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 />The agri-food industry here has flagged up the growing gap in financial support between North and South. That gap has not only been in the support provided for COVID but for Brexit. For example, the Irish Government gave a €100 million Brexit aid package to beef producers. Many of the Members who have contributed to the debate mentioned the impact of Brexit and COVID on our agri-food sector. <BR /> <BR />I now return to the motion, which deals with the impact of COVID-19 and calls for support for beef and sheep farmers. I repeat what others in my party have said in response to questions, namely that the support that we are asking for should not be to the detriment of the other sections of the agri-food industry that need support but are not mentioned in our motion.”
“Given the range of phone calls that I have received in the last number of weeks from across the agri-food industry and sectors and, most specifically, from sheep and beef farmers, I feel that it is imperative that the Minister devises a scheme that, as I and others have said, must be fair and equitable and reach as far across the industry as possible to help those farmers who have been affected by COVID-19. <BR /> <BR />As a bit of an aside, in the aftermath of COVID-19, when we are looking at how we can improve the agricultural sector, it is clear that we need more all-Ireland harmonisation. An all-Ireland agri-food task force would better coordinate supply chain issues and enable more joined-up thinking on development legislation alignment and so on. Sinn Féin has and will continue to call for that.”
“<BR /> <BR />Lessons can and should be learned from other schemes in other Departments and the Minister alluded to that. I am sure that like me, from a constituency perspective away from agriculture, he is unfortunately receiving heartfelt pleas from individuals and business owners, sole traders etc who have not been able to access the various Government schemes, business support grants or self-employment payments because of certain stipulations. I emphasise totally with them and their predicaments, which, unfortunately, have put severe financial strains on many individuals, families and businesses, who, in some cases, will see their businesses cease to exist.”
“I note that, at the beginning of this crisis, the Minister sought funding from Europe and Westminster and did not get it from either of those sources, but he did get it from the Finance Minister. What we need to talk about today is not wanting more, which we do, but how we spend this welcome package fairly, and those were also the Minister's words. <BR /> <BR />This package can and should help mitigate against some of the losses felt in the industry and I note what the Minister said about all the losses when he was totalling up the figures. There is no doubt that it will not alleviate all of that, but it will alleviate the worst excesses if it is distributed fairly and I note that that is the case. It needs to help across the whole agriculture industry. In addition, it needs to be distributed fairly and equitably, as others have said.”
“I gave way in the last debate I spoke in and I ran out of time, so perhaps towards the end. <BR /> <BR />The beef and sheep sectors, for example, have been very vocal on this issue. Those two sectors make a major contribution to the economy here in the North and, as others have said, DAERA estimates that the gross turnover of the beef and sheep meat processing sector is just over £1·3 billion. <BR /> <BR />I welcome that the Minister has been given a £25 million package, courtesy of the Finance Minister. I note Mr McGrath's comments. I was a bit perturbed by them because we are not talking today about additional funds. Obviously, we would appreciate additional funding but the £25 million is a welcome package.”
“I dispute who they said it needed to go to because, certainly in the Committee's consultations, there was a lot of frustration that it was a very closed section of the agricultural sector and lots were being forgotten about. That is why the motion is important. It gives a further voice to that frustration. <BR /> <BR />I also note that the Minister was not happy with the motion. I think he said that it was divisive. I fail to see how that is the case, given that at this point it seems to have the support of the SDLP, the Alliance Party and, potentially, the Ulster Unionist Party, so I do not think that he should bring divisive politics into this very important matter. <BR /> <BR />It is clear that the beef —.”
“Undoubtedly that includes those identified by the Minister, primarily in this package, who need financial support, but it also includes those unfortunately left out by the Minister in his initial proposal. <BR /> <BR />That became very clear when the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee opened its consultation in the agriculture sector on how the Minister would devise a scheme for distributing a financial support package. We received numerous responses from right across the board. I note that the Minister in his contribution talked about the sectors within agriculture and he pointed out that they were clear that it needed to go to those in need.”
“Tá mé sásta deis a bheith agam labhairt faoin ábhar thábhachtach seo inniu. Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis na feirmeoirí, agus le tionsal an bhia, as an iarracht s’acu i rith na pandéime. I, as others have done, commend our farmers and the wider agri-food industry in contributing to food security and the functioning of our food supply during this pandemic. As with other workers and sectors during the past few months, a spotlight has been well and truly shone on the importance and identification of key workers, and that certainly includes those who work on our farms and in our agri-food industry. <BR /> <BR />I include all sections of the farming community in these comments. Farmers are working in difficult circumstances, in many cases with reduced profits and, even worse, financial losses.”
“It is the firm view of Sinn Féin that there can be no regression from EU environmental standards or regulations of an all-Ireland nature. <BR /> <BR />As COVID-19 has clearly shown us, there are no borders on this island for viruses. The same applies to our environment. It would make no sense to have one set of environmental protections and rules in Derry and a different set in Donegal, one set in Newry and a different set in Dundalk or even one in Dublin and another in Dunloy. There must be a shared and harmonised regulatory approach. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Members for tabling the motion and the amendment, which we will support. The people of this island, particularly in the North, need time to work through the current crisis in the best interests of all of our citizens.”
“The British Government have introduced the Environment Bill at Westminster in an attempt to plug the gaps in environmental protection left wide open by their Brexit debacle. It is my view and that of Sinn Féin and many local environmental activists and NGOs that the Bill marks a significant weakening of the protections and regulations currently enjoyed by EU members. Not only will we lose many EU directives and regulations, but the directives and regulations that the Bill attempts to emulate are to be enforced by a new Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) that has very weak enforcement powers. A disorderly exit could cause major environmental headaches on the island of Ireland in the absence of a clear, common rule book regarding species, emissions, water quality and hazardous waste.”
“in the North, unlike the rosy, sunny uplands predicted by the DUP and others. <BR /> <BR />The Irish protocol, as my colleague explained, was a hard-fought for and hard-won minimum protection against the worst elements of Brexit destruction. However, given the disdain shown by the British Government for the views of the people in the North, the full implementation of the protocol is vital. That will take time to work out for businesses to adapt and prepare for. <BR /> <BR />As Sinn Féin environment spokesperson, I am well aware of the concerns about the impact that Brexit could have on environmental protections in the North. There is a fear, as there is with all kinds of issues, that the British Government want to lower and regress from current environmental standards.”
“The British Government have been reckless and cavalier about the impact of Brexit on our economy, our peace process and our society in the North from day one. That is not just my view; the report from the British House of Lords Select Committee on the European Union has found that the British Government's approach to Brexit poses a”
“The key priority for the Assembly or any other elected Chamber on this island, on the neighbouring island or, indeed, across Europe for that matter over the next few months needs to be about protecting the lives of our citizens and protecting our businesses, jobs and economy against the impacts of COVID-19, which is the worst health and economic crisis that we have faced in over 100 years. Businesses in the North are worried about their imminent futures and survival. The last thing that they need is the shock of another crisis — a Tory/DUP-made crisis that they are ill prepared for. I could add our farmers, the agri-food sector, tourism, hospitality and every other sector of society in the North to that list. <BR /> <BR />The majority of people here voted against Brexit and rightly so. There is no such thing as a good Brexit.”
“I support the motion and the amendment. I am delighted to follow my constituency colleague, who explained the difference between libertarianism and liberalism. I assure him that nobody will ever mistake him for a supporter of liberalism. <BR /> <BR />It is indicative of the dogmatic, destructive, insular and xenophobic policies of English Tories, unfortunately supported and backed by the DUP in the House and others here, that we need to have a debate on the subject. I would have thought that an extension to the Brexit process in the context of the current coronavirus pandemic was plain common sense.”
“We are told that this week is the week where COVID-19 will spread quickly among us, and there are people who are at work today who should not be at work today. They are at work today because they are scared and the Government have not taken a decision with regard to their financial security through this process. I urge you to move quickly on some of these things, and I urge for greater clarification on what are considered essential and non-essential workers. Again, there are workers today who are at work and who should not be at work. My question, which I am getting to now, is in relation to any support that could or should be put in place for businesses that are operating as social enterprises or under charitable status.”
“I welcome the statement from the Minister and the ongoing work in her Department. I also welcome her clarification on some of the announcements that have already been made regarding the small grants and the furlough payments that have allowed workers to remain at home secure in the knowledge that they will be seen through these times. I note that you mentioned that there is ongoing work with regard to those on zero-hours contracts and those who are self-employed. Time is of the urgency with those discussions. This is a financial crisis that we are discussing here today, but there is a worldwide pandemic, and financial decisions that are slow are having a big impact on people's lives.”
“I do not support — other Members have mentioned it — the uncertainty for our agriculture industry and farmers beyond 2020. Any future agriculture policy must ensure that there is no diminution of food standards as a result of any potential trade agreement that the British Government may reach. We must also ensure that there are no barriers to trade. Others mentioned the British Government's rules on migration policies and how they will have a negative impact on our agriculture industry. <BR /> <BR />I support the SRs, but I ask the Minister to do all that he can in future years to ensure adequate funding and support for our agriculture industry in the North.”
“Investment and support is needed to deal with the consequences of Brexit and the challenge of farming more sustainably. It is therefore critical that there be adequate funding to replace the EU funding that is being stripped away. It is also critical that we have a policy suited to our farming and agri-food industry across the whole of the North, a policy and funding that supports sustainable farming and family-run farms. <BR /> <BR />It has to be said that single farm payments and EU membership have done more than just offer direct payments to the agriculture sector in the North; they have played a huge role in increasing environmental and public health standards. That must continue. <BR /> <BR />I support the continuation of the direct payments. I support the SRs.”
“North Antrim gets the third highest contribution across the North, and, given the number of major companies that have been lost in that constituency in recent years, the number of jobs that have been lost as well and the impact that that has had locally, the importance of direct payments to local farmers is clear, and we must do everything that we can to protect it.”
“<BR /> <BR />Our farming and agri-food sectors are vital to our economy and to the fabric of our communities, and that is particularly true in my rural constituency of North Antrim, where these direct payments are worth over £29 million to local farmers, their families and the local economy.”
“Of course, as has been said by others, the certainty that this SR brings is only for the short and medium term. What we do not know is now long these vital direct payments will last for and what they will cover in future. All this uncertainty, of course, is a consequence of Brexit. The European Union placed a priority on farming and protected it for decades through the common agricultural policy. Annual payments from the EU, as has been said, account for 87% of annual farm income here in the North. We now face the uncertainty of what will replace that payment and whether or not our agriculture industry will be adequately funded. I, for one, have no great confidence that it will. Therefore, whilst we have clarity for this year, we do not have that clarity for the years beyond that.”
“<BR /> <BR />I note and welcome the comments from the Ulster Farmers' Union:”
“As the Deputy Chairperson of the Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, I note and welcome the comments made by the Chair about the issues before us, and also his comments about the industry having come before the Committee to give evidence on this and other issues. I welcome the Minister bringing the SR to the Chamber today. I welcome approval of the regulations before us, and the direct payments to our farmers here in the North. This support, and the knowledge that their payments will be made in full this year, will bring some relief to farmers across the North. I also welcome the Minister's comments, when the issue first came to the Floor, that the limit on advance payments, which was 70% of the total payment in 2019, has been removed. As a result, his Department intends to make full payments in October.”
“<BR /> <BR />I support the recommendations contained in the report, and I support the actions of the Minister.”
“Economically, environmentally and politically it was a disaster. RHI has now become a byword for everything that was wrong in the political system here in the North. The Assembly must now operate differently from what went before with a new kind of politics. Public confidence must be earned and trust rebuilt if the Assembly and Executive are to have any credibility. Never again can we see scandals like RHI happen in this place. As others have said, we need Civil Service reforms and proper checks and balances, and these serious reforms must be looked at. We need open government where decisions, and how they are taken and in whose interest, are laid bare and properly scrutinised, day and daily, with no hiding place for any risk of malpractice or cronyism. That is what Sinn Féin is committed to do.”
“I note, like my colleagues before me, that lots of the RHI applicants, including lots in my own constituency, are now suffering as a result of this scheme.”
“Before RHI was set up, a report commissioned by DETI showed that such a scheme was less effective in reducing carbon emissions and nearly £200 million more expensive than an alternative scheme. Despite that overwhelming evidence, the DUP Minister responsible, Arlene Foster, went for the less effective and more expensive option of RHI. That error was compounded by removing cost controls and introducing tariffs higher than the cost of the fuel. That meant that the more operators burned, the more profit was made. That flaw led to some operators heating empty sheds with multiple small boilers, abusing a scheme that was supposed to be about reducing carbon emissions and combating global warming.”
“The scheme was fundamentally flawed from its inception and marked by systematic failures at ministerial, political, special adviser and Civil Service levels. It involved the misuse of public funding, and, while I accept that Justice Coghlin said that there was no systematic corruption, it created the opportunity for moral corruption by some who were involved. <BR /> <BR />Notwithstanding the plethora of faults in the scheme, as Sinn Féin's environment spokesperson, I am ultimately disappointed that a scheme with the worthy aspiration of reducing carbon emissions and dealing with the issue of climate change failed so miserably. Unfortunately, environmentally, this green energy scheme was ineffective in reducing carbon emissions.”
“It seems a bit surreal to talk about RHI in a context where that financial and governance scandal is paling into insignificance compared with what our community currently and potentially faces with coronavirus. I pay tribute to our healthcare workers for all that they have done, are doing and will be called on to do, and I hope that the decisions taken in the Chamber complement and support them in their work in the time ahead. <BR /> <BR />The RHI scheme was an unmitigated disaster, and, despite attempts at deflection, as my colleague John O'Dowd said on Friday, it was a scheme and a scandal designed, delivered and, unfortunately, not scrutinised by the DUP. It was a scandal that brought down the Government, and the abundance of evidence throughout the inquiry has vindicated the approach of the late Martin McGuinness.”
“The Minister will be aware of the growth in Irish-medium education, with more and more pupils across the North accessing education through Irish. Given the growth and the increasing demand in the sector, particularly the growing number of children accessing their primary education through Irish, does the Minister agree that significant increased investment is required for Irish-medium post-primary education, including a workforce strategy?”
“If you can build the infrastructure, people will come. The North, as a society, and all its citizens will benefit.”
“My physical and mental health has certainly improved since I took up cycling. Not everyone accepts that: not everyone is open yet to the wonder drug that is cycling. I am a great fan of the film 'Field of Dreams'. I often use the phrase:”
“I will wholeheartedly support any investment that the Minister can provide. In June 2019, in the South, €40 million was announced for 10 new greenways. The advanced state of the greenway infrastructure there is already over and above what it is in the North. I understand that, in 2019, we did not have a Minister, but only £3 million was allocated to all cycling and walking infrastructure, not even mentioning greenways. The 2015 bicycle strategy suggested an investment of £12·5 million per annum over five years, and £18 million per annum within 10 years to build a comprehensive cycling network across the North. <BR /> <BR />I am enthusiastic about cycling. I am delighted that I am able to cycle. In my view, cycling is a wonder drug that can cure many of the ills of society, climate change, and the individual.”
“I understand that the argument for moving people in cities is greater than, perhaps, it is in rural constituencies, but rural communities need to be able to obtain the same benefits from greenways as urban dwellers.”
“<BR /> <BR />I hope that the Minister is able to invest in greenways to ensure that momentum is not lost. As I said, I want to see the 1,000 kilometres and much more come to fruition, particularly the two greenways in my constituency. The glens of Antrim greenway is proposed to run from Ballymena to Cushendall. I know that there is good work going on, particularly out round Glenravel, but I want to see that become a proper greenway in totality. I also want to see the Ballycastle to Ballymoney greenway opening up opportunities beyond the city.”
“I also want to mention the contact that I have had over the years with Andrew Grieve in the cycling department and thank him for his help to me in promoting cycling. I thank my party colleague Chris Hazzard, who introduced the greenways strategy in 2016. <BR /> <BR />What are greenways? Greenways create economic activity, improve cycling and walking opportunities, improve health through active living, enhance community identity and improve tourism opportunities. In my view, cycling and walking are vital to all the above. You can then throw in climate change. The more people we can get cycling and walking and being involved in active transport, the greater the saving it will produce for our health service. We can see the importance of all of this.”
“I accept that I am not from the constituency, but, as everybody should know, I have an interest in cycling, so I will never pass up an opportunity to promote cycling and investment in cycling. I have cycled on the Comber greenway on a couple of occasions, and I concur that it is a great asset. I would support further investment in the Comber greenway and further investment in other greenways. I want the ambitious target of 1,000 kilometres, as detailed in the North's greenway strategy, to become a reality. <BR /> <BR />I take the opportunity to commend Jonathan Hobbs for the work that he has done in this field in promoting, pushing and cajoling the greenways strategy and cycling in general.”
“Everybody else spoke so well, and it was so interesting. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I support the motion. Our farmers need this payment.”
“Sorry. I did not get to make my own remarks.”
“I was not wanting to distort the Member's comments. A lot of hill farmers will be surprised to hear that they will now be better off because they have left the EU and have lost the ANC payment. <BR /> <BR />The Minister wanted to, in his words, introduce schemes "that are good for farmers", including those in SDAs. He said that the ANC scheme was worth £20 million. He said that it was implemented by Minister O'Neill. John O'Dowd corrected him when he talked about the scheme ending in two years and said that there would be a review after two years.”
“He also pointed out that he had heard lots of whining. I repeat that: he heard lots of whining. My colleague intervened and gave him a promotion midway through the debate. According to him, the ANC hinders hill farmers. <BR /> <BR />Moving on, the Minister —.”
“She put it into the context of the Agriculture Bill setting new policy for years to come and said that we need to get this right. She said that we need our own plan that meets our needs and that farmers in areas of natural constraint need to be given certainty. She also agreed that there should be specific and targeted economic interventions. <BR /> <BR />Jim Allister is always worth listening to. He agreed that hill farmers make an important contribution, but he went on to say that we need a policy that takes account of a limited pot of money. I hope that he will forgive me for paraphrasing him when I say that he was not a big fan of the flat-rate payment plus an ANC scheme. He seemed to be a lone figure in suggesting that Brexit will be good for hill farmers, as there will be fewer restrictions.”
“I completely agree with the sentiment. Yes. <BR /> <BR />Daniel McCrossan said that we need to send a clear message to all farmers that they will not be left behind because of Brexit. He also said that many farmers are struggling and need support and that he wanted to hear that support coming from the debate. He talked about the dedication and sacrifice of our farmers and their world-class produce. He went on to detail the flooding that had affected farmers in his constituency, and he said that they still have not been properly compensated for that. He also said that he has no faith in the British Government keeping the same level of funding offered by the EU after Brexit. <BR /> <BR />Clare Bailey gave her support to the motion.”
“She is a border constituency MLA, and she put it in the context that the lack of an ANC payment put farmers along the border at a disadvantage to their neighbouring farms across the border. She talked about the importance of convergence through flat rate and expressed her disappointment that that convergence has been halted. <BR /> <BR />Daniel McCrossan —”
“I was born and raised in Swatragh, so I agree that Mid Ulster is a great place to live, particularly the Derry part of the constituency. She talked about the importance of agriculture to her constituents. She is the daughter of a sheep farmer in the Sperrins, so she understands the problems in working with the land in those particular circumstances. She said that an ANC payment was not a top-up that was spent on luxuries but was needed to pay bills or to invest in the local agriculture economy. <BR /> <BR />Jemma Dolan supported the motion. She said that 92·5% of her constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone is severely disadvantaged, and she compared it with the Minister's constituency, where 2% is the case. She talked about the ANC allowance helping many farmers who are struggling.”
“Over and above the issue of farming, they are vital to the conservation of our landscape, tourism potential and protecting the coastline in some cases. He said that there was an opportunity for the Minister to introduce a new scheme of natural constraint. <BR /> <BR />Maurice Bradley talked about the uncertainty for farmers post Brexit. He welcomed the debate in the context of the Assembly getting to debate it from the North's point of view. He asked whether a land-based payment was good value for money and said that policy needs to be tailored to our market demands. Again — this theme flowed through all the DUP Members' contributions — production seemed to be the best way forward. <BR /> <BR />I congratulate Emma Sheerin on her maiden speech.”
“He talked about 70% of the land in the North being in less-favoured areas. We need to encourage and promote environmental use of the land. He supported the motion. <BR /> <BR />Rosemary Barton talked about the quality of our produce and the environment here. She said that there had long been support through many years for hill farmers in various guises. She mentioned £100 per hectare and said that they were worse off than in lowland farms. She said that 10,000 farms were impacted as a result of no ANC payments. She detailed the impact that that has had in her constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. <BR /> <BR />John Blair said that he supported the motion in principle. He said that small farmers are vital.”
“William Irwin acknowledged the difficulties of hill farmers, but he wanted that to be addressed as part of a UK solution. He said that support was needed, but he was not conclusive about what future support would look like. He went on to say that new arrangements should be based on production rather than area-based payments. He laboured that point. He felt that an ANC is not the best mechanism. <BR /> <BR />Pat Catney talked about the importance of agriculture and farming to our economy and landscape. It is a part of life here in the North. He told some very interesting stories about his childhood, particularly about gathering potatoes. It brought me back to my childhood. I miss gathering now that modern technology is used. Young people do not get the opportunity to gather spuds the way that we used to.”
“He tabled the motion in the context of the Westminster Bill and stated that the ANC payment was at the discretion of the Minister and that we need to tailor our agriculture policy here to suit the North. He hoped that the Minister would use his discretion to reintroduce an ANC payment. He went on to talk about the farmers in those areas of need and that the payment created a leveller with other farmers. He talked about the history of ANC support being enacted and subsequently withdrawn in 2016. In my biased opinion, I thought that he made a great case for its introduction.”
“I thank my party colleague for bringing the debate before us. I thought that the discussion was very good and very useful. My party colleague Declan McAleer, who proposed the motion, talked about the North's reliance on agriculture.”