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 In that context, it does not make sense that support to secure the vote is withdrawn from those on the ground when they need it more than ever.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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“I think there is no better way of putting it. Amateur sports clubs give proactive healthcare to our communities. <BR /> <BR />To cite another example, Ken Armstrong of Belfast Indoor Bowls Club outlined to the Finance Committee that it has a rates bill of some £13,000 per annum, even with the existing rates relief. That does not include increases in utility costs, such as lighting and electricity, that they are also struggling with. They want to invest, but the rates overheads are blocking that. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, this is a progressive Bill. It is a potential good news story for the Assembly and the Administration. It is a minimal cost for significant health and social impact. In terms of the process, this is the Bill's Second Stage.”
“It is preventing them from doing those things. Although they would gladly meet the upfront capital cost for such expansions, they are wary of having the additional rates cost year on year, and they believe that that is putting those projects beyond their reach. <BR /> <BR />One respondent to the consultation referred to the epidemic of obesity, especially among the youth. They said that it is the promotion of:”
“If you were to take into consideration community amateur sports clubs and amateur sports clubs not covered by the CASC definition, the cost, going by the latest figures, would be somewhere in the region of £1·4 million. At the public meetings that we held, a lot of clubs said that they wanted to expand their services and build new stands and new club rooms. They are factoring in the additional rates costs that they would have year-on-year.”
“<BR /> <BR />Clause 1(9) and 1(10) would add new definitions of licensed premises, qualifying purposes and registered CASCs and make clear that licensed premises cannot be considered for qualifying purposes. <BR /> <BR />Clause 2 would amend article 44 of the 1977 order and allow for apportionment of net annual value between parts used for qualifying purposes and other parts. It simply states that such apportionment should be shown on the list. <BR /> <BR />Clause 3 states that the Bill would come into operation the day after it completes the legislative process. <BR /> <BR />Clause 4 provides the short title, and that is all there is to it. <BR /> <BR />The Bill would not cost the earth. It would, on the basis of the CASC list, cost £420,000, as I said.”
“The 100% rate would not apply to any part of a club that sold alcohol, other than by way of occasional licence, but would apply to the rest of the club premises — halls, gym facilities, playing fields etc. <BR />The Bill has four clauses. Clause 1 would amend article 31 of the 1977 order. Clause 1(2) to clause 1)(6) would amend article 31 to outline two categories of hereditament: one that includes CASCs; and one that applies to other clubs that currently benefit from relief. <BR /> <BR />Clause 1(7) inserts a new paragraph that would effect 100% relief for CASCs. Clause 1(8) would apply the apportionment provisions for CASCs. In other words, where part of the hereditament was shown on the net annual value list as not being used for qualifying purposes, it would be valued at the normal rate.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill would amend the Rates (NI) Order 1977. At present, amateur sports clubs can avail themselves of rates relief of 80%. To qualify for the relief, an amateur sports club must comply with the requirements of article 31 and, in particular, fall within the definition of a prescribed recreation, as outlined in legislation. My amendments to the 1977 order would exempt community amateur sports clubs from the payment of rates. <BR /> <BR />CASC schemes were introduced in 2002 to support grass-roots sport and encourage local amateur sports clubs to register with HMRC as a sports club, rather than a business, for rates and tax purposes. Clubs that are not community amateur sports clubs would continue to be able to avail themselves of the 80% rates relief, and clubs registered as CASCs would get 100% rates relief.”
“I represent a rural constituency, and I know that a number of clubs in rural areas have diversified more and more in recent years to offer more health and well-being activities. Events such as the biggest loser —a competition to lose weight — involve a lot of physical activity, including running. Competition in a community helps to bring it together and increase social cohesion. Community and amateur sports clubs organise marathons, half-marathons, cycling events and health awareness days. They increase suicide awareness, which is a big issue in rural areas. They offer critical support to young people at a very vulnerable time in their life. They teach young people leadership and provide life skills. That, taken as a whole, is a significant public service that needs to be recognised.”
“The impression is given that there is huge concern out there about the Bill. There is not huge concern, and the public overwhelmingly support it. The reaction on social media and Twitter last night backs that up. <BR /> <BR />I tried to get figures from the Department on costs. The latest DFP figure for the cost of community amateur sports clubs — I need to attach caution to this — is £420,000 per annum. I recognise that, with the introduction of rates relief and the number of clubs applying to join CASC schemes, that figure would certainly rise. All in all, if the cost is £1 million, £2 million or £3 million, you are getting more back in return than you are losing in revenue. <BR /> <BR />This is a public service that delivers health and well-being.”
“I have spoken to bar owners who are supporters of amateur sports clubs and amateur sport, and they have no issue with the Bill. They believe that it is fair and balanced. The fact that 100% relief will not apply to licensed premises on clubs is the common-sense way forward. I do not understand — maybe I do understand — some approaches that have been taken, but they certainly do not stand up to scrutiny. <BR /> <BR />It has been said that this was bad consultation. We had over 1,000 replies. How many consultations by the Department of Finance and Personnel get over 100 replies never mind 1,000? The consultation has been comprehensive. Over the summer, the Committee put out a call for witnesses to come forward. There were no responses to that, but no concerns were raised.”
“The evidence is overwhelming. Sports clubs provide a public service, yet they get little in return. I urge Members to use their foresight to see the benefits. A lot of clubs are holding back on capital build and investment because of the additional rates burden. With a full rates exemption and extra finance, the Bill would give the green light for new changing rooms, new stands, new pitches and new facilities for communities in rural and urban areas alike. <BR /> <BR />I hope that the Assembly will support the Bill today. It is quite clear that the Bill will not apply to bars. There has been a bit of confusion out there, and it has been deliberately put about that the Bill will cover bars, but it will not. Existing legislation is in place, but I have taken into account the views of those in the hospitality sector.”
“At a recent knowledge exchange seminar in the Assembly, Hassan and Hughes stated:”
“The indirect costs of being overweight and obese are estimated at £7·4 million.”
“The 2010 DCAL and Sport NI publication, 'Economic Importance of Sport in NI', found that sport-related activity adds £638·6 million to the economy, which is 2·3% of total gross value added (GVA). <BR /> <BR />For me, the real benefit is public health. This Bill will help to deliver better health outcomes, because sport tackles obesity, sport tackles diabetes and sport improves our mental health and well-being. What is the cost of obesity? In 2012, an estimate put the cost of treating obesity at £3 million per annum. It put the cost of lost earnings due to premature death at £22 million, and the cost of lost earnings due to illness at £47 million. The total economic cost between 2007 and 2008 — and it would have risen significantly since then — was estimated at £350 million.”
“If those clubs were not there, and if they did not fundraise and put in place pitches and halls for sporting activities, then local councils would have to provide the facilities instead. So, local councils have saved millions of pounds over the years through the activities, voluntary work and fundraising in the community that clubs have carried out. <BR /> <BR />Such clubs have also saved us significant money in physical and mental health costs. Clubs clearly prevent health problems, such as obesity, from developing. This is not appreciated enough. Recent figures showed that, in 2006-07, spending on sport contributed £452 million per annum to the economy, or 2% of GDP.”
“They are not used primarily for profit or gain, but involve the participation of local inhabitants for recreational or other social purposes. It excludes halls that sell alcohol but, all in all, there is a much better deal in the South for clubs than there is in the North. <BR /> <BR />Under the community amateur sports club (CASC) scheme in Britain, clubs can avail of an 80% relief from non-domestic rates, and there is discretion for the remaining 20% to be relieved by local authorities. Again, we do not have such an option in the North. <BR /> <BR />Amateur clubs and their volunteers save us millions of pounds. They save money for central government, here at the Assembly, and local government.”
“There has been an economic downturn and there is less money for sponsorship. I know of a rugby club in my constituency that had quite a significant sponsor who fell on hard times, and the club now has to try to fill the gap that has been left. <BR /> <BR />There is less support in place here for community amateur sports clubs than there is for such clubs in the South or indeed across the water. That is outlined in excellent research by Colin Pidgeon, which was produced in this Building. In the South, the Valuation Act, 2001 outlined the grand design that sport is exempt from rates. That refers to outdoor surfaces, including football pitches, tennis courts, racecourses and golf courses, but not fixed buildings and structures. However, a further rates exemption in the same Act concerns properties that are used as community halls.”
“They are all in favour of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />That is to name but a few. I could have put Members through a lot more names of clubs that responded to the consultation. <BR /> <BR />In total, out of 1,033 replies to the consultation, 1,022 supported the proposal, five were against and six were unsure. It is supported by the NI Sports Forum, the Irish Football Association, the Gaelic Athletic Association and Ulster Rugby. The Sports Forum carried out a survey of members that showed that the move would help to relieve stress on clubs and would result in huge benefits for the entire community. We also had overwhelming support at public consultations, which we held in Enniskillen, Dungannon, Omagh, Strabane and Belfast. What was quite clear from those public consultations is that clubs are suffering.”
“British Gymnastics; Slaughtneil GAC; Ballymoney Gymnastics; Twisters Gymnastics; the Asylum Weightlifting Club in Newtownards; Warrenpoint Town Football Club; Flight Gymnastics Academy; Ardmore Cricket and Football Club; Brigade Cricket Club; Banbridge Rugby Football Club; Belfast Shotokan Karate Club; Malone Rugby; Clogher Valley Rugby Football Club; Ulster Gliding Club; Pan-Disability Lisburn Badminton Club; NI Orienteering; Coleraine Yacht Club; Antrim Hockey Club; the Ulster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union; the Ulster Seaplane Association; Ballyclare Rugby Football Club; Kazoku Karate; Carrickfergus Rugby Football Club; Sandy Hill Football Club; McQuillan GAC Ballycastle; Belfast Canoe Club; Armagh Rugby Club; Lurgan Institute FC; Beragh Red Knights from west Tyrone; Donaghadee Ladies Netball Club; Ballymena Rugby Club; Loughgiel Shamrocks; Craigavon City Football Club; Duffin Transport Cycling Club; Carrickfergus Ladies Junior Hockey Club; St Joseph's Amateur Boxing Club; University of Ulster Jordanstown Canoe Club; Causeway Coast Kayak Association; Ballymena Road Club; Banbridge District Council; Mossley Hockey Club; North Down Cycling Club; Apollo Cycling Team; Banbridge Hockey Club; Larne Rugby Football Club; Belfast Harlequins; Dunbarton Bowling Club; Randalstown Ladies Hockey Club; Lakeland Cycling Club; Strabane Lifford Cycling Club; Rainey Old Boys Rugby Football Club; City of Derry Rugby Football Club; North Down Cycling Club; Tyrone GAA; Bangor Men's Hockey Club; East Coast Athletic Club; Armagh City FC; Portglenone GAC and Geraldine's Camogie Club; Killyclooney Cricket Club; Strabane Cricket Club; Fivemiletown United; Pegasus Hockey Club; Moyola Park Football Club; Limavady Cricket and Rugby Club; Bready Cricket Club; Holywood Ladies Hockey Club; Coleraine Ladies Hockey Club; Bann Rowing Club; Downpatrick Cricket Club; Riverdale Football Club; Redhog Wrestling Club; Chimney Corner FC; Kaizen Ju-Jitsu Association; Randalstown Rugby Football Club; Falls Bowling Club; St Mary's GAC Rasharkin; Grosvenor Rugby Football Club; Dundrum Cricket Club; Laurel Vale Cricket Club; Carnmoney Ladies Football Club; Portadown Tennis Club; Carniny Amateur and Youth Football Club; Loughgiel Camogie Club; Maghera Cricket Club; GoLift Weightlifting, Newtownabbey; Omagh Thunder Basketball Club; Cuchullains Dunloy; Tandragee Rovers; Splits and Flips Gymnastics; Glentoran Football Club; East Belfast Yacht Club; Lisburn Racquets; Ballynafeigh Tennis and Squash Club; Comber Recreation Football Club; Ballynagross FC; Aquinas FC; Larne Football Club; Sydenham United Football Club; Causeway Netball Club; Ardglass Football Club; the NI Ju-Jitsu Association; Northend United FC; Swim Ulster; The Star Amateur Boxing Club; Carnlough Swifts Football Club; St Mary's GAC, Ahoghill; Ulster GAA; and Ballykelly Cross-community Amateur Boxing Club.”
“I read out all these names because these groups will not have an opportunity to contribute to the Committee Stage of the Bill by writing or by giving oral evidence. It is important that their contributions are put on the record. <BR /> <BR />There was also the Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooting Association; Greenisland Ladies Hockey Club; Valley Rangers Football Club; the Ulster Angling Federation; Coleraine Rugby Football and Cricket Club; Oak Athletic Football Club;”
“I also thank the Sports Forum, Ms Katie Nixon, Mr Ciaran Kearney and Mr Ken Armstrong, the manager of Belfast Bowls Club, and Patrice Hardy, who ably assisted me in our first presentation to the Finance Committee in May 2014. <BR /> <BR />There was huge support for the Bill. We received in excess of 1,000 responses in support — I am taking a sip of water for a reason — including Fermanagh District Council; Ballyclare Golf Club; Culbann Clay Pigeon Club; Lagan Valley Orienteers; St Brigid's Cross Community Amateur Boxing Club; Bernardines Cycling Club; Salto Gymnastics Centre; Glendowan Football Club; Dungannon Rugby Club; Aghalee Taekwondo Club; Saints Amateur Boxing Club; and Abbey Gymnastics.”
“There was no doubt at that time that the general view of Members was that an increase from 80% to 100% was a good thing. That was four years ago. If you go back nine years, there was a view that sports halls should have been included in the Rates Order 2006. I remember well my party colleague Barry McElduff raising that issue at the time on behalf of sports clubs in the locality. This is not a proposal that has been rushed into. Cearly, the opposite is the case. <BR /> <BR />At the outset, I thank the gentleman from Armoy who first gave me the idea of undertaking this work some three years ago. He shall remain anonymous, but I can assure Members that it is not Mervyn Storey.”
“The motion was amended by the DUP to call upon the then Minister, Mr Sammy Wilson, to:”
“I believe that most parties in the Assembly recognise that this is a straightforward and simple proposal and one that we should vote for today. <BR /> <BR />What I find astonishing is the accusation that we are rushing into this: anything but. My constituency colleague Robin Swann MLA moved a motion in November 2011, which read:”
“The party opposite has also said that the consultation was not appropriate and did not go far enough, but the Department and the Minister have said that, in bringing forward their Bill, they want to skip the Committee Stage. We have a Bill in front of us that, if passed today, would go to the Finance and Personnel Committee for proper Committee scrutiny. The party opposite has indicated that it wants to bring forward a Bill that would not be subject to such scrutiny. The appropriate mechanism for moving forward the issue of appropriate support for amateur sports clubs is this Bill. I believe that the party opposite knows that this is the only opportunity that we will get to put in place proper and effective support for our community amateur sports clubs, which are suffering.”
“We have already heard a number of red herrings about state aid cases in England and the views of the hospitality sector, and I will return to those. However, this question also has to be asked: is it because the Minister, as she has already suggested, wants to bring her own Bill forward? Going by what members of her party have said on social media and on the radio today, that appears to be the case. We are coming rapidly to the end of this term. Legislation is no doubt piling up, and the Minister is bringing forward a Bill that may not even get to the Floor to be passed. It is important that community amateur sports clubs know that. I certainly hope that it is not because certain vested interests or businesses close to the DUP do not see it as being in their interests, although that would not surprise me.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I start by saying that it is one of the most extraordinary abuses that we have seen in the Assembly for this Bill and this issue to be subjected to a petition of concern and a cross-community vote. The public find extraordinary the levels to which some Members will stoop to torpedo such a proposal. The Bill, in effect, is torpedoed before the debate even starts. Some may ask, "So what is the point?". Members in certain parties should consider how abusive they are of this mechanism and of the Assembly. I hear some Members tutting, but that is exactly what it is. <BR /> <BR />It is a great shame that the DUP, knowing that many MLAs would support this measure, has decided to kill the Bill. Why? We will probably hear a number of red herrings.”
“<BR /> <BR />I do give some credit to the previous previous Minister for Regional Development, Mr Kennedy, for some of the things that he did around cycling and public transport, but I think that we need to put on a European head in regard to this, not only in terms of the culture but in availing ourselves of and drawing down funding, which every other country seems to be good at. I do not see why, here in the North, we cannot do the same for our local rail commuters.”
“I will keep my contribution to this debate short. The Larne line needs investment, and the other lines need investment. We need a change in the general approach from the Minister — or the ex-Minister or the soon-to-be Minister — for Regional Development in that, when she does return to her desk, she needs to ensure that we see an increase in the percentage of funding that goes towards public transport because, increasingly, it seems barmy that we are spending money on road maintenance. If you spend the money on public transport infrastructure, you get people off the roads, so there is less need for maintenance of the roads. It makes sense economically, so we need to see a greater commitment and bolder moves to increase spending on public transport. We need to see better buses and better trains.”
“We are exploring trying to change those old railway lines into greenways for cyclists in rural areas. That is something that the Department needs to look at as well.”
“It has not a bad Wi-Fi service, I have to say; it may be better than the service on the Larne line but it is a great way to travel. It is good for people's health as well, because being stuck on the M2 at Sandyknowes or Toomebridge is not a very pleasant experience when you have to do it each and every day. The train service is something that we need to improve on. <BR /> <BR />We have very little infrastructure as it is. Everybody who watched the television programmes that Barra Best did about the old railway lines will be shaking their heads and saying, "If only we still had those railway lines going up through the glens of Antrim and Armoy to Ballycastle today, we would have a completely different and much better infrastructure." It is such a crying shame that that was done away with. It also, of course, produces other opportunities.”
“<BR /> <BR />We need to apply a bit of common sense but we also need a bit of ambition. The park-and-ride facilities have been a success where there have been bold initiatives — we built it and they came. If you build the park-and-ride infrastructure around the train halts, increase the uptake of the service by increasing the number of halts and increase the electrification of the line in the longer term, you will have a better service with better choice and you will have more people using the railways. <BR /> <BR />You only need to look at the line to Derry, which almost reached the end of the line in recent years. It is a great success now; I have used it many times. It goes through Ballymena, Ballymoney and Cullybackey, right through my constituency, and it is a huge asset.”
“The demand is there, and that is what is very frustrating; we want to see a good public transport system but where we fail again and again — this has come up in some of the Public Accounts Committee's reports — is the fact that we have not invested enough in public transport to get the return that we are looking for. <BR /> <BR />There should be greater investment in the Larne line and there should be more common sense when it comes to the timetables. If we want to improve the night-time economy in our towns and cities, we need to have a late-night train service. As Mr Beggs said, the service could operate much later than 11.00 pm because anybody who is going for a night out and is going to spend £30, £40 or £50 in a restaurant might want a later service to ensure that they do not leave their function earlier than they have to.”
“We are lagging behind much of Europe and, whereas traditionally there has always been a great focus on investment in our major roads, we can realise a lot more savings and reduce congestion on some of our main roads by improving our rail and bus infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />A good example of that is the park-and-ride facility that the proposer of the motion mentioned earlier. There is a park-and-ride in Ballymena in my constituency that has been extended again and again, such was the demand for people to simply park their car and put their feet up on a bus for the trip to Belfast.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the proposer of the motion for raising this very important issue. I give apologies for my party colleague Mr Oliver McMullan, who has to attend a medical appointment this evening. <BR /> <BR />This is an issue that you could replicate in a lot of constituencies but the general issue that always comes back is that there is, in government, a car-centric attitude that needs to be addressed. Of course, I recognise that there are many good examples of people in Translink and DRD who see the need to improve and build on our rail and bus infrastructure, but much more needs to be done.”
“<BR /> <BR />Subject to Second Stage being agreed, the Committee will want to give detailed consideration to the Bill. Whilst this will take place against an already very heavy work programme, I am sure that the Committee will do its very best to ensure that it concludes its deliberations within a reasonable time frame. <BR /> <BR />To conclude, I believe that the evidence session that the Committee had last week with Mr Allister was useful in providing an initial opportunity for members to explore the principles of this Bill and the related considerations. Today's debate offers a further opportunity for that, and I look forward to hearing Members' contributions in that regard.”
“There was also some discussion on the possibility of including a speciality clause in the Bill, which would enable particular professional requirements for SpAds in given Departments to be defined and as regards what the remuneration may be in such cases. <BR /> <BR />Other points discussed during the session with Mr Allister included the impact of the restructuring of Departments on the number and role of special advisers, the fact that the provisions of the Bill would not take effect until the beginning of the next parliamentary mandate and that there will be no issues with contractual obligations or retrospective application and whether the Civil Service disciplinary procedures would need to be amended, either via the Bill or administratively, to enable their application to special advisers.”
“In particular, the question was raised as to whether additional skill sets and requirements arise from the particular political divisions and complexities of our power-sharing arrangements here, including the nature and extent of negotiations that are undertaken and, obviously, are always ongoing. <BR /> <BR />A further question that was raised during the session was around how we can ensure that the right calibre of person is attracted to the special adviser post and that the salary is commensurate with their level of skills and qualifications. Reference was made, for example, to the role of the special adviser in the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.”
“I expect that members will wish to give further consideration to the setting of this particular scale and associated pay progression, the job evaluation used to grade a special adviser post as well as the logistics of setting this salary. Members may also wish to explore further the mechanism for agreeing the starting point for a special adviser and whether this should change in the future. Members were also keen to explore the extent to which the position of special advisers here can be compared with that in other devolved Administrations, including other multi-party Governments.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the absence of views from representative groups and other bodies, I can advise that members subsequently agreed that, subject to the Bill passing Second Stage, written and oral evidence will be sought from key stakeholders, including the Department of Finance and Personnel, the trade unions, the Equality Commission and the Human Rights Commission. I also anticipate that the Committee will issue a wider call for evidence, which would be published on the commencement of the Committee Stage. <BR /> <BR />A further issue that the Committee explored with Mr Allister was the rationale for setting the special advisers pay scale at the level of NICS grade 5.”
“<BR /> <BR />The proposer of the Bill set out the policy context of the current special adviser arrangements and the associated cost, especially during this time of austerity. He pointed to the potential for the Bill to make "modest but significant" savings to the public purse. Members were advised that over 98% of the 150 respondents to the policy consultation were in favour of the Bill. However, it was noted that the responses were from individuals, as opposed to representative groups, and some members also queried the extent of information provided in the consultation document.”
“I note that the main provisions, as outlined by Mr Allister, are: first, to ensure that special advisers are subject to the Civil Service disciplinary code; secondly, to limit their remuneration to the Senior Civil Service grade 5 scale, which is £65,422 to £78,275; and, thirdly, to reduce the number of special advisers or SpAds in OFMDFM from eight to four. <BR /> <BR />Whilst I was unable to attend last week’s Committee meeting, I understand that members received a useful briefing from Mr Allister, which provided an initial opportunity to tease out the policy intentions of the Bill and related issues. I also noted the significant media interest in the discussion. If I may, I will summarise and reflect on some of the main points covered at last week’s session that perhaps will help to inform today’s debate.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Member for outlining the general principles of the Bill and his rationale for bringing forward the proposed legislation. I also welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on behalf of the Committee for Finance and Personnel, which, presumably, will scrutinise the Bill's provisions should it pass Second Stage today.”
“— but it should be more concerned about hospitals and waiting lists.”
“The Member makes a very important point. Some will argue that the Health Minister has one of the most important jobs full stop. Making the argument that it is perfectly acceptable for that post to be left vacant for a few weeks or a few months is absolutely ridiculous. <BR /> <BR />If the Minister does not want to do his job, let somebody else do it. Let somebody else from the party or someone else in the Assembly do it. There are plenty of capable people across all parties here who should take up the mantle if he is not going to do it, because this is people's health that we are dealing with. The DUP may be more concerned about wind turbines and wind energy at the moment —”
“You have a situation where the Enterprise Minister has been at work, officially, for the past four days, and the Health Minister has not. I do not know what the priorities are within the DUP, but it is becoming increasingly clear that the Department of Health is not a number-one priority. There seem to be concerns that the Enterprise Minister needs to be in post to do his job and to sign off on certain things, but it is not as important that the Health Minister be in post.”
“This is people's health; this is people's lives; this is a crucial issue for the people whom we represent. Mr Hamilton should really step aside if he is not going to do the job. A lot of people out on the street and around the country would tell you that they would get sacked on the spot if they were not to turn up to work on a Monday or Tuesday morning, as the Minister has been doing for the past few weeks. Of course, Ministers are responsible for billion-pound budgets, so it is a reasonable point made by people that Ministers responsible for those kind of things should be just as accountable as anybody else working in our society. <BR /> <BR />I have just noticed this morning that it has been noted that the Enterprise Minister is still at work.”
“There is no certainty about what the specific aims and objectives actually are. These are some fundamental basics lacking here, in my view. <BR /> <BR />There is no doubting the potential in Transforming Your Care. There is no doubting the benefits that there are to be gained. In a situation like this, we need clear leadership and we need clear direction. That would instil confidence in the workforce about where the health service is going and when and, until we get that, we will continue to have all sorts of problems. <BR /> <BR />It goes without saying that we need a Minister in post to give that leadership and direction. Again, we have a situation where we do not have someone at the helm to respond to the needs of our communities and our workers.”
“There are also some real concerns about how the VES (voluntary exit scheme) is being carried out. Such a sizeable movement of staff needs to be a core part of the workforce planning group's work. These need to be strategically aligned urgently to mitigate negative impacts on service delivery. <BR /> <BR />There also needs to be a common understanding of what TYC is. Is it an ethos? Is it a realisable objective? There seem to me to be a lot of mixed views among stakeholders responding to the Committee. In the Committee's view, the approach to Transforming Your Care of not working to a measurable, costed plan raises key concerns and questions in terms of monitoring, governance and funding. How can an organisation work towards key objectives if there is not a shared view on what they actually are?”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee is also concerned that the regional initiatives on normative nurse staffing have not been completed or implemented and by the potential impact that this may have on patient safety. It also recommends that the Department consider how primary care services can be reconfigured across a range of health and social care professionals to deal with the increasing demand for GP appointments. <BR /> <BR />Recommendation 21 is interesting. As the Chair has already stated, it calls on the Department to produce an estimate of the size of the workforce that will result from Transforming Your Care. This should really be a given. It is surprising that the Department, at this stage of Transforming Your Care, has not carried out this very basic exercise.”
“A Phríomh Leas-Chathaoirligh, having just come on to the Health Committee, I am not across the full work of the report, but the importance of workforce planning to productivity, better outcomes, better health outputs and, indeed, the improved health of staff within the health service itself is clear to anyone. From the Committee recommendations it is clear that there are a number of serious concerns that the Department needs to address in terms of Transforming Your Care. These include, for example, the number of GP training places, which has not been implemented by the Department. The Committee is recommending that the Department implement the recommendation of the most recent review to provide an additional 15 GP training places.”