Dolores Kelly
Upper Bann · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“The legislation is only as good as its enforcement. It will be enabled by the sentences that judges and others may hand down, by cultural shifts and by changes in behaviour because of the penalties in place as a consequence. <BR /> <BR />We need to do much more with cybercrime units. We need proper resources for them.”
“It also covers the background to the Good Friday Agreement and the creation of this Assembly, as well as subsequent political negotiations over the years. The major figures and events over the past 100 years have been reflected in a way that ensures that all political perspectives of the Assembly are reflected.”
“I thank the Member for his question. An update on the current COVID-19 health and safety measures was issued to all users of Parliament Buildings on 1 March 2022. The update set out the current arrangements for ensuring the continuing safety of everyone in the Building.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am pleased to inform him that the review of the display of artefacts is at a very advanced stage. The Member may have seen the letter that the Speaker issued on behalf of the Assembly Commission earlier today.”
“<BR /> <BR />As a member of the Policing Board, I receive updates on a regular basis from the National Crime Agency (NCA), which has determined that between 16,000 and 23,000 children and young people are at risk from sexual offences and grooming online. Those are horrendous figures, and that must be a nightmare scenario for any family.”
“Thank you for your answer, Minister. You rightly outlined a lot of medical and therapeutic interventions, but many children are suffering post-traumatic stress-type symptoms or, indeed, social isolation as a consequence of COVID.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,097 lines we hold for Dolores Kelly, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 21 of 22.
“I hear the chastisement in the Minister's response, but, given that the cart is going before the horse, as per usual in this Assembly, it should come as no surprise that I asked such a question. Therefore, Minister, in relation to your own portfolio, what is your ambition for the year ahead in asset sales and how much do you hope to raise?”
“The Bill can have far-reaching consequences. It will look to have not only a duty to cooperate but, in a more meaningful way, a child-centred approach to our legislation and to the service that our public sector has to deliver on behalf of the Assembly and Executive to families, and to children in particular. We are therefore happy to support the legislation's progress.”
“It might have addressed some of the concerns articulated in the debate by Mr Wilson. He asked whether we might have examples of children in care. Well, Kathleen Marshall's report indicated that those children who were exploited fell between the stools of the health service, education and the police, that their experiences were not picked up, and that action could have been taken sooner to help them.”
“Those are voices that ought to be respected and listened to. Mr Agnew has done his best to respond to the calls made by those organisations. No doubt, as the Bill progresses through the House, he will take further advice not only from those experts but from potential experts here on how the Bill may be improved upon, and accept some of the amendments that may come forward. <BR /> <BR />This legislation certainly responds to all those calls. It would also give Departments the ability to pool their budgets to ensure that their limited budgets are used effectively. It is a matter of ongoing regret that Sinn Féin and the DUP dispensed with the Executive fund for children and young people that existed under the former Executive led by the SDLP and the Ulster Unionist Party.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mr Agnew talked about the levels of poverty experienced by children and young people in the North of Ireland. Twenty-one per cent of children here live in persistent child poverty, which is double the rate of child poverty in Great Britain. We have higher levels of government spend per child but much poorer outcomes. Collaborative working between Departments could bring about changes that would lead to better outcomes for children. <BR /> <BR />Inadequate integration of children's services in Northern Ireland has been repeatedly identified by a wide range of organisations. Indeed, Mr Agnew referred to some of them in preparing for the drafting of the Bill. These organisations are well experienced, have worked with children and young people over many years, and have their well-being at heart.”
“On behalf of the SDLP, I also congratulate Mr Agnew and welcome his efforts in bringing forward what I believe to be an important piece of legislation. As Mr Agnew and others may know, my colleague Alex Attwood was at the launch of the Bill. He pledged the SDLP's support for the Bill, and I reiterate that support today. <BR /> <BR />As others said, if passed, the Bill will require Departments to cooperate with one another on the well-being of children and young people in Northern Ireland. A duty to safeguard those children who are deemed at risk was introduced in the Safeguarding Board Act in 2011. It is impossible to compartmentalise children's needs into one Department. It is cross-departmental, and cooperation between Departments is vital for the well-being of all children.”
“I hope that local councils use the new resources and powers available to them to target disadvantage in their areas and that they have full and proper consultation with all those individuals and organisations that will be affected by any proposals under the exercise of this responsibility. <BR /> <BR />Mr Deputy Speaker, there is not much point in labouring the matter. It is welcome, and I regret that it is not as extensive as it might otherwise have been.”
“Like others, I have concerns about staff resources and the financial allocation that will transfer to councils, and I seek assurances from the Minister that there are no attempts to shoot off some of the burden in terms of finances and the 20,000 redundancies. <BR /> <BR />We want to assure local government that the Bill has the intention and purpose it always had, which is to put power into the hands of local people and their representatives, and that the full extent of the financial and staff resources deployed by DSD in the discharge of this function will transfer to local councils. <BR /> <BR />I believe, as I said a few moments ago, that this is an opportunity to make a really meaningful contribution to the wider power of community planning.”
“I, too, welcome the opportunity to participate in the scrutiny of this Bill and welcome its passage through the Assembly. It is disappointing, as the Minister stated in his opening remarks, that it is not the Bill that was originally intended. I think some parties have become confused about the intent of the Bill. The people who ultimately suffer as a consequence are our constituents. <BR /> <BR />As Ms Bradley said, this is something that will make a valuable contribution to community planning powers and the ability of local people to have a greater say in how they regenerate their areas and in actual prioritisation.”
“I thank the Minister for her warm words of encouragement to businesses in Craigavon. Have there been any further discussions about the extension of enterprise zones? Will she consider Craigavon as an area that could benefit from such a zone?”
“<BR /> <BR />Unfortunately, and without any slur or slight on Mr Newton's appointment as Deputy Speaker, we in the SDLP do not support this position. We do not believe that the House is better managed as a result or that it adds anything to the good temper or business of the House. Instead, it creates wider consternation among Assembly Members and, indeed, the wider public at the continued lack of inclusivity, collective decision-making and real power-sharing that ought to exist as a result of the Good Friday Agreement and the endorsement of the people of Ireland.”
“I am not too sure whether Caitríona Ruane spoke with tongue in cheek or with absolute sincerity when she said that it was an example of power-sharing. I nearly collapsed with laughter at that one, Mr Speaker, because it really is more symbolic of the continued carve-up and the hierarchy of Speakers in this House. <BR /> <BR />It would also do members of Sinn Féin well to reflect on the words of the deputy First Minister over the weekend about equality and parity of esteem. I really do not know where Sinn Féin get off, I really don't. Saying that today and over the weekend, yet we have them endorsing the position of Principal Deputy Speaker — a clear hierarchy of positioning and power within this House.”
“I begin by congratulating Robin Newton on his appointment as a Deputy Speaker. I have worked alongside Robin for some time now on the Policing Board and, indeed, have seen his skill in trying to resolve difficult situations in practice on the board. I hope that he will carry those skills through as he seeks to determine many a contentious issue as well as the matters that will inevitably be referred to your office, Mr Speaker. <BR /> <BR />Once again, nonetheless, I have to place on record the SDLP's opposition to the appointment of a Principal Deputy Speaker. There is no such post in any other jurisdiction. No case was presented to the House or the public as to why there should be such a position. Rather, it is symbolic of the continued carve-up between Sinn Féin and the DUP.”
“The British Government can start to put up some of the money to redress the inherent legacy issues and, indeed, the failure to properly fund a number of our infrastructure projects that the people in the North have suffered.”
“Indeed, his party colleagues trundled across the North with a "no Tory cuts" agenda and yet, in this Budget, we are very much seeing many of the Tory cuts being implemented and administered by his colleagues in the Executive. That is something that we had a number of concerns about. <BR /> <BR />I very much welcome the contributions of the Members who talked about the cost and legacy of the conflict and the higher deprivation and poverty levels. I am indebted to the Assembly's researchers and the staff from the library who provided statistics that are there for all to read. The British Government were not a spectator in the last 40 years. They stand accused of directing terrorism in some form, with the number of collusion cases that are emerging out of the woodwork in the last number of weeks and months.”
“It is only today that his party has made the front page of the 'Irish News' in relation to a story from my council area of Craigavon, where £10,000 of ratepayers' money was wasted on an equality impact assessment looking to put a Union flag on a council building that is not going to be there in three months' time. So, we are not going to take lectures from the other side, particularly from Mr Moutray, about wastage of public funds and a lack of courage. <BR /> <BR />I noticed, too, that in his contribution — I have to mention this — Mr McKay chastised the Ulster Unionist Party about tying its manifesto to the Tories in the last Westminster election.”
“He made the point that the cost of not providing that care puts additional costs further upstream, when the person has a breakdown, whether through poor nutrition or isolation, as Mr McCarthy referred to. We all know that the human contact of the person who provides the meals on wheels service is essential to the quality of life of older people who, very often, live in isolated areas, or those who life a life of isolation in populated areas. <BR /> <BR />Mr Moutray and others also referred to costs, but they neglected to mention the waste that exists in public order policing. That is something that he and his party have not shown much courage in addressing over the last number of years.”
“I think it was Mrs Dobson, amongst others, who made remarks about how some Departments' administration budgets and bureaucracy had got out of control. We all know about people creating kingdoms for themselves and their sphere of work. A weary electorate is very much on the same page as politicians and, I am sure, today's debate in looking at the protection of education, health and welfare. Nonetheless, if you were to talk to a number of the front-line workers, Mr Deputy Speaker, they could tell you where there is a lot of waste in the system. That is a challenge for each of the Ministers. They must start by looking at what front-line core services their Departments provide, the public's expectations and how they can manage some of those expectations. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Mr McKinney talked about cuts in domiciliary care.”
“It is interesting to compare that with the findings of an OFMDFM-commissioned report from a number of years ago, which calculated the cost of division at approximately £1·5 billion. <BR /> <BR />I know that this Budget is looking at education. A number of impassioned pleas were made for education and putting the money into such front-line services as the classroom, but the Budget also sets conditions for integrated and shared education. I think that we need to hear a lot more from the Ministers on how they are going to approach that challenge that has been set by the British Government. <BR /> <BR />In our amendment, we sought to have a clearer definition of public services. As many of the contributors talked about different issues, it was clear that there is no common understanding of what core public services are.”
“I am making the winding-up speech on behalf of my party. When we initially saw the motion, we saw that it was calling on the Assembly to commend the Executive parties on presenting a united front in highlighting the drastic reduction in the block grant. We only wish that they had shown a united front much earlier last year, when we knew the difficulties that were trundling down the track. I have listened carefully to a number of the contributors to the debate this afternoon. I note with regret that few, if any, mentioned the cost of a divided society in the North of Ireland. Mr Allister mentioned the £1·8 billion of debt that there will be over the coming years.”
“I wonder, Minister, whether you can give us any indication of when the penalty for welfare reform will have to be paid and whether there is any further information that you can give us on the mitigating factors and flexibilities obtained.”
“How can the Minister ensure consistency of application across different schools? I am sure that you are aware that, in your constituency, different boards of governors apply the current policies and procedures on a much different basis than you and I would understand. Will there be supplementary guidance notes to the legislation to explain how it should be applied?”
“I appreciate the Minister's concerns. Have you had any communication with the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment on the economic boost that the creative industries bring to Northern Ireland? Is there a recognition of that in the Programme for Government commitment for the year ahead?”
“I thank the Minister for her very detailed answer. Minister, what exactly will be the shape of the advice and guidance given to the farmers?”
“I thank the Minister for his comments. Minister, you said "efficient and effective". I welcomed, and our party welcomed, the scheme's extension and the inclusion of a greater number of people able to access help with warming their home, but was the scheme subject to a value-for-money review?”
“Minister, in your initial answer, you referred to the detailed information on the website, which is true, but we need to distil the very complex regulations into key core messages. I have been asked about that on the street. Will you state categorically that there will be no bedroom tax in Northern Ireland? Will you give some further insight as to whether there will be a cap on benefit paid?”
“Sinn Féin Members had an opportunity to speak and to vote for a nationalist Speaker, and they voted, ashamedly, against it. Unlike Sinn Féin, we hold high principles and high values, and the SDLP continues to rail against the power carve-up between the two main parties. So, today, we will support Mr Dallat with pride.”
“I am very pleased to second my party's leader's proposal of Mr John Dallat as Speaker. John Dallat has many years of political experience, and I think that he is the longest serving member of the Speaker's Office. He has shown in the role of Deputy Speaker his impartiality and his ability to act above party politics. <BR /> <BR />As the First Minister said, we are here today with the proposal for Mitchel McLaughlin as a consequence of an agreement between the two main parties. It would do Members well to remember that the House owes its existence to both the endorsement and the agreement of the people of this island for power-sharing and partnership; not a power carve-up between the two largest parties. We in the SDLP remember well that, just a few months ago, Sinn Féin blocked the first nationalist nomination, of John Dallat, as Speaker.”
“The Minister will be aware that there are extensive discussions ongoing in relation to the NCA, particularly around the accountability mechanisms. Will he join me in acknowledging the mechanisms that the PSNI would welcome and that it described in its 2013 human rights annual report as being the minimum standard of accountability necessary to move forward?”
“Minister, I am sure that you are aware of people who have taken their redundancy package and been re-employed within a matter of days, perhaps in a very similar job. Will you assure the House that any examination of the organisation or any structural change to staffing will look across all the arm's-length bodies and the trusts, the board and the Department to ensure that there is no duplication of service provision?”
“I note that the initial question asked about arm's-length bodies, but will the deputy First Minister indicate whether any moneys from the social investment fund are being targeted in the geographical area where the two organisations are based?”
“Minister, you alluded to health with regard to the Barnett consequentials and to the idea that there may perhaps be some ring-fencing of that. However, I understand that infrastructure is also to be accommodated in the Budget tomorrow in the autumn statement. I wonder whether there would be a willingness on your part and on the part of the Executive to ring-fence some Barnett consequentials for Northern Ireland for infrastructure.”
“This again might be across both remits, but you may have noticed that Minister Simon Coveney recently signed an agreement in China for dried milk products. Have any such overtures been made by your Department, alongside DARD, for our dairy farmers?”
“Minister, can I broaden the discussion to the level of VAT and ask whether you have had any success, through talking to your Executive colleagues or, indeed, to Westminster, in gaining the ability to reduce the level across the hospitality sector?”
“In essence, Minister, 18 months on you are telling us that not one apprenticeship place has been provided. Will you give a commitment, to me and to the House, that you will tell us, if there are to be any such places, how the resources will be targeted across the North?”
“As the Deputy Chair said, we should take the opportunity to reflect on the poverty levels among pensioners in the North and on the high cost of living versus the level of income that many of our people are receiving. Poverty levels are rising, not just among children and young people but among pensioners. That is something that our party is very alert to. We make no apology in the House or elsewhere for saying that they need to have their voices heard in Chambers such as this and on such pieces of legislation, which will have far-reaching consequences for many.”
“In fact, over the past 100 years, some people died for the very protections that others are so blithely giving away. As members of a party that retains labour in its core values and, indeed, title, we will seek to protect those principles as we scrutinise the Bill's passage.”
“That is, I think, a fair comment from our party. <BR /> <BR />As I am sure that the Minister will acknowledge, public sector workers get a bad press, which is not, I think, justified on most occasions. As the Minister will know, many of these jobs are not only physically demanding but emotionally demanding, and I hope that he will listen to those concerns. Our party will listen to them as the Bill goes through its various stages. <BR /> <BR />We will have the opportunity to table amendments. It is the intention of our party to look at that and try to convince people of the argument. We are all very much aware of the financial constraints under which we have to make tough decisions. However, there are some principles in relation to terms and conditions that the trade union movement and others fought long and hard for.”
“I thank the Minister for his intervention. I do not think that there is anything wrong with stating the party's position on the increase in state pension age. <BR /> <BR />As the Minister will well know, there has been lobbying from various public sector workers. Workers in the Fire Service, for example, lobbied on the basis of the impact that raising the state pension age would have on their performance and ability to do their job. That is also true of other public sector workers in the teaching, medical and nursing professions. I am sure that the Minister will appreciate that we want to listen to as many people as possible who will be directly impacted and want to raise concerns. We do not want more and more people having to take the option of being medically retired because they are not fit to go on for much longer.”
“Changes to pension ages mean that, when the Bill comes into effect, public servants will be forced to work until their state pension age or 65, whichever is greater.”
“The SDLP has been steadfast in its fight against the attacks on public servants, at Westminster and Stormont. The SDLP voted against the Public Service Pensions Bill in February this year. However, it became law as it was supported by the DUP, Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party. We were the only party to oppose that Bill because of its detrimental impact on the 210,000 public sectors workers across the North. It was the most far-reaching legislation to pass through the Assembly for some time. <BR /> <BR />Whilst, in principle, we welcome the concept of a simplified system, as outlined by the Minister, that would help pensioners living in poverty, we have a significant number of concerns about the Bill.”
“Did the Minister actually familiarise himself with the report's findings? Can he share the conclusions that he has reached on it?”
“The importance of dealing with the past is to stop it from poisoning our today, and it is part of the ongoing talks. Does the Minister share my concern about the increasing number of people with mental ill health? The increased inequalities in our society are weighing heavily on your Department's budget. Had there been better and more sensible dialogue looking at how we deal with mental ill health and inequality across the Executive, your budget might not be in the situation that it is in.”
“The Minister said that there is an overlap with DETI, but are there any recommendations that could be followed up in relation to your discussions with banks and small businesses on procurement in the public sector or have any been actioned? Further to that, have the banks made any threat of closure to some small businesses?”
“Are there any specific measures or targets that could be introduced or are already in existence to encourage more women and people from an ethnic minority background to participate in the programme?”
“In her contribution, Paula acknowledged that this type of vile crime happened right across the community. I did not hear any other Member, other than those in Sinn Féin, relate this to the fact that, for any inquiry to be fulsome and total, it should look at all aspects, or that, regardless of where the perpetrator came from, all institutions should be treated the same. That, to me, is an Ireland of equals, not how some in Sinn Féin have been protected. Some people were shot, if not killed — there were certainly punishment beatings and people were shot in the kneecaps — if they were alleged to be abusers, whilst others were able to get on the train to Dundalk. Sinn Féin has a lot to answer. I am really sorry that today, of all days, they could not rise above it. I pity many of them and wonder how they sleep at night.”
“I am coming to that point. Thank you for that intervention. My colleague Alex Attwood did ask where the abusers are now. What is the risk assessment? Has information been shared with the PSNI and an Garda Síochána about the whereabouts of those abusers? Are they working in community centres with young children, in the way that Liam Adams was able to? Are some of them, as I believe, across the water in GB? I have not heard anything from Sinn Féin that gives me any confidence that they take their obligations seriously in this matter. They certainly have not put the interests of children and women at the heart of their deliberations and comments in the last few weeks and months, nor today. They had ample opportunity today to clear a number of matters up and did not. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the introduction made by Paula Bradley.”
“All I heard was that Sinn Féin is the victim and the other parties are playing party political games with the issue. Nobody does victimhood better than Sinn Féin; nobody on this island. They are always the victims. Many of us in the House find a great deal to dispute in the definition that Mr Adams would give of "decent" people. I heard his reply to Enda Kenny in the Dáil. I can tell you this, Mr Deputy Speaker: his words chilled me to the very core.”
“Others have talked about how the criminal justice system failed Maíria Cahill and other victims. I ask the Justice Committee and others, in their discussions and negotiations with the police and the PPS, to ask why there is continued delay in other cases, which will be high profile, where there are allegations of sexual abuse and cover-up by the republican movement. <BR /> <BR />For me, today was the day in which the IRA and Sinn Féin morphed into one organisation — they absolutely morphed. All that Sinn Féin has attempted to do over the last hour, and indeed the last number of weeks, is protect its institutions and organisation. Where were the words of condemnation of the kangaroo court and those who participated in it? Where were the words to say how the criminal justice system has failed Maíria Cahill and others? I did not hear them.”
“You no longer have any right to stand on any platform on any feminist issue, when you cannot stand up for the victim of the most vile abuse imaginable.”