Martina Anderson
Foyle · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Ba mhaith liom labhairt i bhfabhar an rúin. To fully comprehend the falling numbers of taxi drivers in the industry, as the motion notes, it is important to mention what the industry has gone through over the last year.”
“As far as I know, not one operator in Derry received a single penny from the COVID restrictions business support scheme from the Department for the Economy. <BR /> <BR />On 1 April last year, in an open letter to taxi drivers, the Minister said that she would support taxi drivers and continue to press for more assistance.”
“The second scheme deducted the time during which they could not afford insurance from the £3,000 grant. <BR /> <BR />It took almost six months for a financial scheme that provided financial support for drivers who had paused their insurance to take effect.”
“We need urgent and decisive action so that more drivers will join the industry, and there must be incentives for drivers to return to it. <BR /> <BR />Access to taxis is not just about ensuring that people have a safe way to get home after a night out in Derry, although that is a large part of it.”
“If the taxi sector no longer has drivers available to meet demand, there will be a massive implication for the rest of the economy and for our communities and constituencies as people struggle to get from A to B. <BR /> <BR />As is noted in the motion, we need to make the industry "more attractive to new entrants".”
“Fares across the city of Derry are consistently low. Many drivers who work very long hours do not feel that they are getting a fair wage. That is why a review of fare structures is needed, and that is what I am calling for.”
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“Some of these workers are looking at a Health and Social Care service under pressure and, even as we speak, countenancing returning to work to help out to alleviate the pressure. Yet, employers are telling me that they are not entitled to day-one rights; they are not entitled to financial support. The lack of such financial support for those who have to self-isolate needs to be looked at. If we do not do that, we run the risk of further transmission of the disease because some people who are contacted and told that they should self-isolate may be choosing to continue to work because they cannot afford not to do so. <BR /> <BR />Some families had hoped that the amendment (No. 21) and (No. 22) regulations would result in their loved ones getting the vaccine so that they could become part of their Christmas bubble.”
“The discretionary support payment is welcome. However, we all know that households without an income of below £21,000 are not eligible in those circumstances. I and other Members have heard the issue of carers not receiving statutory sick pay. The Health Minister has informed us, in response to questions for written answer and in answers on the Floor, that he has put financial support in place for the independent care sector, for carers who need to self-isolate. Employers have told me that some of them are not entitled to receive a payment. Employers say that those carers do not have day-one rights, that they must work six months, 26 weeks, before they can receive financial support for self-isolating.”
“I acknowledge the work of the Executive and the Finance Minister, Conor Murphy. In England, the most that businesses receive is under £800. Here, the Executive and the Finance Minister secured agreement that the least that a business would receive from the local assistance support scheme would be £800. If we can do that without the economic levers of power, just think what we would do if we had them. However, I know, a LeasCheann Comhairle, that the last thing that you want me to do is enter into a debate about the benefits of Irish unity, so I will leave it at that. <BR /> <BR />The amendment (No. 20) regulations address the decreased period of self-isolation. I, along with other Members across the Chamber, have spoken about those on low wages finding it difficult to self-isolate and, at the same time, put food on the table.”
“20 deals with some minor corrections and technical amendments to the regulations to permit the continued operation of the local restrictions support scheme for businesses. Those schemes have been a lifesaver for many businesses.”
“Those in retail are only eligible for phase 3 of the COVID-19 support payment. <BR /> <BR />People were told to wear a mask in retail stores, and that made it impossible for photographers to carry out their service. You will not get your photo taken if have to wear a mask. In the regulations, photographers are not exempt from wearing a mask because their business is classed as retail, and you have to wear a mask going into retail premises. Photographers want the Assembly to realise that their businesses have been severely limited as a consequence of the restrictions. I therefore ask the Ministers to feed that back when discussing amendment No. 19. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No.”
“<BR /> <BR />Amendment No. 19 deals with the reopening of close-contact services. There has been a lot of confusion about what a close-contact service is. I would like the Ministers to take this into account. I have been dealing with photographers — I am sure that I am not the only one — whose business evaporated, as their operation was severely limited because their customers were required to wear a mask. When hairdressers, nail bars and other close-contact services reopened, people were rightly required to wear a mask. I ask the Ministers to think about that and to pass it on to their ministerial colleagues. Photographers do not meet — I have been told this by officials — the legislative definition of a close contact, as defined in the health protection regulations, and are designated as a retail service.”
“<BR /> <BR />We know that there has been talk — in fact, we have just heard some commentary in which a focus was put on this — about the implications of the restrictions on people's lives, resulting in people falling into poverty. I take it that, when we move on and things, hopefully, return to some kind of new normal, we will build back better, and that, throughout this journey, if there is an anti-poverty strategy on the Executive's table, we will have full ministerial support for its implementation and for its being allocated based on objective need. <BR /> <BR />As a member of the Executive Office Committee, I want to say that the public are fed up. The public are fed up with the SDLP playing hokey-cokey during this pandemic: being in the Executive and out of the Executive. The public are really fed up with that.”
“I wish to speak to amendment Nos. 19 to 25. I remind the House that, on 5 October, Derry and Strabane were placed under restrictions, and then, in the middle of October, the entire North was placed under the same restrictions. We realised, as time moved on, that things were going in the wrong direction. We knew that new variants were appearing and that the rate of transmission meant that we needed to delay the relaxation measures, but it took longer for the amendments before us today to come into effect because, unfortunately, the DUP used a veto to block a two-week extension of the restrictions, and that was shameful.”
“I am sure that the joint First Minister will agree that the problems that we face have to do with Brexit, which the majority of people in the North did not vote for. Does she agree that the lateness of the advice that was given to British businesses, coupled with a lack of preparation by the British Government, has resulted in the problems that we and businesses face today?”
“Minister, we read last week that some of your ministerial colleagues want you to address the EU shortfall perhaps by taking money out of other Departments' budgets; the irony in that, if it is true. I have listened to your response. Are you saying that the shared prosperity fund — the fund that Brexiteers told us was going to replace all the European funding — is not going to replace the European social fund and the European regional development fund? Have there been any further developments in the replacement of EU funding for next year?”
“With your indulgence, a Cheann Comhairle, I wish Christopher a belated "Happy birthday". <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister for her two statements. Given the commitment in 'New Decade, New Approach' to enhance cross-border cooperation and, indeed, the £500 million Shared Island Fund that has been announced, will the Executive, in conjunction with the Irish Government, ensure the acceleration of the priority projects for the north-west strategic growth partnership? I think of the A5, the expansion of Magee, rail connectivity, the A2, tourism projects and all that is needed in Derry to address regional inequalities.”
“— and is looking to the South of Ireland for alternative routes. Brexit is, without doubt, an unmitigated disaster, and all who advocated it should hang their heads in shame.”
“Therefore, the South of Ireland has become a more attractive alternative supply chain route. <BR /> <BR />Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is concerned about the free flow of medicines to pharmaceutical companies here, which are very reliant on just-in-time deliveries. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is concerned about the transfer of waste shipments entering the EU —”
“Businesses will have to start printing labels bearing the identification marks of the North — another diversion from Britain — in order to ensure that goods that are sold here in the North continue to follow EU rules, not Britain's rules. Councils also know that agri-food products moving from the North to Britain for onward travel to the EU will, in some cases, need to be accompanied by additional supporting health documents. Agri-food products that are subject to border control posts and checks, which Minister Poots is building, will have to enter the North via designated points of entry, such as Warrenpoint, Larne and Belfast. Councils highlighted the impact of delays at ports. They are working up contingency plans because of the disruption to their supply chain.”
“There is more. The Committee was informed that the North is a net beneficiary of EU funding and gains €3·6 billion every few years. Out of that sum, €750 million is received from EU structural funds. Brexiteers told councils, groups and organisations that the British Government would replace that funding. However, the British Government announced a fund of only £220 million for Britain and here, which will result in a pittance of an allocation compared with what we received by being a member of the EU. <BR /> <BR />The North will not be leaving the EU on the same basis as Britain. There will be divergence on SPS checks, as the North will be aligned with the EU, not with Britain. Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council raised issues about agri-food and labelling.”
“On top of that, officials from the Department of Finance informed the Executive Office Committee that farmers will see a reduction of £34 million from what they had been receiving in EU funds over the next three years. Therefore, the promise of EU funding being replaced by the British Government was simply not true.”
“Blood-red lines, which were to guarantee regulatory alignment, were ignored. Instead, there has been clearly defined regulatory divergence.”
“They clearly understood that and did not want to see a hardening of the border in Ireland. From listening to the representatives of those councils that represent areas in which a majority of people voted Leave, it was clear that the penny was starting to drop. The councils that represent farmers and rural dwellers now know that Brexit will rob their pockets and wallets and will have an adverse impact on their livelihoods. Many of them were promised by Brexiteers that the British Government would foot the Brexit bill. They were promised that they would not lose EU funding, because the British Government would replace it. In fact, they were told that there were going to be great benefits from leaving the EU. <BR /> <BR />Let us see how all of that is going. There is a harder border down the Irish Sea.”
“As we listened to the 11 councils, some Executive Office Committee members clearly understood that EU laws, policies and functions touch on almost every aspect of life in the North. It is bad enough that councils have to deal with the COVID pandemic, but the Brexit transition and the post-transition outcome, whatever the shape of that is in 16 days' time, have resulted in an intensification of the significant financial pressures that councils are under. <BR /> <BR />The councils that represent the majority of people who voted to remain in the EU clearly understand the disaster of Brexit. For instance, in my own city of Derry and in the Derry City and Strabane District Council area, 78% of people voted Remain, because they knew that there was no good Brexit.”
“Does the Member not agree that the British Government rebate ensured that we in the North were net beneficiaries of the EU and that the constituency that we should care about is our own?”
“Minister, as you know, Chris Hazzard from Sinn Féin championed this in 2016 and secured the funding. I was glad to hear you talk about the Caw roundabout to Drumahoe as being crucial and key. What efforts are being made to take us through the statutory process before you get to the point of putting in the bid?”
“One of my constituents contacted me today. There have been a number of cases across Derry, and they are being forced to take their annual leave and are not getting that kind of support. Can you do more to encourage the use of the supports? I know that you are encouraging the organisations, but we need to get that message across, particularly to carers.”
“Minister, by common consent, the British Government have been somewhat shambolic in their handling of the pandemic since its outset. I cannot point to a single thing that they have got right. Given what you said about the vaccine, it is unfortunate that we have to depend on them for the supply of it. <BR /> <BR />In light of what the Minister said about the phased approach, can he guarantee that all healthcare and social care workers will have access to the vaccine within a clearly defined time frame, particularly the staff at Altnagelvin Area Hospital and domiciliary care workers, who have been under considerable pressure for a long time?”
“Notwithstanding your views on the protocol, do you agree that it prevents the hardening of the border in Ireland, protects the Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts and preserves the all-Ireland economy?”
“Go raibh maith agat, Minister, for that answer. What decision-making model has the Department put in place for income support allocations for each council?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an ráiteas. I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, you said in the statement that you discussed the status of Waterways Ireland. However, given that the North will lose EU oversight, perhaps by the end of today, did the North/South Ministerial Council discuss issues relating to improving and maintaining the quality of Waterways Ireland's waters and protecting that from further environmental harm? We know that there will be no good Brexit for the North of Ireland.”
“Picking up on what you said in a previous answer, am I right in understanding that losing access to key EU justice and security cooperation arrangements means that the North will be left with substandard tools to tackle cross-border crime, that we could become more susceptible to criminality at the end of the transition period and that there will be no good Brexit, whether there is a deal or no deal?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as an ráiteas. I thank the Minister for her statement. As you know, Minister, I concur with your view that Brexit is folly, reckless and wrong.”
“Minister, as you know, 600 racist hate crimes were reported to the PSNI last year, and only 13% to 14% received prosecutions. That is a shockingly low figure, as, I am sure, you will agree, particularly for the victims who reported and endured those hate crimes. <BR /> <BR />It is something that we heard very clearly during the Black Lives Matter protests. Minister, I know that you are working your way through all the recommendations, given that you received the Marrinan report only last night, but what do you intend to do to try to ensure that people continue to report such crimes to the PSNI, despite the low uptake of prosecutions? Moreover, what do you intend to do to increase the number of prosecutions for those people who have reported racist hate crimes?”
“I will stick to the content of the Bill, particularly what it says as a result of the COVID-19 crisis and Brexit. I cannot answer the last contribution because of your ruling, but I am sure that the Member knows where I stand, which is that people did not vote for it. <BR /> <BR />In the context of EU exit, as referred to in the Bill, we urge the Joint Committee to work quickly on any aspects of checks that are within the remit of the spirit of compromise. It is vital that our ports can deal with the challenges that lie ahead. Raising the cap on loans and grants, as referred to in clause 1, is to be welcomed. <BR /> <BR />I give my support — somewhat reluctantly, because we do not like accelerated passage — to the Bill.”
“<BR /> <BR />We urge both sides of the Joint Committees, as we head towards the end of the transition, having been kicked out of the EU against the democratically expressed wishes of the majority of the people in the North, who voted to remain —”
“How does that relate to this clause? When we are talking about Brexit, that was one of the many things that we secured from the EU on infrastructure projects. It enabled the establishment of a data centre at the Foyle port in Derry, the Atlantic Hub, which is attracting interest from EU countries. It is clear that the funding cap increase in the clause — the Minister talked about it, and it is vital for the ports — needs to be coupled with a renewed call for the British Government and Minister Poots to clarify urgently what buildings and IT systems will be in place. A clear plan and leadership are the best way of ensuring that the money is spent in the best way possible.”
“However, the resources to build the necessary infrastructure are vital to ensure that ports are in a competitive position in the medium to long term. <BR /> <BR />When we reflect on EU exit and the impact that it will have on the economy and on ports, I would like to recall, for instance, Project Kelvin in Derry, which is an EU multimillion-pound/euro cable that was built to provide the island of Ireland with the first undersea network cable for the fastest transatlantic route directly to Ireland.”
“The last time that I stood to speak, I think that I strayed into Second Stage, but, sure, it would not be like me. I will take this opportunity again to say how wonderful Foyle port is in Derry, as people would expect me to say. It is a fantastic port that employs over 1,000 people. <BR /> <BR />Ports are vital to our economy. The particular clause in the Bill is quite striking, and many Members referred to the impact that COVID has had on ports and, of course, Brexit. <BR /> <BR />As my colleague has just stated, the British Government and Minister Poots have been somewhat lethargic, to say the least, in their efforts to try to prepare the ports for what is coming down the road at us on 1 January. Perhaps we will know this week or perhaps we will not. Who can tell? We are waiting on the outcome of the negotiations.”
“I will wind on that point. It is related; we know about the relationship between accelerated passage, COVID and Brexit. The ports are dealing with those things. We recognise that giving accelerated passage to the Bill will have implications for COVID and Brexit, what is happening and what we are facing. That is why the Committee, after taking that into consideration, agreed to accelerated passage somewhat reluctantly, as did the Minister. I will make the rest of my comments at the next stage.”
“Given that DAERA officials have been working very hard around the clock, and we need to acknowledge that, to make sure that the readiness plan is feasible, it is a pity that their efforts have been somewhat hamstrung.”
“As the Minister and the Committee Chair said, the limit has not been increased since 1989, and the increase to £90 million is based on inflation, therefore I believe that it is a reasonable move to assist the ports in moving forward, particularly given that the Department stated that, if all the future loans identified by the ports were to materialise over the next five years, it would require a further £22·5 million. <BR /> <BR />I would like to take a moment to comment on the current position that the ports find themselves in — this is in relation to what the clause mentions at the end — with regard to Brexit. The British Government and Minister Poots have been somewhat lethargic, to say the least, in their efforts to prepare our ports for 1 January. We have talked about that extensively in Committee.”
“It is therefore a vital gateway for the north-west economy and has allowed capacity to grow as we move forward. COVID has brought additional challenges to a sector that was already dealing with the looming uncertainty of Brexit, and that is mentioned in the clause. <BR /> <BR />I understand that the loans and grants issued by the Department were, in the past, used for developments such as the renewable energy project at Foyle port, as well as purchasing new tugboats and cranes. While we have been told that the loans and grants are not expected to be used for sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) checks, they may be used for other measures relating to Brexit preparation — again, that is mentioned in the clause — and to help ports to grow their business in the post-Brexit environment.”
“I thank the Minister for being here and for introducing the legislation. As the Chair said, we, as a Committee, have scrutinised the legislation and the need for accelerated passage. This is not how any of us want to do business. Like other Ministers, the Minister has said that she is dissatisfied with taking forward legislation in that way. I do not think that there is one Minister who likes the accelerated passage process. <BR /> <BR />Given that we are on an island, it goes without saying that ports are a vital part of our economy. Foyle port in Derry, for example, is a key marine entry point into the north-west. Foyle port handles 2 million tons of cargo per year and supports 1,000 jobs. A data centre is also located there, and that has resulted in more inward investment coming in to boost the local economy.”
“I welcome the Minister's statement. For far too long, the social component of procurement contracts was the least enforced. Those who are further away from the labour market, particularly the brokers, have found it very difficult to get access. Will the Minister ensure that the more robust monitoring and enforcement that he mentioned in his statement will mean that the £3 billion of public money that is spent yearly on this process will result in training and job opportunities for those in greatest need in the most deprived areas, such as Derry city and beyond?”
“The industry needs to know that now, not on 10 December, and not at lastminute.com. We all want to be able to have some form of "new normal" exchanges with each other as we continue to practice these measures. No one wants these restrictions that we are discussing to be in place. No one wants to catch the virus, either. However, given the death toll that we have all mentioned, the pressure on hospitality settings and the real pressures on hospitals, those extra two weeks offer us the chance of pushing the community transmission as low as possible to allow, hopefully, for a safer Christmas for everyone. <BR /> <BR />I support the amendments.”
“<BR /> <BR />During the two weeks of restrictions, when other places are closed, anxiety is fuelled among staff members by that. The staff feel somewhat isolated and a bit at risk. That is something that we need to acknowledge, because we are talking about mental health and the levels of anxiety, which are not good for staff or pupils. If, as the Deputy Chair of the Health Committee has said, we do what amendment No. 3 encourages us all to do — wear a face covering, coupled with washing our hands and keeping social distance — hopefully, businesses will see the opening of their premises on 11 December. <BR /> <BR />However, I echo the question that Pat Sheehan asked as to whether the Health Minister will bring forward recommendations to the Executive about further restrictions post 11 December.”
“Thank you. It is in that vein that I talk about amendment No. 12 and children at school, because that has provoked some conversations. We need to ensure that children have playtime at breaks and lunch rather than having to remain in one small room for up to six hours. That relates to amendment No. 12. <BR /> <BR />There is no doubt that children's education is paramount, but the point that I want to make about playtime and amendment No. 12 is that it can be challenging, because staff absences are placing a huge strain on schools. That is what is happening in Derry and across the North. The staff who are left in schools are trying to cater for blended learning, or making sure that children get outside for exercise and all that amendment No. 12 deals with.”
“When they opened in the summer, they tried their best to keep people safe by putting those measures in place. I assume that other Members have heard from people in the hospitality sector, and many others, who, when they heard about amendment No 11, further restrictions and the fact that they were not going to be allowed to open as they had hoped, question why schools are open. There is no doubt that children in school —.”
“We have all listened to Tom Black and heard what he said. Bobby Storey has been dead for five months. As other Members would, we send our thoughts and sympathy to his family, because what happened is something on which there has been an ongoing, daily exchange of views. Sinn Féin has made it clear that we are aware of the impact that it had on the public health message and has apologised for it. <BR /> <BR />Tom Black is an eminent doctor; of course, we would listen to him. It was hard for people in the hospitality industry, for instance, when they heard about more restrictions and amendment No 11 coming into place. They had hoped that they were going to open, only to be told that they were not. They had spent thousands on putting measures in place.”
“People have listened to the chair of the BMA, Tom Black, say that reopening the hospitality industry would be:”
“<BR /> <BR />We need to make a call and let taxi drivers know that while amendment No. 11 is going to have an impact on their businesses — we have asked people to stay at home, and, as a result, there is no one on the streets or to take to and from the pubs, restaurants and hotels — we are aware that they need support. <BR /> <BR />Generally, people are fed up and frustrated with two more weeks of these amendments.”
“11, have taken workers to hospitals and people to care homes. They have delivered food parcels and medicines, and they have done their best. We all know how they are valued, yet they asked us whether we valued them at all. Some drivers downgraded their insurance but still have a taxi policy. Yet, before the restrictions in amendment No. 11 were introduced, taxi drivers were promised that they would be included in the Department for the Economy's COVID restrictions business support scheme. However, just as amendment No. 11 was announced, they were told that they were excluded from that scheme too. They have been excluded from a scheme that was put in place because of decisions that they had to make because of their insurance, and now they have been excluded again.”
“The Committee for Infrastructure this morning had an informal meeting with taxi drivers. Once again, taxi drivers lost work overnight, and just as they thought that they were getting things together, along comes amendment No. 11. Further restrictions were put in place, and their customer base is no more. Once again, bars, restaurants and hotels are closed, and that is having a knock-on effect on taxi drivers, who, like other people, want to work, but these necessary restrictions and the public health message are preventing them doing so. <BR /> <BR />Even though the restrictions mean that they have no income, they play their part. Many of us know taxi drivers who, throughout the pandemic, especially when people were shielding and even now when we are dealing with closures under amendment No.”
“We need to demonstrate competence and ability and to show that we can act fast and smart, all within due diligence, and get financial support into the pockets and purses of those who need it the most. <BR /> <BR />If any Minister is struggling with trying to do that, the Executive should look at giving that Minister a helping hand to see whether that can be brought forward. Life is challenging enough, so in order for the five parties in the Executive to ensure that people get support to live with this deadly virus and these terrible restrictions on people's civil liberties and their life, we need to make sure that the labels of effectiveness and efficiency are the by-products that are worn by all Ministers. <BR /> <BR />Take amendment No. 11, for instance.”