to get the messages out on what has been agreed today about the relaxations. I hope that everybody will play their part in that, but, no doubt, there will be some who would rather seek to criticise the Executive. So be it.”
“I thank the Chairman of the Committee. Nobody is denying that we have been in lockdown for a long time. It has been well signalled that the Education Minister wanted all primary-school children back as quickly as possible. I welcome the fact that colleagues have agreed with that position, and children in P4 to P7 will go back to school next Monday. As I say, we have been talking about that for some considerable time. <BR /> <BR />I also accept from the Chairman that it is a modest lifting of restrictions. No one said that it was going to be otherwise. We said that we would be relying on advice from our medical adviser, and we have taken that advice.”
“Taking a moment for prayer or reflection will be a powerful act of support for one another and a way to look forward with hope. <BR /> <BR />We have a long way to go, but the steps that we have agreed as an Executive are designed to start that process in line with our pathway commitments and to give the bit of hope that everyone seeks.”
“We acknowledge the risk involved and the mitigations required by the Churches. Some places of worship will find it easier to continue with their online services, and we know that in-person services will be taken forward carefully. We have been grateful to leaders across all faiths who have voluntarily worked closely with us. We have discussed with Church leaders the benefit and comfort that prayer and reflection can bring, whether from a faith perspective or from personal reflection on the year gone by. Making time for prayer and reflection on Easter Sunday will be timely. It is, of course, a personal matter for everyone, but we are facing a difficult first anniversary, and we all feel a sense of loss, whether that is the loss of loved ones or the loss of the things that we enjoy in life.”
“Do not socialise outside your family or your bubble. We particularly want to say to young people that they need to follow the rules and advice. <BR /> <BR />Ahead of us, we have Easter and Passover, important events in our faith calendar and for our citizens. The deputy First Minister and I met the leaders of the four main Churches yesterday to discuss the hope and solace that we need to give our people at Easter. This year has been hard for people of all faiths, and people of none. We have welcomed the opportunity to work with all faith leaders over the past 12 months, and that will continue. We need to continue to acknowledge how much people need hope and solace, and we noted in our discussion yesterday the desire of the Churches to work towards a return to in-person services in time for Easter.”
“We thank you for your forbearance, and we recognise that large sectors of retail have been on the front line all year. We say thank you, as an Executive, to everyone who has supplied goods, stocked shelves, served customers and looked after us all over a protracted period of time. <BR /> <BR />We will now proceed to deliver these decisions into regulations and guidance changes. The next formal review period is 15 April, and we will be working towards that from today. There is no halt in the work that will go into that. That work starts now, and we will monitor the data closely over the coming weeks. <BR /> <BR />We also want to say something about key events in coming weeks. Tomorrow, St Patrick's Day, would normally be enjoyed by many. We need it to be different tomorrow. Please continue to stay at home.”
“The common ground is that the steps are aimed at individuals and their families to support well-being and socialising in a limited and careful way. We have focused on outdoor settings, where the risk is relatively lower than indoor settings. <BR /> <BR />There are things that we need you to continue to do, please. First and foremost, follow the public health advice, including when you are outdoors. Wash your hands and maintain social distancing. If you are meeting up with other people, plan your journey and plan what you will do when you meet up. Avoid car sharing if you can, wear a face covering and, if you cannot, ensure good ventilation. <BR /> <BR />We want to say to our colleagues in the retail sector that we realise that today's developments are modest and that we have a long way to go.”
“The relaxations planned for April 12 will be subject to Executive ratification in the week after the Easter weekend. <BR /> <BR />The Executive have also agreed to increase the provision for elite sports from 25 March to allow a number of new competitions to begin. This minor adjustment to the current restrictions will allow two World Cup qualification matches scheduled for 25 and 31 March to take place, as well as a friendly match between Northern Ireland and the United States of America on 28 March. No spectators will be permitted at any sporting event. <BR /> <BR />It is important that we explain our rationale, as we know that some people will be disappointed that their sectors are not on this list. Our focus in our decisions has been to take a risk-based approach, as we promised in our pathway.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have also decided that, provided the situation still supports this, the following changes will be introduced on 12 April: increasing the numbers who can meet outdoors in a garden from six to 10, including children, from two households; the removal of the "stay at home" provision in the legislation, moving to a "stay local" and "work from home" message; allowing contactless click and collect for all non-essential retail, subject to the overall health position at that time and Department for the Economy evaluation of the limited 8 March reopening of non-essential click and collect; and allowing outdoor sports training to resume by sports clubs affiliated with recognised sports governing bodies in small groups of up to 15 people but with all indoor spaces closed except essential toilet facilities.”
“The weather is improving, and we have been in the current lockdown for around 80 days. That is a long time and a big ask, and we have been so grateful to everyone who has made a personal contribution to the improvement in the COVID situation. <BR /> <BR />Our responsibility to you is to look carefully at how we can improve the situation for you in a careful and sustainable way. We want to give you hope, and we have discussed today a number of small steps that we hope will be welcome. <BR /> <BR />We have decided that, from 1 April, 10 people from two households can undertake outdoor sporting activities, as defined in the regulations; up to six people from two households may meet outdoors at a private dwelling; and garden centres and plant nurseries will be included in the contactless click-and-collect scheme.”
“We have been equally concerned about the well-being impacts. We all know how important it is for children to build and grow their friendship networks, to be able to socialise and grow their own interests and future potential. That has been our clear focus today. We think that every sector in our society will understand that education has to be our priority at this time, but we understand that those sectors and individuals also want a bit of certainty and hope. <BR /> <BR />Having taken the education decisions, the Executive went on to look at the available social contact capital to see if we could do more. Our commitment has always been that we will not leave restrictions in place for a day longer than is needed. We appreciate that we are moving quickly towards the first anniversary of the first lockdown in March last year.”
“Today, we have considered further the steps that we should take, rightly, to provide more certainty for our children and young people, parents, teachers and the whole education family. Today, having taken into account the prevailing COVID situation and with care and caution, we have decided that primary 4 to primary 7 should return from 22 March, and all pupils, including years 8 to 11, will fully resume on 12 April. Those decisions are aimed primarily at getting children back to school in the safest way possible, with mitigations and preparation time. That has benefits for us all. <BR /> <BR />We have been very concerned throughout about the impacts on young people's education. We know that the education sector will pull together to help address that.”
“If we spend the capital on one easement of restrictions, it cannot be spent on other things at the same time. That is why it is important that we work our way through the restrictions in a careful and managed way at each four-week review point. We are not setting dates so that we can take our decisions against the prevailing health, economic and societal circumstances. <BR /> <BR />The Executive are clear on the need to think especially hard about our children and young people. Last week, we decided that preschool, nursery and primary-school pupils in P1 to P3 would remain in school until the start of the Easter break. Meanwhile, students in years 12 to 14 would still return to face-to-face teaching, effective from next Monday.”
“That is why we published our pathway out of restrictions on 2 March, and we outlined our rationale in our statement to the Assembly that day. Our rationale can be summarised in one phrase: cautious but optimistic. Small steps along the pathway, with time built in to help us take stock of the impact on the ground. Time to reflect, analyse the data and structure the next steps in the pathway in that context. <BR /> <BR />Our colleagues in the Department of Health have coined the phrase "social contact capital". It is a helpful way of understanding the situation that we are in. We have an amount of decision-making capital that we can afford to spend. We need to spend it wisely each time, in the interests of as many people as possible.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to update the Assembly on our decisions on education last week and at this morning's Executive meeting. <BR /> <BR />Before I outline the detail, it is important to set our decisions in context. COVID-19 is still with us in our community. Today, we have 176 COVID inpatients in our hospitals; 18 people are in ICU with COVID; there are 13 active care home outbreaks being managed; 164 people have tested positive with COVID-19; and, unfortunately, we have a further death. Those are, of course, better numbers than we have seen in recent times since the latest restrictions took effect on 26 December, but the numbers tell us that caution is still important. We have seen how the numbers can rise rapidly, and we do not want to go back there.”
“Think about what you are doing today in the House and please send a message to those constituents of ours who have non-fatal disabilities and who add so much to the lives of their families and to society. Do not make them feel as though they are second-class citizens. There is a great deal of evidence out there saying that, if this goes through, people will feel obliged to go through with abortions even if, in other circumstances, they would not. I am asking you to think about the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Whilst we can talk about the rights of women — nobody is happier to talk about that than I am — there should be a recognition that those of us on this side of the House have as much right to talk about the rights of women as anybody else in the House.”
“Members can deny that all they like. We are on a very slippery slope, and everybody should be very careful about that. It is Down's syndrome and non-fatal disabilities today. What will we decide is appropriate for abortion in 10 years' time?”
“I have tried — we have all tried — to save lives over the past year; that is what we have been trying to do. In a recent Sunday morning television debate, Lord Sumption dismissed the concerns of a clinically vulnerable woman who was suffering from cancer by describing her as having a "less valuable" life than the rest of us. Rightly, many of us were outraged by those comments about a "less valuable" life. No one's life is less valuable, and that standard should apply to life inside and outside the womb. We are entering the realm of eugenics, ladies and gentlemen.”
“However, abortion is a matter for the House, and I feel very strongly about that. <BR /> <BR />As an Anglican, I feel obliged to comment on the churching of women, which Sinéad McLaughlin raised. There is a churching of women service in the Anglican communion, and it is about giving thanks. It is not about judging or stigmatisation. I do not know whether it is different in the Roman Catholic Church; maybe some of my friends opposite could help me with that. I felt that there was a need to clarify that issue because the churching of women is about thanksgiving not stigmatisation. I was struck by the comments that were made on that matter. <BR /> <BR />As I say, I did not plan to speak today but I felt moved to because of some of the issues that have been raised. The past year has taught us much about the fragility of life.”
“I feel very strongly about that, and I have been deeply saddened. I did not plan to speak today, but I have tried to keep an eye on what is going on and I have been distressed by some of the things that I have heard from some Members. <BR /> <BR />I want to put the record straight. Although abortion is a devolved matter, as the Member for North Antrim Mr Allister pointed out, some Members seek to hide behind the skirts of the Secretary of State. They should not do that if they believe in devolution. I heard much over the weekend from members of the SDLP and Sinn Féin about how the British Government having an office in Northern Ireland will damage the devolution settlement. Notwithstanding the fact that plans for the office are included in the New Decade, New Approach agreement. People should reread the New Decade, New Approach agreement.”
“I find it astonishing that someone would try to take away my voice on violence against women just because I do not agree with that person on the taking of life through abortion. I feel incredibly strongly about that. I strongly believe that we need a strategy on violence against women. I hope that the Justice Minister will introduce a strategy in the near future. It is something that many in the Executive want to discuss tomorrow. <BR /> <BR />It upsets me when I listen to people talk about women's rights, as if those of us who believe in supporting those who have disabilities and Down's syndrome should not have a voice. Let me say this: people in the House will not take away my voice to stand up for women who believe in protecting those young people with Down's syndrome who have value in our society.”
“I share a constituency with the Chair of the Health Committee, and I ask him to reflect on some of the things that he said today. I know that my constituency friend from the Ulster Unionist Party will view those comments as being very disrespectful to many of our constituents who have Down's syndrome and non-life-threatening disabilities. However, that is a matter for him. <BR /> <BR />I am distressed that Clare Bailey would seek to equate this matter with violence against women. Of course, it is nothing of the sort. All the women in my party and all the women in the Ulster Unionist Party feel as strongly about violence against women as anyone else. Of course we do; we are very concerned about what our daughters have to put up with as they walk in the streets of various cities.”
“<BR /> <BR />Of course, this is not a technical or statistical piece of legislation. We are talking about real lives. We are talking about real people — our constituents — who feel that we do not value them, and that is incredibly sad.”
“Clearly, I am speaking from the Back Benches to support my friend in his proposal of the Bill. We have heard very clearly from many that it is not what many of us would like to see happening in terms of abortions. However, we feel so strongly about the voice of those with Down's syndrome, and I have many in my constituency. I think especially today of Hannah Wilson, such a happy young person whom I speak with often, and how she feels that what is being spoken about today is very distressing. I want to say to Hannah: I will always stand up for you, Hannah, and I will always stand up for those people who do not have as strong a voice as some people in the Chamber. I commend my friend for bringing the legislation. I know the amount of work that he has put into it.”
“I want to thank the Member for recently facilitating a meeting with some of the Omagh victims where, again, I was struck by their determination and desire to seek justice for their families and loved ones. He is right: we all remember the really dreadful day when that horrific bombing took place. The delay is quite incredible. I think that they said that four judges have been involved in the judicial review. The final hearing was in July 2019, and yet there is still no judgement on the matter. There needs to be closure brought to that judicial review so that the families can move on in their campaign to find justice.”
“I am very interested to know how the Member knows what I said to the LCC. Was he there? No, he was not there. I have always been very clear with members of paramilitary organisations, wherever they come from, that they should cease and desist from their criminality. I have always done that, and I always will. They need to move away from that. That is what our Communities in Transition programme, which sits in TEO, is all about, is it not? Is the Member suggesting that we move away from Communities in Transition, which, by the way, is doing very good work in communities right across republican areas and loyalist areas? Let us have less of the cant and hypocrisy in the House; let us have some realism.”
“No, not at all, because the members whom we met are committed to peaceful and democratic means. I find it astounding to hear criticism from Sinn Féin when the army council is still in existence. That is not my assessment but the assessment of the Chief Constable of the PSNI. It is very hard to take criticism from sources who should know better. We want to encourage everybody to engage in peaceful and constitutional politics. We want people, if they have a concern, to be able to raise that concern and not feel alienated or as though nobody is listening to them. That is the important point about the engagement with the Loyalist Communities Council (LCC). It really is astounding to hear members of Sinn Féin come out and criticise this party, which has always condemned violence from any source, for meeting the LCC — quite incredible.”