Caitríona Ruane
South Down · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I support outdoor pursuits and education centres. I remember, many moons ago, when I trained as an outdoor education facilitator in an outdoor pursuits centre on Achill Island, which was funded by the education system. I have some of the best memories of those times. That centre is still open and still funded by the education system.”
“The Minister has a substantial budget — and I note he is pointing at the Minister for Finance — and money should be found from within his budget to fund these centres, rather than passing the buck.”
“<BR /> <BR />During difficult budgetary times it is important to focus where money should be focused, and that is why I ask the Minister to really think carefully about cutting money and closing these centres, because they do contribute to academic as well as physical education.”
“They told me how centres such as Killowen, Ardnabannon and Delamont, as well as other centres throughout the North, not only keep young people active but help with mental health, the obesity crisis, and academic achievement.”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. I understand the difficulty with budgets, as we all do, but does he agree with me that at a time of austerity, at a time when we have a serious obesity crisis, at a time when the Executive are working together to try to bring about changes, and at a time when we want to deal with underachievement, it i…”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an ráiteas. I welcome the statement and, if the Minister is looking for a rural town for the scheme, Warrenpoint will be very open to having it. Will he outline in more detail his interesting proposal to enable companies to access rate relief by accrediting with the Living Wage Foundation?”
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“I thank the Minister for giving way. I understand the difficulty with budgets, as we all do, but does he agree with me that at a time of austerity, at a time when we have a serious obesity crisis, at a time when the Executive are working together to try to bring about changes, and at a time when we want to deal with underachievement, it is especially important that we find £1·3 million, particularly given the huge budget that the Minister has. I was in your position; I know the amount of money that is in the education budget.”
“I thank the Member very much for taking my intervention, and I absolutely accept that the Education Authority made this decision. Will the Member agree that it is the Minister who will make the final decision?”
“The Minister has a substantial budget — and I note he is pointing at the Minister for Finance — and money should be found from within his budget to fund these centres, rather than passing the buck. I am sure the current Minister will not do that, but I do plead with him to continue to fund these centres because they provide such an important facility for people right across the island, as my constituency colleague Colin McGrath has mentioned. <BR /> <BR />My own family have attended the centres, and their classmates from both sides of the border have really appreciated the facilities they offer. I ask the Minister to please support the centres. It is a small saving of little over £1 million when you consider the money that the centres bring in themselves. It is not fair that we ask them to be self-sufficient.”
“<BR /> <BR />During difficult budgetary times it is important to focus where money should be focused, and that is why I ask the Minister to really think carefully about cutting money and closing these centres, because they do contribute to academic as well as physical education. I visited both the centres in my own constituency as Minister for Education. I funded both centres, and continued to fund them, during my time as Minister. I saw at first-hand the good work they are doing. I offer my full support for both centres to remain open. <BR /> <BR />I believe this Minister has an open mind, and I hope that, rather than listen to officials or people who want to cost-cut — and I am not saying all officials want to cost-cut — he takes his own mind about this.”
“They told me how centres such as Killowen, Ardnabannon and Delamont, as well as other centres throughout the North, not only keep young people active but help with mental health, the obesity crisis, and academic achievement. While I am on the subject, and I hope the Deputy Speaker will indulge me, I note today that our primary-school children are sixth in the world for maths. I pay tribute: that is phenomenal. I pay tribute to the primary schools, their teachers, the staff, parents and, indeed, successive Education Ministers who brought in literacy and numeracy policies, including myself and John O'Dowd. It is to be celebrated.”
“I support outdoor pursuits and education centres. I remember, many moons ago, when I trained as an outdoor education facilitator in an outdoor pursuits centre on Achill Island, which was funded by the education system. I have some of the best memories of those times. That centre is still open and still funded by the education system. <BR /> <BR />The centres at Killowen and Ardnabannon are vital assets to the South Down community. Killowen has been open since 1982 at its current site, providing outdoor activities on Carlingford lough and the adjacent forest parks. Ardnabannon opened in 1967 and provided a large range of outdoor activities for the youth of South Down and further afield. I met representatives from Killowen last week to discuss the proposed closures and to offer my full support for keeping the centres open.”
“Cuirim fáilte roimh an ráiteas. I welcome the statement and, if the Minister is looking for a rural town for the scheme, Warrenpoint will be very open to having it. Will he outline in more detail his interesting proposal to enable companies to access rate relief by accrediting with the Living Wage Foundation? In all this, workers' rights are very important.”
“— that all my colleagues in South Down will support our colleagues in Cookstown, and we will fight this together.”
“We had assurances that none of these offices were going to be closed, and now we are a wet week into the new mandate, and we have leaked memos about potential closures. I know —”
“The other factor that needs to be taken into account — I am lobbied about it all the time — is the poor broadband coverage and speed in South Down. This also comes into play. Online solutions will not work for many people. Indeed, I put two questions for written answer to the Minister — AQW 6294/16-21 and AQW 6293/16-21 — and I have to say that I was very disappointed with the incomplete response. Some questions that I asked were not even responded to; they were glossed over. I ask the Minister to have another look at the questions and ask his officials to give a more complete response on this occasion. <BR /> <BR />The staff in the offices earmarked for closure are also very concerned, and I note that they have joined us at Stormont today. They will also be forced to travel further distances.”
“It could end up costing a week's worth of fuel if claimants have to pay for travel out of their own pockets. The cost of public transport from one town to another will eat up a significant amount of a person's benefit. Access to crisis loans will be even harder for those in need, due to the distance and cost involved. People will have to travel to Kilkeel or Downpatrick to address any concerns that they have about any of their benefits.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le Linda Dillon. I thank Linda Dillon for bringing the matter to the Assembly. It is good to see colleagues from Mid Ulster and South Down here doing a joint lobby to fight for essential services. It is also good to see representatives from every party, and I hope the Minister notes there is cross-party support, including his party. I have no doubt that Jim Wells would be here, only for his personal circumstances, to defend Newcastle and Ballynahinch. <BR /> <BR />I join the representatives who have spoken about the difficulties that closures will create for people in rural areas, the adverse impact they will have on women and the fact that the bus and transport system is not the best.”
“We need urgent action now, and, while the Assembly does not have responsibility for international affairs, we have responsibility as international citizens to help end the conflict. We also have refugees who have come to all parts of Ireland, and we can say to them, "Tá fáilte romhaibh, you are very welcome in our country, and we will do everything that we can to help you. We are very sorry about what is happening to your loved ones in your country." The biggest action that we can take is to apply international pressure by supporting the efforts of the UN, and we can support the people who have come to our shores looking for solidarity and support.”
“If we can learn anything about our peace process here in Ireland — I am not for one minute equating the two conflicts; every conflict is different — it is that there should be inclusive dialogue; it is that there should be a cessation of hostilities by all of the combatants. All sides need to bear responsibility for their actions. We need the hostilities to be brought to an immediate end, and all sides need to recognise a new ceasefire. <BR /> <BR />Urgent humanitarian aid needs to get to the people who are suffering in this terrible, terrible war. I pay tribute to the international aid workers, who are trying to do everything they can to get badly needed supplies into the worst-hit areas and save lives.”
“The UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, has said that the suspension of bilateral discussions between the two chairs, the United States and Russia, on a cessation of hostilities was a serious setback.”
“Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil le Alex Attwood. I thank Alex Attwood for bringing this Matter of the Day to the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />We have heard and all know that what is happening in Syria is an absolute humanitarian disaster. Last week alone, there were 376 people killed, and half of them were children. We had 1,266 injured, hospitals were destroyed and medical personnel were killed. Civilians are besieged; they are under full military encirclement and are without humanitarian supplies or the freedom to leave many different areas. We are talking about Aleppo today and the 275,000 people, but equally, according to the United Nations, there are over 861,000 people in other parts of Syria in similar situations.”
“We do not want to see people who abused power or who are party to insider dealings —”
“<BR /> <BR />There is the recent report from the Comptroller and Auditor General on the disposal of the Northern loan book, yet we do not have a copy of it. I note that our Minister of Finance, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, has written to the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, requesting a copy of the report. Have we got a copy of it yet? Has our Minister of Finance got a copy? <BR /> <BR />In that letter, Minister Ó Muilleoir reiterated that his Department will cooperate and work fully with the investigation. That is to be welcomed. As my colleague John O'Dowd said, Martin McGuinness will attend the PAC in the interests of transparency and openness. I welcome that as well because Sinn Féin wants to see truth. We want to see our citizens get the resources they need.”
“I will leave that matter to the SDLP. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin believes that we need an all-Ireland commission of investigation. I will say it again, because people do not seem to understand or hear what we are saying about that: we believe we need an all-Ireland commission of investigation, and its remit must be wider than Project Eagle. It should examine the full operation of NAMA. The UUP's motion lacks ambition. We believe that the least effective route to take is an inquiry by the Finance Committee. You only need to look at NAMA's refusal to appear before it. What we need is an all-Ireland commission with powers. It is also worrying that, while all these questions remain unanswered, NAMA continues to sell off assets.”
“I welcome that clarification. I will now give way to Eamonn McCann.”
“I think people really need to wake up and smell the coffee and look at the work that Sinn Féin — our finance spokespersons, our deputy leader and our leader — has done North and South to expose the whole issue of NAMA. <BR /> <BR />I have a question for Alex Attwood — I will give him the Floor and will then give it to you, Eamonn McCann. Did the SDLP make a submission to the Taoiseach re the terms of reference for NAMA, the deadline for which was last Friday?”
“If I could just develop this, and then I will give way. <BR /> <BR />It is essential that we get to the truth of what happened, that the people who acted wrongly pay the price and that the taxpayer should not bear the brunt of the money lost. We need to ensure that there is a way of recouping the money so that it can be invested in our health and education sectors, in building our badly needed infrastructure or in supporting the people I just heard talking about their children with learning disabilities. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin has consistently — I will say it again — consistently raised concerns about the operation of and the culture of secrecy in NAMA. To listen to Mr Attwood, you would think it is Sinn Féin that is the problem here, rather than the people who have done the insider dealing and the people who have gained millions.”
“First of all, I apologise to the Assembly for not being here for the start of the debate: I was chairing an official event — the Positive Futures event — in the Senate Chamber. I meant no disrespect to the Assembly, and I view the subject of the debate as a very important issue affecting people right across the island of Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I heard many of the Members who spoke. Like the Minister, I find it incredible that, as people struggle every day to pay their bills, rent or mortgage, they are listening to the media talk about insider dealings and millions lost to the taxpayer and are shaking their heads in disbelief. I echo the question posed by our Minister of Finance: who benefited and who suffered? It is essential —”
“We often met in corridors, late at night, as we wondered whether we could book hotels, as business was going on until two or three in the morning. Trevor was always one of the people to go to. I congratulate him on his recent honours and on the work that he has done in the public service, and I very much look forward to working with him in the future. I have no doubt our paths will cross again.”
“He played a key role in helping to establish the first women's caucus, which other legislatures are very envious of. I worked with him on the North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association. Indeed, at one of those meetings, Trevor got very sad news about his father and headed up the road; his father had passed away. <BR /> <BR />I have been working with him on the Speaker's team. We had our last meeting, this morning, with Trevor. I know that this is his last week here and that this is his last day in the Chamber, so I am sure it is a bittersweet day. I am sure you are looking forward to your retirement, but I am sure it is also a very sad day. <BR /> <BR />I hope your family enjoy having time with you.”
“I echo what our Speaker, First Minister and, indeed, Alex Attwood, have said. I am speaking for Sinn Féin, because Martin McGuinness is over at a football match that is happening tonight somewhere. Martin asked me to pass on my best wishes and thanks to Trevor for the enormous work that he has done. I wish Trevor all the best in his retirement, but I do not believe it will be a real retirement because I have already heard about some of the work that he plans to be doing. I have enjoyed very much working with Trevor. I did not work with him on the Policing Board, because he had left it when I joined it — he had left it to come here — but I worked with him very closely on the Assembly Commission. He showed tremendous leadership in very difficult times on the Assembly Commission.”
“I welcome the Minister's positive tone. Will he agree with me that it is important that this Executive deliver infrastructure projects such as the Narrow Water bridge?”
“I understand the Member has been nominated as woman of the year in her constituency, so I congratulate her. I know you will not be with us tonight for the launch of the women's caucus, so I am taking this opportunity to congratulate you.”
“Thank you for your intervention. I absolutely agree with you. That struck me, last night, as we had an amazing event in the Long Gallery with some powerful women participants. There were over 90 women and men there last night. It was a powerful event, and I am looking forward to the events that are coming up. <BR /> <BR />I end by saying that I lost my mother in December. She was a good, strong woman, who had a great life. She reared seven children; she reared them in different times. Women like my mother, and all our mothers, fought the good fight in their way, in their time. As a mother and mamó — a grandmother — I put on record my thanks to her.”
“The Whip and group leader in our party do a lot of work together, and I have to say that he has been a joy to work with over the last number of years and a really good group leader. <BR /> <BR />As we have this debate, I am conscious that we are losing some very good women who are not standing for election. We are losing Judith Cochrane; we are losing Bronwyn McGahan; we have lost Sue Ramsey; we have lost Michelle Gildernew; we are losing Anna Lo. I think that the Chamber and Assembly are going to miss those women. I pay tribute to them and wish them all the best. I have no doubt that we will be seeing you up here again in whatever guise —”
“I used to be in the lonely place of being the only woman Whip, but we now have two women Whips. That did not happen by accident. That happened because women were taking power and being supported by men in parties who understood the importance of true equality within each of our parties. <BR /> <BR />As Paula Bradley said, it does not mean that we all agree with each other. We do not. We disagree on lots of occasions. Yesterday, Paula Bradley and I were on different sides of voting on an amendment, and, straight after that, we supported each other in the women's caucus. The trick is how we manage our differences. <BR /> <BR />I enjoyed very much working with you all. The fact that there were more women in Committees made them much nicer places to be. I also personally thank my colleague Raymond McCartney.”
“<BR /> <BR />Since this time last year, we have had the first meeting of the women's caucus — the women's caucus is being launched tonight by Martin McGuinness and junior Minister Pengelly — and we have had about four meetings of the gender-sensitive Parliament. There is a range of events, including a visit from the granddaughter of one of the suffragettes, on Friday, which, I think, Paula is officiating at. That is a fantastic way to end Assembly women's week. <BR /> <BR />We also have a First Minister who is a woman; we have two junior Ministers; we have a Minister for Agriculture and a Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure; we have an Assembly Commission in which, for the first time, it is three all, which makes it a much nicer place to be; and we have two women Whips.”
“That was Judith Cochrane's proposal, and we all supported it. The AERC also went to Iceland, where we saw some very tangible things that could be done to bring about real changes. That is something which, I know, the women's caucus and, I am sure, the gender-sensitive Parliament working group will continue to look at. <BR /> <BR />The highlight of my time here was probably the trip to Sweden, where, for the first time, I got to know a lot of the women from various parties on a personal basis. I learnt a lot there, and I hope that we built real friendships. At least, I feel that I built real friendships, while respecting all our differences.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Lá Idirnáisiúnta na mBan sona daoibh uilig. Happy International Women's Day to you all. I join Paula Bradley and Karen McKevitt in congratulating the Speaker on the tremendous International Women's Week programme. <BR /> <BR />You will be relieved to hear that today, rather than focussing on gender inequality in our society, I am going to celebrate the achievements of women in this Chamber and the major steps that we have taken in a very short period of time. <BR /> <BR />This is the exact date on which we debated the AERC report last year. I pay tribute to every member of that Committee, and I see that most of them are in the Chamber. That was the starting point of this journey, and it was a very important starting point. We lit the building up in purple for the first time.”
“I thank the Member for her comments and for the tremendous work that she and her team have done in relation to gender equality. Does she agree with me about the importance of having women at every level on all different Committees? That makes a significant difference for women.”
“<BR /> <BR />Tá súil agam go dtacóidh Comhaltaí ar fud an Tí leis an rún. Molaim an rún don Teach. I hope that Members from across the House will support the motion, and I commend it to the House.”
“<BR /> <BR />As Ms Paula Bradley stated in her opening remarks, the Assembly Commission was determined to recruit a high-quality candidate in keeping with the demands and profile of the ombudsman's office. Táimid cinnte go bhfuil an t-iarrthóir sin againn in Ms Anderson. In nominating Ms Anderson, we are confident that we have succeeded. She has an impressive legal and public service background and a wealth of experience in the ombudsman's sphere. <BR />Personally, it is an even greater pleasure to be winding this motion to appoint Ms Anderson on International Women's Day. Is forbairt an-dearfach é a hainmniúchán inniu, agus, faoi réir cheadú an Tionóil, guím gach rath uirthi ina post. Her nomination today is an extremely positive development and, subject to the Assembly's approval, I wish her well in the post.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle, gabhaim buíochas le Comhaltaí as a n-óráidí. I thank Members for their contributions. Aithním gurbh é Acht an Ombudsman um Sherbhísí Poiblí an chéad reachtaíocht a thug Coiste Reachtúil de chuid an Tionóil tríd an Teach. I recognise that the Public Services Ombudsman Act was the first legislation taken through the House by a Statutory Committee. <BR /> <BR />Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil arís le Coiste an Chéad Aire agus an LeasChéad Aire agus le gach feidhmneannach de chuid an Tionóil a chuidigh leis an Acht a fhorbairt agus a chur i bhfeidhm. I would like to use this opportunity to thank the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and all the Assembly officials who contributed to developing and implementing the Act.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I do not want to delay the House tonight because we laid out our stall to John McCallister and the House at Consideration Stage, when we stated that we believed that the need and demand for opposition had been realised and satisfied in the Fresh Start Agreement. That remains our position. There is nothing in any of these amendments that changes that opinion. It remains our belief that the content of the amendments could be steered through by convention or by amending Standing Orders, or a combination of both. Sinn Féin will be registering its opposition to all the amendments.”
“Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker, can you confirm that the Assembly Commission's finances are audited internally by internal auditors and externally by the NI Audit Office?”
“Further to that point of order, Mr Speaker.”
“We all need to think very carefully about the challenge posed to us by the Human Rights Commission today. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin takes its role as legislators very seriously. Our entire team is here tonight. We will support amendment Nos 61 and 68, and we urge every individual in the House to do so.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I note that some commentators are calling the commission a red herring to get the DUP past the election. I believe that it is a failure of leadership on its part. Some in the SDLP would have you believe that the debate is about the extension of the 1967 Abortion Act. Any such claim is misleading. The SDLP's approach in relation to this debate is very similar to the way that it approaches the equal marriage debate. Its position changes depending on who it is talking to, and differing factions in the party have differing positions. So much for the new progressive leadership of Colum Eastwood. <BR /> <BR />The Human Rights Commission wrote to us all today, and it rightly challenges all of us when it says:”
“It is all very well talking about compassion. Compassion is not putting decisions on the long finger.”
“The key relationship here is between the woman and her clinician during those very distressing times. <BR /> <BR />I have been present at four births: two of my own, one of a friend's child, and my grandchild. There is no place at births for politicians; we are supposed to make the law. It is the clinician, the woman and her family who should decide. That is key here today. <BR /> <BR />The DUP has said that it supports a commission that will report in six months. What about the plight of women in the here and now? What about the women who are pregnant as a result of rape or women who are faced with fatal foetal abnormalities? Is the DUP going to tell them, "We are having a commission in six months and then we will see where it goes". I am sorry, but putting it on the long finger does a disservice to women.”
“There is no suggestion that the option of termination will be the appropriate response for all women who are faced with pregnancy arising from sexual crime or where a pregnancy has been determined to have abnormalities that are incompatible with life. However, coming to Steven Agnew's point, in each of those instances, it is, nevertheless, only the woman herself who is best placed to determine an appropriate response. We must acknowledge women as competent and conscientious decision makers in our own lives. <BR /> <BR />That is the question before this House today. Are we prepared to trust women to determine what is best for them in the case of fatal foetal abnormalities or a pregnancy as a result of sexual crime, or will we withhold from women the right to make the decision on our own behalf?”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I am coming to that. I was on the point about consultation. I do not think that anyone can argue that there has not been consultation, debate or litigation. It has been widely consulted, debated and litigated ad nauseam. There is probably no other issue where so much debate has taken place, except maybe equal marriage. Eventually, the majority of the House agreed that there should be equal marriage, and I hope that the same happens here today. <BR /> <BR />I believe that some politicians are behind the public in relation to this issue. Recent polling commissioned by Amnesty International indicated that a significant majority of people are in favour of changes in the law on these narrow grounds.”
“I do not believe that anyone in the House can argue that there has not been enough time or consultation on this serious issue.”
“That position reflects international minimum human rights standards and the Horner judgement. Judge Horner has stated that, as it stands, the law is not compatible with human rights. We, as legislators, should, first and foremost, provide legislation that is human rights-compliant. On 30 November 2015, the Human Rights Commission in the North won its judicial review of termination of pregnancy laws. The court held that article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the right of women to family and private life, was breached in the North by the general prohibition on abortions in cases of fatal foetal abnormalities and pregnancies that are a consequence of sexual crime. <BR /> <BR />I have listened today to Members arguing that there should be full public consultation and that we need to take time.”
“Sinn Féin has opposed and voted against the extension of the 1967 Act to the North of Ireland when it was proposed in the Assembly. Sinn Féin believes that, in cases of rape or sexual crime, or when a pregnant woman's life is in danger, the option of termination should be available. At its last ard-fheis, Sinn Féin amended party policy, which now reflects the view that termination of pregnancy should be available to those who choose to avail themselves of it in situations of fatal foetal abnormality. At our ard-fheis 2015, delegates voted in support of motion 122 which reaffirms party policy and further acknowledges:”