Fra McCann
West Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I want to thank everyone for the help that they have given me over the years, which has made my time here a lot easier. I also thank Assembly Members for the friendship, help and assistance that they have given me, from right across the Assembly Floor. I would love to say that I will miss everybody here; I probably will at times.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. <BR /> <BR />It was interesting to listen to Robbie, who has first-hand experience of what firefighters go through. To have someone like that speaking in the debate is invaluable.”
“The statistics tell us, as Members have said, that firefighters are four times more likely to develop cancer due to their regular exposure to pollutants in the work that they do on behalf of society. Further preventative measures are obviously needed, and that is what the Sinn Féin amendment addresses.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Assembly needs to send a message that that is not an acceptable way to treat front-line workers who put their lives on the line day and daily.”
“Better decontamination measures and modern, accessible facilities will improve the working lives of firefighters and help to reduce their risk of cancer and other illnesses. <BR /> <BR />I thank the DUP for bringing the motion to the Assembly, and, in conclusion, the Sinn Féin amendment strengthens what is a good motion.”
“I would have thought that such organisations, which play a vital role in local government, would have been able to tap into the consultation on the Bill, because it has been debated widely not only at Committee but in the Chamber.”
The complete record
Every one of 424 lines we hold for Fra McCann, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 9.
“I want to thank everyone for the help that they have given me over the years, which has made my time here a lot easier. I also thank Assembly Members for the friendship, help and assistance that they have given me, from right across the Assembly Floor. I would love to say that I will miss everybody here; I probably will at times. <BR /> <BR />Thank you very much for allowing me to say that.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I will leave this up to your judgement. I think that everybody knows that this is my last day in the Assembly, and I could not leave without first thanking the Assembly staff, officials —”
“I beg to introduce the Hospital Parking Charges Bill [NIA 40/17-22], which is a Bill to prohibit the imposition by Health and Social Care hospitals of charges for car parking; and for connected purposes.”
“Better decontamination measures and modern, accessible facilities will improve the working lives of firefighters and help to reduce their risk of cancer and other illnesses. <BR /> <BR />I thank the DUP for bringing the motion to the Assembly, and, in conclusion, the Sinn Féin amendment strengthens what is a good motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Assembly needs to send a message that that is not an acceptable way to treat front-line workers who put their lives on the line day and daily. The Department of Health needs to look at what is being done in other jurisdictions in regard to best practice when it comes to the decontamination of kits and vehicles used by firefighters. For example, in the United States, firefighters remove their kit immediately after an incident. In fact, after an incident, to reduce the risk of further contamination, they do not even get back into the fire truck while wearing their kit. <BR /> <BR />We must do everything that we can to protect the lives of those who, all day, every day, put their lives on the line for us.”
“The statistics tell us, as Members have said, that firefighters are four times more likely to develop cancer due to their regular exposure to pollutants in the work that they do on behalf of society. Further preventative measures are obviously needed, and that is what the Sinn Féin amendment addresses. <BR /> <BR />As my colleague said earlier, we have been informed by firefighters that, here in the North, only two kits are issued to them. When a kit is contaminated at a fire or another incident, it is supposed to be laundered to decontaminate it. However, that can sometimes take weeks, and firefighters often reuse contaminated kits, shift after shift, putting themselves, their co-workers and their families at considerable risk.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. <BR /> <BR />It was interesting to listen to Robbie, who has first-hand experience of what firefighters go through. To have someone like that speaking in the debate is invaluable. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased to support a motion and amendment that provide additional health security to vital workers. The risks of being a firefighter are clear. Every day, these workers put themselves at considerable risk as they go about protecting, and often saving, the lives of people in our communities. I honestly do not know how we could ever go about thanking them adequately for all that they have done on our behalf. However, there are small measures that we can take. <BR /> <BR />The motion to introduce annual cancer screening is welcome, but more is needed.”
“I put on the record my thanks to the Minister for her diligence, for her readiness to work with the Committee and for striking the right balance in the clauses. I assure her that the Bill has my full support.”
“I am glad that the issues identified in it have been worked out between the Minister and Committee members. I know how anxious we all are to get the Bill over the line.”
“That is why it was appropriate that the Bill was approved for accelerated passage. I commend the Minister and her officials for the work that they have done to get the Bill ready for presentation.”
“I would have thought that such organisations, which play a vital role in local government, would have been able to tap into the consultation on the Bill, because it has been debated widely not only at Committee but in the Chamber. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate the chance to speak to the Bill as a member of the Communities Committee and as Sinn Féin's local government spokesperson. As I said previously, this is important legislation that will allow our councillors to meet remotely and that will give them the space and time to meet improvement targets in what has been a very trying and difficult year for everyone in society. <BR /> <BR />Our local government sector has been a vital resource for our communities. We all know the pivotal role that it plays in service delivery to all our constituents.”
“I will be brief, because everything that needed to be said has been said. However, I am concerned by what Paula said about the two organisations.”
“For that, we need the input and support of all parties.”
“Article 11(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights recognises the right of everyone to an adequate standard of living and continuous improvement in living conditions, including housing conditions. <BR /> <BR />I reiterate that we should not look at this in isolation; let us look at all the sectors of housing. The Minister has a plan to deal with housing as a whole, but it requires financing. We all have a duty to ensure that we join the Minister in demanding that she gets the resources that she needs to deal with the issue. Minister Hargey has promised a housing revolution to bring the sector in from years of neglect and build it into a sector that we can all be proud of. That will include dealing with the serious problem of unfitness, which includes dampness and mould growth.”
“Homeowners also face huge problems from dampness and mould as well as huge disrepair, and many are elderly and unable to financially meet the cost of dealing with that growing problem. I have heard it said that, unless we also prioritise that housing sector, we will be dealing with the slums of the future. <BR /> <BR />The right to a good, safe and secure place to call "home" is fundamental to providing a firm foundation for individuals, workers and families and impacts not only on their physical mental health and well-being but on their educational attainment, welfare, family relationships, stability, human dignity and quality of life.”
“I commend the Members who have brought the matter to the Chamber. This is not the first time that we have debated the issue, and I have no doubt that it will not be the last. We have debated this issue a number of times and asked the Assembly to take action to deal with this serious problem. While I agree that it is an issue that needs our urgent attention, it needs to be done as part of a strategy. I have been in many homes that suffer from the blight of dampness, and I have witnessed mould growing on walls and seen the health consequences of that for those who live in those homes. It is not just a blight suffered by Housing Executive tenants; it goes much wider.”
“I am sure that all of us have been in a house, whether it was a Housing Executive house or one in the ownership of another housing provider, and been shocked at the conditions that we witnessed.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion today. The issue of dealing effectively with dampness and mould growth in housing is one that, I believe, everyone in the Chamber will support, and, listening to testimonies and speeches, I have obviously got that right. It is quite shocking to hear some of the statistics that people have talked about.”
“The Minister proposed a common-sense approach, and we should all focus on getting the legislation through in as timely a manner as possible in order to guard against any further delay. In the Second Stage debate, it was said that we owe a debt of gratitude to those across local government who dealt with the difficulties and problems that we all faced. We now need to equip those people with whatever they need to ensure that the sector can move forward.”
“I will be brief, as everything was said when the Bill was before the House at Second Stage. I do not doubt that it will come before the House again. I fully support the Minister in what she is trying to do. The Bill is a prudent and reasonable step that allows our councillors to fulfil their roles safely and in line with public health guidance. I will not repeat what I said about the Bill, as points in its favour have been made. We all need the legislation to pass as quickly as possible. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has scrutinised the Bill. I believe that there was a consensus on the way forward, with a couple of exceptions. Our councillors need the provisions in the Bill so that they can carry out their duties in a safe manner.”
“<BR /> <BR />This legislation is the correct move. Extending provisions to allow councillors to attend meetings remotely can only enhance politics and make it more accessible. While I hope that that does not have to be the case in the long term, given the current environment, it is essential that we have a fully functioning local government sector. Extension of remote attendance and voting rights makes politics more accessible and allows councillors to adhere to social distancing and public health advice — a practical and prudent approach by the Minister.”
“Our local government elected representatives have worked throughout the ongoing pandemic, and many have been involved in community outreach such as the delivery of food parcels. They have been a great resource for and help to their communities. <BR /> <BR />I commend the Minister and her Department for the manner in which they rose to the occasion to ensure that financial resources and additional practical support were made available to local government in order for it to take the lead in providing leadership to the communities that it represents. That has clearly had a huge impact on people across the North, and it showed both levels of government working together for the betterment of their communities. I hope that that has put a marker down for future relationship building at regional and local government level.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Sorry about that. I do not know what happened. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister for bringing the legislation to the House in such a timely manner, and I assure her of our full support for it. She explained the necessity of asking for accelerated passage, and I believe that the Committee was supportive of the Minister's explanation of the need to forgo the usual procedure for Committee scrutiny of the legislation. <BR /> <BR />Although the lapse of the measures is regrettable, I understand that the Department has engaged meaningfully with councils to lessen any potential impacts. This is a prudent and reasonable step to allow our councillors to fulfil their roles safely and in line with public health advice.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have an opportunity to send a clear message to the hard-pressed tourism and hospitality sector and those who are thinking of booking a bed and breakfast or a hotel that Belfast is open for business.”
“Those are currently restricted to midnight, and the amendment would bring them into line with the opening hours that are permitted on weekdays. That would be a positive outcome for our tourism industry. If that amendment passes, it will add to the attraction of visiting here for breaks or long weekends. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 2, tabled by Kellie Armstrong, seeks to increase the number of days for permitted hours for public houses and hotels from 104 to 208. That is a significant increase and was rarely mentioned when the Committee considered the Bill. It is strange that Kellie decided to table an amendment that would alter so much. Maybe she can explain why that is the case.”
“We had to learn how to keep them here and ensure that they would come back again. Passing the Bill will allow us to do that. If we get it right, we will see an increase in tourists staying, which can only be a positive for our tourism and hospitality sector. <BR /> <BR />Many clubs, pubs and licensed premises have been closed for the large part of a year. They have lost out on revenue through food, alcohol and entertainment. The Bill has the potential to allow many of those places to get off their knees and start to flourish again. The Bill will also allow us to showcase the North to the rest of the world by attracting major events and more tourists and visitors. It could also ensure that locals stay local. <BR /> <BR />We support the Minister's amendment No 1 to bring in additional opening hours for pubs and hotels on Sundays.”
“Majorca worked at ensuring that its visitors' stays were memorable, and the logistics of making it happen were first class. I argued for and had that vision for Belfast, which would have a knock-on effect across the North. <BR /> <BR />Over the past number of weeks, I have been out walking along the river and through the city, and Belfast was buzzing in these difficult times. However, on Sundays, people were walking about with nothing to do. We have the opportunity in the Bill to begin to bring change. The extension of opening hours and the removal of the restrictions on Easter opening are just some of the provisions in the Bill that will be of huge importance in attracting tourists here. <BR /> <BR />Spending time speaking to visitors over the years certainly gave me a better understanding of what brought people to the North.”
“Being from the inner city, I would have been in Belfast city centre quite a lot, either socialising or out for a walk. The number of people from other countries who were here on short breaks and who were walking about looking for somewhere to go always amazed me. I would often stop to speak to people who loved the generosity and kindness of the people here, but their big complaint was that they had nowhere to go on a Sunday or over Easter. <BR /> <BR />Tourism is a big economic generator and an employer for the future. Years ago, after a holiday in Majorca, I read about and saw the investment that it had made in the cruise industry, which brought hundreds of ships and hundreds of thousands of people and passengers to the island, generating hundreds of millions of euros.”
“I believe that it could be a positive driver in our post-COVID economic recovery.”
“We did not quite get there the previous time. To be honest, there was more enthusiasm and more of a mood for change in the Chamber this time. I believe that there was a positive attitude about the importance of getting the legislation through as soon as possible.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. That was just a wee technical mishap. It was definitely not at my end. <BR /> <BR />On group 1, I will speak in support of amendment Nos 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 47, 48, 49 and 63 and in opposition to amendment Nos 2, 5 and 50. <BR /> <BR />I will begin by saying, "Thank you" for the opportunity to speak in the debate today. It has been a long road for the Committee to this point, taking evidence and debating the elements of the legislation. I also thank the representatives of the Department and the Committee Clerks for their perseverance in taking us through the Bill line by line and clause by clause. I am a bit disappointed that the DUP has chosen to vote against two important amendments. <BR /> <BR />We have been at this point of trying to bring much-needed change to the licensing legislation before.”
“The Minister is aware of the importance of the Casement Park project for the west Belfast community and, more widely, Gaels in Ulster. Will the Minister indicate when we can expect the final planning decision so that this highly anticipated investment can finally proceed? She knows that people have been waiting for years and years for this decision, and, hopefully, it can be made shortly. It can be done only when people have an indication of when that will be.”
“I urge the Department of Health to direct all necessary resources to clearing any backlog that has developed so that cancer patients can be treated with the urgency that is warranted in each case.”
“I am conscious that a similar diagnosis during the pandemic would have brought an additional level of stress and worry due to the cancellation of the various services and the disruption that that has caused to timely diagnosis and treatment for many. To those who have endured those circumstances, I express my solidarity. The negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is being felt across our entire society. However, the disruption to health, particularly cancer services, is deeply felt, especially by the patients involved. The cancellation of surgery, particularly red-flag cancer surgery, is deeply troubling. It is vital that we fully resume those services immediately. I support the calls contained in the motion for high-quality patient-centred cancer services to be at the heart of our COVID recovery.”
“It is at such a time that you fully understand the importance of your family and friends, who become the pillar of strength that you need. I thank my wife, Janette, my children, my grandchildren, my party colleagues and my wide circle of friends for their ongoing solidarity in supporting my battle with the disease. It would be remiss of me not to take this opportunity to pay tribute to everyone involved in my care from the day on which I was diagnosed until now. I have received world-class care from all those whom I have encountered across the health and social care sector. I have been treated with the utmost respect and compassion. I and my family are forever indebted to you all. <BR /> <BR />It is with deep gratitude that I realise how fortunate I have been.”
“You are too kind, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Thank you very much. Go raibh mile maith agat. <BR /> <BR />I support the motion to put cancer services at the heart of our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. I thank my colleagues in the Assembly for tabling the motion; it is timely and warranted. As most of you know by now, I have been on my own personal journey with cancer since the autumn of 2019. My diagnosis predates the COVID pandemic. In that regard, I am very conscious that I was fortunate; I was able to access the services that I needed at the time. Back in 2019, when I was first diagnosed, I knew that I was up for the fight, and I stated as much publicly. However, naturally, a diagnosis of cancer is a frightening development that causes a whirlwind of emotion and self-doubt.”
“Thank you for the information thus far, Minister, and thank you again for your best wishes. It has just been a 39-year engagement. That is how we look at it. <BR /> <BR />Your economic recovery strategy commits to extending apprenticeships to people of all ages. While that is welcome, does the Minister agree that many older people, who are likely to have higher costs and more commitments, would find it impossible to survive on an apprentice's wage of £4·30 an hour? Do you agree that the best way to address this kind of issue is by transferring the minimum wage powers in accordance with the New Decade, New Approach commitments so that we can set our own incentives?”
“To deal with previous failed schemes, their commitment has been to put in place not only a short-term scheme but a longer-term scheme that provides proper training and the apprenticeships that are required, by which I mean meaningful apprenticeships so that people can get decent jobs and have a good standard of living. <BR /> <BR />Let us not look to the past: let us look at what we can do now. I have no doubt that, in Minister Hargey, we have a person who is deeply committed to ensuring that the scheme works. As I have said, I support the scheme, but, as with everything else, we hope that the future will bring better schemes than we have had in the past.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important to ensure that any scheme delivers for the young people participating in it. It must provide opportunity and the necessary support to obtain the skills and experience that will help them gain employment or to go further in training. If done right, the Job Start scheme could make a real difference to the lives of our young people, particularly as we emerge from restrictions and begin to look ahead to the rebuild. Across all Departments, we must continue to look for ways in to support our young people through these challenging times and ensure that no one is left behind. I know of Carál Ní Chuilín and Minister Hargey's deep commitment over many years.”
“That is really important, as many local businesses and SMEs would not have met the criteria, which would have had the knock-on effect of limiting the variety of employment and training opportunities available. The requirement has since been removed in Britain, which shows the foresight here on the matter. Other changes that the Minister has outlined include increasing the six-month placement to nine months for people with disabilities to allow them time to settle in and for any adjustments to be made, as well as the proposed widening of the criteria to extend the scheme's reach. Given the work and planning that has gone into that to date, I have no doubt of the Minister's commitment to delivering the scheme and to doing it well. For that reason, I am content to support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Job Start scheme, as well as the additional labour market interventions that the Minister has previously outlined, has the potential to make a real difference for people in the age group. I commend Carál Ní Chuilín and Minister Hargey for their commitment to ensuring that the scheme will not simply be a copy and paste of the Kickstart scheme but will be tailored to meet the needs of employers here and be more inclusive around participation, particularly for young people with disabilities. From the early stages, it was confirmed that the requirement of a minimum of 30 placements per employer that was proposed in Britain would be removed here, allowing the scheme to support single job creation.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on everyone over the past year. It has been particularly felt by our young people in so many ways, as many Members have already detailed. One aspect and the main focus of today's motion is the impact on opportunities for employment and training. We are all aware that youth unemployment has been rising for a number of years. Although that predates COVID-19, no doubt it will be exacerbated by it. The Department for Communities and the Department for the Economy have a joint role to play in addressing that in their respective ways. Immediate interventions from both Departments will be crucial in the time ahead, as will looking towards longer-term measures and addressing what is and what is not working.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer to that question. Can she tell me in detail how many additional test slots the DVA is providing to address the enormous and growing backlog of driving test appointments?”
“Further to that, has the Minister received any proposals on financial support for sole traders, taxi drivers and the coach industry?”
“The Minister will know that many families that are in difficult circumstances fall just outside the qualifying criteria and that many of them have now had their employment and incomes impacted by the pandemic. Given the prospect of increasing levels of remote learning, does the Minister agree that the need for IT equipment is greater now than the initial scheme had anticipated?”
“— as a matter of urgency to ensure that people with a terminal diagnosis do not have to face traumatic and unnecessary delays in assessing their entitlements. Also, my colleague Alec Maskey —.”
“Only last year, at our ard-fheis, a motion was brought to the conference that supported the campaign of Marie Curie and the Motor Neuron Disease Association and called for the scrapping of the six-month rule and the introduction of a fairer definition based on the judgement of medical professionals. It also called on the British Government and the Department for Communities to address this issue —”
“<BR /> <BR />In the meantime, Scotland has brought forward legislation to remove the six-month criteria and bring forward a fairer definition. Scotland is to be commended for that. The motion calls on the Minister for Communities to bring forward legislation to do likewise. I am confident that the Minister will look at all the examples of best practice, as well what is what works specifically for the North, to ensure that people get the help that they need when they need it. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the establishment of the Assembly's all-party group on terminal illness. Colm Gildernew is Sinn Féin's representative.”
“That should not impact on their ability to access financial support quickly and compassionately. <BR /> <BR />Removing the six-month rule and replacing it with a fairer definition is surely central to this. The special rules criteria, set by Britain's Department for Work and Pensions, are over 30 years old. Despite repeated calls from clinicians, academics and politicians across the sector and recommendations such as those of the all-party parliamentary group on terminal illness in Westminster, which is referred to in the motion and which found that the rules determining fast-track access to benefits for terminally ill people are not fit for purpose, MPs still have not made the necessary change. They have, however, initiated their own review, and we continue to await the outcome of that.”
“It is much more than a necessity to have your application fast-tracked. Special rules apply to PIP, attendance allowance, universal credit and ESA. They not only ensure that your application is fast-tracked but they remove the requirements to attend work capability assessments or carry out work-related activity, the three-month qualifying period for PIP and the six-month qualifying period for attendance allowance, as well as face-to-face assessment. <BR /> <BR />It is wrong to restrict access to people who are terminally ill via the six-month rule. It adds unnecessary stress and worry, and it needs to change. The issue is both complex and extremely sensitive. It is difficult to accurately predict life expectancy, and some people may not want to know their prognosis.”