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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“<BR /> <BR />Over a month and a half ago, I raised the need to save lives, as the lifting of these restrictions is doing. They are going to save lives. I raised the need to test all residents and staff in Owen Mor nursing home in Derry following an outbreak there, because testing, tracing and isolating every suspected case of COVID is essential for helping to control the spread of transmission and to save lives. Saving lives is at the forefront of what the easing of the restrictions is about. <BR /> <BR />Some nursing homes had only flimsy masks for PPE. Some told me that they had received what they described as a decree by phone that, if COVID-19 were to spread in their home, they would be on their own. We are here talking about easing restrictions, and the phrase still rolls off people's tongue, "We are all in this together".”
“That is not in this easing of restrictions, but I assume that all of that is being talked about in how we move this forward. He talked about rolling restrictions for all care homes and all care home residents in the North. A senior medical adviser stated that that will be done some time in June. Now, whilst I welcome that testing for all is finally going to happen in care homes, I cannot help but think that it is too little, too late. <BR /> <BR />As we talk about the easing of the restrictions, I am very mindful of the fact that, as of 8 May, 269 people in care homes had died of the virus, yet testing is not going to start today, it is not going to start tomorrow, it is not going to start next week after we hear of restrictions being lifted. It is going to start some time in June — June.”
“We have not had an explanation, despite the fact that the Chair of the Health Committee tried to find out what the explanation was, despite questions being raised by public health experts such as Dr Gabriel Scally and others, and despite members of the Health Committee trying to find out. <BR /> <BR />It is right, as we stand here today, that the COVID restrictions are reviewed every 21 days, and it is right that we get the information that we receive about the easing of those restrictions. I only wish that there had been an inbuilt review to determine the impact that stopping community testing had on our ability to track this deadly virus. <BR /> <BR />Yesterday, we heard from the Health Minister. He announced rolling testing.”
“OK. As I was saying, the restrictions on movement, as outlined in the legislation, with no one allowed to leave home without a reasonable excuse, unfortunately did not prevent the transmission of this deadly virus where we knew it would spread, namely in care homes. <BR /> <BR />I know that it is not your responsibility with regard to the Health Department and the decisions that the Health Minister takes — he has his autonomy and he has to make his call. I know that it was not the Executive that made the decision to stop community testing, but I can tell you that, in my constituency of Derry, questions have been asked about why community testing was stopped. There was no explanation given when we heard about the easing of the restrictions.”
“This is about giving expression to deep-rooted concerns, and you do not have your finger on the pulse of what people are thinking, feeling and have experienced outside, if you think that that is what we are doing here. So do not think that. I would advise the Member to maybe get more involved with his own constituents.”
“I am sure that the Member has constituents coming to him, as they are coming to me and others in Sinn Feín, expressing their concern that we might be easing the restrictions too soon. People on both sides are concerned, and I share what you said about people getting frustrated and about being imprisoned at home. No one would support those draconian measures, but, as I said to the joint First Ministers last week, the measures that they are putting in place and the five steps that they outlined, are walking us through a process when it is safe to do so. <BR /> <BR />Please do not say that this is about one party taking a slap at anyone.”
“As you know, all parties in the Executive are taking advice from what the Chief Medical Officer says, what the World Health Organization says and all the advice that is out there. I am sure that, collectively, the Executive will make the right call when it is safe to do so, and they will ease the restrictions when it is safe to do so.”
“Despite this island being an epidemiological unit, we have not fought this virus on an all-Ireland basis. The restriction of movement, as outlined in the legislation, with no one being allowed to leave home without a reasonable excuse, unfortunately did not prevent the transmission of this deadly virus. We all knew where it would spread, namely, in care homes. <BR /> <BR />Ministers, I know that, as you come here today to talk about easing the restrictions, you do not have responsibility for the remit that resides in the Department of Health or for devising the policy of testing, and I know that —.”
“Our behaviour spreads the virus, and, unlike the virus, the restrictive regulations that we are discussing today, which are, without doubt, draconian — and reference has been made to that — have saved lives. This legislation and the five-step programme announced by the Executive last week are the correct and cautious approach, with measures only being relaxed when it is safe to do so. So, I welcome the measures that have been announced and how they are being taken forward. <BR /> <BR />However, I concur with the previous Member to speak, Pat Sheehan, because, over two months ago, the North stopped community testing. The relaxation of measures happened well before we were dealing with the number of deaths that, unfortunately, we are dealing with today. The World Health Organization advice at that time was clear: test, trace and isolate.”
“Every time I come here to speak on the coronavirus restrictions, I take a look at the number of people who have died across the world, which, today, stands at over 320,000 people, with over 2,000 having died across this island. I send my heartfelt sympathy to the families of all those who have died. <BR /> <BR />As we stand here today to talk about the easing of restrictions, we are still dealing with the same deadly virus that we were dealing with eight weeks ago. The World Health Organization has cautioned against lifting the lockdown measures prematurely, stating clearly that it could lead to a resurgence in the virus. A virus does not become a pandemic by itself.”
“You referred to the fact that today is International Nurses Day, so it is appropriate that the statement is being made and the information is coming out on this day. With that in mind, I will ask you about nurses, who, at one time, were on strike and to whom we now show deep appreciation, and about domiciliary nursing. Given the pay scale that those care workers are on, it would be good to send them a signal of our appreciation not only by acknowledging what they do but by taking into account the salaries that they receive. Unfortunately, they are at the lower scale compared with what others receive.”
“The information that you have released today and the statements that you have made are very clear. It seems that there are five stages and we are going to move through each of those stages when it is safe to do so. It is worth reminding everyone who is clamouring for more information of what you said about the pandemic: it is still there, and it is as deadly today as it was during the lockdown. Can you outline the guiding principles that will ensure that we walk through the five stages when it is safe to do so?”
“We can contribute to growth by changing the way we travel and we can change that by changing our mindsets. We can also encourage that through this statutory rule and by working collaboratively across Departments, councils and with communities who, unfortunately, too often bear the brunt of bad decisions that contribute towards pollution. <BR /> <BR />This statutory rule facilitates a move towards a more sustainable transport culture, a healthier lifestyle and helps to create a cleaner air strategy that will be welcomed by everyone. I am sure that this statutory rule is going to be supported by all of the parties and independents. I thank the Minister for bringing the statutory rule to us.”
“On the issue of health, transport emissions are a large cause of air pollution, especially in urban and built-up areas, and contribute to many deaths throughout the year. My home town, Derry, was one of the cities that the World Health Organization identified as having excessively safe levels of particle pollution — they did not reach that safety level. Those particles, as we all know, contribute to strokes, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory infections. So, with regard to the environment, as the Minister has said, transport emissions in 2019 represented 22% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the North. <BR /> <BR />It is clear that if we want to grow the economy in an equal, inclusive, healthy and sustainable way, then it is vital that we make all of the necessary changes. This statutory rule and e-bikes will help towards that.”
“That is not only frustrating and time consuming, but it also hurts our health — as has been indicated — it hurts the environment and it hurts the economy. We do need to adapt to a better and a healthier way to get around, and the e-bikes will contribute to that.”
“Unfortunately, too many people in Derry have to travel to work — even to Belfast — but that is another matter. You will be glad that I will not go into that issue today. Having listened to the comments that have been made in the Chamber, I believe that, generally speaking, most people experience the negative effects of congestion.”
“I welcome that we are, now, at the point to give approval to the statutory rule. I welcome the comments that were made by my colleague Cathal Boylan and, indeed, the Chairperson and others. Look: this moment is not the time to rehearse why the Assembly collapsed — I will not do that — and why there will not be a return to the way things were. Now, we need to encourage more people to cycle. I certainly concur with some of the comments that have been made. E-bikes are one way in which to encourage that. <BR /> <BR />It is no secret, as the Minister said, that our cities have become heavily polluted as our car-dependency culture has led to severe congestion. For example, research indicates that drivers in Derry, my hometown, lose an average of 58 hours a year in traffic.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, you mentioned the disruption to services, and you have been asked a question already about the haulage sector. I have been contacted by a number of people in the haulage sector who are deeply concerned about the supply chain not just now but in a few months' time. They want some indication from you of what kind of preparation is under way in your Department to ensure that the haulage sector is going to be ready for the full implementation of the Brexit protocol in eight months' time.”
“When I challenged how COVID-19 patients could travel on a plane to England with nurses, who would, undoubtedly, get infected en route — the patient would probably die — I got a more substantial reply to confirm that the trust was looking at how people in the North could access that life-saving ECMO treatment in the South of Ireland. Nothing has yet materialised. Whilst it may be too late for that Derry father, it is not too late for others. <BR /> <BR />Most reasonable people do not understand why, on this island, we do not have an all-Ireland human health strategy to deal with this deadly pandemic, given that we have an all-Ireland animal health and welfare strategy. The pandemic neither knows nor cares about borders. We should trace, track and isolate on an all-island basis. I leave it there.”
“On that note, I have been dealing with a family in Derry: the father is critically ill with COVID-19, the mother has been infected and they have three children. The father is in an ICU. The family sought the life-saving and specialist treatment of an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine, a state-of-the-art oxygenation treatment. When I raised the possibility of purchasing a machine for the North, which the family offered to crowdfund, I was told that there was a specialised unit in England that provided the service. I say that in the context of our civil liberties being removed and the expectation that people have of us politicians to save lives.”
“Low-paid workers such as bus drivers, nurses, agency workers, domiciliary care workers and shelf-stackers are those most likely to become infected, because they are more exposed. The pandemic has shown that many of the lowest-paid workers are society's key workers. They are our front line in responding to the deadly pandemic. Without them, it would be impossible to enact these regulations to save lives. Those workers deserve a fair, decent and enhanced salary; they deserve union representation; and they deserve secure employment. We do not have to wait until all of this is over to give them that and more. <BR /> <BR />As I said, the measures are draconian but necessary. People accept having their civil liberties stripped away in the expectation that politicians such as us will do everything in their power to save lives.”
“I commend all those in places like my home town, Derry, who continue to abide by the public health advice and adhere to the restrictions. They have kept the death toll down. Without doubt, a small number all over the North are ignoring the restrictions. They put others in danger. My appeal to all of them is, "Please stop it. Stop it". <BR /> <BR />This is an incredibly hard time, particularly for our amazing healthcare and front-line workers. They put themselves in harm every day in every way. The best way in which we can show our appreciation is staying at home and respecting the restrictions. It is, however, not the only way we can show our appreciation. This deadly virus has infected every level of society, regardless of age or sex, but the evidence shows a stark reality: we are not all in this together.”
“However, as my opening remarks show, these are not normal times, and extraordinary measures are required to tackle a deadly global pandemic. <BR /> <BR />The public health crisis has resulted in having to put the economy to sleep in order to save lives. Had the restrictions not been introduced, the human cost at this stage would be greater. We cannot become complacent, and we must listen to the best scientific advice. We should reflect on the advice of the director-general of the World Health Organization last week at the COVID-19 briefing. He set out the criteria for lifting restrictions, and we simply do not meet them yet. We need to continue with the restrictions in order to break the chains of transmission.”
“I speak in favour of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations. <BR /> <BR />When I last spoke in the Chamber on the regulations, I sent my sympathy to the 10 people who had died across Ireland and the 17,000 who had died across the world. Here we are, only a few weeks later, and I send my deepest sympathy to the 894 people who have died across this island and the 170,000 who have died across the world. Even as we let all that sink in, no-one in the Chamber — I have listened to all the MLAs thus far — is enthusiastic about having to support such restrictions on our society. In normal circumstances, I would speak loudly against such restrictions at every opportunity, in Committee and in the Chamber. Ideally, this is not how we should or would legislate.”
“I want to give a particular shout-out to those people who need to be tested in order to enable them to go into homes where people are lonely, on their own and these are the only people coming in to care for them during this very difficult and dangerous time. <BR /> <BR />I think all of us would agree that human rights compliance needs to be fully restored as early as possible. We need sharp and decisive action to bring this emergency situation to an end and to return to democratic scrutiny and practice when it is possible to do so.”
“It says, "Be fast, have no regrets." Therefore, the call that we have heard for many weeks has been to test, test, test. We need to test, we need to trace and we need to isolate; we need to intensify. We are all, as MLAs, being contacted by people across our constituencies who are doing sterling work, and many of them need that test done to enable them to carry on with their work. <BR /> <BR />I want to give a particular mention to those carers in our society — unsung heroes — who care for people who have Alzheimer's and many other illnesses that they are struggling with and who do not even have any mobility to get out of bed. My family could not have coped if it had not been for the care that we got from carers who came into our home. My mother had Alzheimer's for seventeen and a half years, and we cared for her at home.”
“<BR /> <BR />As other Members have said, we all have constituents and people whom we know who are affected by the situation. I have a brother-in-law whose cancer procedure in Altnagelvin Hospital has been cancelled today. I am sure that many others can give testimony as to how they have been affected personally. Listening to Members, I concur that there is agreement with all that has been said. We need the earliest review of this emergency legislation, and we need these extraordinary measures rescinded when it is appropriate and necessary to do so. Short, sharp action to deal with coronavirus is needed. <BR /> <BR />The Minister has referred to and looked at the World Health Organization, and I have been following it closely.”
“There needs to be a mechanism of engaging with the Committees if that is enacted. <BR /> <BR />I also want to deal with the issue of the detention of potentially infectious people. My understanding is that the role of British immigration officers will be extended to deal with those who are potentially infectious. Currently, however, that falls outside the law enforcement framework in the North of Ireland. The immigration officers should be fully under the oversight of the Office of the Police Ombudsman and, maybe, the Policing Board as well. That is something that should be examined further in the time ahead without, at all, interfering with the time frame for making sure that the legislative support mechanism is dealt with today. It is about dealing with any potential abuse of such powers.”
“Such a declaration, however, can only be revoked by agreement between the joint First Ministers and I am conscious of what Mr Nesbitt said when he was outlining his "buts". We need to ensure that it does not pass its date of necessity. Many of us would agree that it would have been better had such a declaration procedure had some kind of periodic renewal built into it — maybe every month instead of what we have at the moment. <BR /> <BR />The Executive Office will also be able to designate any person to use "reasonable force" to restrict public assembly, perhaps without such a person having training in what is reasonable and proportionate force. Any such plans to use those powers must be carefully thought out. There must be some degree of training so that people understand what is reasonable and proportionate.”
“We need a mechanism for regular reports back to the Assembly and Committees in slower time, so that MLAs have an opportunity to do what we are tasked with doing, which is to scrutinise legislation and measures that are coming through. <BR /> <BR />I agree that there is a need to have powers to restrict public assembly. A number of MLAs raised concerns yesterday about what was happening in each of our constituencies. I agree that, in order to use the provisions in the Bill, the joint First Ministers must issue a declaration that there is a serious and imminent threat because of the virus. They should not, and I do not believe that they will, hesitate in doing so if there is such a threat. I believe that all MLAs will support them in doing that.”
“<BR /> <BR />We are rightly concerned about the number of provisions that have been introduced in the Bill. Like other MLAs, I have concerns about the sunset clause. Looking at that through the lens of international human rights law and at what is appropriate, necessary and proportionate, the Bill as it stands states that those powers would last for two years. Like many MLAs, when I first read that I was somewhat shocked, because even in fast-tracked legislation, two years is somewhat disproportionate and, without doubt, risks extraordinary provisions to deal with this emergency becoming settled law. I was glad to hear many MLAs express concern about that. Without doubt, the sunset clause needs to be shortened. A period of six months is now being bandied about but I still think that that is too long.”
“I rise to give my heartfelt sympathy to the 10 people who have died across Ireland and to the 17,150 people who have died from coronavirus across the world. I also rise to support the legislative consent motion. I am conscious of other Members' reservations, and I would like to express some of our concerns in the context of supporting the legislative consent motion. As MLAs who are charged with scrutiny and given the extraordinary circumstances that we find ourselves in when we are interfering with civil liberties, even in extraordinary times, I absolutely concur with the need to bring forward these extraordinary measures. The Minister and others will know that some of us would like to have seen those measures introduced a number of weeks ago.”
“I know that you have answered some of that. However, can you reassure people, as test centres open in the Twenty-six Counties, that more test centres will open here and that we will have an all-Ireland approach? Politics cannot come into this: this is about protecting people's lives.”
“I want to acknowledge the leadership that has been given by the joint First Ministers. Yesterday, above all, I was inundated by people commenting on how you interacted with each other and the public. I want to make that general point. <BR /> <BR />Most people are listening to you; most people are taking your advice. However, can you comment on those who are treating this as an inconvenience? We have heard about some of the behaviour that is happening across sites. Most people are hearing about how we have a responsibility to stop the transmission of the virus and that all of us have a role to play in that. So, it goes back to what you said about "test, test, test" and the intensification of that. Like many MLAs, I am being inundated by people demanding that we test, we trace and we isolate in order to stop the transmission.”
“Last week, our Committee was at NI Water, which outlined its PC21 priorities. I was shocked to discover that Derry, Strabane and Omagh were not included, given the level of inequalities in the north-west. I want to ask about the Seán Dolan's development scheme in Creggan, because I know that there is a massive hole in the budget caused by British austerity cuts. Given that the development is for almost 100 houses, we need a sewage and waste water treatment plant built there. The developers say that they are willing to assist but that NI Water has to adopt that, if that is the case. Will she look at that?”
“Minister, I am sure that you are aware that there are lots of concerns across the North. There are concerns in my constituency and, I would say, every other constituency about the British Government's decision to test only the most seriously ill. My phone has been inundated with calls, as I am sure has been the case for other MLAs over the weekend. Will you clearly outline the criteria for providing testing for coronavirus for people in the North of Ireland?”
“Minister, can that information be relayed to Destined so that it has a contact point in your office and in the Department for Communities?”
“Thank you, Minister, for that comprehensive answer. It is welcome news that you are meeting the neighbourhood renewal chairs. In line with the planning of that review, their workers would also like to be involved in the co-design. Will that be part of your outreach work when you take the plan forward?”
“Minister, what plans are in place to improve the Housing Executive stock, particularly in places like Foyle?”
“Minister, I want to ask you primarily about the proceedings that allow for perpetrators to question victims in family courts. You said that you would ban that some time soon, but do you have a time frame? Also, do you have any policy specific to parental alienation? You said yesterday that it would not be in the domestic violence Bill, but will there be specific policies? La Dolce Vita Project is keen to hear whether there will be policies relating to this.”
“— emotional or physical harm caused to children by the parent-child relationship. I ask the Minister to consider it in the domestic violence Bill in the time ahead. There is much more that I could say, but time does not permit.”
“Parental alienation is recognised by the World Health Organization as —”
“When every call, text message or post on social media is scrutinised by your abuser; when you are forced to do things because, if you do not, your abuser will hit you or your child; and when you are led to believe that everything is your fault and that you are alone in the world, do not feel isolated. There are organisations, like La Dolce Vita Project, Foyle Women's Aid and Women's Aid all over the North, that are there to help you. Domestic abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual and violent. La Dolce Vita Project in Derry offers one-to-one counselling for those impacted by domestic abuse and has been doing sterling work, highlighting the impact of parental alienation and perpetrators who unfortunately use the courts to further their domestic abuse. I spoke to the Minister about that at the Committee last week.”
“<BR /> <BR />I express my appreciation of local organisations that support victims, such as La Dolce Vita Project and the Men's Action Network. In particular, I commend the work done by Foyle Women's Aid, which, each year, supports nearly 3,000 women and children who are directly affected by domestic abuse. <BR /> <BR />Last year, domestic abuse incidents increased by 6%, and we are told that that represented 16% of all crimes recorded in the North. It is unfortunate but also welcome that more women are seeking help for domestic abuse, yet there are still countless other victims who are suffering in silence and trapped behind closed doors. I would like to address them today.”
“I ask the Member to not be too defensive. Perhaps if he had listened, he would have heard me say "possibly indirectly fuelling". I did not accuse, but I said that there was an onus and responsibility on those who own clubs and pubs to understand the link between drinks promotions and violence. <BR /> <BR />To go back to what I was saying: Derry has the highest level of domestic violence incidents in the North, and, according to the PSNI, there were 1,519 domestic abuse crimes recorded last year alone. That is four crimes per day; four too many. Domestic violence is not confined to age, gender or sexuality, yet it is absolutely staggering that 67% of victims of domestic violence are females, while 86% of abusers are male.”
“In doing so, they must deliver resources on the basis of objective need. That also includes developing legislation to address the impact of the fear of crime on our elderly population. That is being discussed further tomorrow, so I will not go into that. <BR /> <BR />At the Justice Committee last week, members were given a shocking statistic by the Minister: some 90% of the prison population has some form of alcohol or drug issue. Given the link between the high volume of violent crime, fuelled by alcohol and drugs, those who own clubs and pubs should not be possibly indirectly fuelling such crime by running drinks promotions in our city centres. <BR /> <BR />In Derry, nearly half of all violent crimes involve domestic abuse.”
“Ba mhaith liom labhairt i bhfabhar an rúin. I support the motion and Sinn Féin's amendment. In 2019, there were over 3,000 incidents of domestic violence — violent crime — in my home town of Derry, making up nearly a third of all reported crimes, and a 21% increase since 2018. Derry is in crisis. It is a crisis caused by a decade of neglect and driven by a lack of opportunities for young people, a lack of public services, a lack of quality jobs and a lack of income support. I say that because I agree with what was said about statistical evidence showing a link to poverty and economic deprivation and how that has been identified as one of the root causes of violent crime. That link makes it even more important that the Executive tackle and address regional inequalities.”
“Car parking is an issue for many across the North. I want to talk primarily about the train station in Derry and the north-west transportation hub phase 2. I know that you have budget limitations, and we all know that there is a £600 million hole in the Executive budget because of British cuts. Notwithstanding that, as the Minister, will you prioritise the train station in Derry for phase 2 of the north-west transportation hub that has to be completed by the summer?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. If he is so certain about that figure, why not put it to the people? Let the people decide what union we want to be a part of. Do we want to stay, as some from the unionist community argue, with Britain, or do we want to reunite Ireland and go back into the EU? If you are so absolutely confident in that position, let the people decide. It is great that, from yesterday, there have been a number of contributions in the House about the reunification of Ireland.”
“Sorry. That these projects within only particular areas —.”