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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“As was pointed out, one of the best examples of apprenticeships working well is in the manufacturing sector in mid-Ulster, under the MEGA model. At the time of 10X, Sinn Féin made the case that some of the labour and skills shortages in areas such as tourism, construction and the health service could be resolved by investing in apprenticeships. Sinn Féin previously supported, for example, the provision of nursing higher-level apprenticeships. Recruitment to fill more than 1,700 registered nursing and midwifery vacancies is taking place in Health and Social Care (HSC).”
“The British Government's supposed replacement, the Shared Prosperity Fund, is not adequate and leaves the Executive with a significant gap to plug. Ultimately, we can speak about and support a ring-fenced skills fund, but, in reality, any funding lost as a result of Brexit needs to be restored so that we can extend provision and achieve the ambitious targets that all of us here would like to see. <BR /> <BR />The motion mentions the 10X skills strategy, but it is important to point out the limitations of 10X, in that it is narrowly focused on just six sectors, the majority of which are digital sectors such as cybersecurity and financial services. Although those are no doubt important, a skills strategy needs to be consistent with the needs of all local employers, across all constituencies and sectors.”
“I welcome the motion and will support it and the amendment. Apprenticeships must be an integral part of any strategy to develop our skills base in the North. Young school-leavers in my constituency of North Antrim should have the option and opportunity of an education pathway to reach their full potential through an apprenticeship, in order to earn as they learn. I therefore welcome the Economy Minister's commitment to creating more and better-paid apprenticeships and skills academies, as outlined in his economic vision. <BR /> <BR />I support and agree with the aspirations in the motion and the amendment. It is worth noting that those aspirations have been and will be made more difficult by the impact of the loss of substantial funding from the EU.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I agree with her about working across the island for the betterment of citizens here. When is the North/South Ministerial Council next due to meet?”
“I thank the Minister for his fulsome answer. I asked the question because I have noticed in my constituency office an increased number of appeals to decisions made by the EA on statutory assessments. Will the Minister ensure that those important assessments have not been limited or reduced and that the educational needs of the child will always take precedence over budgetary issues?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. He mentioned the £2·45 benefit for every £1 spent in bringing the Giro d'Italia here. That included £13 million in additional tourism spend and £12 million of free advertisement worldwide to over 56 million viewers. Does the Minister agree that bringing events such as, potentially, the Tour de France or the European soccer championship to Ireland has a positive benefit for our economy, tourism and businesses in general?”
“I thank the junior Minister for her response to a specific report on the work of the high street task force. Will the Minister outline progress to date on taking forward all the work of the high street task force?”
“Minister, I welcome your statement and economic vision. I also welcome the acknowledgement in your statement that tourism spreads prosperity across the North. Does the Minister agree that the British Government's electronic travel authorisation scheme poses a significant threat to our tourism industry?”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I urge and encourage anyone who is thinking of travelling abroad this year to check the validity of their passport, and I encourage people who are making first-time adult or child passport applications to apply well in advance of their trip.”
“The introduction of the hub, which now allows applicants to speak to someone by phone or online, is a welcome improvement, as was extending the dedicated elected representatives' Oireachtas hub to allow MLAs to check the status of applications. Those are welcome improvements to the system, but, on occasions, constituents still have cause, in cases of urgency, to travel to Dublin to seek appointments, to provide additional information, to speak in person to Passport Office staff or to collect passports in advance of their travel. There should be a passport office located in the North to make that process simpler, and I urge the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to look seriously at that issue.”
“As in past years, I have no doubt that I will, unfortunately, encounter families and individuals who thought that they had applied for their passport in good time but have become worried that their holiday plans will be disrupted as their departure date looms and no passport has arrived. <BR /> <BR />I should caveat my remarks by saying that, for the vast majority of people, applying for an Irish passport is straightforward and speedy, but there is no reason why that should not be the case for all applicants. On occasions, if issues arise, turnaround times for first-time adult and child passport applications can be slow.”
“More than a million Irish passports — renewals and first-time applications — were issued last year. Interestingly, five of the top seven counties from where first-time adult applications were made in 2023 were in the North. Only Dublin had a higher number of new applications for passports than were made from counties Down and Antrim. Those statistics, in my opinion, make a strong argument for a passport office to be located in the North, and I commend my colleague Niall Ó Donnghaile, who has been campaigning on the issue for years and whose online petition has, by this stage, received close to 30,000 signatures. <BR /> <BR />Trying to resolve passport queries on behalf of my constituents is one of the most common issues that my office and I deal with, and that is particularly the case between now and the busy summer months.”
“The issue of resources is rightly a key focus of the new Executive. We ask that the Executive ensure that a rescue package and plan for Lough Neagh is properly resourced by both a financial recovery package and the necessary personnel to take the agreed actions forward in the Departments. <BR /> <BR />While it is not contained in the motion, Sinn Féin's long-held position is that Lough Neagh must be brought into public ownership. We would like to see consensus in the Executive on beginning to explore options to bring the lough into public ownership as soon as possible. I think that there would be massive public support and agreement for that throughout the North. We can no longer be expected to own the problems of the lough but not the lough itself.”
“Whatever the final model agreed, I hope, by the Executive, that cross-departmental body must provide greater coordination and focus on dealing with pollution, climate change, invasive zebra mussels and the flow of phosphorus and nitrogen into our rivers and loughs from agricultural sources, septic tanks and waste water. Solving and dealing with those issues and others requires an agreed management plan and strategy for the lough so that it can be managed, protected and promoted. We want to see an agreed management plan and structure put in place with the help of key stakeholders and those who surround Lough Neagh.”
“Obviously, NI Water, the NI Environment Agency and some councils will need to be represented, as will NGOs, local community groups, fishermen, the Lough Neagh Partnership and other stakeholders, as stated in the Alliance Party amendment, which we will support. Despite the cross-departmental nature of the structure, we believe that one Executive Minister needs to be responsible and, therefore, accountable for its work. With public health, as well as economic and environmental sustainability, now major concerns with regard to the lough, we cannot afford to be unclear when it comes to responsibility and accountability.”
“When this ecological catastrophe was playing out in front of our eyes last summer, we did not have an Assembly or an Executive and, therefore, we did not have Ministers to take decisions. Civil servants were doing their best but were constrained in the decisions that they could take. We are obviously in a different scenario now. We want to see Executive agreement on the formation of a cross-departmental structure to deal with the crisis in Lough Neagh in the short, medium and long term. The issues affecting the lough are cross-cutting: some Iie in DAERA, some in DFI, some in the Department for Communities and some in other Departments.”
“However, work to save Lough Neagh and repair the damage to its ecology and environment, and that of its tributaries and surrounding land, must be a top priority for the Executive in the time ahead. We need to see decisive action. The public want to see decisive action. As our motion states, Lough Neagh, the largest fresh water lough in Ireland, is vital to our environment, ecology and public health, as it supplies 40% of the North's drinking water. It plays an important role in local tourism, it is vital for the local fishing industry and it is important to leisure activities, especially for the local communities that surround the lough. <BR /> <BR />What are we asking for in the motion?”
“Two weeks ago, the world's media were in the North to cover a good, positive news story about the resumption of the Executive and the Assembly, not to mention the historic nature of Michelle O'Neill becoming the North's First Minister. However, we are all aware of the topic under discussion and that, last summer, the same media — local and from further afield — were attracted to a much less positive story in the North: the stark reality of the ecological disaster playing out in front of our eyes, with the toxic bloom of blue-green algae on Lough Neagh. <BR /> <BR />I am sure that the Minister and his ministerial colleagues will have entered their Departments with overflowing in trays.”
“I begin by welcoming the Minister to the debate. I congratulate Minister Muir on his appointment as the new AERA Minister — not just on taking up that role but in creating his own bit of positive history. A memory from four years ago came up on my Facebook feed of our inaugural run together at Stormont in the MLA running group. The group lasted for maybe one run. It is interesting to note that, in the intervening four years, the Minister has carved out a very successful political career and is now a Minister, and I have become an accomplished cyclist.”
“He hit a pothole, came down and broke nine ribs and his pelvis. Will the Minister elaborate on how his announcement will make the road safer for cyclists?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle, comhghairdeas agus ádh mór ort. I congratulate my colleague the Minister and wish him good luck. <BR /> <BR />Any announcement that will improve the road network will obviously be welcomed by all road users. My constituency office, like those of all MLAs, has been contacted about burst tyres and damaged wheels. To elaborate on a point that has already been touched on, I was contacted last week about an experience of a cyclist —”
“I also congratulate the Minister and wish him good luck throughout his term of appointment. I welcome his commitment to having excellent facilities for children. <BR /> <BR />He mentioned the large number of schools with infrastructure projects in the pipeline. One of those is Mary Queen of Peace Primary School in Glenravel. A couple of generations of primary-school children have already passed through it without there being a new build. Can the Minister give a commitment today to parents and children in Glenravel that they will soon see development at Mary Queen of Peace? I invite him to the area to meet the board of governors and pupils.”
“Minister, I thank you for your statement. How has the environment strategy been developed and changed following the passing of the Climate Change (No. 2) Bill, given the more ambitious targets in it and the additional independent oversight bodies that it creates?”
“Minister, as you know, the island of Ireland is a single epidemiological unit. We need to cooperate if we are to eradicate bovine TB. Any policy divergence between North and South could undermine proposals that are contained in the new strategy. How does the Department intend to cooperate with the Southern Government on the implementation of the new strategy?”
“It seems from the policy announcement that you are a Minister for only some farmers. The sheep sector in the North depends on direct support. The Department said that the sector is viable but vulnerable. However, you indicated that no support for sheep farmers will be brought forward at this stage. That will be very concerning for the multitude of sheep and hill farmers across the North, including those in my constituency of North Antrim. Do you agree that the sheep sector must be recognised for a direct support scheme, such as the previous area of natural constraint (ANC), which must be reinstated?”
“Hopefully, by then, we will have returned to a more normal situation and the emergency legislation will no longer be needed in its current form. I am happy to support the motion.”
“The legislation extends the provision that relaxes the requirement for a doctor to notify the coroner where the death is by natural causes and the doctor has not seen the deceased within the previous 28 days. Under the provision, any doctor may sign a death certificate, provided the death is from a natural illness, and the doctor can state the cause of death to the best of their knowledge and belief. <BR /> <BR />While it should be acknowledged that this is not the ideal situation and we want to see a return to normality as soon as possible, we must accept that COVID-19 is still with us and, unfortunately, people are still dying from it. However, it should also be noted that this is a six-month extension until September.”
“I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on the regulation. As the Minister outlined, this is an extension of emergency legislation that has been in place since the outset of the pandemic. The legislation relaxes the procedures in the registration of deaths to allow a death to be registered via telephone and documents to be presented electronically.”
“Minister, in your answer, you mentioned green growth. Will you give a bit more detail about what provision and strategy for green growth were in the multi-year Budget?”
“Again, that is quite right. However, there was no mention in your statement or in the questions of engagement between you and the trade unions that are supporting the workers. Given that P&O is trying to divide workers and pick them off with pay offers, it is absolutely crucial that the Minister engage with the relevant trade unions. Can he confirm today that that is the case?”
“Minister, you quite rightly called out the shameful and disgraceful behaviour of P&O. You stated:”
“Will the Commission engage with wildlife organisations such as the RSPB to see what else it could do to support and encourage wildlife in the environs of the Assembly Building?”
“That is an important legacy to leave for those who are elected to here in May, but, more importantly, it is a legacy and an opportunity for our children and grandchildren well into the future.”
“We have considered the Private Tenancies Bill, which will protect renters in the private housing sector, an autism Bill, the first gambling legislation in close to 40 years, sexual offences and trafficking victims legislation, free period products legislation and a domestic abuse Bill. This evening, after we have debated two climate Bills — potentially — we will consider free hospital car parking legislation from my colleague Aisling Reilly. <BR /> <BR />Every one of those pieces of legislation is much needed to help, assist and protect individuals, communities and society as a whole in the North. Whilst I do not want to rank any of the work that we do here by importance, I am glad that, before the end of the mandate, we will finally have a climate Bill.”
“I suppose that I thank the Minister, the new Member for South Belfast, for his interjection. I am surprised that he chose to interject to mention the RHI scheme, which was a disastrous DUP scheme that did nothing to redress global warming but did instigate a financial crisis and the collapse of this institution. Minister, we need to ensure that any progress that we make is based on green energy schemes that work and do the job that they set out to do. <BR /> <BR />The Minister takes me on to my next point very well. Stormont often gets a bad press, primarily because of the actions or inaction of the DUP. Often, people do not notice the impact of the work that is done here, but a cursory glance at what has happened in the Chamber in the past three days — since Monday — gives an indication of what the Assembly can do.”
“We must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. If the need to save our planet did not make that obvious, the current cost-of-living crisis, because of our dependence on oil and gas, should certainly hammer home the point.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill is, by and large, a framework Bill, but it will, rightly, be central to the work, plans and policies that the Executive and all Departments will take forward, and, over the next three decades, it will help to transform the society that we live in.”
“There will also be a just transition commission to help oversee progress, a separate just transition scheme for the agriculture sector and other protections for small businesses and our agricultural and rural communities. From the Bill, work will be done with an eye on nature-based solutions, and there are amendments that we and others tabled in order to deal with carbon leakage. Also introduced is independent oversight via a climate commissioner, as well as climate action plans and sectoral plans. The Bill also includes the very important protection of the need for public consultation and the support of MLAs at various steps along the way.”
“We wanted legislation that was not only ambitious, with a net zero target, but legislation that was fair, just and deliverable. We wanted legislation that would help us here in the North to play our part in the climate emergency and that left no sector of society behind. <BR /> <BR />The Bill may be considered to be the Minister's Bill, but, in reality, it bears no resemblance to the Bill that he introduced here a number of months ago. In my view, the process has witnessed good collaboration across most of the political parties in the Chamber, and, through the work of Sinn Féin and others in the Committee scrutiny process and at previous stages of the Bill, a vast number of amendments have been added to the Bill. Those amendments will ensure that the work that we do over the next three decades will be based on just transition principles.”
“As others have done, I thank the Committee staff, staff from RaISe, the Bill Office and departmental staff for all their assistance throughout this process. I also thank all the witnesses and those who responded to the consultation. I also give thanks and praise to the climate campaigners out there, particularly young people, who helped to keep the issue on the agenda and have led us to where we are today. <BR /> <BR />Let there be no doubt that dealing with global warming and climate change is the issue of our time. From the resumption of the Assembly in 2020, when Sinn Féin tabled the first motion that was debated in the Chamber in order to declare a climate emergency, progressing climate legislation in this mandate has been a priority for us.”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, the legislation is a good start, as others have said. It needs to be supported from the Department of Health by way of a health response. I welcome similar reviews and processes to up legislation that are taking place in the South and across the water. I am sure that they will feed into the work that the Minister has indicated will take place on online gambling here in the next mandate. For any changes to regulation on advertising and online gambling to be successful, it is clear that we will need to take a coordinated approach on this island and across these islands. I look forward to playing my part in that process, from this Bench or as an ordinary citizen, in the years ahead.”
“<BR /> <BR />Last week, in a landmark judgement in England, a coroner ruled that gambling contributed to the death of a young schoolteacher, Jack Ritchie. The coroner noted that the warnings and available treatment were "woefully inadequate". Gambling addiction kills, and gambling products can be lethal. Some gambling products are designed in such a way that they are likely to be more addictive, so, without proper legislation, regulation and enforcement, many more vulnerable people will be exploited in the pursuit of huge profits and bonuses. I commend Jack Ritchie's parents, Charles and Liz, for their bravery, determination and integrity. I also commend all of the families and loved ones — people such as Pete and Sadie Keogh — who, out of tragedy, have been and will continue to be a powerful voice for change.”
“While many enjoy gambling as a harmless pastime and bet with money that they can afford to lose, the bulk of the huge profits made by gambling firms come from people who become addicted to gambling and bet money that they cannot afford to lose. Gambling companies know that, and, unfortunately, in many instances, they exploit it. It is estimated that over 100,000 people on this island are affected by gambling harm, with 40,000 of those from the North. I am sure that, if I were quoting those numbers in relation to any other illness, there would be a concerted public health response and approach by our Health Minister, yet, here in the North, we do not have a single NHS service that is specific to tackling gambling harm.”
“In the legislation, which is primarily focused on land-based gambling, I welcome the greater protections for children and young people. I also welcome, in the code of practice for the industry, plans to ban credit cards for gambling use, plans for measures to deal with reverse withdrawals, the regulation of gaming machines and the potential for moves on advertising. I also welcome the enabling powers in the law to allow for the introduction of a levy on the industry so that it will have to pay into a fund that can be used for various things, including research, education and gambling treatment centres. <BR /> <BR />At all stages of the legislative process, I have noted the huge profits that gambling companies make.”
“As others have mentioned, this is the first change to our gambling laws in over 37 years, so the legislation is overdue and very welcome. The Bill will allow for greater regulation and fairness in our land-based gambling industry in the North. I thank the Minister for bringing forward this much-needed legislation. As she pointed out and explained, it is only the first piece of the jigsaw in modernising gambling laws. The much bigger aspect of online gambling is to be dealt with in the next mandate; however, the Bill is a good beginning. I know that the Minister has been working on the second phase, and I commend her commitment to continued reform of our gambling laws. <BR /> <BR />Good gambling laws are necessary to inform, protect and regulate the gambling industry and should also be there to protect citizens.”
“The Committee noted that the changes that will be made via the order are not contentious and will not lead to any substantive policy changes, and it therefore recommended that the draft order be approved by the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />The Committee understands the importance of the emissions trading scheme here and in other jurisdictions to the wider moves to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the decades ahead. It is therefore vital that the scheme's operation be reviewed constantly and updated as required. The Committee did not identify any issues of concern with the implementation of the order and therefore recommends that it proceed.”
“I welcome the opportunity to share briefly the views of the Committee on the draft order that we are considering. It will make technical changes to the emissions trading scheme to facilitate consistent and effective enforcement of some rules and clarification of provisions relating to the powers of entry and enforcement. <BR /> <BR />The Committee was notified on 16 December 2021 that the Department intended to lay the draft order to ensure that the emissions trading scheme operates here as it does in Britain. The Committee considered the draft order at its meeting on 10 February 2022, including the technical and supporting documents that were made available by the Department.”
“Thanks for your response, Minister. Following on from a previous question, is the pressure on GP practices expected to impact on the much-needed roll-out of multidisciplinary teams? In your draft running order, when will the roll-out take place in the Northern Trust area?”
“Go raibh maith agat, Minister. I appreciate the response. Rainbow Lodge in Ballymena, and other respite and day-centre services in our constituency, are invaluable to those who use them. They can help to provide a few hours of relief and support when families need it most. Going above the detail that the Minister has already given, will he ensure that the trusts will resume full services and that those who need it get the respite care that they have been unable to access for some time?”
“Minister, in your responses to previous questions for written and oral answer, including the one just now, you have not provided an answer about the cost of that advice on halting sanitary and phytosanitary checks. Can you confirm how much was paid to the Attorney General for his advice? Was he paid with public money?”