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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“Will the Member take an average industrial wage?”
“The Member opposite who is intervening takes his full wage.”
“I thank the Member for allowing me this intervention, and I hope that he will join me in supporting a 10% cut, which Sinn Féin proposed, rather than 3%. Will he make history today and join with Sinn Féin in supporting something? I also put on the record that Sinn Féin Members take an average industrial wage, and we do not get any of the top-ups. That goes in to —”
“It is up to those parties to explain to people losing their jobs in the Assembly why they made the choice that they did. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin will support the motion to reduce funding to political parties, but we do not believe that it goes far enough. Our proposal would have been for a 10% cut.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Thank you, Mr Speaker. We are debating the proposals to cut assistance to FAPP. I am a member of the Assembly Commission, but I am speaking as a party member because I had difficulties with the proposal. <BR /> <BR />It did not go far enough, given the challenges that we face. My proposal was that all parties should take a 10% reduction to the financial assistance that they receive rather than a mere 3%. That would have meant less of a reduction in other services and, with a range of other measures, would have helped to protect jobs in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />I found it disappointing and shortsighted that, when faced with a difficult decision, all other parties voted to protect funding to themselves, some with a 3% reduction and others with a 0% reduction.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Will the First Minister update us on progress in the development of the sexual orientation strategy?”
“<BR />In terms of the LGBT community, as part of the outreach strategy, which I chaired, we ensured that sexual orientation was one of the key areas of outreach for us, and that is now out for an equality impact assessment. That is one of the areas that we will look at. We value greatly the contribution that our ethnic minorities make to our society here in this part of Ireland, and we will do everything to ensure that our institution reflects the diverse nature of our society.”
“I thank the Member for that question; it is very close to my concerns. As Members in the Chamber know, the Assembly and Executive Review Committee recently produced a report, and the Assembly Commission will examine the report very carefully in relation to women in politics and how we ensure broader gender representation. At our next meeting, we will look at the issue of the gender action plan. The Member will be aware that the Speaker recently hosted a very successful event for International Women's Day. Indeed, the Building was lit up purple to celebrate women. We will do everything that we can to broaden the number of visitors and the number of women in the Chamber.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chomhalta as an cheist sin. I thank the Member for his question. As I said, the Assembly Commission has not agreed the final cuts or budget reductions to date. We still have to have further discussion at our meeting on 18 March. We are trying to do everything that we can to protect front-line services and jobs. At this point, I cannot give any assurances on any programmes. However, the Member can be assured that I will certainly do everything that I can to ensure that the resources are there to protect front-line services and jobs as far as possible.”
“I thank the Member for her question. Since 2012, the three most represented constituencies on our education programmes have been East Belfast, with 2,787 pupils; Upper Bann, with 2,779; and East Antrim, with 2,663 pupils. The three constituencies that are least represented are West Tyrone, with 626 pupils; North Down, with 1,072; and Strangford, with 1,128 pupils. The Member can see that there is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of distance from the Assembly. I absolutely take the point. I have a full list, which I will provide to the Member, of the numbers coming from schools from every constituency. It is essential that the Assembly Commission target, in particular, the constituencies that have the least number of children and young people coming up.”
“The four main objectives of the strategy are to provide accurate and timely information in order to build awareness, understanding and participation with the Assembly, its Members and work and the democratic process; to develop an increased digital initiative in order to support all stakeholders to participate, interact and engage with the Assembly; to build partnerships with stakeholders, create and improve engagement opportunities with underrepresented and/or hard-to-reach groups, build synergies and improve effectiveness; and to increase visitor numbers to Parliament Buildings and deliver an excellent visitor experience.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I will answer the question, but I will not be ignorant and inappropriate as the Member was to me. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission recently approved a new engagement strategy, which aims to ensure that the Assembly and its work are accessible to all and communicated widely.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Assembly Commission will be able to provide for the Member, in writing, the yearly total number of visitors broken down for functions, functions with tour, tours with hospitality and education programmes. <BR /> <BR />Is iad na cláir oideachais an t-aon chatagóir d’imeachtaí ina bhféadann an Tionól an toghlach as ar tháinig cuairteoirí a thaifead go beacht. <BR /> <BR />Education programmes are the only —”
“I have made the point that I think that it is absolutely inappropriate for the Member to yawn in the way that he has. <BR /> <BR />Sa bhliain 2013: 70,328 gcuairteoir. Sa bhliain 2014, 67,921 chuairteoir. <BR /> <BR />Due to the diverse nature of the visits and the vast number of visitors attending an event, function or tour, the Assembly Commission is not able to gather that information, broken down per constituency. However, we can provide the Member with the total number of visitors for the past three years. In 2012, there were 79,081 visitors, in 2013, 70,328 and, in 2014, 67,921. <BR /> <BR />Beidh Coimisiún an Tionóil in ann miondealú ar líon iomlán bliantúil na gcuairteoirí ar ócáidí, ócáidí le turas, turasanna le fáilte, agus cláir oideachais a chur ar fáil don Chomhalta i scríbhinn.”
“It is not possible. I am not prepared to answer questions in these circumstances.”
“Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, is it appropriate that somebody yawns so ignorantly as I am trying to answer the question?”
“Sa bhliain 2012: 79,081 chuairteoir. Sa bhliain dhá mhíle —”
“I am answering the question, and I really believe that that was totally inappropriate behaviour. I was waiting for —”
“I thank the Member for his question. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chomhalta as an gceist. Mar gheall ar éagsúlacht na gcuairteanna agus an líon ollmhór cuairteoirí a bhíonn ar imeachtaí, ócáidí, nó ar thurasanna, ní féidir le Coimisiún an Tionóil an t-eolas seo a bhailiú de réir toghlaigh. Is féidir linn, áfach, líon na gcuairteoirí sna trí bliana deireanacha a chur ar fáil don Chomalta. Sa bhliain 2012: 79,081 chuairteoir.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chomhalta as an gceist sin. I thank the Member for that question. The successful supplier of the laptops will be responsible for carrying out the disposal of existing laptops in a way that causes minimum disruption to the routine work of the Assembly and is in line with the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations 2006 (WEEE).”
“I agree with the Member that it is very important that we have the most up-to-date technology to represent our constituents in the way that we should. We are in discussions around the budget. At this point, I cannot give an absolute assurance that the desktop computers will be replaced. Two million pounds is a lot of money out of a budget, and we want to ensure that we protect jobs as much as possible; that is a priority. While I am speaking here for the Assembly Commission, I am stating my own position on jobs, but I know that other Members want to do the same because it is very important. I will certainly relay your comments to the Commission at our meeting on Wednesday.”
“I can assure Members that, for my part, I will be doing everything that I can to protect jobs. I am sure that all Commission members will join me in that.”
“Since 2012, as part of its plans to refresh and upgrade all information technology equipment and services provided to constituency offices, the Assembly Commission has delivered new facilities, such as printers and broadband internet, and is replacing all laptop computers supplied to Members and constituency office staff. The Assembly Commission also plans to replace all desktop personal computer equipment in 2016. <BR /> <BR />The reduction of £2 million in the Commission’s budget for 2015-16 will obviously impact on services provided to Members. A significant reconfiguration of the way that the Commission delivers its services is needed. We are still having discussions on our budget reductions. A final paper has to come to the Commission meeting on Wednesday 18 March.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Chomhalta as an gceist. I would like to thank the Member for his question. <BR /> <BR />Ón bhliain 2012, mar chuid dá phleananna chun trealamh agus seirbhísí Teicneolaíochta Faisnéise a athnuachan agus a uasghrádú, sholáthair Coimisiún an Tionóil áiseanna nua mar chlóirí agus idirlíon leathan-bhanda, agus tá sé ag athsholáthar gach ríomhaire glúine a thugtar do Chomhaltaí agus do fhoireann na nOifígí Toghlaigh. Tá rún ag Coimisiún an Tionóil gach Ríomhaire Deisce a athsholáthar sa bhliain 2016.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as na freagraí sin. I thank the Minister for her answers. Will she outline the savings she expects from reduced testing?”
“We tried to get agreement on this, covering all ages, but unfortunately it was not forthcoming. At present, there is no protection for anyone who is under 16. We see the legislation that has been brought forward as a first step, and we will now ensure that we consult with all interested parties and stakeholders with the aim of bringing forward legislation that covers everybody. <BR /> <BR />I support those Members who spoke about the Single Equality Bill. Our position on it is very clear. We support it, and we would like to see a bill of rights progressed. Again, however, the party opposite is attempting to block anti-discrimination legislation.”
“The people who try to bring about Bills on freedom of conscience really need to examine their own conscience about what is behind some of this legislation. <BR /> <BR />Where Christian beliefs are concerned, of course Churches of all denominations need religious belief. We are the first to support that, but many people in Christian communities do not want to see religion used as an attempt to justify discrimination against an entire community. I note that a Catholic priest has come out recently on that, as have many people within the Protestant and, indeed, other Churches. I very much welcome that. <BR /> <BR />We have been trying for some time to get age discrimination included in legislation. It is not a good foundation to bring forward anti-discrimination legislation when it discriminates against people who are under 16.”
“Leaving aside the Ashers case, we should not return to a situation where people who are lesbian, gay or bisexual are worried that, every time they go to a restaurant, look for insurance or look to buy a mortgage, someone is going to use the so-called freedom of conscience Bill. Thankfully, there will be no freedom of conscience Bill, and Sinn Féin will use the petition of concern in the way it was meant to be used, which is to protect equality. <BR /> <BR />I put on record my admiration for the LGBT community's courage in standing up against discrimination. I would like the Assembly to send out a message not of hate but of love and support for that community. It has suffered enough in the past. You can see the level of attacks and homophobic behaviour and the impact that it has on that community.”
“I publicly call on them to do that, because we need to send a very clear message from the Assembly that we will not tolerate any diminution of rights for the LGBT community.”
“No matter what the previous Member to speak said, this is not about debate or consultation. This is about the continued DUP threats to discriminate against the LGBT community. Its past record was that it was first going to save Ulster from sodomy, and, thankfully, people stood up and were counted. It then tried to block civil partnership Bills. It has voted consistently against equal marriage. This is just a continuation of its discrimination against the LGBT community, and I am very pleased that Basil McCrea and Steven Agnew are joining with us on the petition of concern. I welcome the fact that the SDLP and Alliance have said that they will be voting against. I am still waiting for them to come back to me to confirm whether they will be supporting our petition of concern.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Cuirim fáilte roimh an díospóireacht seo agus gabhaim buíochas le Páirtí an Chomhaontaithe as an díospóireacht seo a chur sa Tionól. I welcome the debate, and I thank the Alliance for bringing it forward. As my colleague Bronwyn McGahan has said, we will be supporting the motion and voting against the DUP amendment. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin supports equality legislation, and we note with disappointment the DUP attempts to row back on equality. It is disappointing to see this because equality is for everyone, and nobody should be afraid of it. <BR /> <BR />As I stated publicly, Sinn Féin will put a petition of concern against the so-called freedom of conscience Bill at the earliest opportunity because this is not about debate.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an fhreagra sin. I thank the Minister for his answer. Maybe he will widen his horizon and re-examine the debate. It would be interesting for us to know if you have any proposals for ensuring that we can maximise the potential for the European Investment Bank to drive local infrastructure development.”
“We women are not afraid of that. We are bored by it. We are put off by it. We do not want it. It is the same with other women out there, so I hear from all parties that we want real change. We need to take a hard look at how we do our job and how we need to put the report's recommendations into action. <BR /> <BR />At the current rate of change, it will take 250 years to bring about 50:50. That is not good enough. None of us wants that, so it is now time for men and women to get off the fence and take the side of gender equality. No more ifs, buts, excuses or explanations. Please, do not quote the merit principle at us. We are sick of the merit principle. Seán Rogers hit the nail on the head on that. Well done, Seán. <BR /> <BR />We know the extent of the problem. Let us now change it together.”
“I would love some extra time. Thank you very much. I was hoping that I would be asked that. <BR /> <BR />Adversarial politics is about intimidation and fear, and about creating that culture.”
“Boards of publicly owned and publicly limited companies with over 50 employees have to have at least 40% of either gender represented. <BR /> <BR />Adversarial politics is a turn-off. It is not that we are not capable of dealing with it —”
“Let us look at the Westminster election, right across the board, and see how many women are standing in winnable seats. It is also about quotas, which I support. I will say that again in case anyone did not hear it: I support quotas. Unless we bring in things such as quotas and financial penalties, I do not believe that we will really have the change that we need. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin is a party in which women having political power is normal: our vice president is a woman; we have three Ministers who are women; three of our four MEPs are women; and our Chief Whip is a woman. However, that is not good enough. We need 50:50. We need women managers and strategists. I would like to see our public bodies constituted as those in Iceland, where a law has introduced quotas in public appointments.”
“<BR /> <BR />Anyway, on the international stage, the South — Megan, to whom I referred, has just entered the Chamber — is 106th out of 184 when it comes to representation of women in Parliament, and we are 24th out of 27 in Europe. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the report, and each and every one of its recommendations. I have a very short time to speak, so I will not deal with them all, but I will single out a couple of issues. We need political leadership from the top of every single party. Trevor Lunn is right: this is about parties taking action. The Assembly cannot take action, but parties can. Leadership is about promoting women but also about promoting feminist women. I leave that there, and we can debate it. It is about putting women into winnable seats.”
“As my colleague Trevor Lunn said, we have the potential to improve that through co-option. I hope that he does not take it the wrong way if I do a little correction and tell him that four out of our six co-optees were women: Maeve, Bronwyn, Megan and Rosie. That is good, but not good enough. We still need to be doing better. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the fact that our youngest MLA is a young, articulate woman. I also put on record that last week was not a good place to be in the Chamber, when some of our men, who should have known better — only some, thankfully — asked Megan whether she had written her own speech. That is ridiculous and should not have happened.”
“There have been some very thoughtful presentations from men and women in the debate, but, despite Irish and British women leading the way in the suffragette movement, we are one of the worst in Europe. There is no point in us try to justify it: we are one of the worst. I am not going to cite loads of statistics, but I am going to give some. In the South of Ireland, 25 out of 166 Dáil seats are held by women, which is 15%. Some 91 women have been elected since the foundation of the Southern state. Since 1918, out of 4,744 Dáil seats, 260 have been held by women, which is 5·4%. Lest we get too cocky here in the North, where we have a new institution and an opportunity to do things differently, 14% of seats were held by women in 1998; in 2003, it was 18%; in 2007, it was 18%; and, in 2011, it was 19·5%.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I join my colleagues in welcoming the fact that the Assembly Commission unanimously supported Judith's proposal that we be purple today. I also thank the Business Committee for its support in changing times, dates, and so on. I put that on record. <BR /> <BR />We had a very good few months in the Assembly and Executive Review Committee. It began when each party leader was asked to nominate some issues that they felt should be addressed. Our party leader proposed gender equality. I thank the Assembly and Executive Review Committee for supporting that recommendation and for the work that has been done in the past number of months. <BR /> <BR />I join Paula Bradley in thanking the officials who expertly facilitated the report.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Is it appropriate for the Member to be disparaging towards the previous speaker in the way that he was? Does he think that she is not capable of writing her own speech? We will discuss gender equality in the Chamber on Monday, and I ask the Member to take that back.”
“I thank the Member for taking my intervention. I will deal with the issue raised by Mr Allister. Our party is quite happy for the five-party agreement made on 19 December to be made public. Furthermore, the agreement that was signed by four parties, which did not include Sinn Féin, was deficient in a number of areas, and we also believe that it should be published.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an fhreagra sin. I acknowledge and welcome the measures, but students in colleges continue to experience homophobic, bi-phobic and transphobic bullying. Does the Minister agree that more needs to be done to ensure that LGBT students feel safe while they study? What further measures will the Department implement?”
“Further to that point of order, a Cheann Comhairle, can you confirm that there is no such motion under Standing Orders as an Assembly consent motion?”
“On a point of order, a Cheann Comhairle. Can you clarify that the motion before the House on the NCA is a private Member's motion; it is not, in fact, a legislative consent motion or, indeed, an Assembly consent motion under Standing Order 42.”
“We had the ridiculous situation of a Member claiming that the children have to travel 20 miles. The same Member and his party seem to have no problem with children passing each other in the night going from Downpatrick to grammar schools in Belfast and vice versa and right across the North. In the past, £80 million pounds has been spent on that.”
“That illustrates what happened in the past, but thankfully that is not happening any more, because Sinn Féin is not going to allow it to happen. <BR /> <BR />Another myth is about displacement. We have the ridiculous situation of a Member getting up and talking about poor St Patrick's in Maghera. My colleague Cathal Ó hOisín has spoken very favourably of St Pat's, but it has 1600 pupils. Is the growth and development of the Irish-medium sector supposed to be conditional on not displacing any numbers from the English-medium sector? That is ridiculous, particularly in a situation of demographic decline. We have heard how the numbers have grown in Coláiste Feirste from 15 to 650. Very soon there will not be enough places in that school; it is probably already oversubscribed.”
“<BR /> <BR />We heard the myth that it is going against advice. Yet we now know that it is not going against advice. People have written motions that are incorrect and rushed them through the Business Committee.”
“I am sure there is a wide variety of opinions in the Catholic Church. Certainly, anyone I have spoken to in the Catholic Church is very supportive of Irish-medium education. The reason why there is a statutory duty in relation to Irish-medium is that it has been discriminated against in the past. <BR /> <BR />Let us look at some of the myths: "We are not anti-Irish-medium. Location is the problem". With the greatest of respect, it is not up to the House to decide where every school goes. Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta was established and funded. It has worked for years to ensure good area-based planning. This is part of its area-based planning. I listened to it carefully when I was in the Minister's position, and I have no doubt that the Minister has great confidence in its advice and looks at the related detail.”
“I would love to take succour from what he said, but I remember the first time that I approved Irish-medium schools when I was in John O'Dowd's position as Minister. There were three of them. If I remember correctly, it was August. I forget the year. All those schools are thriving now. The two parties opposite voted against that. I am sorry if I find it a bit difficult to believe. <BR /> <BR />Why are we using a petition of concern? I would like to thank the SDLP for supporting it. It is a mechanism for equality. There is a move to discriminate — you can dress it up in all the fancy language you want, but that is what it is — against children who attend Irish-medium schools.”