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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“From Derry out into the north-west, you can see only a blank space. Where once, before 1960, four rail lines converged in Derry, now there is only one. Derry's railway station is the second most isolated train station on the entire island of Ireland, and it is only one of a pitiful three railway stations in the north-west, out of 53 railway stations in the North of Ireland. Compare that with a hundred years ago, when we enjoyed a much more extensive network that connected communities across the island. Now, old rail tracks and stations are scattered throughout the country, reminding us of what our rail network used to look like. Over the last century, as the economic impact of partition has festered, Ireland's rail infrastructure has rotted.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. A chairde, I proposed the Adjournment topic to bring to the Assembly the important issue of rail in the north-west. I thank the Minister for being in the Chamber this evening. We start the debate three hours later than we thought we would. <BR /> <BR />If you look at a map of Ireland's rail network, you are likely to notice straight away the complete lack of infrastructure in the north-west compared with that on the rest of the island. It sticks out like a sore thumb. You need only to glance at a rail map of the island of Ireland to see a glaring and obvious problem.”
“There are houses and other buildings across the border corridor that partitions Ireland where the front is in the North and the back is in the South or vice versa. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I acknowledge the huge debt of gratitude owed to the healthcare heroes who have been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 and who, once again, face the serious challenge that the deadly virus presents. There are many strands to the amendments that we have talked about today and to the subsequent restrictions that are now in place. In order for people to be able to afford to comply with them, we need to hear more about the support schemes that Minister Murphy has called for for those who are most in need so that, in places like Derry and elsewhere, our much-needed services, whether they are public or private, are not brought to their knees.”
“Whilst we are talking about wet pubs today, we have had situations in Derry where the restrictions were different from those in Donegal. We have also heard of a memorandum of understanding that the two Administrations, North and South, we were told, had established, but doctors have told us that they have neither heard of it nor operate it. Government, North and South, must act swiftly, collectively and collaboratively if it is to protect the 30,000 people who cross the border every day to work and study and the thousands of others they come into contact with. It is absolutely reckless and wrong that people in Derry and Donegal operate under two different COVID restriction practices.”
“Whilst we are dealing today with amendment Nos 5, 6 and 7, which cover wet pubs, we know that further restrictions have been brought into place, so Minister Dodds needs to bring forward a scheme for the recently self-employed. She can use their accountants to verify the authenticity of their business. Minister Mallon needs to bring forward a scheme immediately for the transport sector, including taxi drivers and others. <BR /> <BR />Minister, this island is a single unit, and all-Ireland policies and practices have been put in place for the 10,000 pigs that come into the North every week. We have seen an all-Ireland health strategy with policies and practices for the thousands of cows and sheep that cross the border every day.”
“Telling them that close to £800 million has been allocated for rate relief, business grants or the newly emerged support grants is neither helpful nor welcome, because most of them fell through the cracks. They have not received one penny. Some hoped that the Economy Minister's hardship fund would offer them some support, but, because the criteria were so limited, they could not avail themselves of it. They got nothing; they did not get a bean. They are rightly annoyed, as they watch hardship money being returned, not spent. <BR /> <BR />On Thursday, Friday and Sunday, I heard the Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, once again call on his ministerial colleagues to bring forward proposals for sectors that are they are responsible for.”
“<BR /> <BR />Unfortunately, the amendments that we are discussing did not stop the spread of this deadly virus, because there were a number of reasons why the virus spread. The further restrictions are impacting on thousands of sole traders designated as "newly self-employed", businesses without premises, charities and small manufacturers. Again, I raise the case of the transport sector. Taxi drivers have been left behind since March, and, just as their wheels were starting to turn again, the restrictions now in place have stopped them. Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, put a financial package in place last week, just days after further restrictions were announced. Yet the self-employed, taxi drivers and the recently self-employed, who are all hit by the restrictions, are running on empty.”
“Minister, we must give the maximum support possible, within the limited spending power available to the Executive, to workers and the most vulnerable in our society. We cannot simply tell people that they need to self-isolate but not provide financial support if their employers are not paying them even basic sick pay. Whilst the COVID-19 discretionary support grant is welcome, the threshold for successful applications cannot be above the living wage of just over £20,000 per household. That, in itself, is simply not enough to lift families out of poverty. I know that the Minister for Communities understands that. The Assembly needs to let those in Derry and elsewhere who are struggling and juggling the need to self-isolate with the need to put food on the table know that a financial package will not leave them behind.”
“Minister, we need to protect our front-line workers, our carers, especially those on low wages, who do not receive statutory sick pay if they self-isolate. The MLAs from Derry and Strabane, along with the MPs, spoke to you on Friday once again. I acknowledge that the Executive Office has afforded us the opportunity on two occasions to talk to you about the impact that the restrictions have been having on Derry and Strabane. After the great efforts made by wet pubs, cafes and restaurants, there came further restrictions, and that broke the hearts of many who work in that industry. We talked to you and collectively expressed our concern about the number of people in Derry and Strabane and across the North who are not self-isolating because they cannot afford to and decide to keep their head down and carry on.”
“We can turn this around. Fortunately, we can report that the restrictions that have been in place in Derry and Strabane for two weeks have started to see the R rate of the virus come down. However, just as it comes down in Derry and Strabane, I am conscious that, as of today, the R rate is climbing in Lisburn and Castlereagh. <BR /> <BR />Community transmission has brought the deadly virus into our homes, care homes and hospitals; indeed, on Friday, it was reported that Altnagelvin Hospital was on red alert. Nurses are struggling with COVID-19, and many more are self-isolating, which has put pressure on our health service. As the Chair of the Health Committee told us today, 80 care homes are now battling with COVID-19.”
“We had to reflect and look at our behaviours — all of them.”
“With the closure of schools for two weeks and the closure of businesses for six weeks in Derry and Strabane, whilst we are talking about wet pubs today in amendment Nos 5, 6 and 7, things have moved on, as other Members have said, and businesses have been hit hard. As you have said previously, these restrictions give us a chance to double down and to strengthen the test, track, trace, isolate and protect system. <BR /> <BR />Almost everyone in Derry, Strabane and, indeed, Donegal knows someone with COVID, someone who is self-isolating, someone affected by these amendments when they were introduced or someone impacted by the subsequent restrictions that have been put in place. People have been clearly reminded that we are the hosts. We are the carriers of this deadly disease. Therefore, it has been spreading at an alarming rate.”
“There are too many low-paid workers in my constituency in Derry, which is one of the most deprived constituencies in the North. They are more likely to be exposed to this deadly disease. Those with manual jobs are not able to work from home. This is a health issue with huge ramifications for social welfare, and it is a social welfare issue that has huge ramifications for public health. When you are assessing why the virus is out of control in areas that have higher rates of deprivation, you should understand the need to tackle regional inequalities. <BR /> <BR />Listening to you, Minister Kearney, I know that the Ministers and the Executive took hard decisions over a number of weeks, and last week was no different as you tried to suppress the community transmission levels.”
“These political institutions — the Assembly and the Executive — should be able to handle the global health pandemic without, intentionally or otherwise, attempting to introduce a sub-zero sectarianism. There is enough fear and uncertainty across society without the introduction of baseline, anti-scientific and sectarian rhetoric from people who should know better. <BR /> <BR />For those interested in interrogating why the virus is spreading in more deprived areas, look at the fact that people are less protected if they are more exposed to it because they are serving on the front line, work on or use public transport, stack supermarket shelves or are carers, hospital porters or shopkeepers — basically, all those who are low-paid workers and members of our society.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am reminded of the comments of Emily Maitlis, the 'Newsnight' presenter, one evening — this has struck very clearly — that we are not all in this together. However, some of the language around the amendments and restrictions that have been put in place has been misleading. You are not protected from COVID, despite what anyone might tell you, if you are from one religious denomination as opposed to another. COVID is neither orange nor green. In that respect, it is a leveller. <BR /> <BR />The amendments and subsequent restrictions that have been put in place are across the North. The sectarian insinuation articulated regarding community transmission is nothing short of scandalous and shameful.”
“I, too, express my deepest sympathy to all those who have lost their life through COVID-19 and to all those struggling with the disease. I reflect back to June, when figures were down and restrictions were easing. We assured the public that we would not keep the restrictions in place one minute longer than was necessary. However, since opening up society, COVID cases have gone up. Too many people let their guard down. I reflect back to places such as Ballymena, which was the first place to see a rise in cases after society opened up, and restrictions were put in place. Unfortunately, many other places followed. The rate of the spread across the North, especially, as has been said, in places of high deprivation, has rightly alarmed many.”
“Minister, are you are planning a multi-year Budget? I am thinking primarily about infrastructure money and the Infrastructure Committee. It would be quite useful and helpful for the north-west, particularly Derry.”
“Minister, I appreciate that response. During the week, Karen Mullan, who, as you know, is a fantastic education spokesperson for Sinn Féin, and I facilitated a meeting between officials from the Department and the Education Authority and a community organisation in the Skeoge area called the Greater Shantallow Area Partnership (GSAP). One of the things that I would like you to consider when looking at that H1C land is helping us to develop a business case. I ask that, if you can help to take that forward, you assist with the business case process.”
“Does the First Minister share the concerns of a number of US political figures about the implications of a no-deal Brexit for the Good Friday Agreement?”
“Thank you for the latitude that you have given us all today. I really do appreciate it.”
“People need to hear more of that kind of language, if they have not heard it previously, coming from Ministers so that it resonates. Unfortunately, we know that, across the North and perhaps further afield, there are anti-mask campaigns — they may be small in number, but they are out there — and people saying that it is all a conspiracy. They are saying that the World Health Organization (WHO) is filling our heads full of sweetie mice and that the pandemic is not happening. This is serious. It is real. We all now know somebody who has been affected, be it in our family, neighbourhood or community. We all now need to work collectively. I believe that we can. Unfortunately, however, if we do not get a grip and get this under control, I do not think that this is the end of the conversation that we will be having about restrictions.”
“We know now that 89 people, I believe, are in hospital, with 13 of them in ICU. <BR /> <BR />I want to talk about the hospital in my constituency. Thankfully, Altnagelvin is a fantastic hospital. I had brought to the Minister of Health the case of a man who, separate from all that has been going on, had been waiting five years for a hip replacement. He got an apology, but he is still waiting. The orthopaedic ward is closing because, we believe, it has to be repurposed owing to COVID. I am concerned about the disruption that that will cause to services across hospitals. <BR /> <BR />Given the figures that the junior Minister gave us today, it is difficult to focus on the issue of soft-play areas. Across this island, 53,908 people have been affected. That is an alarming figure.”
“<BR /> <BR />When we put restrictions in place, we need to keep in mind the financial package that will be coming forward to deal with some of those facilities that had recently reopened. Some pubs spent a fortune, when they did not really have it, in order to try to reopen, and now they are having to close again. Thankfully, we have been told that soft-play areas are not closing, although they must ensure that they follow all the precautions. We know that people are struggling at this time. <BR /> <BR />As a community, Derry and Strabane is probably no different from any other. It is a community of people who will look out for one another and go beyond the call of duty to make sure that we get the virus under control. The junior Minister mentioned the figures for the number of people who are infected.”
“We have also mentioned people who are recently self-employed. Some owners of soft-play areas are recently self-employed. They have facilities that were closed down at the time, and they were not able to get any financial assistance. Many people from different political parties in the Chamber have raised the issue. At the weekend, I spoke to one owner of a small business. He is running on empty. He heard the Economy Minister say that he had fallen through the cracks. He received nothing from the hardship fund or from the two grants. Recently self-employed people, including people who operate soft-play facilities and others, have been struggling throughout the pandemic.”
“We have been talking about soft-play areas, and there is soft evidence — it is subjective evidence, not scientific evidence — that some carers who are agency workers do not qualify for any kind of financial support. I know that there are some in my constituency. If, for instance, they are self-isolating, they do not even qualify for statutory sick pay, because they are agency workers. They go from one care home or house to another, because that is their job. The fact is that they may feel that they have to carry on working. If we are talking about trying to curb the spread of this deadly virus in the middle of a second wave, as we are in now, we need to be mindful of the implications for those workers.”
“Carers and workers in care homes have been mentioned.”
“We are the carriers of this deadly virus, and it is spreading at an alarming rate. Fortunately, Derry and Strabane, like many areas across the North, has a fantastic community infrastructure. That includes the offering that has been made from soft play and elsewhere. We have a community and voluntary sector with people in it who have gone beyond the call of duty and will do so again. I believe that we will get this under control. <BR /> <BR />I listened to the figures that the Minister gave us, and, like everyone here, my heart was sore at the first wave, particularly as we were dealing with vulnerable people in care homes. We were all running around ragged at times, trying to secure PPE for them and trying to get people protected. Today, we hear that 31 of our care homes are battling to stop the further spread of the virus.”
“My constituency of Foyle is part of Derry and Strabane District Council, where, from last Tuesday to this Tuesday, 876 people have COVID-19. When the regulations were brought in, I knew no one in my constituency with COVID-19. Now, there are probably very few people in Derry and Strabane who do not know someone who has COVID-19 or at least know people who are self-isolating. Such is the alarming rate of spread that not a day goes by without someone telling me a name of a person whom I know. When the first wave was at its height and we were all discussing it, I knew no one. Up to the end, there was one person in the city whom I knew. <BR /> <BR />I think that people are getting the message. Ministers have said today and in the past that we are the hosts of the virus.”
“I was concerned that, if that had not been the case for Derry and Strabane, for instance, we would have been sending out a signal that would have made people very confused. People who operate such facilities were confused over the weekend. They were contacting us and did not know whether they could stay open. It is important to note that officials have confirmed that they are still operating in the same way, and that message needs to be heard across the Derry and Strabane area. <BR /> <BR />As the Minister said, the motion addresses the concerning rate of COVID-19 spread. I listened to the figure being read out of 599 and then today's figure of 3,630, so we can see how alarming it is. We can also see that all the restrictions are vital in addressing this deadly virus and trying to get it under control.”
“I also welcome you back. We have missed you at the Committee meetings. I hope that you stay well. <BR /> <BR />It will be difficult to discuss the issue without widening it. I appreciate the fact that you will allow us to at least respond, and I will try my best to fit what I want to say into a response to what the junior Minister said. <BR /> <BR />We are dealing with the amendment to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations. Obviously, we know that some of the regulations have been superseded by further restrictions that the Assembly will deal with at a later date. The amendment is to remove the requirement for soft-play facilities to be subject to closure. Officials confirm that, despite those added restrictions to places such as Derry and Strabane, such facilities can remain open with appropriate precautions.”
“Minister, you will know that I have spoken to you about this matter at the Committee, I have written to you on it, I have raised questions and, like Gary Middleton, I have also met some of the retailers. I will ask you the question again, because they are not convinced that Roads Service is really taking them seriously enough in that they need modifications to the original plan. We all support the A2 Buncrana Road; it is vitally important for the city to unlock its potential. So, Minister, I think that is important that you send them a signal that you are listening — I know that you are listening to them — and that the modification of the road will definitely be taken into account in the context of New Decade, New Approach and co-design. Nothing about us without us.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your statement. Like Christopher Stalford, I was in the Assembly when the institutional abuse inquiry was launched. In fact, I had the privilege of being one of the two junior Ministers who launched the inquiry for the late Martin McGuinness and for Peter Robinson, so I welcome today's announcement. As we all know, the victims have been on a long journey. I hope that Fiona Ryan will take to her new post. I am sure that SAVIA, the other north-west survivors' groups and the other victims' groups will all work well together as they go forward. Minister, you said that a number of applicants had already applied. Can you give us some more information on the level of redress payment that has been made to date?”
“— the whole of Ireland will remain in the EU.”
“Thank you. <BR /> <BR />Disabled rights, political rights and rights for carers that are protected by the EU have already gone. Members on the other side of the Chamber can ignore the conversation taking place about the form and shape of the new Ireland, but they cannot stop it, and they do not have the strategic vision to shape it. <BR /> <BR />To SMEs that want to trade with the EU and the rest of the world, to farmers who want their single farm payment, to students who want to enjoy the ERASMUS experience, to workers who want guaranteed maternity leave and holiday pay and to employers who do not want to juggle two sets of employment rules, I say this: there is a democratic way back into the EU. The European Council sent a message to us when it said that, if this country is reunited —”
“No, thank you. <BR /> <BR />On this day 52 years ago, 5 October, people took to the streets to demand civil rights and got their heads smashed in for doing so. Fifty-two years on, hard-won rights are being trampled on by a British Government who are breaking international law, and they will likely trade protections against torture for grubby trade deals with foreign tyrants. Disabled rights —”
“I will stick to the motion. <BR /> <BR />Even some of their supporters now realise that the 310-mile border that partitions Ireland is not an issue just for Irish republicans and nationalists; it is now a problem for unionist and nationalist farmers and businesses, just as it is now a problem for the EU.”
“Here, some £500 million of public money went up in RHI smoke, literally, so that some of that was done for their friends. <BR /> <BR />Members on the opposite Benches want us to suck it up and live in some kind of hokey-cokey Ireland: one part in the EU; another part out. We are not sucking it up.”
“No, I will not. <BR /> <BR />— so that chlorinated chicken and hormone-injected beef can go into the mouths of babes. <BR /> <BR />Section 46 overrides the power of the Assembly and the Executive and gives the British Government the power to give financial assistance — probably to their friends — with no areas excluded: health, water, electricity, education and transport are all up for grabs, allowing British Ministers to run riot on matters that reside in the remit of the Assembly. The Assembly has refused to introduce water charges and objected to the privatisation of our health service, but will British Ministers try to impose these things over our heads? We know only too well that it is not only British Tory Ministers who use their power to do favours for their friends.”
“The British Government have been served formal notice by the EU that it is taking legal action against Britain for breaking the law — for acting like a rogue state. In this place, we have Ministers Dodds and Poots using their ministerial power to act more like Brexiteers than Executive Ministers. All Executive Ministers know that EU law, policy and funding touch on almost every aspect of life here. Indeed, there are 156 areas of all-Ireland cooperation, and they are some of the reasons why we need EU alignment across this island. Section 45 of the lawbreaking Bill gives the British Secretary of State, who confirmed that he is breaking the law, the powers to ignore the EU requirements for goods coming into the North and to renege on the Ireland protocol and key elements of the withdrawal agreement —”
“The motion reflects the views of the majority of Members in the Chamber who are absolutely appalled that the British Government have abandoned even the pretence of adhering to international law. While Tony Blair pretended that his Iraq War was legal, Boris Johnson does not even pretend: he is boasting about breaking international law. As for his claim that he is protecting the Good Friday Agreement — that is a lie. We already know what British Ministers such as Michael Gove think of the Good Friday Agreement: he described it as wicked. <BR /> <BR />Universal condemnation of the British Government by people such as Angela Merkel, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Geoffrey Cox and presidents of groups of the European Parliament falls on deaf ears.”
“I support the call for immediate financial support for businesses in Derry and Strabane in particular as they face into more necessary restrictions. Some of those businesses are running on empty. Therefore, has the Minister compiled a bid that can go to the British Exchequer — the Treasury — to support those businesses, particularly those that feel that they have been left behind, and the thousands who are categorised as self-employed who have not had a penny of support during this pandemic?”
“The Minister is aware that a memorandum of understanding was signed, but we know that it is not operable. Ireland is a single epidemiological unit and COVID-19 is spreading, particularly in Derry and Strabane, where there have been 804 cases over the last seven days. Does the Minister concur that there is a need for primary legislation to address those issues?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. I know that he is acutely aware of the significant strain that travel puts on civil servants who have to travel into Belfast. Is the Minister considering locating any of those regional hubs in the north-west? I am particularly interested in Fort George and Ebrington as two sites that he might consider.”
“Minister, as we all know, Ireland is a single epidemiological unit, particularly for animal health, but I want to talk about human health. The Public Health Agency (PHA) has said that there is a cross-border protocol in place for tracking. As you know, the rate in Derry, Strabane and Donegal is alarming, yet doctors have said that they do not know about the protocol and are not using it. Are the Executive planning to increase tracking and tracing, particularly for cross-border workers who cross the border every day?”
“Thank you for that information; the people of Derry will appreciate hearing it. Minister, there have been lots of engagements between the Executive Office and the council about the transfer of some of the buildings to the council, maybe on a phased basis with a view, ultimately, to it all being held by the council. Can you give us an outline of the nature of the discussions that are taking place between the Executive Office and the council?”
“We certainly do have another option, and Sinn Féin invites all those parties that are committed to the return of the North to the EU to discuss the scope for the development of an agreed position. Sinn Féin endorses the recent proposals from the constitutional conversations group. Sinn Féin would welcome the opportunity to discuss common ground with others. We need to engage with each other on how we are going to share this island differently in the future.”
“We simply — the world, simply — does not trust the British Government, given what we know of their current threats to the human rights convention. The common travel area promises are still not adequately reflected in law, policy or practice. Many are going to discover that these guarantees, and the guarantees given, are meaningless in practice. We want to see the damage limitation guarantees implemented. The Irish protocol needs to be protected, and it needs to be protected in full. <BR /> <BR />The shameful attack by the British Government has rightly been condemned around the world. It has even been condemned within the governing party. However, it does raise an additional question. We have another option.”
“We warn the NIO not to undermine the significant role that those commissions have under the Irish protocol. The commissions need to be effective and robust, so the NIO must not decimate institutions that are central to the Good Friday Agreement. <BR /> <BR />The British Government will not impose their cold-house vision for rights and equality here. There is an urgent need to hardwire additional guarantees — those unequivocal commitments that were made on the European Convention on Human Rights — into the future relationship agreement currently being negotiated between the British Government and the EU. The political declaration refers to both the European Convention on Human Rights and the Good Friday Agreement.”
“<BR /> <BR />The dreams of future generations cannot be crushed by the imposition of a Tory nightmare vision of the internal market. The provisions of the internal market risk undermining the human rights and equality protections in the Irish protocol, which states that there should be no diminution of rights. Therefore, the Equality Commission, the Human Rights Commission and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission should use their powers under the protocol to raise concerns with the specialised committee. We need to hear a clear message from the commissions, and we need to hear it this week. They need to stand up for equality and human rights and use the powers that they have to maximum effect. Now is not the time to cross fingers and hope that things will not happen. Now is not the time for silence.”
“Tá mé ag labhairt i bhfabhar an rúin seo. I speak in favour of this motion. The British Government, without doubt, should withdraw the Internal Market Bill immediately and retract the threat of replicating similar provisions in future legislation. The Bill undermines the Irish protocol, it amends the 1998 Act — the legislative outworking of the Good Friday Agreement — and it is an attack on our power-sharing arrangements. These are the provisions that override the protocol, attempt to block judicial reviews and erode international and domestic law. <BR /> <BR />There is a clear attempt in this Bill to give priority to the British internal market over the future priorities of our power-sharing Administration. This could have a particularly severe impact on the work here to advance equality, human rights and environmental protections.”