Jennifer McCann
West Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I have listened to the answers that you have given. What steps will you and your Department take to address the issue? As you mentioned, quite a percentage of schools are failing to meet the entitlement framework requirements. What actual steps will your Department take?”
“I begin by echoing what my two colleagues said: we will oppose the motion and support the DUP amendment. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the general direction of travel of the draft area plan. It puts the needs of children and young people at the heart of the planning process.”
“I want to say again — we have had this in debates — about the excellent results in my constituency of West Belfast in educational outcomes. It clearly shows that, when the right intervention is made in those areas, the children shine and their potential comes through.”
“It is not just about their academic achievements but about giving them the skills to deal with life's problems and difficulties. <BR /> <BR />The plan also seeks to close the attainment gap. That issue should be of great concern to all of us and the wider community.”
“I hope that in the final area planning it will be. I have seen it at first hand with programmes like New Start in west Belfast. We all want children to go to mainstream education, but, for whatever reason, mainstream education just does not suit some children's needs and does not do it for them.”
“It is not just about school buildings, but school buildings sometimes can be crucial, particularly in an area where, for instance, they do not have sporting facilities in a school. The Minister will be aware of the campaign in the Colin area of west Belfast for a new school.”
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Every one of 538 lines we hold for Jennifer McCann, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 11.
“I have said that I was told in confidence by a work colleague. I respected that confidence. At no time did Maíria say that she wanted me to report that. If you want the answer, read Hansard. Last week, I set out very clearly what I did, and that is in Hansard. I did nothing improper.”
“I reiterate — I do not know how many times I have to say this — that I did nothing wrong in relation to the Maíria Cahill case.”
“This is an area that we have discussed quite frequently with victims and survivors. They sometimes feel that the support that they get is not adequate. We are always trying to do things better. As I said, I have consistently met victims' groups and individuals in relation to their experience at the inquiry. I have taken on board issues that they have raised about how things could be improved. Junior Minister Bell and I will review the services constantly to address those issues. I will do everything in my power to ensure that the support services are delivering for victims. That applies across the board and to whatever type of support services that they need.”
“The Member will be aware that we are looking for all forms of support for the victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse. It is an independent inquiry that will make a number of recommendations. We hope that those recommendations will include reparation for victims and survivors. We will have to wait to see what the inquiry says and recommends. However, I would certainly like some sort of reparation to be made to people who have gone through the inquiry.”
“The Executive have agreed to the making of an order, subject to the approval of the Assembly. The order will be subject to draft affirmative resolution procedure and will come before the Assembly very soon.”
“The historical intuitional abuse inquiry has now completed the oral hearings in respect of the first two modules: the Sisters of Nazareth homes in Derry and the child migrant programme. The oral hearings in respect of De La Salle Boys' Home at Rubane House commenced on 29 September and are scheduled to finish by the end of November. <BR /> <BR />On the basis of the inquiry panel's experience of the first module, the chairperson, Sir Anthony Hart, made a very persuasive and compelling case for a one-year extension to the inquiry time frame. We agree with Sir Anthony that the inquiry must provide every opportunity for those impacted by the allegations of institutional abuse to be heard in open forum. A small piece of enabling subordinate legislation is required to extend the time frame for the inquiry.”
“I will undertake to challenge inequality no matter where it exists or comes from. Respect, tolerance and challenging inequality has to be the ethos of any Government or Executive. I take that job of work very seriously. As I said, where inequalities exist, I will look to challenge them and try to do something constructive to make the workforce more equal.”
“The under-representation of women in the Civil Service, particularly at the higher levels, is well known. The gender equality strategy tries to set out an overarching framework for all Departments, their agencies and other relevant statutory authorities to promote gender equality. We have a focus on tackling those inequalities. However, the barriers and structural inequalities in wider society are reflected — you have only to look around the Chamber to see the under-representation of women in political and public life. That is also true in the Civil Service, particularly its upper echelons. We are working hard to try to challenge that in whatever way we can.”
“The gender equality strategy 2006-2016 sets out an overarching framework for Departments, their agencies and other relevant statutory authorities to promote gender equality. One of the strategic objectives of the gender equality strategy is to achieve a gender balance on all Government-appointed committees, boards and other relevant official bodies. In our new gender equality strategy we aim to adopt a positive approach to identifying, understanding and responding to the different needs of men and women; develop the actions to address under-representation, including reconsidering policies that act as barriers; and ensure that gender stereotypes do not influence policy development and decision-making processes.”
“A research study entitled, 'An Investigation of Gender Equality Issues at the Executive Level in Public Sector Organisations', was published by our office on 22 October. The published report presents stages 1 and 2 of the findings. Stage 1 contained a literature review and an analysis of publicly available data. Stage 2 comprised a survey delivered to current and aspiring executives in 143 organisations. Stage 3 is a series of interviews with male and female executives. A final research report, including the findings from stage 3, is ongoing. That will be published in February/March 2015. The findings from those reports will help to inform the new gender equality strategy that is being developed.”
“The Member is aware that we have been looking at extending the scope of the inquiry to people who were over 18 and were in institutions at the time of their abuse and those who were in the mother-and-baby homes. <BR /> <BR />Last week, one of the better contributions to the debate came from the deputy First Minister, when he proposed the establishment of an all-island initiative, resourced by, and under the remit of, the Irish Government and the Executive, through the North/South Ministerial Council, which will ensure that victims and survivors have access to the professional support services they need and, crucially, a channel through which those complaints can be made to the appropriate statutory agency or police service.”
“However, where a document is used and an applicant is unaware of the source, they will be told the source from which it was obtained, and the individual can then pursue the matter fully with the relevant body.”
“Yes, there has been. We are working very closely with the Historical Institutional Abuse (HIA) inquiry . For instance, the page on the NI Direct website contains a series of helpful links to guidance on searching for those records. That includes a link to the website of the Public Records Office (PRONI), which is the main avenue for record searches. I met representatives of PRONI, who offered to put a room aside for victims. Some victims who are taking part in the HIA inquiry asked me to make representations on their behalf, and PRONI said that it would set aside a room for victims to look at the records. <BR /> <BR />The inquiry can only provide records to a relevant party when it considers it necessary to do so to further the inquiry's purposes.”
“<BR /> <BR />Victims and survivors of abuse deserve our support and help, not the petty, political and personalised point-scoring that marked the debate in the Assembly last week and is marking Question Time today.”
“Last Tuesday, the DUP, the UUP and the SDLP lined up to attack me because, in offering help and support to Maíria Cahill, I respected the confidentiality of my conversations with her and her decision at the time to not report her abuse to the police. <BR /> <BR />The leader of the UUP, Mike Nesbitt, who is not in his seat, was more than vocal in the contrived outrage he directed at me. The hypocrisy of his comments was underlined on Thursday when he admitted that he did not inform police when Maíria Cahill told him about the abuse in 2008. The difference is that I was a work colleague and had no authority at the time I was told. Mr Nesbitt, in contrast, was a victims' commissioner when he became aware of it.”
“I wish that I could say that I am surprised that the Member has sought to use the historical institutional abuse inquiry for party political reasons.”
“Support is also provided by the inquiry's dedicated witness support officers, who provide support for victims and survivors attending the acknowledgement forum and oral hearings in Banbridge.”
“It is incredibly important that we have the trust and confidence of victims and survivors of abuse. We listened very carefully to victims and survivors' wishes when we set up the inquiry into historical institutional abuse, and we ensured that those were accurately reflected in its terms of reference. The emotional and physical well-being of victims and survivors has been at the heart of all decision-making. Since January 2012, arrangements have been in place with Lifeline to provide ongoing face-to-face and telephone crisis counselling. From August 2013, Contact NI has also been contracted to provide a bespoke support service for victims and survivors, with a wide range of provision. A coordinator oversees the delivery of the service. In addition, OFMDFM funds a drop-in counselling facility in Derry and Belfast.”
“With the Barroso task force, we have to look at not just the financial benefits but the networking and all that has been done. When we look at the report in detail, we see that it said that a lot of networking has been done, particularly around health, agriculture, education and other issues. That type of integrating policy and looking at policy and how best models of practice can be applied here is beneficial, as is the financial drawdown.”
“As I said to the Member who asked the previous question, we are looking at how we can maximise to the best of our advantage the drawdown of funding. The Barroso task force working group has been working on the production of a set of European priorities for 2014-15. We are going to look at those priorities when they are published to see what we can do. A lot of work is also getting done in committing to the benchmarking performance. Again, we will be looking to maximise whatever benefits there are. If that means raising the targets, we will look to do that also.”
“We are always about trying to maximise and use to the best benefit the moneys that can be secured and accessed at EU level.”
“Obviously, we want to have the maximum benefit of any drawdown of funds. That is obviously what we are always looking at. Departments continue to make good progress towards meeting the 20% target. In 2011-12 — year 1 — Departments drew down £23 million, and in 2012-13 — year 2 — they drew down £18·3 million. At the halfway point in the Budget period, £41·3 million has been drawn down, which represents 64% of the target. Departments are well on track to exceed the total drawdown of £64·4 million by the end of March 2015. Figures for 2013-14 will be published as soon as they have been completed. There have been some difficulties at the European level with confirming drawdown in some programmes, which has led to a delay in the validation of the year 3 figures.”
“<BR /> <BR />After last week's publication of the report of the European Commission's task force on the North, we welcomed the comments of outgoing President Barroso on the positive impact of this initiative. He stated that the task force had helped the region to participate more fully in the network economy, which is essential to building regional prosperity in the 21st century. Given the significant importance of the task force, the First Minister and deputy First Minister have pressed for the continuation of our structured relationship with the Commission. We very much welcomed the recent comments of Commissioner Cretu when she committed to maintaining the work of the task force.”
“We welcome the appointment of a new European Commission. The First Minister and deputy First Minister have written to new Commission President Juncker and the new commissioners to congratulate them on their new appointments in agriculture, financial stability and regional policy, respectively. They have invited them to visit, when we can show them what has been achieved with EU help and what we can offer to others by way of our experience. We will engage fully with other commissioners in due course. We had a productive relationship with the last Commission, facilitated greatly by the Barroso task force working group, in particular Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn in her research, innovation and science portfolio. Our relationship with Phil Hogan as agriculture commissioner will be equally important.”
“— and I hope that this review will enable them to do that —”
“All the victims in this case, including Maíria, are entitled to justice —”
“Most people listening will question your motives and, like me, will see this motion, as my colleagues have said, as nothing more than an opportunity to use this as party politics. Shame on you for doing that.”
“When I contacted the police, they told my solicitor that I am not required to make a statement in this case, so there has been absolutely no improper conduct in my actions. <BR /> <BR />I have worked for many, many years with victims of abuse and domestic violence, and I have accompanied them to the police, the PPS and the relevant statutory bodies for help when they have made that choice. It is their choice to do so. I would have taken the same course of action without hesitation had Maíria asked me to do so. <BR /> <BR />The other political parties in the Chamber have been very quick to come in here today and scramble over each other with accusations and engage in finger-pointing.”
“I was concerned about what might happen, because she seemed extremely vulnerable. That night, I invited her to stay in my home, and, in fact, I took my young child out of her bed to let Maíria sleep in it, because I was afraid about what she would do if she were left alone. <BR /> <BR />When I first saw the motion, I was extremely upset, and I am still upset with some of the accusations that have been levelled at me. All that I did was try to help someone. I have not covered up anything or protected anyone who was responsible for sexual abuse or rape. That is not, and has never been, the case. At no time since 2005 has Maíria or her solicitor or her legal team or indeed the police approached me to ask me to make a statement on the issue. Maíria herself did not report it until 2010.”
“I spoke directly to a member of her close family to tell them of my concerns about her vulnerability, and I advised them to seek help for her. <BR /> <BR />I was aware that her family and others who were much closer to her than I was — I had known her for only a couple of months — had been aware of it for years before Maíria told me. So, I totally reject the allegations that have been levelled against me here that I acted improperly in any way at the time. At no time did Maíria indicate to me that she wanted me to report this, and I did what I would do for anyone in those circumstances and what I felt she needed at that time: I advised her to seek counselling. <BR /> <BR />One night, she was particularly distressed and was on her own. I advised her to not stay on her own.”
“<BR /> <BR />Maíria Cahill was a young woman of 23 or 24 years of age when she disclosed to me that she had been raped when she was 16. She told me that in 2005, some six or seven years after the abuse took place. At the time, she had recently started work in the local community forum, where I worked as a community worker. She disclosed the information to me in confidence as a work colleague, and I sought to help her in whatever way I could at that time. Anyone who has worked with people who have been raped or who are victims of sexual assault will know that that is what you do. You help the person as best you can at that time. It was very clear to me that she was quite distressed, and I was very concerned about her safety and well-being. As she appeared to be very vulnerable, I advised Maíria to seek the help of a counsellor.”
“I am very aware that there is an ongoing review into this case. In recent days, two more victims have released a public statement in which they have expressed concern about how the case is becoming politicised. I certainly do not want to add anything that will cause further distress to any of the victims in this case. That said, I feel very strongly that my credibility not only as a junior Minister but in a personal sense as a woman, and particularly a mother, is under attack through a disgraceful motion. I totally refute what Members said during the debate and over the past few weeks. I totally refute any inference in the motion or in what has been said that I did anything improper in the actions I took in relation to this case. I would not cover up or protect anyone who has been accused of rape or sexual abuse; I would never do that.”
“I do not want to politicise the debate today because it is very important because it concentrates on the needs of victims and survivors. I hope that the House will send out a clear message today that we need to look at the austerity measures that are being implemented and the way that they are affecting services, because it is impacting on the most vulnerable, and who could be more vulnerable than victims and survivors of the conflict? <BR /> <BR />I am glad of the opportunity to respond to the debate. I hope that I have dealt with most of the Members' concerns, but, if not, I will certainly write to them if they want to ask me any more questions.”
“We need to look at a holistic way in which we can take forward how we deal with the legacy of the past and, in particular, deal with the victims and survivors in the way that we have a responsibility to. <BR /> <BR />Some Members brought up the Haass/O'Sullivan proposals. The compromise proposals that were brought forward had a holistic way of dealing with the legacy of the conflict and with the past. One of those proposals looked at the victims service, not just how it is run on a daily basis but how we can develop it and make it better. So, there are issues there. We have to look at it in the round. One Member mentioned bringing it into the talks that will hopefully be taking place soon and into negotiations. <BR /> <BR />It is about the budgetary position that we find ourselves in.”
“One of the main issues was in and around the moneys and the budget, because, obviously, that was what the debate focused on. I will come to the real source of the financial difficulties that we have to face across all Departments. We hear daily how this impacts on people in front line services and on people in our communities. The fact is that there has been a reduction in the block grant in real terms, and it has remained static at £10 billion over the years. Some Members have alluded to that. In terms of austerity and cuts to services, that is really what is at the heart of this debate.”
“I commend those groups, which have for years delivered those services directly to people directly affected by the conflict. We acknowledge and thank them for their commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable people who have been affected by that conflict, and, in going forward, it is important that we maximise the outcomes for victims and survivors from the resources that are available. I am aware that the commission's review of funding is under way, and I reiterate our focus on getting this right for victims. We thank the previous commissioner for her guidance on this matter, and we look forward to working with the incoming commissioner and the forum in the months ahead as we seek to build on the progress made to date. <BR /> <BR />I want to deal with points that were brought up during the debate.”
“Our vision for the service, as set out in our current strategy for victims and survivors, is to secure the provision of an appropriate range of support services. Victims and survivors' needs are diverse and varied, and we want the service to provide holistic support, including practical needs, and, if this is not immediately possible, to signpost them to an appropriate statutory body. Support should not stop at that point, and victims and survivors should be assisted through the process, where possible by dedicated caseworkers who act as a consistent point of contact. <BR /> <BR />We recognise the capacity that exists in the sector across all groups in delivering support and health and well-being assistance to victims and survivors.”
“I am aware of the impact that it has on those individuals and their families. <BR /> <BR />In moving forward, we will continue to work with the Victims and Survivors Service and the Commission for Victims and Survivors to ensure that the service directs funding to victims and survivors most in need of support and services. Our aim is that, through the implementation of the recommendations in the independent assessment report submitted by the commissioner earlier this year, we will hope to transform the service into a client-centred organisation that is fit for purpose and puts the needs of victims and survivors first. Victims and survivors should receive packages of care that are tailored to their needs and are delivered promptly and professionally.”
“This information will then be scrutinised and submitted to the Department to assess the overall impact of the funding position. <BR /> <BR />Throughout 2014 and 2015, the Victims and Survivors Service will continue to provide funding to individual victims through the individual needs programme and to victims groups through the victims support programme. Schemes were opened over the summer to give help to individuals, including financial assistance, care for carers and support for the injured. However, the other individual schemes — respite breaks and education and training — have, unfortunately, had to be deferred pending additional resources being secured. I too have spoken to victims and survivors who have been directly affected by that deferral, and we are looking at that to try to get it sorted out as soon as possible.”
“<BR /> <BR />Following confirmation of its budget on 31 July 2014 and having assessed the information and the next steps, the Victims and Survivors Service wrote to all victim support-funded organisations, informing them of the budget reductions. The service then scheduled meetings with the organisations to discuss their proposals to meet their required efficiencies, and the majority of those meetings have now taken place. I am aware that the Victims and Survivors Service has asked groups to, first, submit details of their proposed efficiencies and, secondly, to state what impact, if any, those savings will have on front line service delivery. Thirdly, it asked the groups to say what impact, if any, the savings will have on the organisation's structure.”
“<BR /> <BR />The need to identify 4·4% of efficiencies has inevitably created pressures, and that has been well documented across all Departments. In the short term, budget reductions will, unfortunately, have a direct impact on the provision of support to victims and survivors. <BR /> <BR />We are asking that the service look at the administration. We want to enable the priority focus to remain on the maintenance of front line services. It is also working closely with groups and continues to prioritise the needs of individuals to protect those with the greatest needs. To that end, the service is committed to maximising cost savings internally to ensure the minimum impact on its operation through reductions in running and staffing costs.”
“That is in line with the efficiency savings being sought by the Department from all its related arm's-length bodies and the Department itself. <BR /> <BR />The Department wrote to the Victims and Survivors Service's interim chair to advise the service of its initial allocation for 2014-15 and to set out an agreed policy framework for it to apply operational discretion in the allocation of its budget. The framework indicated that the service should, first, take into account consultation with the victims' forum and the Commission for Victims and Survivors; secondly, continue to protect the victims and survivors with the greatest needs and suffering; and, thirdly, continue to meet the needs of individual victims and survivors.”
“Whilst the Executive applied a 2·1% reduction in resource budgets immediately in June monitoring and indicated that there would be a further 2·3% reduction in resource budgets in October monitoring, the Executive's June monitoring paper recognised the concerns around resource funding for victims and survivors. The Executive have agreed to return to the issue in October monitoring, with a view to providing additional resources. In the light of that, our Department has made a bid of £1·3 million in October monitoring to restore the service's baseline to £11·3 million, which is the same as the opening budget for 2013-14. In the meantime, the Victims and Survivors Service has been asked to seek to secure 4·4% of efficiencies from its running costs and from the administration of groups funded under the victim support programme.”
“<BR /> <BR />There has been an increase in the number of victims coming forward since the establishment of the Victims and Survivors Service, and that has inevitably led to increased demand for the services. As that demand increases, we need to think about the supply of services and the funding that is available to effectively and efficiently deliver them. <BR /> <BR />When the June monitoring budgets were delayed, we initially allocated the Victims and Survivors Service a budget of £10 million to enable it to provide support as early as possible into the financial year. Our previous bid for additional resources was not met in the June monitoring round, but another bid has been submitted for the October monitoring round.”
“That is why the service was established to help address the needs of that priority group. <BR /> <BR />At the beginning of the 2013-14 financial year, the opening baseline budget for the Victims and Survivors Service was £11·3 million. We also secured additional funding in last year's October monitoring round of £1·1 million, which increased the funding to £12·4 million. A further £400,000 was secured at year-end, which took the final out-turn for 2013-14 up to £12·8 million, although it should be pointed out that the costs for 2013-14 were temporarily high due to the need to recruit additional client assessors to undertake the independent needs review. Comparable costs for 2014-15 are therefore expected to be lower.”
“I am grateful for the opportunity to respond to the concerns regarding the current funding situation for victims and survivors. I can assure Members that addressing the funding needs for victims and survivors is a particularly important matter for us and one that has been and will continue to be given a high priority. <BR /> <BR />The Victims and Survivors Service was established on 2 April 2012. It is responsible for distributing the funding provided by our Department to individual victims and survivors and to the groups that work directly with them. In making its services available, the service assesses eligibility in accordance with the definition of a victim as set out in the legislation. We fully acknowledge and recognise that the needs of victims and survivors are an important legacy of the conflict.”
“We had a meeting last week with members of the Committee in relation to that, and we are very open to meeting again and discussing how we can liaise with the Committee and other interested bodies to see in what way we can take anything forward in our future strategy on that.”
“We have already had a number of discussions about the childcare voucher scheme and have met some of the organisations. Indeed, I think that, this week, I am meeting one of the organisations that has raised that issue with us. We will look, as part of the Bright Start strategy, at all areas. I know that the initial stage in the first 15 actions was basically around school-age children and the social economy model, but we are keen to look at all sorts of aspects of childcare that will affect people. <BR /> <BR />The voucher scheme is part of the Westminster Childcare Payments Bill, and there is a discussion ongoing.”
“Supported by an affordable, flexible and accessible childcare sector, parents can access work, improve their workplace skills and their employability or continue to be economically active. Therefore, along with its child development aims, the childcare strategy will aim to ensure that no parent who wants or has a need to work or to undertake work related to training or study will be prevented from doing so by a lack of childcare.”
“Early years interventions and quality childcare, including school-age childcare, are widely accepted as critical factors in a child's development. It is internationally recognised that quality, child-centred activity in a safe place can promote positive interpersonal relations, develop cultural awareness and complement educational provision. An important aim of the Bright Start childcare strategy is therefore to support the development of children and young people and to enable children and young people from all backgrounds, including those most deprived, to avail themselves of life opportunities. <BR /> <BR />It is not just children who benefit from childcare. Childcare is also a critical enabler to help parents into work, move families out of poverty and help break the cycle of intergenerational deprivation.”