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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“<BR /> <BR />A just transition to renewable energy will not only help to meet climate targets; it will free consumers here from the volatility and price gouging that is associated with the fossil fuel multinationals and market. Fossil fuels are the past. A just transition to renewable energy will be better for the environment, the economy, consumers, workers and energy independence and security. A legislative ban on petroleum licensing is the first step in that direction.”
“We must move away from fossil fuel dependency, so I welcome the current Minister for the Economy's stated position, which is that he will seek agreement on bringing forward legislation to ban fracking and all forms of petroleum exploration. The Climate Change Act commits us to produce 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050. We can achieve that only by investing fully in renewables infrastructure, not by keeping one eye on the finite fossil fuels of the past. Banning petroleum licensing will allow us to join the rest of Ireland, and it will be an important step in moving away from fossil fuels and focusing on renewable energy.”
“It adds that, even if they were found, the North would not be able to achieve the economies of scale and low costs of production that would allow for any kind of meaningful impact on energy costs, job creation or the economy. The report warned of the potential negative impact that exploration and extraction would have on existing industries such as tourism. <BR /> <BR />I hope that it is the view of the Assembly in this mandate, as it was in the previous one, that tackling climate change is a global priority as well as a priority for us in the North. For that to be successful, it must be grounded on the principles of fairness and a just transition away from fossil fuel dependency towards a fairer and greener society, powered by renewable energy, as the motion articulates.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are, currently, no active petroleum licences in the North. There are two current licence applications, which are on hold because of the review of the licensing regime. Both applications have faced considerable opposition from politicians, local communities and interest groups. The Hatch report, 'The Potential Economic, Social and Environmental Impact of Onshore Petroleum Development', set out in great detail the environmental risks to the North of even low-level development of petroleum exploration and extraction. <BR /> <BR />It also found that, since exploration for oil and gas began here in 1965, they have never been discovered in commercial quantities.”
“In October 2020, in the previous mandate, the Assembly passed a motion calling for a moratorium on petroleum licensing. In January 2022, a Department for the Economy paper recommended that the Executive should agree a preferred policy option of a moratorium on all forms of exploration and extraction of oil and gas, to be followed by the introduction of a legislative ban. The previous Economy Minister gave his approval to that position during Second Stage of a private Member's Bill to ban fracking, which was brought by my colleague in front of me, Áine Murphy. Unfortunately, time constraints meant that the private Member's Bill to ban fracking could not progress beyond Second Stage. With no Executive in place for a number of years, neither has the issue of licensing progressed beyond a moratorium to provide certainty.”
“Just as you were finishing your response, Minister, you mentioned the tourism partnership board. Recently, you announced your intention to set it up. How will you ensure that the hospitality sector will be represented and allowed to play a fruitful role in that organisation?”
“To conclude, a DAERA official who presented to the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee, said:”
“There are currently no producers of organic pet food in the North, but that could change, and the legislation could encourage that position, because producers in the North would benefit from greater flexibility, as pointed out in DEFRA's explanatory memorandum. No businesses or trade associations raised any concerns about the regulation.”
“I hope that Members found that useful in preparing for the debate. <BR /> <BR />I will make a few additional comments as a Sinn Féin MLA. Obviously, Sinn Féin will support the applicability motion. The regulation extends the labelling and production requirements that are in place for organic food for human consumption and livestock feed to organic pet food. Prior to the regulation, to be considered organic, pet food needed to be produced with 100% organic ingredients; under the regulation, to be labelled organic, pet food will need to be produced with at least 95% organic agriculture ingredients.”
“<BR /> <BR />Although the Committee does not have an explicit function to carry out inquiries or any other scrutiny in response to a notification that a new act has been published, the early alert from the British Cabinet Office provided time, albeit limited, for the Committee to gather evidence on the impact of the act. Specifically, the Committee requested a written departmental assessment of impact. We also heard oral evidence from departmental officials, and we sought views from key representatives of business and civil society that were identified as being affected or who would be affected if the act were to be added to the Windsor framework. Subsequently, a letter was issued to all MLAs, informing them that the evidence gathered was published and available on the Committee web page.”
“I will make a few brief remarks as Chair of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee. At its meeting on 21 March, the Committee considered correspondence from the British Cabinet Office that indicated that the European Commission had confirmed its intention to seek to add the act to the list of EU laws applicable here under the Windsor framework through the article 13(4) Joint Committee process. The correspondence further indicated that the Assembly would be formally notified of the act subsequent to further discussions with the European Commission at the earliest opportunity.”
“As a fellow member of the all-party group (APG) on reducing harm related to gambling, does the Member agree that we also need to seriously tackle addiction that is related to gambling and that that too needs to be included in any public health approach that the Department takes forward?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Obviously, the statistics in the report are shocking, and it is right and proper to say, as the Member did, that we need action to be taken by more than just the Department of Health. Nominally — at least, in theory — we have a public health approach to alcohol- and drug-related deaths.”
“With the likes of Dunluce Castle, the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the Giant's Causeway, why should the local communities of Ballintoy, Ballycastle and Bushmills in my constituency not benefit from the boost that being marketed as part of the Wild Atlantic Way would bring, increasing visitor numbers and spend in the local economy and benefiting hospitality and tourism businesses, as well as the cafés, restaurants, pubs and tourist attractions in the likes of Cushendall, Cushendun and Glenariff? <BR /> <BR />The Fáilte Ireland report is a timely reminder of the successful impact that tourism can have on job creation for the local and wider economy, creating opportunities for people and communities to prosper and thrive. Extending the Wild Atlantic Way into the North is one such opportunity.”
“The island is marketed as a whole to an international audience, so it makes perfect sense that major regional tourism experiences such as the Wild Atlantic Way should also reflect that by being cross-border in nature. There is a clear rationale for doing so, and it would undoubtedly help the North to develop further the economic potential of its tourism. <BR /> <BR />Why should we in the North miss such an opportunity as extending the Wild Atlantic Way from Donegal through Derry and the north coast and along the glens of Antrim to Belfast? The case for expanding the Wild Atlantic Way to incorporate the Causeway Coast and glens coastal route is compelling.”
“Last week, a report by Fáilte Ireland concluded that the Wild Atlantic Way has had an economic impact worth €3 billion a year in tourism revenue to communities along the west coast of Ireland, led to the creation of an additional 35,000 jobs and supports 80,000 jobs in total. That is some positive impact for those communities. <BR /> <BR />The marketing of the Wild Atlantic Way stretches 2,500 km from Kinsale in County Cork up to Donegal, where it stops on the Donegal/Derry border. The Atlantic Ocean does not stop at Donegal, so I have to ask this: why should the Wild Atlantic Way? All of the promotional material that is used to attract visitors in international markets is designed and delivered by Tourism Ireland.”
“In her response, the deputy First Minister touched on applicability motions, which are one aspect of scrutiny. What role does she see for the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee in that and other aspects of EU legislative changes here in the North?”
“British Government schemes such as the Shared Prosperity Fund and the Community Renewal Fund gave the Executive little, if any, scope to shape skills funding to the needs of businesses and workers here. <BR /> <BR />We in the North are often left to deal with the consequences of insufficient funding, bad decisions or inaction at Westminster. Despite that, our Ministers are making meaningful interventions and working to support workers, businesses and families. I commend the Finance Minister for doing just that in a positive way on a number of occasions in her first few weeks in office. It is clear to all of us that the best people to take decisions on behalf of the people living on this island are politicians elected on this island. We need the power, including fiscal power, and the sovereignty to do so.”
“<BR /> <BR />When we talk about that work in the context of budgets and Estimates, I have to point out that, over and above the impact of austerity and funding shortfalls, the loss of EU funding as a result of Brexit will particularly hit the Department for the Economy, especially its skills programmes, apprenticeships and business support programmes. The European social fund (ESF) and the European regional development fund (ERDF) were integral to skills provision. The 10X skills strategy identified concerns about the effect that ending the European social fund would have on skills provision. The British Government's Shared Prosperity Fund falls short, leaving the Executive £90 million short of the £195 million that we received when we were in the EU.”
“Those are the constraints on the Executive and the Ministers in it. <BR /> <BR />Speaking in my role as a member of the Economy Committee, I welcome the Minister for the Economy's work in his first few weeks in office, setting out the direction that he intends to take in his Department: to grow economic activity in the North; to promote regional balance; to create good jobs to benefit our citizens and to undo some of the damage from austerity; to use the advantage that dual market access offers us in promoting the North as a place in which to invest; and to grow the all-island economy for the benefit of everyone.”
“I speak in the debate as a Sinn Féin member of the Economy Committee, and my comments will hopefully be brief. It is important at the beginning of my remarks, however, to state clearly, as others have, that the Executive have been and continue to be substantially underfunded by the British Tory Government. That Tory austerity policy continues to have a detrimental impact on the Executive's finances, our public services, our economy and, ultimately, our workers and families. I do not think that that is up for debate, as it was agreed and made clear in the letter that was sent to the British Government in the first weeks after the resumption of the institutions. We are also in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, with, in many instances, families struggling to make ends meet and businesses struggling with increased costs.”
“I hope and expect that that meeting will happen soon, and I appeal to both those statutory organisations to find a speedy, common-sense, sustainable resolution that permits children and their parents to get to school.”
“From Sunday, through yesterday and to this morning, my local Sinn Féin colleagues and I received a lot of correspondence from parents who are dismayed at the lack of a contingency plan from the Education Authority and Translink to ensure that children living along that road get the transport that they are entitled to to their primary or secondary school. <BR /> <BR />With the safety of children being paramount and with the road likely to be closed between now and the school summer holidays and beyond, common sense must be applied to ensure that safe transport is provided for the affected schoolchildren. I have requested an urgent meeting with the Education Authority and Translink to discuss the issue.”
“Just before Easter, on 27 March, heavy rain and flooding caused a landslide and the partial collapse of the Glenshesk Road between Ballycastle and Armoy, which is in my constituency. Thankfully, given that traffic was flowing along the road at the time, there was no damage or impact other than to the road. The road is closed and blocked off at the site of the landslide, and, according to DFI, that will be the case for the foreseeable future. That, obviously, causes a lot of disruption for local residents, who are trying to go about their normal business, and will continue to do so while the reconstruction takes place. <BR /> <BR />Now that the Easter school holidays are over, the disruption has been compounded by the fact that the normal school bus route has been closed off to children attending schools in Ballycastle.”
“That said, Sinn Féin will support today's motion and amendment, and we look forward to the Economy Minister implementing the vision that he announced some weeks ago.”
“Despite the vague mention of new tech, the 10X strategy critically overlooked the importance of the green economy and the job opportunities in it. Studies by the Nevin Economic Research Institute show the vast potential of the green economy. There are around 5,000 people employed in full-time green jobs in the North. However, that number is expected to grow as more jobs become available in areas like renewable energy, manufacturing, retrofitting and conservation. The number of jobs created in a circular green economy could and should be substantial. Rather than trying to set arbitrary targets on job creation, as the motion seeks to do, let us look at the evidence and the need to move to net zero and work together towards that.”
“I note the overlap between that objective and the Minister's intention to introduce an employment Bill to improve the rights of workers by banning things like zero-hour contracts and fire/rehire practices and by improving workers' rights through a better work-life balance and the ability to organise via trade unions. Improving those rights through legislation is the basis for delivering good jobs across the skills spectrum, as mentioned in the motion, and improving the rights of workers should be the basis of any economic policy. <BR /> <BR />Another key aspect of the Minister's vision is the focus on net zero and delivering green jobs and a just transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. A shortcoming of the previous 10X strategy was its lack of focus on green skills and renewable energy.”
“In the past, we have seen investment and economic policy being shaped on the premise that every job was a good job. That resulted in businesses being given financial support to create jobs that were low-paid and insecure and offered little opportunity for career progression. The current Economy Minister's focus on good jobs should be commended by all parties as a means to ensure that funding for jobs assistance by Invest NI and others is linked to the quality of those jobs. That will mean that jobs created with the help of public funding pay the real living wage and give workers secure terms and conditions.”
“It is great, therefore, to see that, after just six weeks in post, the DUP finally has such confidence in an Economy Minister that it can come to him with a motion that references 5,000 new tech jobs. That is very good. <BR /> <BR />The Economy Minister has set out a positive vision and step change for the economy, and that should be our focus.”
“The Economy Minister set out his economic vision a month ago today. That vision was based on creating good jobs, increasing productivity, tackling regional imbalances and transitioning to net zero. Therefore, Sinn Féin will support the motion and the amendment today. We can absolutely endorse the calls for an inclusive and innovative economy that prioritises jobs and investment. <BR /> <BR />It is only fair to point out that the previous seven Ministers responsible for the economy have been members of the DUP. I also note that the 10X strategy, which was overseen by the previous three DUP Ministers and constantly referenced, did not set targets for job creation in new tech, or any other sector for that matter.”
“Will the Minister outline how his Department's proposed scheme differs from other renewable electricity schemes across these islands?”
“It is politically motivated and will achieve nothing, as the issue will, in the end, be decided between the British Government and the EU in the Joint Committee.”
“In effect, it is a sham fight that only serves the purpose of undermining the good work of last week and could sow confusion among potential investors to the North when certainty and stability are needed. I emphasise the point again that dual market access is the key selling point in attracting potential investment to the North from the US and elsewhere, and we should all work positively in the Assembly to promote the benefits and to work constructively with our EU neighbours. <BR /> <BR />With regard to this legislation, why would we in the Assembly deny businesses in the North the potential of unique protections that could help to sell and protect their products? Ultimately, the debate is a distraction.”
“just last week, the First Minister and deputy First Minister, along with other Ministers and you, were out in the US promoting the North as a place to invest and do business in. I congratulate them all on that work in what looked and sounded like successful engagements. Key to their message while there and what US politicians and businesses wanted to hear about was political stability and, most importantly, the North's unique selling point of dual market access to the EU single market and to Britain. <BR /> <BR />Today, we should be building on the success of that trip, talking up our potential and giving our young people hope; instead, we have this motion.”
“Their inclusion in the legislation will help to remove what the Miscarriage Association identified as a feeling of pressure on parents to return to work before they are ready. The law will give important support to parents and help to put the support in place for parents who have lost a baby during pregnancy on a par with the support for those who have lost a child up to the age of 18 years old. <BR /> <BR />The regulations recognise that grief and trauma is not time-bound. They give parents the options to take the leave as two consecutive weeks or as two non-consecutive blocks of one week during the 56-week period. <BR /> <BR />I am delighted that the Minister has brought forward the regulations and pointed the way to the next stage of the legislation, giving workers this important support.”
“The legislation will provide paid leave to workers who suffer stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy or miscarriage within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy. Those are important additions. <BR /> <BR />The grief and sense of loss for mothers and fathers as a result of miscarriage has often been overlooked in employment law. The numbers of stillbirths recorded can vary significantly from year to year. In 2018, there were 79 recorded stillbirths in the North compared with 102 in 2017 and 82 in 2016. The numbers of miscarriages are harder to ascertain. Regardless of the figures and numbers, those statistics represent real families, parents and workers who have to come to terms with such a tragic loss.”
“Whilst many employers are compassionate and will already have good practice in place, the legislation also provides employers with certainty. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin was at the forefront of this positive change. Through our proposals, we managed to secure agreement for the legislation, which goes beyond what workers are entitled to in Britain. Our legislation is more compassionate and inclusive. Unfortunately, the absence of the Executive over the past two years has denied workers here the right to fully avail themselves of the new protections. However, once the legislation is implemented in full here in the North, we will, as has been pointed out, lead the way as one of the first places across Europe and, indeed, the world to introduce paid leave following a miscarriage.”
“Key to the success of the Assembly and Executive is proving to workers and their families that we are on their side, so I commend Minister Murphy for bringing forward these important paid parental bereavement regulations. Doing so in his first few weeks in office is a demonstration of his priorities. It underlines his commitment to supporting workers — in this case, parents experiencing the grief and trauma of losing a child — by granting them a statutory right to take up to two weeks paid leave from work in the 56 weeks following the death of a child under the age of 18. <BR /> <BR />These regulations, as has been pointed out, are from legislation passed in the previous mandate. They provide an excellent example of how all parties, working together, can deliver positive change for workers and parents here in the North.”
“Carers' rights must be addressed in any new employment legislation. Workers' tips and gratuities, the fact that there is legislation in the South and across the water and the fact that we need to work to ensure that legislation comes to fruition here were also mentioned. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, it was a very useful debate. I am sure that, even in his absence, the Minister will take heed and cognisance of the issues raised and keep to his commitment to engage with the Assembly and others as he works to ensure that workers' rights are front and centre of everything that our Executive do.”
“Legislation should be brought forward to improve workers' rights, including the right to request flexible working and the right to switch off from answering work-related texts and calls outside working hours. That should be a right for everybody, with the exception of politicians, obviously. <BR /> <BR />There should also be a right to paid carer's leave for workers with caring responsibilities. Like others, I pay tribute to Carers NI for the part that it played in ensuring that that issue was front and centre of the debate. As Carers NI and others have pointed out, access to carer's leave would make the prioritising of work and caring a lot simpler for the tens of thousands of people here who face that choice. Currently, people are forced to leave work or to work less, and they are therefore losing wages.”
“That is to be welcomed, as is the commitment to strengthen the role of trade unions. <BR /> <BR />There was pretty much unanimous support for the motion. On some of the specifics, banning zero-hours contracts is and has been a priority for Sinn Féin. I commend my colleague who is on maternity leave, Jemma Dolan, who brought a private Member's Bill in the previous mandate, which achieved consensus from all parties. I am hopeful that the Minister will, as he has said that he will, deal with that in an employment Bill. <BR /> <BR />An employment Bill should try to close the loopholes in redundancy legislation and redefine fire and rehire for what it is, which is unfair dismissal. The Assembly should seek to improve work-life balance as part of any employment Bill.”
“<BR /> <BR />My colleague the Minister of Finance — when responding on behalf of another colleague the Minister for the Economy — pointed out the important effect that legislation that he will bring, and his focus, will have on workers' rights. He has already given a commitment, which was confirmed again today, to bring forward a good jobs Bill and other employment legislation. That will be welcomed by everybody. It will tackle zero-hours contracts and work-life balance. There will be important stakeholder engagement to ensure that all of this is got right. In her response, the Minister confirmed that the Minister for the Economy continues to take forward legislation on paid "safe leave" with regard to domestic abuse, and that work is ongoing on parental bereavement and miscarriage leave.”
“Reference was made to anti-strike legislation at Westminster, which, obviously, needs to be opposed. The hollowing out of workers' rights needs to be reversed by comprehensive and ambitious legislation. It was pointed out that the impact of poor pay and conditions, particularly on young people, is helping to drive immigration, and that real change is needed across the island of Ireland to encourage and entice lots of our young people back. <BR /> <BR />A company is only as good as its employees and investment in its staff. As was pointed out, we have good examples of such companies, and those need to become the norm. Others said that the flexibilities that we learned during COVID could help workers in their work-life balance and make a positive impact with regard to climate change.”
“They pointed to legislation in Britain and the South and said that legislation is much needed here. As well as working with trade unions and workers, we need to be cognisant of the fact that SMEs make up the bulk of our economy. <BR /> <BR />Numerous contributors referred to zero-hours contracts and mentioned that those are not just at odds with workers' rights but undermine the labour market and the economy. Workers must believe that the Assembly has their back and recognises their value: a number of Members made that point. Thanks was paid to Carers NI, TinyLife, trade unions and employers for their input and help to Members as they prepared for the debate. <BR /> <BR />The hollowing out of trade unions by successive Tory Governments was put on record.”
“Throughout Members' contributions on workers' rights, there were references to the cost-of-living crisis and its impact on families and the fact that a new deal for workers and families could be achieved through social dialogue with the trade unions, employers and government. Others gave the example of an employers' charter. Mention was made of the various practices contained in the motion — zero-hours contracts, fire and rehire, work-life balance, carer's leave etc — as well as the addition of miscarriage leave, as in the amendment. <BR /> <BR />There were numerous references to the gender pay gap and childcare as two areas where improvement is much needed. Others stated that we have fallen behind in the North with regard to workers' rights.”
“I am conscious that, when I refer to workers, I could be talking about my family members, friends, neighbours and the many people who keep our economy afloat, our public services functioning and our businesses turning. It is absolutely correct that we, in the Assembly, highlight trade unions and their importance in the work to strengthen workers' rights and modernise legislation in order to ensure that our workers are protected in an ever-changing labour market. <BR /> <BR />By and large, everyone who spoke in the debate was supportive of the motion and the amendment, and that is welcome.”
“No issue will have a greater positive impact on workers and their families than improving the whole ambit of workers' rights, conditions and pay. I am delighted to be a co-sponsor of the motion, which extends solidarity to workers and trade unions. The motion identifies a number of specific areas that need attention and, if agreed, will bring improvements and further protections for workers. It calls on those and other areas to be covered in the new employment Bill being proposed by the Economy Minister that will support and protect workers. <BR /> <BR />We have all recently witnessed the importance and the strength of the trade union movement. I have been proud to stand on picket lines many times recently in solidarity with trade unions and the workers that they represent.”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, apprenticeships and apprentices, whatever their age, must be treated with the same consideration and as being of the same importance as other third-level students. That career pathway must be embedded in the careers education and advice system. Increasing the uptake and expansion of apprenticeships will depend on reform of careers advice. For too long, academic pathways and routes to university have overshadowed the importance of apprenticeships and vocational pathways to success. That needs to change.”
“<BR /> <BR />The energy strategy sets out the potential for almost 14,000 jobs to emerge in the low-carbon workforce. Apprenticeships can and should be used to bridge the gap between the levels of qualifications needed for carbon-intensive industries, which are likely to close or change, and those needed for the renewables sector, where the workforce will definitely expand. <BR /> <BR />In September 2023, the Department chose to fund all-age apprentices, meaning that anyone over the age of 25 can receive public funding for their apprenticeship. That is a welcome move. All-age apprenticeships will be a game changer for skills, meaning that workers of all ages can reskill and upskill without having to pay for their own apprenticeship training and can therefore find a path into a better job or enhance their career opportunities.”
“Nursing apprenticeships can offer an additional pathway for people to enter the nursing profession without having to take a more academic route and could help people who work in other roles in the health and social care sector to move into the nursing profession if they wish. <BR /> <BR />Similarly, we need to be much more ambitious and elevate the importance of investing in green skills. Again, I am glad to see that green skills and a just transition are key feature of the Economy Minister's economic vision. About 5,000 people are employed in full-time green jobs here in the North, but we can expect that number to grow substantially as more jobs become available in areas such as renewable energy, manufacturing, retrofitting and conservation.”