Patsy McGlone
Mid Ulster · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“Limiting the power to dismiss charges involving the death of or serious physical harm to a vulnerable person will enhance the fairness and integrity of those criminal proceedings.”
“The SDLP welcomes the provisions for the long-overdue establishment of a statutory Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses of Crime. That is a significant step forward in the development of our justice system.”
“Putting the office on a statutory footing will ensure that the commissioner's role is legally recognised and accountable to the public and the justice system. The Minister outlined a number of the measures in the process of accountability.”
“OK. I thank my colleague — indeed, the Minister — for responding. It is, as the Minister said and my colleague highlighted, a sensitive area. People who are approached to give a reference should think long and hard about the implications of the references that they give: where they might wind up; the circumstances in which they give them;…”
“The SDLP welcomes the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill and the opportunity to debate it, alongside the Chairperson — or should I say, "Mr Amendment" — at its Second Stage.”
“I accept that the Minister's Department, as she has stated repeatedly, does not have the capacity or resources to develop those legislative provisions during this mandate.”
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“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Mo bhuíochas leis an Aire chomh maith. Thanks to the Minister as well. The Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment has closely followed the progress of the renewable heat incentive throughout the current mandate, from the outline proposals, which came to the Committee in June 2011, to the introduction of the non-domestic renewable heat incentive in November 2012 and the domestic RHI in December last year. <BR /> <BR />When it was introduced, the renewable heat incentive offered a structured means of providing long-term guaranteed financial assistance for renewable heat installations. The incentive is designed to provide a cost-effective option for consumers to switch to renewable sources of heat.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Mo bhuíochas leis an Aire as a freagraí. I thank the Minister for her answers. Can the Minister give an assurance that the reduction in personnel will not have a detrimental effect on front-line services, particularly given the experienced personnel who are leaving, or who are projected to leave, the service?”
“I hope that there is not a clash of responsibilities. You were actually on the Committee at the time that this all went on, and you would have been privy to the briefings that were received. I suggest, Mr Speaker, that you please look at what is committed to Hansard today and the clear, impartial record of the meeting held with the Minister, and reflect on the correct course of action to be taken.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Earlier today, during the debate around renewables, the Minister put on record and said that I had committed to a certain course of action during a meeting which I had with him on 2 July. That was erroneous, if not misleading. I have the full minute of that meeting with the Minister, which I can give to you, Mr Speaker, and I request that you check the accuracy of that minute, taken impartially by an Assembly official, with the comments made by the Minister, please.”
“I was only just getting warmed up there. I had not quite concluded, but I support the motion.”
“Sorry, have I finished, Mr Deputy Speaker?”
“— I have referred to my constituency of Mid Ulster, where we have had good examples and some poor examples of figures —”
“Such employer-led initiatives among good firms, some of which I know very well, could probably give an example to government and to other sections of industry of how to do things efficiently. They rely on a skilled workforce not only to make a profit but to expand and grow into new regions. The Assembly can attract all the investment it wants, but, if we lack the long-term skills that are necessary, businesses will not want to stay. It will become unviable for them to do so. For example —”
“Northern Ireland has shown an ability to attract large-scale investment, and we have seen many names come to the North in the past — fortunately for Belfast and east of the Bann but not so fortunately for west of the Bann. There is a litany of reasons for this, most notably the deficit of skills and, especially, the lack of infrastructure. Those of us who drive down either the M1 or the M2 motorways see a very obvious sign of that. <BR /> <BR />A skills base remains absolutely vital to the development of a competitive and healthy economy, while allowing people personally to prosper. New skills open up opportunities and grant people the tools that they need to succeed. Indeed, in my constituency, some good employers cannot wait for government to do the job. They are re-skilling, taking in new people and training them themselves.”
“Overall, long-term unemployment has remained at 68%, while economic inactivity remains in the upper margins, with 27·6% of 16- to 64-year-olds out of work and not actively searching for work. This confirms that, while some regions are doing well, the lack of opportunity across the North has continued to stifle employment progress. <BR /> <BR />While the above figures are a cause for concern, it is essential that we pick specific areas of weakness and areas that must see improvement if the economy is to prosper. It is vital that long-term initiatives, whether investing in the economy, infrastructure or skills, are targeted to rebalance our economy away from being primarily public sector towards more of a private sector base.”
“In Mid Ulster, we saw this at first hand, when the initial prospects for the Desertcreat project faltered significantly, before almost collapsing altogether. Fortunately, it has survived, so we hope, in reduced format, but I am very discouraged by the clear failure to invest in the infrastructure to ensure its long-term viability and the regeneration of the economies around it. <BR /> <BR />The figures we see reaffirm that regional inequalities haunt our economy. At this point they have become almost a cliché. Ards and North Down, for example, has the highest rates of employment and economic activity, at 73·8% and 76·2% respectively. That is in stark contrast to Derry and Strabane, which had the lowest levels of employment, at 56·6%, and the lowest level of economic activity, at 66·5%.”
“Following this disaster, it is even more pressing that the Assembly recognises not only the scale of the economic damage but the rippling effects that political instability has on the historic regional imbalance in the North. Of course, I recognise that regional imbalances and variations can be a natural part of any economy, but, in Northern Ireland, the east/west divide remains as stark as ever, nearly 20 years after peace and much promise of a prosperity process — indeed, a peace dividend was much talked about. I remember hearing Gordon Brown talk regularly and frequently about it. There was plenty of talk but little delivery. <BR /> <BR />A failure to address serious skills and infrastructural deficits has squandered long-term strategies and crucial business regeneration.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas le moltóir an rúin. I thank the supporters of the motion for introducing the matter into the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />While at one level this is an opportunity to speak on the motion, it is set in the context of difficult times. Only a week ago, Ballymena was devastated by the news of the closure of the Michelin plant, so soon after the JTI Gallaher announcement. It represents a significant blow to the local economy and to the Northern Ireland manufacturing industry. Indeed, Michelin had an impact on my constituency: people from that area were in the supply chain or worked there, as you will know, Mr Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />The manufacturing industry as a whole represents 10% of our employment.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. It appears that when you mention the word renewables in this place, you have to get things firmly on the record or, when you meet a Minister, make sure that you have someone to take an independent minute, as I did. <BR /> <BR />Will the Minister outline what progress has been made towards meeting the Programme for Government renewable energy targets, as his Department fits into that?”
“That is very good. It is good to have a Minister who lives in a parallel world. I invite him to look at Hansard and the public record. On a unanimous cross-party basis, the spotlight shone very firmly on his Department, and its shortcomings were incredibly crass. Is the Minister prepared to be part of the solution, which, on a cross-party basis and with the agreement of all parties, we have sought to bring with his cooperation, which is not great today?”
“Tá tú ceart go leor. You are all right. Agus mo bhuíochas leis an Aire chomh maith. Thanks very much to the Minister as well. <BR /> <BR />Much has been made, Minister, by the manufacturing sector of the need for a more strategic approach and the development of a manufacturing strategy. Has the Minister deliberated on a stakeholder-type approach involving manufacturers, the social and trade union sector and his Department in order to develop a more contemporary manufacturing strategy?”
“Go raibh maith agat. Mo bhuíochas leis an Aire as an fhreagra. I thank the Minister for his answer. I hope that the use of the past tense in "this was a Programme for Government commitment" is not of relevance to people who are from and live in the constituency. <BR /> <BR />Will the Minister provide some detail on the efforts that have been made to recover the £53 million that had been committed by the Westminster Government to the project?”
“While I presume that the Equality Commission can advise on those aspects that refer or relate to them, has any other specialist advice been sought from other sectors, such as education, health or skills, on why this is the case?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Mo bhuíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas go dtí seo. I thank the Minister for his comments up to now. I will focus on one part of the statement:”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his intervention in the issue. <BR /> <BR />It would be helpful if the Minister could give us an indication of how many meetings have taken place directly with him on the matter. This issue has cropped up time and again. I realise that Ballymena and north Antrim have been brutalised over this last wee while with Patton, what some of us know as Gallaher's and now Michelin. The European globalisation adjustment fund, which has been ignored for whatever reason, is used in other parts of the EU to help and support people at this drastic, awful time for them and their families.”
“That is good to hear; I hope that it is positive. Is the Minister aware of the pressing and urgent need for accommodation at that school? Can he give me some idea of when moneys will be released from his Department for the provision of that accommodation?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Go raibh maith agat, a Aire as an fhreagra sin.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Aire as an fhreagra sin. Thanks very much to the Minister for that response. What steps are being taken by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) to minimise the occurrence or impact of stress during school inspections?”
“Mo bhuíochas leis an Aire as a freagra. I thank the Minister for her response. Based on my practical experience at constituency level on issues associated with migrant workers, will the Minister accept that key areas of advice will be on employment, healthcare, educational needs and particularly housing, and that those matters should be pivotal, key elements of whatever advice and facilities are available, especially for refugees?”
“I thank the Minister for her response. Once those areas have been identified, has she any kind of timescale for when they might be advanced to the next stage of the body of work that is required, in the same way that Coleraine has been done?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Mo bhuíochas leis an Aire as a fhreagra ar an ábhar seo. I thank the Minister for his response to this question. Does he acknowledge that sand extraction on Lough Neagh directly supports 150 jobs and up to 500 jobs indirectly in the asphalt, concrete and precast sectors?”
“On that very point about the timetable provided, when does the Minister anticipate that build work will commence on-site?”
“Mo bhuíochas leis an Aire as a fhreagraí go dtí seo.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. There has been considerable investment by the Government in England and Wales to update and upgrade some of the facilities of the credit union movements there. I am sure that we would support the Assembly facilitating or helping with that change for our local credit unions.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee very much welcomes the introduction of the Bill and looks forward to further constructive and productive engagement with the Department — let me emphasise again that we have had such engagement — during other aspects of Committee Stage. Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said earlier, the Committee has given considerable time to the consideration of the policy proposals during pre-legislative scrutiny and, subject to the Committee’s consideration of any further submissions to the call for evidence, is broadly satisfied at this stage with the remaining provisions in the Bill relating to credit unions. <BR /> <BR />In addition to the clauses relating to credit unions, there are a number of clauses pertaining to cooperative and community benefit societies. In its deliberations to date, the Committee has considered these to be reasonable and appropriate but will, of course, give all aspects of the Bill full consideration during Committee Stage.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee has written to the PRA and FCA to urge them to fully consider the provisions in the Credit Unions and Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Bill to ensure that any revised arrangements do not conflict with either the Bill proposals or the spirit of the proposed legislation. The Committee has also asked the PRA and the FCA to engage fully with the Irish League of Credit Unions and the Ulster Federation of Credit Unions to consider their objectives and requirements fully prior to the development of final proposals. A copy of that correspondence has been forwarded to the Department.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority have recently undertaken a consultation on the reform of the legacy credit unions sourcebook. It includes a proposal to restrict the amount of money that any one member can have with a credit union to £75,000. Here is the important bit: this provision may be in conflict with clause 10, as that clause removes the limit on the holding of non-withdrawable shares in credit unions and increases the limit for withdrawable shares to £100,000. That is something that the Department, and perhaps the Minister, might like to look at to ensure that those provisions are compatible, as, at first glance, it seems that they are not.”
“The Committee is engaged with the Department in exploring the possibility of an amendment to include a clause requiring the Minister to review the provisions in clause 1 and report to the Committee after the legislation is passed. The Department has shown some reluctance on the matter. However, the Committee — we discussed it this morning just before the debate — considers it a suitable compromise and is keen to see it enacted. <BR /> <BR />Time is becoming critical if this legislation is to pass through the House. The Committee will therefore engage further with the Department on this matter at the earliest opportunity. If the Department is willing to bring an amendment at Consideration Stage, rather than rely on the Committee to do so during Committee Stage, it would very much expedite the matter.”
“The Department has assured the Committee that it will continue to work with the ILCU and the UFCU to discuss further changes to the legislation with Treasury, the Financial Conduct Authority, the Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme after the Bill comes into force. <BR /> <BR />It is evident that the current proposal for membership of credit unions by unincorporated bodies is unsatisfactory. However, the Committee and the Department must balance the need to pass legislation within the permitted time frame with the prospect of having the legislation amended at a later date.”
“However, concerns remain that, for unincorporated bodies, it is proposed that membership will be in the name of an individual rather than in the name of an organisation. The Committee took considerable written and oral evidence on that single issue and has continued detailed engagement with the Department on the matter. The Irish League of Credit Unions and the Ulster Federation of Credit Unions have significant reservations about that aspect of the proposal. Both organisations informed the Committee that they would accept the proposal on the basis that the matter can be revisited at a later stage.”
“<BR /> <BR />Two key clauses are of particular interest to the Committee because of the considerable benefits they can bring to credit unions and communities. Clause 6 will relax restrictions and provide more flexibility to enable credit unions to apply up to 10% of surplus funds for social, cultural or charitable purposes. That was a key recommendation in the credit union inquiry, and clause 6 is very much welcomed by the Committee as a means of helping credit unions to fulfil their ethos and give back to communities. <BR /> <BR />Clause 1 also arises as a result of a key recommendation in the Committee inquiry. The clause makes provision to allow credit unions to admit corporate members. The Committee very much welcomes the inclusion of provisions for corporate membership of credit unions.”
“<BR /> <BR />I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Minister and, in particular, his officials, who proved to be well informed, across their brief and receptive to sensible ideas that emanated from the results of our inquiry and the evidence that we took. They had continuing engagement with the Committee and provided invaluable support during the pre-legislative scrutiny of the policy proposals. That thorough approach, in advance of drafting the Bill, has resulted in a Bill that, by and large, meets the needs of the Committee, the Department and, most importantly, the credit union sector and its members. The Committee will continue to engage with the sector and other stakeholders throughout Committee Stage and will thoroughly scrutinise any further issues as they arise.”
“As a result, the Committee was able to undertake considerable pre-legislative scrutiny, including the taking of oral evidence on a number of occasions from the Department, the Irish League of Credit Unions and the Ulster Federation of Credit Unions. Consequently, the Committee was able to advise the Department and make a number of recommendations that were accepted. These were either included in the Bill as drafted or removed from the original policy proposals at the request of the Committee. This resulted in a Bill that contains legislative proposals that have already undergone thorough Committee scrutiny.”
“It is time to recognise that credit unions are not second-class providers. As a sector, it is a well-established, trusted mainstream player in the financial services field. One of the reasons for undertaking the inquiry was to ensure that this fact was recognised and credited. The provisions in the Bill will help to further establish the rightful place of credit unions as that trusted, reliable mainstream provider. The provisions will also provide credit unions with greater flexibility and further enhance the contribution that they make to the community that they serve. <BR /> <BR />The Committee’s stamp is already firmly on the Bill. As the policy was developed, the Department kept the Committee informed of progress.”
“<BR /> <BR />Credit unions and cooperative and community benefit societies exist for the benefit of their members and are owned by the communities in which they operate. They do not speculate with members’ money. The Irish League of Credit Unions alone has almost 100 credit unions with almost £1 billion in savings, almost half a billion pounds in loans and total assets of well over £1 billion, making them a significant player in the financial services sector.”
“Many of the Committee's recommendations have been accepted and enacted through Westminster legislation, and the Bill seeks to enact more of the Committee's recommendations. <BR /> <BR />The Committee recognises the vital role played by credit unions here, with around 34% of the adult population of the North being members of a credit union compared with around just 2% in GB. Credit unions were originally established to address the needs of vulnerable people who were being exploited for profit, a situation that is replicated today through high-rate lenders, payday loans and loan sharks. The community standing of credit unions is to be commended. Evidence demonstrates that, in contrast to other financial services providers, trust in the credit union sector remains consistently high.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Mo bhuíochas leis an Aire as an Bille seo a chur faoi bhráid an Tionóil. I thank the Minister for moving the Bill's Second Stage. The Committee welcomes the introduction of the Credit Unions and Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Bill and thanks the Minister and, indeed, his predecessor for their work and for bringing the Bill to the Assembly today. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is of particular interest to the Committee because it has arisen as a result of an inquiry by the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment during the previous mandate. That inquiry's recommendations sought support to help to broaden the range of services that credit unions can offer to their members, thereby bringing credit unions more into line with what their counterparts in GB and the rest of Ireland can offer.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Mo bhuíochas leis an Aire. With regard to the implication of access to justice and for justice, especially for people who may have disabilities and those who are on lower incomes, for whom additional travel costs may mean exactly that — if you have little, limited or no income, having to attend a court case or hearing may, in actual fact, cause you additional burden — can the Minister give us some sort of idea as to how or what evaluation was made of that particular issue for people on lower incomes?”
“<BR /> <BR />Having given the policy proposals full consideration, the Committee was content and acted efficiently when it got the Department's decision to adopt our suggestion and decouple two aspects of the legislation. The Committee considered the statutory rule in respect of non-wind projects at our meeting on 22 September 2015. The Committee is content that the legislation is appropriate and recommends that SR2015/325, the Renewables Obligation Closure Order (NI) 2015, be affirmed by the Assembly.”
“Why did the Department robustly defend its original proposal by telling the Committee that it was based on legal advice when, in reality, it was based on nothing more than an informal request for advice? <BR /> <BR />The Committee will want to get answers to all those questions. If need be, officials and the Minister will be called to the Committee to provide answers and clarity on this matter. We are there for one interest, which is to defend the public interest and the interests of consumers. That is our job. If necessary, the Committee will seek the attendance of appropriate representatives from DECC to ensure that members are provided with satisfactory and clear explanations.”
“Why did the Department try so hard to push the original legislation through the Committee for the benefit of developers without having given any consideration to the relative costs and benefits to consumers? If the 9 July deadline was so critical, why did the Department wait until 8 September before coming back to the Committee? Why did the Department try to convince the Committee in July that a solution had been agreed with DECC when, clearly, no such solution, with even the craziest of imaginations, could have been interpreted as having been negotiated? The matter still has not been resolved. What was actually said in those conversations between DECC and DETI officials that resulted in DETI being able to brief the Committee with confidence that the issue had been resolved, when it clearly had not and still apparently is not?”
“<BR /> <BR />The way in which this matter has been handled by the Department leaves much to be desired and many unanswered questions, such as: why was the Department so adamant that the wind and non-wind aspects could not be decoupled when, clearly, as we see today, they could?; and why did the Department not try harder and earlier to negotiate with DECC? It was only when departmental officials were questioned at the Committee about renewables and the contribution by DECC that the Department was positioned to reopen negotiations with DECC, which, I hope, will be beneficial and productive, but that question remains: why did the Department not try harder and earlier to negotiate with DECC? Why did it rely on the intervention of the Committee before taking action to protect consumer interests?”
“It turns out that what the Department had emphasised to the Committee was legal advice sought previously in June, and the stuff that we were supposed to make a decision on the SL1 about was, in fact, in its words, "based on an informal request for quick advice" — I could interpret that to be a one-minute or two-minute phone call, but that is my interpretation, by the way — rather than official, formal legal advice to the Department. We were expected to make decisions at a Committee on a poorly prepared SL1 on the basis of an "informal request for quick advice".”
“It was always the Committee’s view that wind and non-wind could and should be decoupled, given the circumstances that we were in. Where the Department got the idea that it should take legal advice on taking forward legislation for ACT only remains a mystery. <BR /> <BR />At our Committee meeting on 22 September, we asked the Department for clarification on the nature of the legal advice sought, and we received that confirmation.”