Philip McGuigan
North Antrim · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I concur with the Minister that patient safety is ultimately the top priority, but patient safety is also important, as the Member said, in terms of assessments. If you cannot get assessments, your safety is compromised.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Further to my party colleague's point of order about the DUP's internal investigation, what is the point of doing an investigation if you are telling us that you have nothing to answer for? You were the leader of the DUP at a time when accusations were levelled against Jeffrey Donaldson.”
“Minister, in your previous answers you talked about the pressures and the difficulties. You said that you were looking for a fair funding model, and you spoke of the need for taxpayers here to be treated equitably.”
“Minister, the inquiry found systematic abuse, neglect and serious governance failure at Muckamore Abbey Hospital over many years — failures that were not isolated incidents but reflected systematic issues across leadership, staffing, safeguarding and oversight that resulted in decades of physical and psychological abuse.”
“When I engage with health service sectors as my party's health spokesperson, there is not one that does not talk about workforce pressures and problems with staff recruitment and retention. That is clearly the case with doctors.”
“First Minister, you have spoken previously about the opportunities created as a result of our unique economic and trading position and about the increased potential that comes with all-island cooperation.”
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“I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Health Committee on the motions and specifically to outline the Committee's consideration of the Department of Health's budget and allocations over the 2024-25 Budget period. <BR /> <BR />The Committee recognises the significant budgetary constraints and pressures that the Department of Health is under; indeed, that goes for the wider Executive, with all Departments under significant pressure. However, the repercussions of the financial constraints on Health are stark. Over 500,000 people, which is more than a quarter of our population, are on a waiting list to have their first consultation with a specialist. That figure is alarmingly higher than those in other parts of these islands, where comparable waiting times are significantly shorter.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and the detail in it. Given the unprecedented damage caused by storm Éowyn, does the Minister intend to ask the Treasury for further support for costs incurred due to the storm?”
“Alongside the progress on the legislative programme, will the deputy First Minister outline the top-line achievements by the Executive over the past year?”
“<BR /> <BR />Before I finish, I thank the health organisations that made contact and provided helpful briefing papers in advance of the debate, such as the British Heart Foundation, Asthma + Lung UK, the BMA and Cancer Research UK, and recognise their work. I met representatives of Cancer Research this morning, and some of its members are in the Public Gallery. Sinn Féin believes that all efforts should be made to reduce the prevalence of smoking in society, and the Bill goes some way towards realising that.”
“Disposable e-cigarettes are relatively inexpensive, costing around £4 to £5. Therefore, they are affordable to many children. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin welcomes the efforts being made in schools to inform and educate young people about the dangers of tobacco use, its addictive components and the long-term effects that it can have on health. We welcome the proposals to make it illegal for anyone who is born after January 2009 to buy cigarettes. We also recognise that there is a question around enforcement and how that might work. In particular, we live on the island of Ireland, so we need to see good cooperation between the North and South and the implementation of changes to ensure that it is not as simple as people crossing the border to buy products.”
“Reducing the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, such as smoking, is also crucial to alleviating further strain on our overstretched health and social care services. <BR /> <BR />Despite the law stating that those products cannot be sold to anyone who is under 18, it is clear that children are consuming them. Teachers have raised the issue of underage vaping with me, and I am certain that that is the case for other MLAs in the Chamber. The use of those products has, unfortunately, become commonplace in our schools. We absolutely need to do more. We need to stop vapes and other nicotine products from being branded and advertised to appeal to our children. The array of colourful vapes that are flavoured like sweets is an obvious draw to children. They usually come with colourful packaging, and some even light up.”
“The British Heart Foundation said that increasing the age of sale will:”
“For example, we need a renewed tobacco control strategy urgently, more funded tobacco cessation services and a lung screening programme in the North. <BR /> <BR />Parents, teachers and health organisations have all raised concerns about the current availability of vaping products to minors. The rise in youth vaping is a major cause for concern, and immediate steps are needed to inform children and young people of the long-term harm that can be caused by it. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health called the use of vaporised nicotine products by children "an epidemic" and stated that the products not only cause more damage to children's lungs but:”
“<BR /> <BR />I will say a few words in my capacity as an MLA and Sinn Féin's health spokesperson. Some studies have indicated that nicotine is as addictive as heroin and cocaine. From my personal experience, as someone who used to smoke and who did so for over 20 years, I know just how difficult breaking free from that drug is. Given the addictive nature and proven detrimental health impacts, we must do all that we can to protect all our citizens, particularly children and young people, from its impact. Over 200,000 people still smoke in the North and are at risk of 16 types of cancer, heart disease, stroke and other related illnesses. The LCM is a worthwhile first step, Minister, but we can and need to do more.”
“In recognition of the particular interest that the Youth Assembly expressed in relation to vaping, the Committee recommends that the Department of Health engages with young people, particularly the Youth Assembly, on the future regulation of vaping products and vapes. <BR /> <BR />From the Committee's point of view, I confirm the Committee's support for the Minister's motion that asks the Assembly to support the extension of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. The Committee agrees with the Minister's view that the measures contained in the Bill offer a huge public health opportunity that cannot be missed and will go a considerable way towards achieving the ambition of creating a smoke-free generation. The Health Committee endorses and supports that ambition.”
“I thank the organisations, including the Institute of Public Health and Cancer UK, that engaged with the Committee on the subject. I also thank the Minister and his departmental officials for their early briefing on the LCM, which allowed the Committee to be fully informed when making its decision on whether it would support the motion. <BR /> <BR />I highlight that the Committee's report requests that the Department engages with the Committee at the earliest opportunity on the development of local regulations for which the Minister of Health has responsibility and the wider regulations for which the British Secretary of State has responsibility.”
“The strategy must contain specific measures that will support existing smokers to quit and, in particular, measures that will target the groups in which smoking rates are highest. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Youth Assembly for taking the time to engage with the Committee, on a second occasion, on this legislation. Its input was valuable as the Committee considered the impact of the legislation. It is important that we, as a parliamentary institution, engage with those who will be most affected by legislation when it is brought forward. I encourage the Minister and the Department to ensure that, when legislation is brought to the Assembly, there is significant engagement with those who will be impacted on the most.”
“However, the Committee welcomes the additional changes in this legislation, including the extension of existing tobacco advertising, sponsorship and brand-sharing rules to cigarette papers, herbal smoking products, vaping products and other nicotine products; the powers to allow regulation to be made to extend smoke-free provisions in public-sector spaces; and the extension of the NI tobacco retailers' register to include vapes and other nicotine products. It also welcomes the planned introduction of retail licensing provisions that will be commenced in the longer term. <BR /> <BR />The Health Committee looks forward to engaging with the Department of Health as the legislation is implemented over the coming period and in its development of a new tobacco strategy.”
“As the Minister outlined, by prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to people born on or after 1 January 2009, the Tobacco and Vapes Bill will introduce measures to stop people starting smoking and becoming addicted to tobacco products. The Committee wholeheartedly endorses that measure, which will surely go a considerable way towards realising the ambition of achieving a smoke-free generation in the future. <BR /> <BR />The Committee recognises that this is the second such LCM that it has considered and was disappointed that it was unable to be progressed by the previous British Government.”
“The lung cancer rate in areas where deprivation is highest is around two and a half times the rate seen in the least-deprived areas, while the smoking death rate is twice as high in areas where deprivation is the highest. Evidence also shows that children of smokers are often more likely to become smokers, creating a cycle of health inequalities. We, therefore, need to try to find a way to break that cycle and improve the health of all our communities. <BR /> <BR />The legislative consent motion is one of the tools that we can use to drive forward change. The Committee, therefore, welcomes the extension of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, as the measures contained in it will, unquestionably, provide significant health benefits here, particularly for our young people.”
“I welcome the opportunity to confirm the Health Committee's support for the motion that the Minister of Health has introduced. We are all too aware of the harm that is caused by smoking. Smoking remains the number-one preventable cause of death, disability and ill health here. It kills over 2,000 people in the North every year, and there are many more people living with the debilitating effects of smoke-related illnesses, such as heart disease and stroke, as well as many other life-limiting conditions. <BR /> <BR />Evidence shows that tobacco use is the leading cause of health inequalities, with smoking prevalence rates higher among people living in areas of social and economic deprivation.”
“Minister, given the response that you have given about taking urgent action and encouraging broadband and telecommunication companies to do the same, will you also encourage those companies to compensate customers who have been left without connectivity for long periods?”
“Ar an chéad dul síos, déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Aire faoina post nua agus guím ádh mór léi.”
“I welcome the completion of the report on the review conducted by the Assembly Commission. It contained some positive recommendations that could further improve processes and provide greater clarity for Members when employing staff. It is important to state clearly that Members of the Assembly Commission had no role, input or involvement in the independent review. <BR /> <BR />It is incumbent on every Member of the Assembly to acknowledge the work of the Assembly staff, who acted with unquestionable integrity and independence in conducting the review. Mr Gaston might not like the outcome — that is his prerogative — but his description of the report as "a whitewash" is insulting and offensive and should be withdrawn.”
“Too many people afflicted with gambling addiction take their own life as a result of the illness, yet we do not treat that killer illness as a public health issue. That needs to change.”
“I am a bit disappointed when I see a headline to a story in which I talk about my gambling experiences or other public figures talk about theirs that reduces it to the amount of money lost. I understand why that happens — it grabs attention — but people who suffer with a gambling addiction will lose much more than money. Gambling addiction is a deadly illness. It strips away self-respect, self-worth and self-esteem. It affects and, in some cases, destroys employment, friendships and relationships, and, all the while, the illness progresses and the desperation deepens. In some cases, people find themselves before the courts and lose their freedom. Ultimately, for some, the hole that they are in seems too deep.”
“We have inadequate services to offer those experiencing gambling harm in the North. When I needed help and treatment, I had to go to the White Oaks Addiction Treatment Centre in Donegal. I will be for ever grateful to that centre and to those counsellors, who helped me on the path to recovery. As part of the public health approach, we need appropriate and funded treatment centres in the North. <BR /> <BR />Many public figures, including adored sporting heroes, have talked publicly about their harmful experience of gambling, using their experiences to help to break down the stigma attached to addiction and, more important, allow sufferers out there to know that they are not alone and, vitally, that recovery is possible.”
“Ultimately, I decided that, if my experience of knowing and understanding the pain and depths of despair that an addicted gambler experiences could help even one person, it would be worth it. I am contacted by gamblers, but mostly, I have to say, I am contacted by their desperate family members, stricken by the helplessness that they feel as they watch their loved ones suffer. Thankfully, I have been able to help and direct men and women on how and where to seek help as a result of my experience with the illness. <BR /> <BR />The likes of Gamblers Anonymous, the Dunlewey Addiction Services, Extern and individual addiction counsellors are all invaluable to recovery. Those groups do excellent and life-saving work, but that is not enough to deal with the problem.”
“We also recommend that gambling addiction is fully integrated into all relevant strategies, including mental health and suicide prevention. International research suggests that individuals with gambling disorders have a suicide rate 15 times higher than the general population. We need robust measures to tackle the stigma and shame surrounding gambling addiction and to foster an environment of empathy and support for those affected, thus enabling early intervention and preventing further harm. <BR /> <BR />I have spoken about my gambling addiction. Despite being an elected representative, I consider myself quite a private person, so I wrestled long and hard with the decision to go public.”
“The APG recommends that an integrated, regional public health-focused strategy to prevent and reduce gambling harms should be developed and implemented by the Department of Health in collaboration with other relevant Departments, such as Communities, Education and Justice. The aim should be to end the disjointed Executive approach where one Department promotes an activity as a wealth generator, while other Departments must deal with the attendant health, justice and socio-economic costs. <BR /> <BR />In 2021, my colleague Deirdre Hargey, as Minister for Communities, set up a cross-departmental working group on preventing and treating gambling-related harm in the community. We welcome the whole-Executive approach, which is absolutely necessary, if we are to comprehensively tackle gambling harms.”
“Since the Oireachtas in the South passed the landmark Gambling Regulation Act last year, the North is the only jurisdiction in these islands without updated gambling legislation since the advent of the internet. Online gambling continues to be unregulated here. <BR /> <BR />The Minister for Communities has been clear that there is insufficient legislative time in the current Assembly mandate to take forward a comprehensive gambling Bill, and we accept that. However, there are important steps that could protect our population from gambling harms that can be taken in the remainder of this mandate without the need for primary legislation.”
“That system is already in place in other jurisdictions such as New Zealand, and New Zealand's approach is considered to be the gold standard among public health approaches to tackling gambling-related harm. There, the Ministry of Health is consulted by the Ministry for Regulation regarding the harm caused by various products or industry practices, so that public health can be factored into regulation. The Ministry of Health also has a say on the size of New Zealand's levy on gambling operators, which is calculated on the basis of the profitability and the risk of gambling harms of gambling products. <BR /> <BR />Our APG recognises that gambling legislation in the North is in need of a complete overhaul.”
“Despite the fact that the North has a relatively high rate of harm associated with gambling, there are no statutory treatment services for people with gambling disorders here, and the regulations are falling further and further behind the increasingly sophisticated gambling industry. <BR /> <BR />It is important to note and for me to point out that our all-party group in no way seeks to prohibit gambling; rather, it recognises that serious gambling-related harms can and do occur in our communities and that a better coordinated system of regulation, education, treatment and prevention is required to address that reality. That is why the APG argues that regulation should be proportionate to risk. The more harmful and addictive gambling activities should be subject to tighter rules.”
“<BR /> <BR />Recent data from other parts of these islands suggests that the situation is getting much worse. A 2023 study from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in Dublin found that 3·3% of adults in the South experienced gambling harm, and new data from the Gambling Commission shows that 2·5% of the adult population in Britain have a gambling problem, which is eight times higher than was previously thought. <BR /> <BR />We also know from the young persons' behaviour and attitudes survey that 30% of 11- to 16-year-olds in the North have gambled in one form or another in the past 12 months.”
“That is because, as with other legal addictive products, such as tobacco and alcohol, the whole population of the North is vulnerable to gambling addiction and harm. <BR /> <BR />What is the extent of the problem here? According to the 2016 gambling prevalence survey, 2·3% of the North's population experiences gambling harm. That equates to 40,000 people. I am pretty certain that, were any other illness to affect 40,000 individuals in our population, we would be looking at it from a health perspective and rightly so. It is likely that that figure is an underestimation of the number of problem gamblers in the North at that time, but it is still more than four times that recorded in Britain and almost three times higher than in the South.”
“Over 30 witnesses gave oral evidence across 13 sessions, and 45 individuals and organisations submitted written evidence to the APG. The overwhelming weight of the evidence was that gambling is a significant public health issue here. The APG's inquiry report produced 57 recommendations, chief of which was that gambling should be officially recognised as a public health issue in the North. <BR /> <BR />People might ask, "What is a public health approach, and how could it be applied to gambling-related harm?". Adopting a public health approach simply means treating gambling in a similar way to the way in which the Government here treat alcohol and tobacco, with policies focusing not just on the harm caused to individuals but on population-based approaches that prioritise harm prevention.”
“I propose the motion as the chair of the all-party group on reducing harm related to gambling. I begin by thanking the members of the all-party group. It is absolutely a cross-party group, whose membership works in an extremely collegial way, along with the effective and supportive secretariat services provided by Chambré Public Affairs. Collectively, the APG members work to highlight the extent of gambling harm in the North. We carry out inquiries and publish reports on certain aspects of gambling. Ultimately, we make policy proposals that, in our view, will help to address the level of harm to our citizens. <BR /> <BR />From December 2022 to January 2024, the all-party group conducted an inquiry into public health approaches to tackling gambling-related harm in the North.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have a few questions for the Minister on today's proposal. I want the Minister to provide assurance on who will be responsible for enforcing the new regulations. What role will the PSNI have to play? Will the PSNI just be reactive and act only when it receives a complaint from a member of the public, or will the Department or other statutory agencies be proactive in ensuring that the regulations and the legislation are being followed? The new regulations could increase the risk of harm that is caused by gambling. We need to know who will minimise that risk by safeguarding people and ensuring that some bookmakers do not continue to break the law.”
“We need to equate the public harm to, or even elevate it above, the profit, and I will touch on that in greater detail during this afternoon's debate. <BR /> <BR />If we reward the unlawful activities of licensed bookmakers in the North, how will we effectively enforce new laws that cover the much more challenging environment of online gambling, which is currently unregulated in our jurisdiction, and protect our population from gambling harm? Enforcement and regulation are key to that, Minister. You touched on the code of practice: you will be aware that, whilst I am speaking as an individual, the all-party group on reducing harm related to gambling has submitted a response to the consultation on the code of practice that says similar things: regulation and enforcement must be key to ensuring the safety of our population.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Westminster all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on gambling reform recently conducted an investigation that highlighted the fact that stakes in excess of £2 per spin are being facilitated by game-within-game and premium-play features on electronic gaming machines that are classified as B3 machines by Britain's Gambling Commission. Whilst we may be moving towards having similar legislation, we need to keep our eye on enforcement. That is vital. The APPG's letter to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) explained that those aspects were a breach of the Gambling Act 2005 in Britain. We need to ensure that, when we set legislation, we look carefully at all the arguments and not just those that are being made by, and in favour of, the gambling industry.”
“That is supported by the most recent gambling survey, which found that people who play casino games on a machine or a terminal were five and a half times more likely to experience gambling harm than the average gambler. <BR /> <BR />The Department's consultation on regulating this form of gambling was carried out between December 2019 and February 2020. A more up-to-date consultation might have been more useful. Information disclosed on electronic gaming content on such machines may have changed since then, although it may not have.”
“It is clear, however, that certain historical and current levels of gambling harm would have been lower had the 1985 Order been enforced. <BR /> <BR />Recent research from the University of Glasgow has shown that there was a strong association between the total consumption of gambling products and the level of harm in our population. The evidence suggests that continuous forms of gambling, with high degrees of concentration of consumption, create the greatest risk of gambling harm. Research that GambleAware commissioned analysed the harms associated with different gambling products. It found gaming machines to be the most harmful group of products, with 76% of people who used only gaming machines experiencing gambling-related harm.”
“<BR /> <BR />The order is a tacit acknowledgement by the Department that some members of the NI Turf Guardians' Association (NITGA), which represents bookmakers, are, unfortunately, operating outside our gambling laws. That is backed up by evidence in an investigation report by FACT, a leading due diligence provider, that was commissioned by law firm Lewis Silkin. Dated 1 August 2024, the report revealed that licensed bookmaker premises in Newry, Ballymena, Belfast and elsewhere were operating up to four electronic gaming machines that offered a maximum stake of £2 and a maximum prize of £500, which is well above what was permitted. The advice of departmental officials to the Committee for Communities was that the order will not increase the current levels of gambling harm, and that may be correct.”
“We therefore have evidence that the previous legislation was being abused by some who operate gaming machines. <BR /> <BR />For Members' information, the maximum stake and prize limits for electronic gaming machines legally operated on licensed premises in the North are currently significantly lower than those in Britain. The maximum stake here, as the Minister outlined, is 30p. The prize limit is set at £25, with a maximum of two gaming machines per premises permitted. Under the order, those stake and prize limits for gaming machines operated in bookies will tomorrow, if the motion is agreed, increase to £2 and £500 respectively. The number of gaming machines permitted, however, will remain at two.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is, unfortunately, lots of evidence of the widespread unlawful operation of electronic gaming machines, including fixed-odds betting terminals, in the North. There have been two decades of illegal use of electronic gaming machines that offer stakes and prizes, while the number of gaming machines has well exceeded what is allowed under the 1985 Order. A PSNI Assistant Chief Constable, in a letter sent to me on 31 March 2022, acknowledged:”
“I find it difficult to disagree with a lot of what Mr O'Toole said. He talked about people waking up during the night and gambling on their phone and about the protections in legislation that are needed to prevent them from doing so. Unfortunately, many studies have shown that, for many, gaming machines are the gateway to much more serious types of gambling harm, so it is important that we get the legislation right. <BR /> <BR />I understand that the amending order is an attempt to align regulations on gaming machine stake and prize limits with those in Britain. FOBTs used to be classified as B2 gaming machines in Britain. Following the maximum stake reduction in 2019 from £100 to £2, they were reclassified as B3 gaming machines.”
“Having targeted business support will help to ensure that businesses can remain viable and that parents can access affordable, quality childcare that will help them to return to or remain in employment. Delivering on childcare is crucial; we are all agreed on that. As we have seen in this place before, when we speak with one voice, we can achieve much more.”
“Most are small businesses and are impacted on by the rising cost of doing business and, more recently, by the rise in employer National Insurance contributions that were brought in by the Labour Government in Westminster. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the fact that the Minister for the Economy has committed to working with the Minister of Education on the scheme as well as the funding that he has allocated to the recently announced Assured Skills academy in early learning and childcare collaboration. Having the resources and opportunities to develop and continuously upskill current and future employees will help to ensure that children receive the highest level of care and support.”
“Like others, it was with some surprise that I read the motion, given that its authors focused their attention on the scoping exercise that is being carried out by the Department for the Economy and Invest NI to help inform the design of the Minister of Education's targeted business support scheme for childcare providers. As far as I am aware, the anticipated date for the completion of that work is March of this year, and it is a part of a cross-departmental collaborative approach to that specific aspect of the wider strategy. That approach is welcome and is absolutely necessary. We need to ensure that the best outcomes are achieved and recognise that childcare providers must be supported as part of the strategy.”
“It is welcome that investing in that area is a key Executive priority. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the £25 million that was initially secured by my party colleague the Minister of Finance, Caoimhe Archibald, and that, as indicated, was later doubled to £50 million. That is a significant commitment, and it is a chance for this institution to make meaningful progress and change for parents, children and those in the childcare sector. <BR /> <BR />We are already seeing some positive progress on the childcare subsidy scheme, but we are still awaiting the longer-term early learning and childcare strategy from the Education Minister.”
“The Executive have, in the past year, quite rightly identified childcare as a priority issue, and commitments in the Budget and the Programme for Government have demonstrated the desire to work collaboratively in the best interests of children, parents and our economy. Whilst it is clear that the Department and Minister of Education have responsibility for delivery on the issue of childcare, I say as a member of the Economy Committee that Sinn Féin also recognises the key role that childcare has in supporting families and workers and underpinning future economic growth here in the North. <BR /> <BR />We are all aware of the barriers presented by the high costs associated with childcare and the importance of ensuring that it is not only affordable but accessible and of high quality.”
“In support of regional balance, how will the tourism action plan help the development of hotels outside Belfast?”
“In the First Minister's response, she talked about exploring what is good for our economy. Last week, the Economic and Social Research Institute published a report that looked at a new economic model for the North. Does the First Minister welcome that report?”
“The ETA jeopardises years of progress, and we must continue to challenge it. To ensure that we can maximise our tourism potential and continue to grow our economy, it is vital that an exemption from the ETA requirements be agreed for tourists wishing to travel throughout the island of Ireland. There can be no further delays. Tourism and hospitality businesses need action now.”
“<BR /> <BR />Around 70% of tourists arrive in Ireland via Dublin, so there can be no doubt that the ETA will cause detriment and harm to the tourism and hospitality industry, tour operators, accommodation and transport providers and our many excellent restaurants, cafes, shops and bars, threatening the significant revenue that our local economy currently enjoys from those visitors. Recently, that value to our economy was estimated to be around £210 million over a 12-month period. The Economy Minister, Conor Murphy, has raised the issue directly with the British Home Office, urging it to listen to the concerns put forward by the sector here in the North and pointing out that this island of Ireland is marketed internationally as one entity and that tourism has been the success story of the peace process and should be protected.”