Pat Ramsey
Foyle · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“In light of the extensive reporting of the investigation, there is deep worry and concern amongst the families of staff and prisoners. Can the Minister give us an assurance that he is doing everything in his power to ensure the safety of the staff and prisoners in Maghaberry?”
“On her death, Lisa was awarded an ambassador role by the Singapore Government because of the level of donations she was able to give. Around 50 people got some form of donated organs from Lisa as a result of her untimely death.”
“I hope that, if the Bill passes, the number of transplants will seriously increase, as Jo-Anne Dobson outlined, and I have no doubt that it will. Lives will be saved. <BR /> <BR />I will take personal and political pleasure in supporting the Bill's passage to the Committee.”
“I say to the Member again that there is an opportunity for DUP members of the Health Committee to pose questions and to challenge. If they have concerns, they can raise those concerns. Like other Members, I would like to see an opportunity for the Bill, and I believe that it is a good Bill.”
“The increased awareness and discussion coming out of this is very helpful, as it will encourage and stimulate debate among the medical fraternity and clinicians. Alastair, you have been in some of the meetings where we had senior clinicians voicing their clear support in Northern Ireland for the Bill.”
“I am delighted to be able to talk in the debate today. I declare my membership of the all-party group on organ donation. <BR /> <BR />I have watched with interest over the years the political role that Jo-Anne Dobson has played in, and the passion that she has had for, elevating and promoting organ donation.”
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“I am sorry that the First Minister is not here now, but that is a key principle in order to give a bit of piece of mind, comfort and reassurance to families. I will tell you what would happen if we did not do it: if those families were not receiving the payments, they would put their children or family members into care, a residential home or hospital, and the health budget would reach crisis point. You can imagine the cost to hospitals if we did not provide that level of support to families who are in crisis at the best of times. There but for the grace of God. <BR /> <BR />We talk about our families and bringing them up. In some families, a number of people in the household have disabilities or learning disabilities — they depend on this.”
“We want to know whether there is going to be direct contact with the Department of Health. I know that the transfer of powers from DSD will take place to ensure that DHSSPS will use those powers, but many hundreds of others across Northern Ireland cannot access those moneys, because they do not have the capacity or skills to deal with direct payments. They do not have the skills to employ people, while others are using accountancy firms to help them process payments, National Insurance and tax, That is crucial for families across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 17 is a very important amendment, because it reflects what is happening across Northern Ireland. It is the duty of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to monitor the inclusion of disabled people across Northern Ireland.”
“We extend our sympathies to Sharon and her daughters Charlene and Christina at such a traumatic time. Martin was the epitome of a decent person and what every person could be in the city. He provided tours in the city with positivity and cheer. I just wanted to use the occasion when it was there to say that. <BR /> <BR />We want to see progress made, and we want to hear what the Minister for Social Development is going to tell us today about access to direct payments to enable those families. At present, just over 660 families and carers receive money from the independent living fund, and that enables them to have some type of lifestyle to bring in carers. The reason that we are bringing the amendment forward, and I say this directly to the Minister, is that we want to know what is happening.”
“It enables people to employ carers in cases in which clearly more profound needs are involved, and it enables parents or carers to employ people to take the disabled person to their home, thus giving those parents or carers some respite. Therefore, we need to know. <BR /> <BR />We had a number of events highlighting and promoting the independent living fund. The Health Minister, Jim Wells, is not here, but I met him a number of weeks ago along with a number of parents and carers, and it was a very good meeting. We wish Jim and his wife, Grace, very well. I know that she is on the road to recovery, and we hope that that continues. Unfortunately, at the same time, a gentleman from our own city, Martin McCrossan, died very suddenly, and I was at his funeral this morning. He had been on the same ward as Grace.”
“I make the point that we tabled amendment No 17, because, later this year, the independent living fund as we know it will come to a close. <BR /> <BR />Many hundreds of people, families and carers in Northern Ireland have disabled children, many of whom have complex and profound disabilities, and, because of the independent living fund and direct payments, those children have a choice to remain at home and a lifestyle to be able to do so. That is fundamental in going forward. The independent living fund gives that sense of independence, as it says on the tin, to enable people to employ a personal assistant, for example.”
“I support amendment No 17. I hope that the Minister can give us some clarity on the independent living fund at some stage. I will go into a bit of detail, but, before I do, I want to declare that I chair the all-party group on learning disability and the all-party group on disability. <BR /> <BR />This is an issue that has been affecting so many families and carers in Northern Ireland for some time now. We know that, in Britain, the UK Government have brought to a closure the independent living fund and devolved it to some of the regional councils. As Alex Attwood said, the Scottish Parliament last year agreed to work on a new autonomy for the independent living fund to ensure that more people have access to it.”
“Given that there has been a low level of deaths on our roads this year, what other efforts is your Department making to try to reduce speed in residential areas and city centres where there are fatalities and serious injuries?”
“Like other Members, there is no doubting the value, the contribution and the success of these fairs. There was one in the Millennium Forum in Derry last year where hundreds of young people were queuing for jobs. It is a success story. Is there any way that you could look at incentivising small and medium-sized businesses to participate in and contribute to these fairs?”
“I welcome the question from the Member for South Belfast. Given that the deputy First Minister gave very stark figures in his responses, and given the ever-increasing persecution of Christians especially, has there been any discussion with the London Government or the Dublin Government to ensure that we have the capacity to take that leadership role in encouraging and motivating those refugees to come here?”
“— champion and advocate in events as well as in this House. It is important that the Minister and Executive be mindful of our concerns through this motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have a few minutes left. I heard the Minister on Radio Foyle this morning speaking about the Magee campus. It is important that, when economic regeneration occurs in the major cities, such as Belfast in particular, we have regional balance. The biggest project coming out of the One Plan — Minister, you know what it was — was the development of the Magee campus. I think it is important that the north-west — not the constituency — has its turn. It is an important motion and something that has concerned the Committee for some time. We have helped showcase —”
“There is concern across the colleges, and I am sure that all Members have been spoken to and have heard concern expressed about the detrimental effect that the removal of the premia payments could have, particularly when one of the key areas on which the Employment and Learning Committee focused was young people not in education, employment or training. That will have a detrimental effect on progression, and it ultimately led to the Executive's NEET strategy, which will now fail unless adequate money is given to our colleges. Almost one in two students — 43% across the North, 50% at the North West Regional College, and 54% at the South West College — are in the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland. The college network and the Ulster University respond to the need and the changing needs of industry.”
“Therefore, the colleges are serving their purpose of helping to retrain and reskill, and, for many of the young people who possibly have not done so well at post-primary school, the colleges are filling the vacuum. As the Chair said, the colleges work collaboratively with the business community and industry to try to meet their needs. <BR /> <BR />More than one in five learners is studying entry level 1 on enrolment at an FE college. Those learners have no prior basic qualifications. Are we to remove that provision?”
“The removal of the premia payments is hurting a lot of people who work in the college or who are educated at St Mary's or Stranmillis. Genuinely, Minister, there is no appetite, political or otherwise, for your plans to be brought forward. As Jim Allister said, the premia payments are crucial to the viability of both colleges. You have to come to a bit of sense and realise that that is not what the people of Northern Ireland want. <BR /> <BR />Some 90,000 students are studying an economically relevant further education curriculum via the flexible approach of Colleges Northern Ireland, which states that 70% of those students are entering employment.”
“<BR /> <BR />We had a fairly healthy discussion last week when the Confucius Institute came before our Committee. The level of investment that China is making in higher education is making it the predominant force across the world at the present time. It is investing billions of pounds in universities and, more importantly, in research departments. As a result, the Chinese universities are accelerating up the league tables when it comes to students and academia. China is clearly emerging as a leading economy. <BR /> <BR />Our further education colleges, universities and teacher-training colleges are facing cuts that threaten their existence. The amendment is timely, and I encourage the Minister to have a change of heart on the issue.”
“I support the motion and the amendment. The Chair reflected very well the Committee's position in our discussions since the Budget. <BR /> <BR />Given their importance to every city and village in Northern Ireland, I welcome the motion's focus on higher and further education, because they are the key to economic regeneration. However, they must complement each another if we are to have a strong pool of diverse and skilled workers, particularly among our young people. Day to day, we hear of many more young people forced to go across the water, while many more are forced to emigrate to either Australia or New Zealand. The Executive need to do more to make Northern Ireland a much more attractive place for them to live, study, work and bring up a family, even without a Programme for Government for 2015-16.”
“It pains me to hear this from the Minister. I have served on the Employment and Learning Committee for a few years now. You and the departmental officials repeatedly came, after Grant Thornton and after the independent panel, and told us emphatically that you were determined to bring forward a consensus on the way forward to resolve the issues in the college. Why are you now bringing forward a process involving Queen's and the University of Ulster, when they and others believe that they are doing the dirty work for you and are going behind the backs of Stranmillis and St Mary's to do it?”
“He is attacking those who benefit from the outstanding teachers and liberal arts graduates it provides. The Minister is progressing an acceleration process between Queen's and the University of Ulster. Does he want them to do his dirty work for him?”
“Minister Farry, you must recognise the excellent work that St Mary's does and consider the devastating and detrimental effect its closure will have, not just on west Belfast but on schools across Northern Ireland. By undermining St Mary's, the Alliance Party is undermining all those parents who value the right to choose their children's education. By attacking St Mary's, which the Minister is doing, he is attacking all Catholic schools.”
“Primary and post-primary Catholic schools achieve academic excellence and provide faith-based pastoral care. Many parents want their children to be educated in Catholic schools. To meet the parental demand for Catholic schools, we need a college of the calibre of St Mary's to train teachers, champion the Irish language and encourage and motivate the Irish culture and our communities.”
“If Northern Ireland is to have a sustainable and thriving economy, we need a pool of diverse and well-trained graduates to take up the jobs that we have. Yet we have an outstanding teacher training college and a hub for Irish language and culture in the heart of west Belfast, and the Minister is forcing it into an untenable position. If the special premia are not restored, St Mary's will be forced to close, and outstanding teacher training will be lost. This is not simply a case of losing provision for trainee teachers. We are threatening the quality of the education of our young people, which will have a knock-on effect on society and the economy for years to come, particularly in west Belfast. <BR /> <BR />This debate comes at a pertinent time. This is the seventh year of Catholic schools week.”
“I thank the Member for West Belfast, Jennifer McCann, for ensuring that this debate takes place. St Mary's teaching college has provided first-class training and produced first-class teachers for the past 100 years. Thousands of teachers have been trained there. The strength of community support shown last week and this week is a testament to the fantastic job that St Mary's does. <BR /> <BR />This is an Alliance Minister attacking a Catholic school for ideological reasons. Already, the Northern Ireland Executive support, to the sum of £60 million per year, students from the North to go across the water for university. A number of students do not take up jobs in the North and do not contribute to the economy in coming back home. The Executive should be doing all in their power to stop the so-called brain drain.”
“As Edwin Poots said in an intervention, we should have a policy of zero tolerance of the abuse and exploitation of adults. It is important to change the way in which society thinks about harm to adults. We should establish clear procedures, seek collaborative work, promote access to justice and ensure continuous learning among all those involved in safeguarding. Many people, after years of work, paying taxes and looking after others will come to depend on the state to supply excellent heath and nursing care. Our older people across Northern Ireland deserve nothing less. The best health care is what we expect for our families, neighbours and communities across Northern Ireland. I am pleased to participate in the debate.”
“I do not believe, for example, that refresher training every three years is acceptable. I suggest that it be done on a much more consistent and regular basis.”
“This consultation aims to define some of the vaguer aspects of abuse, including "adults at risk of harm" and "abuse" suggesting that abuse is single or possibly even a repeated act, or lack of appropriate action occurring within relationships where there is an expectation of trust. I hope that the consultation will be able to define these aspects, thus constructing a more comprehensive policy on safeguarding adults. <BR /> <BR />I agree with the concept of changing the policy to ensure that it moves away from using the term "vulnerability", which can be misinterpreted as weakness, and towards a concept of "at risk". I am aware that there are minimum standards of protection for vulnerable adults in care homes, but they need to be more rigorously enforced and people made more accountable.”
“It is a good message to send out across Northern Ireland that the Assembly takes seriously the abuse that is happening in older people's settings. People live longer and healthier lives, which clearly means that there will be increased demand on the health and social care system. <BR /> <BR />The increase in the number of allegations of abuse of older people is most worrying. The figures from the Northern Ireland Adult Safeguarding Partnership (NIASP) report are damning and shocking. The dramatic rise is something that we should all be worried about. I echo the call from many Members for legislation to clearly define abuse, and I welcome the ongoing consultation on the adult safeguarding policy.”
“However, unfortunately, our healthcare has not been up to par at times. We need to look at that and ensure that the examples given by a number of Members do not happen again. We must offer the best protection possible to those who are potentially at risk of harm. As I have said, I know that the large majority of staff who care for patients are kind and generous and go beyond the mark in providing that care and in giving patients what is best for them. <BR /> <BR />There clearly is a lack of planning and commitment to healthcare, especially domiciliary care. It is seen as a discretionary spend and something that is the first to be cut. I agree with Mickey Brady that it is important that there is a unity of purpose in this discussion.”
“I welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate, and I thank my Foyle colleague Maeve McLaughlin for taking the lead on this. <BR /> <BR />On 18 November last year, I stood on this very spot and commended the Older People's Commissioner's 'Appreciating Age' report to the House. We discussed the positive contributions made by older people through caring, childcare, volunteering and working. The report challenged the one-dimensional view of ageing and told of the positive ways that older people contribute to all our communities day in, day out. Like the former Health Minister and Mickey Brady, I acknowledge the immense contribution that so many people make in hospital, private care and hospice settings across Northern Ireland. They give kindness, help and care painstakingly.”
“I welcome the Minister's response. Whatever the manuals may say, and given that you have invested a huge amount of time in cycling, are you satisfied that good progress is being made in the design of roads and footpaths to ensure that, over the next decade, there will be a serious increase in the number of cyclists using them?”
“I concur with the Minister's clear comments to the Chamber about threats. Given how sensitive and volatile the situation in Roe House is and given that one of the key elements in the stocktake report was the involvement of an independent chair, is the Minister content and confident that the arrangements put in place are such that the staff and prisoners would have confidence in that person?”
“— while almost 1,000 work in Belfast. A start could be made by decentralising half of them to Derry. That would mean a targeted resource going there.”
“I also hope that the evidence from the First Minister and the deputy First Minister will prove that those actions are honourable and objective and that clear and definitive levels of resource will be provided to enable the subcommittee of Executive Ministers to make a difference in Derry and the north-west. There is no point in having another talking shop unless there are clear objectives, goals and targets. <BR /> <BR />A dozen Invest Northern Ireland officers work in Derry —”
“Only by doing that will we be able to say that we have a second city that we are proud of and that young people from across the north-west, from both traditions, have the same opportunities. <BR /> <BR />Too often, we hear about the awfulness faced by some of our young people, their desperation, high suicide levels, high levels of addiction and high levels of alcohol and drug abuse. They would not have those problems if there was meaningful work to exercise them and act as therapy. <BR /> <BR />Over the years that I have stood here, I have often heard people from the other side of the House be resentful of people from Derry. They have begrudgingly said that they have a chip on their shoulder or chips on both shoulders. <BR /> <BR />The evidence is there, and I hope that the Executive's actions are in good faith.”
“I have invested a lot of time in that with the council, the North West Regional College and at Altnagelvin with the Western Health and Social Care Trust. Minister, it is important that we have a win with that at an early stage, because the levels of economic inactivity in the north-west of Ireland, like those of unemployment, are the worst on these islands. <BR /> <BR />It is only by constantly addressing issues and by working to ensure that the second city has the road, rail and information connections, a vibrant and full university and the application of all Departments that we will be able to reduce those clearly embarrassing joblessness figures and consequent deprivation levels.”
“However, instead of us reaffirming our commitment to addressing the skills deficit, youth training projects in Derry are currently fearful for their existence. Perhaps the Minister can answer some questions about that. We are now faced with a situation in which, by March, Derry may not have a youth training project at all. What signal do we send out when we cut funding to projects, such as the YES programme, that meet their targets regularly on behalf of the Department for Employment and Learning and help people get back to work by retraining and reskilling them and giving them confidence? <BR /> <BR />I warmly welcome the fact that Minister Farry, along with Arlene Foster, hopes to have some money allocated and ring-fenced on a geographical basis for an economic inactivity strategy for the north-west.”
“There is no longer any point in arguing that Magee is for Derry. The expansion of Magee College, part of the University of Ulster, is for the student population of this island but particularly that in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Despite much hard work being carried out on the implementation of the One Plan, the Derry public are still awaiting delivery. We are still waiting to hear something that really matters to those 1,500 unemployed young people in Derry city and for the big investment announcements west of the Bann. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly and the Executive need to offer more hope to the 8,000 young people with no qualifications in Derry and the north-west region to ensure that they do not fall into the cycle of low-wage work and unemployment.”
“A major barrier to attracting west the companies that investment heavily east of the Bann is, unfortunately, our detachment from the rest of the island. The One Plan in Derry called for the creation of close to 13,000 jobs. The language adopted by the First Minister and the deputy First Minister was about rebalancing the north-west's economy. Those are the startling figures that are required to ensure that Derry becomes a key driver of regional economic development. <BR /> <BR />We know that Magee is fundamental to the future of the region.”
“<BR /> <BR />Tackling unemployment and deprivation demands leadership, and that has not been apparent to date. The First Minister and the deputy First Minister have accepted that we will have to do things better for the north-west. I welcome the fact that recently — only recently — they have set up a subgroup of ministerial colleagues to look at the strategic point of rebalancing the economy to ensure that Derry is not left behind. I sincerely hope, as people outside the House say, that this is not a programme for votes and not a subcommittee that has been set up for votes. That is what cynics outside the House say. The statistics are the result of weak or non-existent infrastructure and chronic historical underinvestment.”
“Nearly half of the electoral wards that make up Derry, Strabane and Limavady are in the top 20% of the most deprived wards in Northern Ireland. Recently, Invest Northern Ireland granted close to £6 million, and DEL gave £250,000 for 600 jobs in Belfast. Investment cannot begin and end in greater Belfast. Good luck to everyone who is able to secure those jobs. <BR /> <BR />I was trying to get figures. Over the past six months, Invest Northern Ireland has announced 5,153 jobs for Northern Ireland. The question is this: how many were delivered in the north-west? Of those jobs, 3,151 were in Belfast. I am delighted that Minister Farry is here to respond to the debate, but I ask him this: how many of those jobs were announced for Derry in the last six months? I think that we are talking about fewer than 40.”
“However, it is difficult to be positive when there is such an air of depression in and around the north-west. It is time for the Executive in particular to deliver for those who have not been given the opportunity to secure decent and sustainable employment. My colleague the MP Mark Durkan summed it up when he said that there was lack of work in Derry, not a lack of work ethic. That was obvious at a job fair that the Minister, Stephen Farry, was at. He will confirm the many hundreds, if not thousands, of people, particularly young people, standing in queues almost a mile long at the Millennium Forum just last year. I know many cases of people who have never worked and have left Derry to gain employment. When they returned home, it was the same old story — there were simply no jobs and no prospects.”
“I will say it again: the people of the north-west will resent that and be angered by it because it is painfully obvious that, even over the past 12 months, unemployment in the north-west has unfortunately increased, and nothing at all seems to have been done to stem it. The levels of unemployment in the north-west are simply unacceptable and have been for decades. It is completely unacceptable that, nearly 20 years after devolution, Derry — the second city — remains one of the worse employment black spots on these islands. <BR /> <BR />I sound a note of caution before we begin: people living in my constituency and in the north-west are sick, sore and tired of plans to tackle the situation. They are sick of hearing us talk about unemployment. Somebody said to me, "Be positive".”
“Before I commence using my speaking notes, I have to mention the apathy in the north-west at the minute and the sense of resistance to that in a response from the Finance Minister earlier today. There seems to be an acceptance among some people in the House and the Executive who do not realise that there is a major issue facing the north-west of Ireland. That is why, leading up to the talks, we, as an SDLP group, were very keen to try to get a bit of confidence back to so many in the north-west. <BR /> <BR />The Finance Minister made the bland statement earlier today that unemployment levels are reducing.”
“I thank the Minister for presenting his paper today. The Minister made the very broad statement that unemployment is falling: I am sure that he will agree with me that many in the north-west, including in your constituency, Deputy Speaker, will resent and be angered by that. In light of the Executive decision to set up a small Executive group to look at regional balance, particularly in the north-west, will the Minister outline to the House the importance of ensuring that that is resourced effectively to make a difference?”
“Important as this debate on the A6 is, where is the regional balance when it comes to infrastructure? We need it, we deserve it, and we should get it now.”
“Unfortunately, there are people on the roads who take a chance and do things that they should not, and that results in accidents. <BR /> <BR />I say to the Minister that the Dungiven bypass has been on the table for far too long. There has to be a serious will in the Executive to deliver it. It is not a matter of pointing the finger at anyone, with respect to Danny Kennedy, but we get depressed as elected representatives. People on the other side of the House say, "Oh, the ones from Derry" or "The ones from the north-west", but we in the north-west deserve much better from the Executive. We deserve what was in the Programme for Government. If we are going to be true to its word, where is the regional balance when it comes to the economy and to jobs?”
“It means so much for the region, the business community and the people in that community. Derry City Council invested immensely — beyond belief — when other people were criticising it. The future for the next generation of our young people has to include access. <BR /> <BR />Why, every time there is a major infrastructure project, does something go wrong? Is it bad luck? Is it incompetence? Is it no determination on the part of the Executive to see it through? Look at Dungiven. I visit Dungiven more often than maybe I want to, having to travel here three or four days a week. It is not a pleasant journey. You would think that there was a race getting to Toome many's the day. When you get there, you are at a standstill for 30 to 40 minutes, bumper to bumper on the Moneynick Road.”
“The A6 is what the business community wants and what inward investors want. We have to do it in a better way. <BR /> <BR />People in my constituency — I say to the Minister that there is no implied accusation against him — get apathetic towards politicians. They even get angered and frustrated towards us, and they are saying very clearly that the Executive and the Assembly are not delivering for the north-west. That is painfully obvious. There are groups here today ranging from St Mary's to the community and voluntary sector. There is a group from the Roe valley. Those subjects are on all their lips. They ask, "What is wrong that we cannot get our roads?". <BR /> <BR />The north-west takes this seriously. There are few local authorities throughout this island, if not the British Isles, that invest as hugely in airport infrastructure.”
“Most of my adult life has been spent in politics, including 20 years on Derry City Council. I recall an early engagement with some of the direct rule Ministers in the 1980s. Investment at that time was determined by car ownership. That determined where direct investment on infrastructure took place. <BR /> <BR />People who come from outside the north-west resent it, but at times I talk to groups about how we get a bad bounce of the ball there. The ball is not even bouncing at times, never mind getting a bad bounce. Look at the A5, the A6, the railway and the university. Look at the recent jobs announcements for Belfast. They are immense and are good for Belfast, but there is a sense that the Executive are not delivering for people in the north-west. The A6 is crucial for the economic development of the area, similarly the university.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on what is a most important subject for many in the north-west. I take the point from a Member who spoke previously about the road deaths and the injuries on the A6 over the years. There was a bad crash when I was coming up here yesterday, close to the Moneynick Road. The car that I saw was in an awful state, and I hope to God that whoever was involved in that accident is OK. <BR /> <BR />As a number of Members referenced, it would be interesting to see how many serious accidents and deaths have occurred on the Derry-to-Belfast road, with the exception of the motorway, over the last 10 years, for example. I am not sure whether the Minister will have that information.”
“I thank the Minister for his responses today. Given the dependency in some areas, as Samuel Gardiner said, on public-sector jobs, including my constituency, where there are high levels of economic inactivity, and given that it is a most emotive subject matter for many in our community, will the Minister outline to the House what discussions he has had with the trade union bodies in respect of the plans for early retirement and redundancy packages?”