Cathal Boylan
Newry and Armagh · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I also welcome Julie, wish her well in her role as a Foyle MLA, and extend my best wishes to Gary. <BR /> <BR />I take this opportunity to highlight Autism Awareness Month. This year, Autism NI is using this month to celebrate the spectrum and colour and to highlight unique differences.”
“I agree with the reviewer, and what needs to be recognised across all Departments is that the changes needed to better support people with autism do not always cost a huge amount of money. However, the changes require a willingness to adapt.”
“However, it has been disappointing that, in my opinion, the Department of Health was not prepared for the establishment of the reviewer's office, even though it should have been aware of what was in the legislation. Had the Department been in a better state of readiness, the reviewer could have got down to work before now.”
“The delivery plan must see measurable targets that can be monitored and delivered to ensure that people with autism see impact on the services that they access. <BR /> <BR />I look forward to reading the reviewer's first annual report in the near future.”
“I thank the Minister for the statement. As the Minister is aware, one of the reasons why such schemes are so important is that nuisance parking can prevent emergency services or health and social care workers from accessing patients' properties.”
“I welcome the Minister's statement. <BR /> <BR />Minister, recent figures show that, in the last quarter of 2025, new house starts were at their highest level since 2018 and that the construction sector has hit a 15-year high, outperforming Britain.”
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“I will say this, however: consultation on any Bill — I respect that a private Member may not have all the resources that a Department has — is not a tick-box exercise. There should be proper participation so that we get a better understanding. <BR /> <BR />This is a prime example of what has happened. Last Wednesday morning, I spent an hour and three quarters phoning around at least eight scrap metal dealers to get their opinions, and they said a different thing. Unfortunately, people were not comfortable coming to the Committee, and that is nobody's fault but their own. We were trying to get a better understanding, and what I heard from them was that there was no proper scrutiny. We have to take that on board and respect it. That is the main principle behind our opposition to the Bill.”
“It took us a length of time to decide which Committee was going to deal with this, and that has to go on record, first and foremost. This may be a sad reflection on all of us in the Committee because, to be truthful, we should have looked at the Bill more seriously at Second Stage, when its broad principles were being discussed. I just want to put that on record. <BR /> <BR />While I respect the work of the Member and the system that we have for bringing forward legislation — this is a legislative Assembly — and for allowing that process, what we have found, through the very little scrutiny that we could carry out in the time frame, is that we were not properly informed. To be fair to the Member, he carried out his duties in how he went about his consultation.”
“Suffice it to say that trying to rush legislation through at the end of a mandate is not a good way of bringing forward good legislation for the very reason that you do not have enough time, as was the case here. I can only speak specifically about this legislation. We found ourselves with no time to properly engage with people to be properly informed so as to bring forward good legislation. That is the main thrust of our argument tonight. <BR /> <BR />I will go into some detail on some of the clauses, but I want to start by saying this. Mr Beggs talks about metal theft. The Bill being used as a tool to address metal theft, and, in principle, I do not mind supporting that aspect of it. I could say to Mr Beggs, however, that metal theft is a crime and does not belong in DOE's remit; it belongs somewhere else.”
“I do not take great pleasure in speaking on this legislation, to be honest. I have to recognise the work that the Member has done in trying to bring forward the Bill.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for her answer. As part of her legacy and when leaving the old DRD, will she give a commitment and assurance to the House that the money for the 2016-17 budget year will be prioritised for the maintenance of rural roads? In a previous answer, she talked about doing the roads that carry the greatest volume of traffic. She will understand that rural roads have been neglected for many a long day. Will she commit to prioritising that money for rural roads maintenance?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Thank you, Mr Speaker. What discussions, if any, have there been with the taxi industry on any of these proposals on rapid transit?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I welcome the Minister's answer, but I put this to him: why, after spending millions of pounds on assisting BT to provide broadband, do we still have major gaps right across the North, particularly in Newry and Armagh? <BR /> <BR />I ask that question on behalf of Matthew Nugent of 58 Tievenamara Road, Carnagh, BT60 3JA, who lives 90 metres from a box that was upgraded last year and is one of a number of people in rural Armagh and south Armagh who has no broadband provision, after we have spent millions of pounds of public money on it.”
“If we are to get this right, we must continue to work with businesses. We have struck a balance in what we are trying to do with the Bill: some of the regulations and the subordinate legislation will strike a balance between helping and supporting the industry and improving our environment. I welcome the Final Stage of the Bill.”
“This is good legislation, but, as the Chair said, it is a skeleton Bill. The devil will be in the detail of the way in which the regulations are rolled out, and maybe the Minister will touch on that. We are going into a new and bigger Department, and I want to ensure that what we legislate for today will not be lost in the bigger Department. How the legislation and the regulations roll out will be telling. <BR /> <BR />On the face of it, what we are trying to do will mean that there is less of a burden on businesses. It is vital that, when we bring forward further regulations, we talk to and engage with businesses. Through the scrutiny process in Committee, we suggested amendments at Consideration Stage. Those were then brought forward by the Minister, and that is to be welcomed.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom labhairt i bhfabhar an Bhille. I will speak in favour of the Bill at its Final Stage. I start by putting on record my thanks to the Chair for the way in which she conducted business on the Bill and for all her work as Chair of the Committee. I know that she is leaving at the end of the mandate, and I thank her for her contribution. I take this opportunity to thank Mr Alban Maginness, who has made a valuable contribution to the Environment Committee over the last number of years. I also thank the departmental officials and the Minister for the way that they worked with the Committee. <BR /> <BR />The Minister outlined that the Bill will bring about a simplified regime and harmonise all environmental regulations, especially EU regulations and regulations on environmental practices.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. What is the funding situation with the implementation of this strategy?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I take this opportunity to record my sincere sympathy and condolences to the families of Andrew Gass and Mark Hutcheson and, indeed, the families of those involved in the seven fatalities on our roads this year to date. Minister, is the message getting out? I appreciate that we are bringing forward new legislation, but does the Minister believe that the message on road safety is getting out? Will he consider working with other Departments to try to introduce a driving simulator into the colleges? Clearly, we have a major problem. There are families, extended families and communities out there who are suffering, and we need to try to eradicate road fatalities.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I welcome the Minister's answer. What is his Department doing in conjunction with the Southern Regional College to make apprenticeships more accessible to enhance our skill set?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I also take the opportunity to wish the First Minister all the best. Comhghairdeas, as they say in Irish. Can I ask the junior Minister to expand on how the Department will work with local councils in running those Urban Village programmes?”
“We want to reduce the number of deaths on our roads. We are looking at zero tolerance and zero fatalities. We need a good communications strategy and education programme to get that message out. Hopefully, the Bill will lead to a reduction in fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. With that, a LeasCheann Comhairle, I am prepared to support the Bill's Final Stage, and I look forward to its roll-out and to safer roads for our road users.”
“<BR /> <BR />Sometimes when we are doing legislation, it comes across as if we are using a big stick approach to introduce something for the betterment of people. It may look that way to young people at this point, but that is not what we are trying to do. We are trying to make our roads safer for our road users. Unfortunately, every year, when we look at the stats, it is hard to get away from the fact that the majority of accidents are caused by novice or inexperienced drivers. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the education programme that the Minister talked about in his opening remarks, but I appeal to him to get a positive message out. We want to get proper communication out to the relevant bodies that will roll out the legislation. We are saying to all road users that we want them to be safe on our roads.”
“Many other Members have touched on a lot of the amendments and the introduction of new ideas in terms of restrictions on new drivers, new drink-driving limits, disqualifications and all that goes with that. I do not propose to go into all of the detail. Suffice it to say that I think we have had good deliberation and consultation on the Bill. I put on record my thanks to all those who contributed to the Bill, from the Committee staff to all the Committee members. I also commend the work that the Minister and his departmental officials did to introduce the Bill. I hope that the measures will contribute to the target that we had set to reduce by 55% the number of young fatalities on our roads and that they protect learner and new drivers.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom labhairt ar son an bhille seo. I rise to speak in favour of the Bill. Obviously, it is part of a road strategy 2020 target and plan, and I certainly welcome it. Any measure that we bring forward that will reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our roads must be welcomed. The Minister pointed out the figures for last year, and there have already been two fatalities this year. That is 76 individuals, 76 families affected, 76 extended families affected and 76 communities affected. It has an absolutely devastating effect and impact on families and communities. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the measures in the Bill.”
“That it is already defined in the Bill at clause 5 and does not need to be repeated in schedule 1. <BR /> <BR />I am satisfied that amendment Nos 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 will align with the Programme for Government's priority of growing a sustainable economy as well as investing in our environmental future. The Bill should allow for improvements in how regulations are applied, address concerns raised by businesses about regulatory inconsistency and allow for the better protection of our environment. With that, I am content to support the amendments.”
“After all, the aim of the Bill is to strengthen and protect our environment, but it also aims to reduce the complexity of environment legislation and to reduce the administrative burden that we so often come across. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 3 is technical and was tabled following comments from the Examiner of Statutory Rules. I am content to support it. Amendment Nos 4 and 5 allow the Assembly to have better scrutiny of the code of practice in relation to the powers of entry, and I am content to support them. I am also happy that the Minister will not move amendment No 6. There was a wee bit of debate about the national security issue in Committee, and I am happy that he will not move that amendment. Amendment No 7 is to schedule 1. There is enough reference to environmental activities.”
“Clearly, this part of the Bill is about proper consultation processes, and I am happy with the amendment that the Minister is bringing forward. <BR /> <BR />In terms of amendment No 2, which is a new clause on regulations relating to protecting and improving the environment, the Committee sought to address the vagueness of the Bill and brought forward an amendment to better define it — and I think it is better defined.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá leis na leasuithe. I would like to say a few words in relation to the amendments. First, I would like to put on record my thanks to the Committee staff, and to the departmental officials who came and presented the Bill to us. Like so many others have said, this is a technical Bill, and it has not been easy. The devil is in the detail, and the roll-out of policy and subordinate legislation that will come out of this will be the key element of it. I want to put my thanks on record to those people who have assisted us. <BR /> <BR />As other Members have said in relation to the amendments, starting with amendment No 1, the terminology "as it thinks fit" was classed as subjective text, and I am happy that the Minister decided to amend it and remove that text.”
“I just want to clarify my point, Minister. I think that we and the Department have a job of work to communicate this new piece of legislation. That is the point that I was trying to make. That is vital.”
“Amendment No 2 is technical, and I have no issues with it.”
“There is one message that the Minister needs to be clear on: communication, not just with young people but with everyone. From driving instructors right through to schools, the Education Authority and everybody else, we need to talk to our young people and to get the message out. If we can get the message out early enough, it will be self-regulating. <BR /> <BR />The six-month period is — this may not be the appropriate term, but I will use it — short-term pain for long-term gain. I represent a large rural constituency, but I do not want any person to go through what my wife and her family have gone through over the last number of weeks. <BR /> <BR />I support the Bill and hope that Members embrace it. I hope that the Minister will get the message out and work with young people. I am happy to support amendment No 1.”
“In that respect, I welcome the amendment. <BR /> <BR />I will pick up on a couple of points that have been mentioned. Mr Lunn is out of the Chamber, but insurance companies have a bigger part to play in all this. I want the Minister's view on that. I want a response, and, after this process, I want the Department to engage with insurance companies not only to incentivise but to work with young people. I do not want the message to come out that we are trying to beat young people with a big stick. We are trying to work for young people and keep them and all our road users safe. Insurance companies can do a lot more. <BR /> <BR />Members mentioned enforcement. I welcome the fact that the previous Member who spoke mentioned that the PSNI welcomes the Bill's provisions, so we have to work collectively.”
“Over my eight years on the Committee, we have seen the statistics — they are hard to argue with — in relation to young drivers on rural roads at specific times of the night.”
“I have talked to young people, especially those in the hospitality sector or who work in care homes, and they have had a lot of difficulty with the Bill, in particular this part of it. <BR /> <BR />However, this was agreed in principle in the previous debate, and the Minister has brought forward an amendment that I am willing to support. Other Members touched on the specifics. I do not propose to do that, but I will say that we want to get the message out clearly, so that there is no confusion, that this is not an attack on young people or on young drivers; rather, we are addressing the issues surrounding inexperienced drivers. Whilst respecting the freedom of young drivers, we need to ensure that we can keep them safe on our roads for the rest of their lives.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá. I will say a few words about the legislation, but I will preface my remarks by saying that we can describe the summer only as one of carnage on our roads when you look at some of the accidents that took place. Sadly, I have personal experience due to the fact that I lost a young niece on 6 September. The consequences of that have been far-reaching and long-lasting. <BR /> <BR />Any measure that we introduce to try to protect people on the roads is to be welcomed. Unfortunately, I was in hospital when the Bill was last debated. I read some of the Hansard report, and it was a good debate. There have been a lot of challenges.”
“We need to incentivise people in relation to transport and encourage the public sector, including councils, to purchase and use electric vehicles.”
“It is about housekeeping practices and looking after your own homes in relation to some of the things we can actually do. In waste management, we could eliminate food waste from going into landfill and incineration sites across the North. Then there is the kerbside waste collection, which involves plastics, bottles and cardboard. Minister, maybe you would like to respond to that. It is strange that we have a system here in the North of two or three collection types right across the councils. A small start would be to get all the councils to go some way to carry out the same practices, instead of a kerbside collection in one council area and a blue bin system in another area, with contaminated waste going into them. Those are simple things that we could try.”
“<BR /> <BR />I want to refer a few things back to the Minister. In 2013, the previous Minister initiated a consultation to seek views on the need for a climate change Bill and on potential elements including statutory targets to reduce greenhouse gases, the creation of a new independent climate change committee and the introduction of new statutory duties for public authorities to promote and report on actions to reduce emissions and adaptation measures. Maybe you would like to respond on where we are with that. <BR /> <BR />I have only a minute and a half left, and I want to pick up on some points that we could maybe look at in addressing some of the issues. The main contributors, as some Members have mentioned, have been transport, agriculture and carbon dioxide emissions. There are many interventions that we can carry out.”
“<BR /> <BR />Closer to home, in May this year, the cross-departmental working group on climate change submitted its fourth annual progress report to the Executive on the performance of each Department in implementing the agreed greenhouse gas emissions reduction action plan. The action plan supports the achievement of the Programme for Government target to continue to work towards a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of at least 35% on the 1990 levels by 2025. Many would say that that goal is not ambitious enough, but, at the very least, we must achieve it and, if at all possible, exceed it. However, current projections tell us that we are likely to achieve only a 33·3% reduction by 2025, which means that our interventions to date have not been enough and that we must do better.”
“They will bring with them their own ambitions, targets and plans to help limit the growth of emissions, and rightly so. Climate change is one the greatest challenges facing modern society. We have witnessed unpredictable weather catastrophes, from freak floods to record-breaking heatwaves. We have witnessed a rise in our sea levels and have watched as the area covered by the Arctic sea ice has become smaller and the ice thinner. With global average temperatures on land and sea rising, you could argue that, as a collective unit across the globe, we have been slow in coming to an agreement.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom labhairt i bhfabhar an rúin agus ar son an leasaithe. I rise to speak in favour of the motion and the amendment. I welcome the motion from the Chair of the Committee and from the Committee. I also welcome the attendance of the Minister to respond to the debate and the fact that he and the Taoiseach are heading to Paris. In fact, the Taoiseach is at the convention in Paris today and has already committed to introducing legislation on this matter when he comes back. <BR /> <BR />This week will see the twenty-first meeting of the conference of parties under the United Nations framework on climate change, or COP21 as it is more commonly known, when 195 nations will gather in Paris to further their commitment to limiting the future effects of climate change.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. The Minister is aware of the situation in Armagh. The Hamilton care home in Armagh has 31 patients and provides 54 jobs. Will Minister give assurances that those people will be relocated, with proper care facilities, and that jobs will be retained? After all, Armagh has been renowned for the great skill sets in healthcare that have been provided down through the years, and it has seen nothing but closure and the relocation of jobs over the last number of years. I would like the Minister to give an assurance to those people and patients that he will care for them and cover the Hamilton care home.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. What projects are in the major capital programme in the Newry and Armagh area?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Does the Minister agree that the August 2010 report by the prison assessors' team led by Peter Bunting and Anne Owers states that everyone — staff and prisoners — should be treated with dignity and respect in a conflict-free environment?”
“<BR /> <BR />I support the preservation of townlands and look forward to discussing this at Committee. I support the Bill.”
“They provide a sense of belonging and a link to the history of the area. The change of format in our addresses in the 1960s has meant that the younger generation, in particular, has little or no knowledge of the name of the townland they live in. That is very sad. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the efforts made by many in local government and the Departments to include townland names in their correspondence. However, I believe that, without legislative requirement, the format can vary and it relies on goodwill. I support Mr Flanagan in trying to introduce this option to give local authorities the chance to retain townland names so that the next generation will not forget them and will understand the significance and identity that comes with them.”
“That is the townland that I reside in and come from. I am very proud of it. I come from an area where there are a number of townlands, as in Fermanagh to which Mr Flanagan referred earlier. I know that, in the likes of Derrynoose, there are 22 townlands, a number of them with very beautiful names. <BR /> <BR />The important thing is the connection of the townland to the people and their identity. If you go into many's a graveyard in the countryside, you will see on many's a headstone the names of many's a townland, and people were very proud to come from and live in them. Townlands, as my colleague has outlined, have a historical, cultural and linguistic significance within the island of Ireland, predating parishes and counties. They tell a story of the local area and the people who lived there.”
“I would like to pay tribute to Mr Flanagan for the work he has done, and the way he has presented himself in presenting this Bill to the Floor of the House, and also for the way he conducted himself in Committee when he presented last week. I listened to the Member who spoke previously and I think it is a wee bit disingenuous to ask why this Bill should be coming forward. I think that any Member should have an opportunity to use this forum to bring forward any piece of legislation, and I would like to take this opportunity to support Mr Flanagan in that. <BR /> <BR />I am from a small town in a rural area; I come from the townland of Caramoyle. Mr Bradley might be able to help me in relation to the understanding of the name. I think it is called "the bald friend", roughly translated.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá i bhfabhar an bhille seo. I rise to support and speak in favour of the Bill.”
“Will he confirm whether the constable is part of the justice system or is a member of an enforcement team in DOE? Maybe we could get some clarity on how he proposes that would work out. Maybe it is down for discussion in Committee or during another phase of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The Bill should regulate scrap metal dealers and effectively remove the outlet for criminals whilst not creating more red tape for business owners and undue burdens on the industry. Sin a bhfuil le rá agam. That is all that I have to say for now. I am content to let the Bill go through at this stage. I will support it.”
“I go back to my original point about a single operator going once a year or twice a year: it would be extreme for them to have to provide that information. <BR /> <BR />Also, in relation to cash transactions, the Member has specified £100 in that provision of the Bill. I just wonder if there is some scope, through an amendment, to increase that. I am just saying that in line with what I have indicated about the people who may visit the scrap metaller just to offload some cuttings. Basically, that is about all that I would like to say on the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Sorry, I have one other point, through you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. It is the issue of enforcement and the constable being able to go on site at any point to check. Will the Member elaborate a wee bit more on how that would work?”
“What he is trying to do on the introduction of licensing may sit with DOE, but, ultimately, it is about organised crime and theft. That is a criminal issue, so you could argue that it lies within the justice system. It will be interesting to see who ends up with it. The Member who spoke previously mentioned an Ad Hoc Committee: that might be the way to go forward with thorough scrutiny in Committee. <BR /> <BR />I do not propose to keep Members back tonight after a long session on the previous Bill, but maybe in his summing up the Member could indicate the costings of all of this in terms of licences and the cost to businesses. Also, on the issue of verification under clause 9, there is talk about photographic ID and the taking of information.”
“<BR /> <BR />I just want to mention to the Member — I brought it up the last time, and the Member will know this already — that I know of some people who work in the construction industry, like plumbers and electricians, who, on occasion, collect small cuttings of copper wire: can the Member indicate to me whether those people, who might collect it or once or twice a year and bring a small amount of copper wire or piping to a scrap metal dealer, would require a collector's licence? In his winding up, maybe the Member can explain that to me. If we were down to that level, I would ask for consideration of exemptions in the Bill. <BR /> <BR />I am not too sure whether the Bill is going to the Environment Committee or the Justice Committee.”
“I think that has now dropped, but there is an opportunity to address it. I have had time to speak to some businesses over the weekend that shared some concerns about what the Member proposes. They believed that the voluntary scheme that they were working on was sufficient, but I see from some of the consultation that the Member carried out that a majority of consultees are in favour of legislation.”
“I would like to say a few words in relation to the Bill. <BR /> <BR />I commend the Member for bringing the Bill to the Floor and for the work that he has done thus far. I can give him some reassurance that his Bill is certainly not going to be scrapped tonight by Sinn Féin, but I have some issues with it. I know that the Member brought the Bill to the Committee last Tuesday; unfortunately, I could not stay for the whole presentation. I certainly hope that the Member's intention with the Bill is to work with and protect the industry as much as to prevent an outlet for criminals. I hope that that is the full intention of the Member's Bill, because that is important. <BR /> <BR />At the inception of the Member's Bill away back in 2013, theft and crime in relation to copper, lead and other metals were prevalent.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom cúpla focal a rá.”