Daithí McKay
North Antrim · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Will the First Minister give us a more detailed update on the civic advisory panel? Would she also agree that, as we face what is, undoubtedly, a political and economic abyss, it is more important than ever that we hear from civic voices in society as well as political leadership?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I recognise much of the work that is ongoing. Given the recent reported and alleged race crime in the Minister's constituency involving several members of the police, will she give us an assurance that a proper and fully independent investigation will be carried out?”
“<BR /> <BR />In recent years, it has become harder and harder to secure your vote. In that context, it does not make sense that support to secure the vote is withdrawn from those on the ground when they need it more than ever. I am sure that most people picked up anecdotes when canvassing in the recent election.”
“We should move forward with confidence and take on more powers to ensure that we protect local services and workers. <BR /> <BR />Look at the list of offices to be impacted: Ballymena, Banbridge, Omagh, Derry, Newtownabbey and Newtownards. If all those were to close, it would leave a huge gap in rural constituencies.”
“I thank the proposers of the motion for bringing it to the House. I am moving the amendment on behalf of Sinn Féin. <BR /> <BR />I think that all 108 Members received a letter from NIPSA concerning the action that has been taken. The letter also highlights the lack of accountability regarding local politicians.”
“I did so along with other MLAs from all the parties locally, so we are unanimously opposed to the decision there. But, we are all 108 locally elected politicians who are powerless to do anything about this. That is why we should see these small — I have to say they are small — but significant functions being transferred to Belfast.”
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“Will the First Minister give us a more detailed update on the civic advisory panel? Would she also agree that, as we face what is, undoubtedly, a political and economic abyss, it is more important than ever that we hear from civic voices in society as well as political leadership?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I recognise much of the work that is ongoing. Given the recent reported and alleged race crime in the Minister's constituency involving several members of the police, will she give us an assurance that a proper and fully independent investigation will be carried out? Does she agree that we need to ensure that there is zero tolerance of racism across all our services?”
“I point out to the Member that we are more than happy to see the devolution and transfer of powers for parades as well. If the Member's party would like to hold further discussions with us about that, we would welcome sitting down with you.”
“I believe that the people who should be making the decision about this need to be local politicians.”
“Of course, Electoral Office workers in the rural constituencies, in all the offices that are outlined for closure, were proactive in their work. They did the outreach to schools and they set up photographic ID clinics in the many villages and hamlets across the rural constituencies. All that is absolutely essential. You have places like north Antrim, Tyrone and Fermanagh where Belfast seems very far away. We see the acute need for those services to continue for the time ahead. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, I agree with the proposers of the motion that the NIO and the Chief Electoral Officer need to reconsider these proposals, but we also need to step up to the plate. This decision, as regards local offices, will affect local workers and have a huge impact on local democracy.”
“I concur absolutely. I remember the Ballymoney office. I was in it, so I have been about for a long time. Ballymoney is a case in point. We have seen the impact that there has been on Ballymoney of job closures and the withdrawal of services like the electoral office. The impact is still being felt there. Unfortunately, what we see in Ballymena is almost a mirror image of what has happened in Ballymoney over the past 10 to 15 years. <BR /> <BR />The Electoral Office has done a fantastic job. It has provided a fantastic service across all the constituencies and, quite simply, it does not deserve to be treated like this. If the Electoral Office is to have a consultation, let us have a fair one. Let us not make any decisions beforehand.”
“Why would anybody representing North Antrim participate in the consultation when the office is effectively already closed? The decision, it is quite clear, has already been made. The lease is being allowed to lapse, and I believe that the Electoral Office, for its own reasons, has agreed that the service should be centralised towards Belfast and Newtownabbey, initially. That is the shape of things to come. <BR /> <BR />The electoral office in Ballymena has served the people of North Antrim and Mid Ulster for many years. They have worked diligently and proactively. They have provided advice and support not only to the voters and those on the ground but to us as candidates, party workers and directors of elections. They have provided an absolutely fantastic service for many years.”
“He may have to go to Belfast from Carey. He did not have a computer in the house. That shows the barriers for certain electors in our constituencies. These are all big questions that need to be answered first. We should not put the cart before the horse. <BR /> <BR />In four months' time — in October — the Electoral Office plans to close the Ballymena office. It will be yet another closure for Ballymena town, and the Electoral Office is simply allowing the lease to lapse. I have contacted Graham Shields, the chief executive, as have all the local MLAs, and he replied that:”
“<BR /> <BR />In recent years, it has become harder and harder to secure your vote. In that context, it does not make sense that support to secure the vote is withdrawn from those on the ground when they need it more than ever. I am sure that most people picked up anecdotes when canvassing in the recent election. When I was in Carey on the far north coast of Antrim outside Ballycastle, I spoke to a man who was coming 100. He was going down to the local school at Barnish to place his vote and said that he had photographic ID on his disability badge. Of course, it was not acceptable, and, although he tried, he did not get his vote. There are so many cases like that of people losing their vote unnecessarily. If all these decisions roll out, where would that man go for help with photographic ID to ensure that he is on the register?”
“We should move forward with confidence and take on more powers to ensure that we protect local services and workers. <BR /> <BR />Look at the list of offices to be impacted: Ballymena, Banbridge, Omagh, Derry, Newtownabbey and Newtownards. If all those were to close, it would leave a huge gap in rural constituencies. There would also be an impact on older people. There has been much discussion by the Electoral Office of online registration and doing things through the Internet. A lot of older people, and some younger people, would rather do things by pen and paper. They would rather go to their local office to seek advice on how to fill out the form, which can be quite intimidating to some of us as well, and secure that very basic right to vote. The same applies to the request for photographic identification.”
“I did so along with other MLAs from all the parties locally, so we are unanimously opposed to the decision there. But, we are all 108 locally elected politicians who are powerless to do anything about this. That is why we should see these small — I have to say they are small — but significant functions being transferred to Belfast. If you look at the responsibilities that we have in education, policing, justice and housing, we all work together and make decisions in those areas. Locally, there would have been a lot of issues about decisions in those areas 10, 20 or 30 years ago. In that context, surely, setting up an independent but accountable electoral service should not be an issue, and I do not believe that it is. We have shown in recent times how mature an Assembly and Executive we can be.”
“I thank the proposers of the motion for bringing it to the House. I am moving the amendment on behalf of Sinn Féin. <BR /> <BR />I think that all 108 Members received a letter from NIPSA concerning the action that has been taken. The letter also highlights the lack of accountability regarding local politicians. I think it refers to the unaccountability of the NIO and the Chief Electoral Officer. That is why we have put forward an amendment that, at the end of the day, this is a decision that we should be taking. We should be taking a decision that safeguards this service, especially for rural communities, which are going to be acutely impacted by the decision to close these offices. <BR /> <BR />A couple of weeks ago, I stood on the picket line in Ballymena with the local workers of that electoral office.”
“The Minister will not need reminding that the Treasury often operates as a law unto itself, so I welcome his commitment to fight ferociously for the best deal possible — a fair deal for our Assembly. Can he not only outline the negotiation up until we get the 12·5% but remind the House what we will have once we secure a fair deal on corporation tax?”
“I would like an update from the Finance Minister on how he will look at that issue.”
“We need a level playing field to ensure that we can compete with the rest of the island and get our fair share economically, which is not the case at present. There is an opportunity to bring in more tourists, more business and more jobs, and I am sure that the Finance Minister will lead in that respect. <BR /> <BR />Finally, the Department will bring forward reliefs for sports clubs. That is a huge issue in rural areas. I know many GAA and rugby clubs that are affected by quite significant rates bills. In a lot of communities these clubs are the only show in town. They bring communities together and deliver not only on sport but on mental health and many other things.”
“<BR /> <BR />Another issue that concerns the tourism community is air passenger duty (APD) and I am heartened to hear that the Finance Minister has made it one of his priorities. There is a lot of talk about the need to deliver on corporation tax, but APD is key to tourism and affects us here more than it does those across the water because of the North/South differential, highlighted in a PricewaterhouseCoopers report a couple of years ago and by the Finance and Personnel Committee. If we get APD right, we can deliver more tourists, more business and more jobs. You always hear anecdotally of the number of local people flying to and from other destinations and, of course, when it comes to the price of flights, Dublin wins hands down. We need to address that.”
“The previous Agriculture Minister delivered the Rural Needs Act, and the incoming Executive need to be cognisant of the fact that the rural community has acute needs to be protected. I look forward to the Finance Minister's comments on how we protect the rural community and the budget for rural areas. <BR /> <BR />I would like to congratulate the Executive on delivery. In the north-east, the A26 is progressing well. This is key, not only for the many commuters to Belfast from places such as Ballymoney and Ballycastle but for tourists. We want to see more people coming to the north coast, not only to the port but to Ballycastle and elsewhere, including 'Game of Thrones' country in north Antrim.”
“The Chair of the Education Committee mentioned the need for investment in the rural road network, and we look forward to the Executive delivering on the A5 and A6. Those are major projects that need to be delivered as soon as possible, but there is a concern in rural communities and in places that I represent, such as Dunloy and Loughgiel and up towards the glens of Antrim and Ballycastle, that the roads are in a bad state. That needs to be dealt with, and rural communities need to be assured that big projects such as the A5 and the A6 are not going to be delivered at their expense.”
“That presents a challenge not only to the Executive and to government but to all the political parties, because the future of our health service and the prize of a world-class health service is more important than petty political point-scoring. I look forward to Professor Bengoa and the panel reporting to the Minister very shortly. There is also a need to reduce waste in health, especially with regard to cross-border services in the border areas. Clearly, there are opportunities there to free up money by having more joined-up services. That money could go to other services that are in need. That, for me, is a no-brainer, and I look forward to the Minister looking at that and exploring solutions to it. <BR /> <BR />I will now move on to a couple of other issues.”
“We need to do things differently when it comes to health, and there are a lot of tough choices to be made. Why? Because, as a population, we are getting older. The number of over-65s is to rise by 44% — nearly 50% — in the next 15 years. We are getting more obese: it is projected that 40% of the population here will be obese in the next nine years, according to BMA figures. More of us are being diagnosed with diabetes, and there is a rise in the number of people with chronic conditions. <BR /> <BR />The current health system here will not be able to deal with the changing public health make-up and, therefore, it needs to change. The significant reduction in our Budget as a result of Westminster cuts will make this all the more challenging.”
“This is my first opportunity to wish the Minister of Finance well in his new role and on his particularly significant speech today on the Main Estimates. The Business Committee could have timed it better, because it looks like he will be responding at exactly the same time as Sweden play Ireland. In future, when the North or the South are playing, perhaps sittings could be suspended whilst those matches are taking place. <BR /> <BR />There is a clear need to ensure that the money we spend on health goes further. As the Health Minister has said, it is not primarily about buildings; it must be about services and improving health outcomes, reducing health inequalities and ensuring that all Departments put a greater focus on prevention. Health, as I have said many times before, is not an issue for one Department alone.”
“It also requires a mature and constructive conversation between all stakeholders. I therefore urge parties to follow through on what they are saying today. Let us see the constructive opposition. Let us see the proposals coming forward, not only platitudes here in the Chamber. Let us see some papers coming from the Opposition parties to the Minister so that we can all find a solution to this great difficulty that we have with waiting times and ensure that we secure the best outcome for all those whom we represent.”
“I have every confidence in them working with the Minister to deliver the best possible outcomes for their patients. That will not be easy over the next five years. It will be extremely difficult in the context of the cuts to public services that we have faced for the past five years and will certainly face for some time into the future from the Tory Administration in London. We should never forget that fact, because that is why the health service is facing the difficulties that it is facing now: cuts are coming year on year from the Administration that was originally supported by some of the parties in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />We need short-term investment to deal with the waiting times, but we need a holistic, long-term solution, and that requires backing from politicians here, from senior civil servants and from clinicians.”
“<BR /> <BR />A recent audit report put the cost to the health service of missed appointments at more than £11 million a year, and the hospital cancellation rate is significantly higher here than it is in Wales or Scotland. Far too many of those cancellations were down to clinicians rather than patients. Indeed, recent research from health think tank the King's Fund identified the importance of whole-system analysis and sustained action over time as a way of achieving sustainable reductions in waiting times. Its analysis puts great emphasis on the importance of clinical ownership and involvement as being vital to improving outcomes. As somebody said already, our staff in the health service — those on the front line — are our greatest asset.”
“<BR /> <BR />To date, interim solutions have been sought by allocating additional funding to tackle what has been characterised as the "backlog". As well as interim solutions, however, we need long-term solutions, and I know that the Minister has her eye on that longer view. I am also interested in hearing from the Minister what proposals and solutions she has received from the Opposition parties about dealing with waiting times. As the Member who spoke previously said, we need more from MLAs than just statements and platitudes here in the Chamber. We need action, and we need it from all parties' offices. We need to see proposals. We need to see that constructive opposition, in order to provide a solution that is in the best interests of all the people whom we represent, not just platitudes in front of the cameras.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. This is an important issue, and we in Sinn Féin are more than happy to support the motion. Waiting times for hospital appointments, tests and admissions for inpatient elective care have been persistent problems for successive Health Ministers that they have sought to resolve, and I welcome the Minister's statement yesterday, in which she described excessive waiting times as "completely unacceptable". I also welcome the announcement that she is actively engaged in seeking additional funding as the first step in beginning to tackle the problem. I do not see how anybody can take issue with that approach. The Minister was also right to link excessive waiting lists to the operational ways in which we deliver health services and to the need for change.”
“<BR /> <BR />The challenge for the Justice Minister, the Justice Committee and all of us as MLAs on policy and drugs is that we need some fresh thinking. According to the figures, drug seizures have doubled in the past 10 years, so whatever we are doing is not working correctly. Drug misuse is increasing, so we need to focus on prevention. We should have less of a focus on the criminalisation of those who abuse and are addicted to substances and more focus on those who are dealing and making money on the misery of many families. We need some fresh thinking. There is a lot of fresh thinking taking place across Europe in regard to the issue, and it is something that we really need to get to grips with in the new Assembly term.”
“Drugs destroy lives, not only those who are addicted to the substances but their families. I agree with the Chairperson of the Justice Committee that you cannot just throw everyone with a drug addiction into prison. That simplistic approach has not worked. The various wars on drugs have not worked, and, at the end of the day, drug addiction is a health issue. Those who work in addictions and in support groups across the North all say that the worst addiction cases are those relating to legal substances, mainly alcohol. That is a fact that Michaela Boyle also referred to. We should not be focused on thinking that illegal substances are the worst and that legal ones are not so bad because alcohol is the worst substance that we have to deal with in our society.”
“The Member makes a very good point. Sometimes, Departments are very quick to jump to defend their internal services but put much less value on external services on the ground in the community, even though they deliver best practice — sometimes better practice than the Department. <BR /> <BR />I think that Mr Beattie said that prevention was better than cure. We need to focus on prevention. That is key in this debate. Railway Street has been held up as a model of best practice in helping injecting drug users. The impact has been absolutely huge. Many of those who campaigned to keep the place open were addicts themselves, and they said that they would not be here were it not for the service provided.”
“Continuing funding for such groups is vital to addiction prevention. Many of us in Ballymena, North Antrim and beyond campaigned to keep the Railway Street addiction service open after the Department of Justice withdrew £360,000. That campaign was a great success. Of course, all those services are vital.”
“<BR /> <BR />The statistics for 2015-16 are interesting: there were 4,445 cannabis seizures, 566 cocaine seizures, 128 ecstasy seizures and 138 opiates seizures. The vast majority of seizures relate to cannabis use and addiction. The number of cocaine seizures is, I think, quite low given that, according to figures in the PSNI report, around 34% of drug misuse relates to cocaine. The number of cannabis seizures is significant compared with the number for class A drugs. <BR /> <BR />I want to pay tribute to the many services in Dungannon, Ballymena and elsewhere. I, along with other constituency MLAs, have worked for many years with the Hope Centre. It has worked tirelessly and struggled year after year to scrape together funding to deal with those suffering from addictions and the families who are affected.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I congratulate you on your elevation and the Minister on hers. It is bound to be quite a challenging Department to manage. <BR /> <BR />I support the motion and amendment. Of course, most of the issues have been covered. Illegal drugs are absolutely everywhere. They have been everywhere since I was a child. When we went to school, if you wanted drugs, you could get them. If it was that bad then, how bad is it now? I dread to think. Drugs are available in the workplace, on the streets, on street corners and, most concerning of all, in schools and playgrounds. They have many secondary impacts, such as violence on the streets. We have seen the violent gang crime in Dublin, which was all related to the illegal drug trade as well.”
“We are moving away from the old way of doing business, the silo mentality and the culture of fiefdoms in Departments. It is a big, big step, and I urge the Opposition not to try to make hay out of this but to respond to the consultation and to ensure that we take this step forward for the better of everybody in our communities.”
“<BR /> <BR />I want to come back on a point that Claire Hanna made about the Scottish experience, because there are parallels with our situation. I remember how John Eldridge, whom I have met on a number of occasions, outlined how he knew that there would be departmental resistance to the new way of doing government. In effect, he brought it in overnight in consultation with Ministers. He knew that there would be institutional resistance from parts of the Civil Service. I have no doubt that there will be resistance from our local government structures as well. I encourage the other parties not just to dismiss this new way of doing government. It is bold and progressive. It is about doing things differently and focusing on health and other outcomes that are important to the communities that we represent.”
“This needs to be looked at closely as part of the consultation. Coupling public transport with active transport could mean that a decrease in cycling and walking is masked by an increase in bus and train journeys. I will put that forward as part of our response. Active transport is much more important than that. We are in a very car-centric society, and there are a lot of car-centric civil servants. That should not be allowed to cloud aspects of the Programme for Government and its indicators. <BR /> <BR />There are issues, indicators and targets here that are very important to the rural community that I represent. Internet connectivity is one example. Travel times are an issue for rural commuters, as Declan McAleer outlined. Then there are big issues for the health of rural communities. Those are equally important.”
“It was an opportunity to outline the detail of their alternative Programme for Government framework, but there is no alternative before us. I say to the Members to the left that there is an opportunity to feed in those views, and we want detailed proposals, not just "We don't like this, and we don't like that". We need detailed proposals about what their alternative Programme for Government framework is. I hope that they will be a constructive Opposition, as they have outlined. All that I have heard today so far is complain, complain, complain. It was said over the election that they wanted to be a constructive Opposition, but we have yet to see that. <BR /> <BR />It is great that active travel has been included as one of the indicators. That represents the crossover between both health and transport and health and infrastructure.”
“I attended many meetings, and I know that the current Minister for the Economy did the same, as did junior Minister Fearon and David McIlveen. They no doubt contributed to the new progressive framework that we have in front of us, and it is a good thing that the public will have their say. It is a good thing that stakeholders and the community will have their say in the document to ensure that we get it right. The direction of travel from the Executive clearly is the correct one. <BR /> <BR />I am disappointed that the Opposition have not done their homework. I was expecting great things from the much talked-about Opposition, the Opposition who cannot decide how they will be an Opposition — the two main parties, anyway. Today was an opportunity to land a few blows on the new Executive.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the other hand, I am glad to see that the Executive will be doing business differently. This is a progressive framework, and it will help us to tackle the age-old problem of departmental silo mentality. It puts well-being at the heart of government. Health is at the forefront of the document. It talks about public health strategies, tackling health inequalities, active travel, which is a health issue in itself, childcare and mental health. Of course, all of those issues sit in different Departments, and that is why we need an outcome-focused Programme for Government, not a department-focused Programme for Government. It is only apt that we commend Carnegie and those involved in the Roundtable on their work over the past three years.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. This is my first time speaking in the new mandate, and we are down to sit to 9.00 pm. I am disappointed about that, because I think that we are still failing the staff in the Building. It is an archaic way of doing business. It is not family-friendly, and it is not rural-friendly. I know that the Business Office and others will be looking at this, and I think that, as we start the business of the new Assembly, we need to get things right from the start. For the past five years, we have talked about the need to attract more women into the Assembly, and we have talked about the need for family-friendly hours. We are starting a new session, and we have not done anything about it. That should be on the record as something that needs addressed.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for her statement. It is very welcome that this is the first issue that she has brought to the Floor as Minister. She said that we need a health service that is innovative and sustainable. I hope that we take the politics out of the issue because it is critical for many families across the North. The Minister is right: we need positive change. One change before the Department at the moment is the closure of the Health and Social Care Board. Will the Minister update us on that process?”
“That being the case, as Chairperson of the Committee, I am unable to respond on the Committee's behalf in that regard. That is regrettable, since the Committee has always sought to engage with the relevant trade unions on issues under consideration that affect their members. <BR /> <BR />On behalf of the Finance and Personnel Committee, I support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee formally considered the SR before the Assembly today at its meeting on 2 March, together with an accompanying report from the Assembly's Examiner of Statutory Rules, who, as the Minister has already said, had no observation to make about the technical scrutiny of the rule. The Committee therefore agreed to recommend that the order be affirmed by the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />I am aware that, since the Committee's consideration of the rule, NIPSA has written to MLAs expressing its concern about the impact of the rule. Whilst acknowledging the union's concerns on behalf of its members, I note that those concerns were not brought to the attention of the Committee in advance of the rule being formally considered.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. As the Minister has outlined, the order will make provisions to specify the annual percentage changes in prices in order to effect a revaluation of pension benefits for members of CARE public service pension schemes. The revaluation process will include a reference to a cost of living index, which tracks annual changes in the level of prices or earnings as measured in the CPI. <BR /> <BR />The policy proposals contained in the rule were formally considered by the Committee on 17 February. After consideration, the Committee confirmed that it had no comment to make on the policy proposals at that stage. The rule was laid before the Assembly on 18 February and is subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.”
“<BR /> <BR />Having received this clarification and on the basis that no further issues were raised by way of technical scrutiny, the Committee agreed to support the Department in seeking the Assembly’s endorsement of the order. I, therefore, support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the charge for a general search request dropping from £7 to zero, I questioned officials on the basis for that reduction. They indicated that it was part of a concerted effect to encourage more people to use the search facility. It had been noted that a £7 fee was possibly seen as a prohibitive barrier to service users, particularly in the case of what officials referred to as "taster sessions". That, combined with efficiencies associated with the evolution of the online system that the Minister referred to, has negated the necessity to charge the higher amount. It is hoped that the decrease will encourage more people to use the facility. <BR /> <BR />I welcome this development, particularly in facilitating genealogical research. I hope that it encourages locals, as well as potential visitors, to use the service.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. The Finance and Personnel Committee first considered the proposal to make the order at its meeting on 27 January. At that time, the Department had provided clarification highlighting that the general search fee would decrease from £7 to zero and that the enhanced index search fee would increase from 40p to 50p per credit. No other increases are being applied to existing fees. <BR /> <BR />NISRA officials were able to confirm that the changes were being made with due regard to effective cost recovery for the service provided. They also highlighted that charges are assessed at a particular level by having due regard to actual costs for service provision and that each service is costed individually in this manner.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his answer. I am sure he will be well aware of the many horrific stories relating to this area of health where the mother and child have been separated. That is totally unacceptable, and I agree that we need a regional unit sooner rather than later. I ask the Minister whether he agrees that this needs to be an absolute priority for the Department in the new Assembly term.”
“Go raibh maith agat. The Minister has touched on the fact that there are potential barriers in the process. How does he intend to ensure that small community organisations — the micro-community groups in rural constituencies like ours — will be able to access the funding and that it will not only be the organisations that are good at filling out the application forms for it?”
“This is, therefore, strategically important work to be concluded over the coming weeks and months, in time for the next Budget process. <BR /> <BR />Today, on behalf of the Committee, I support the motion.”
“Moreover, it has been recognised previously by the Committee, and during the plenary debates in recent weeks, that the legislative stages of the existing Budget and financial processes are cumbersome and in need of reform. Contributions to recent debates have, in my mind, affirmed that there is broad acceptance across all parties that an overhaul of existing processes is needed and should be undertaken. In that regard, the Committee has previously pointed out that such reform, including streamlining the legislative stages of the financial process, could be facilitated through the successful operation of the MOU, which provides for more effective input for Committees and the wider Assembly at the earlier, formative stage of the Budget process.”