Carál Ní Chuilín
North Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“To continue the theme of undermining public confidence and public effectiveness, I ask you this, Minister: why do you and your DUP colleagues continue to block the 'good jobs' Bill, particularly the measures for parents whose babies require neonatal care and, indeed, other measures that will support workers who are struggling with the cos…”
“At the end of the day, guns were used to kill Catholics — Davy Payne; surface-to-air missiles in South Africa and Paris and then some. I will give the deputy First Minister another opportunity not to deflect but to condemn her party's involvement in Ulster Resistance and with the red berets that they wore.”
“I thank the Minister for that response. I have a close family relative who is in need of a SPiMS unit in an Irish-medium school but cannot access one in North Belfast at all. Apart from access in P4 and P5, they will have to go to an English-speaking school, even though Irish is their first language.”
“You mentioned some of the issues that are important: trade union representation, the banning of zero-hours contracts and employees being able to have their tips and service charges. Anyone who cannot get behind these proposals needs to be clear — concerns for some, and hiding behind the industry for others.”
“First Minister, I know that, recently, you were in Ardoyne for the sod cutting of the new £3·4 million purpose-built youth facility for Ardoyne Youth Enterprise. Further to your response to Brian Kingston, can you give us an update on that project and, indeed, any others?”
“I agree 100%, Linda. That is something that we all agree on. We met many people. The Bill was published and was based on the report of the truth recovery process.”
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“There is a big contrast between people being involved in silent prayer and laying flowers in reflection and the crowds in east Belfast. They were not there to lay flowers or to pray. They were there to intimidate, harm, bully and continue their criminality, including drugs, racketeering and all the rest. I do not think that it serves him well to focus on that issue and that issue alone. What we need to see, to be quite honest, is as many people as possible looking at the health regulations and trying their best in the circumstances. Where there are difficulties, we should deal with them separately. It did not do the people in east Belfast, who were living in terror, any justice either. <BR /> <BR />I will finish with this. Minister, I am delighted to be a member of the Health Committee and to work with great people on the Committee.”
“One thing that is very clear to me is that the restrictions have worked to a certain degree, particularly given today's figures. What we are asking for are not only further updates to enable us to scrutinise, but a recovery plan. People have been very tolerant. Indeed, despite the uncomfortableness of the regulations since their introduction, people have done their best. We are at a stage now where we need to see a recovery plan, albeit one on the basis of health restrictions being eased when the health situation improves. People need hope. Minister, it is not just your business to provide that hope, but since we are discussing these health regulations, I would like you to take up some of the points that I have raised. <BR /> <BR />I was disappointed at the tone of Jonathan Buckley's comments about the Ormeau Road incident.”
“We have brought in regulations on variants from other red-flag countries. I wish that we could get past thinking constitutionally and instead think about health. I want to take that up with the Minister on Thursday. <BR /> <BR />I believe that the current restrictions are inadequate, and we definitely need to see more detail. We need to see more detail about the passenger locator forms for all arrivals at ports and airports. In my opinion, there is a real need for money to quarantine, and COVID testing at pre-departure needs to be introduced. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate that none of this is easy. People are having to make these decisions because patients are lying in ICU, and that focuses the attention of all of us.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. There is nothing he said that I disagree with. The point I was making is that youth providers are looking at providing a protocol, bearing in mind the current health restrictions. At the same time, they have real concerns about the impact of the regulations on the health and well-being of young people. <BR /> <BR />Everything that we have talked about has been about test, trace, isolate and support, and those need to continue to be the watch words. I appreciate that there are self-isolation exemptions for film and TV crews and other professionals travelling from Britain, but I still cannot get my head around the fact that, weeks ago when we had the Kent variant, the Minister did not support restrictions and instead opted for guidelines. I think that we will come to rue that decision.”
“<BR /> <BR />Cara Hunter and other Members mentioned the adverse impact on mental health, which has gone through the roof. We spoke to young people who have worked on interfaces for many years right across North Belfast. That is a hard station for anyone, but one of the biggest challenges that they said that they had faced, even throughout the whole period of unwanted bonfires in my constituency, was the poor mental health of young people. They are looking at developing protocols, as easements, hopefully, happen, in order to try to get more work. Kids are zoomed out, and they are zooming out. They are withdrawn, isolated and down, and I do not think that any of us want that.”
“If the Minister does not mind, we would deeply appreciate some information by way of an update on that when he appears at the Committee on Thursday. <BR /> <BR />The other matters that we have been really concerned about are the impact of the COVID-19 regulations not just on the life and liberty of people but on the issues that health and social care staff are dealing with, particularly safeguarding. I have spoken to some people who are involved in education, particularly primary education. They tell me that the number of concerns that they normally progress to social services has dropped because of the number of children not in schooling. That is really worrying. We would like the Minister to address those issues. The Sinn Féin health team is meeting the Children's Commissioner tomorrow, and that issue, among others, will be discussed.”
“That, too, must be welcomed, not just for the individuals involved and their families but for our health and social care staff, who, to be quite frank, were last year an already beleaguered workforce. Since last year, they have stood up and stood up, even when they felt like lying down. For that reason alone, we all welcome that progress. <BR /> <BR />As the Minister knows better than most, there are massive pressures on other parts of the health and social care system. It is not so much about the COVID-19 restrictions or having to practice safe social distancing; it is rather that the waiting lists for surgery continue to grow. They were already at a worrying length prior to COVID-19, but now the concerns about waiting lists are massive.”
“I, too, welcome the opportunity to speak on the health regulations. Like those who have spoken before me, I have concerns about them. Paula finished on the point that people have supported the regulations with goodwill and all the best intentions, but there are concerns about Members' ability to scrutinise them after the fact. I know that the Minister will appear before the Committee on Thursday, so perhaps he will be able to pick up on some of the questions that I will raise today about the regulations and future programmes of work. <BR /> <BR />It is really important that every Member I have heard so far welcomed the roll-out of the vaccination programme. I also note that the number of people who are infected has started to decrease.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Does he agree that it is completely unacceptable that vital public services that will impact not just on people but on industry were withdrawn as a result of intimidation and criminal action? Will he ensure that information on the issue is kept up to date and that any information about the threats last week is shared not only with the Committee but with the House?”
“There have, historically, been delays in the judicial system, and the Minister may be aware that the Bar Library has said that disclosure in legacy cases is one of the main causes of those delays. Will the Minister give an update on what she intends to do to reduce the delays in those cases going to court?”
“<BR /> <BR />Normally, such a significant change to Standing Orders and the work undertaken to draft a proposed Standing Order would take weeks, if not months. Therefore, I thank all those involved for their swift work. However, should the Assembly agree to the proposed Standing Order, the Committee will keep it under review and seek to amend it if required to do so. On behalf of the Committee on Procedures, I commend the motion to the House.”
“For example, it would not be possible for a Member to raise a point of order or to make or, indeed, accept an intervention when participating remotely. <BR /> <BR />In summary, the proposed Standing Order defines hybrid proceedings and empowers the Ceann Comhairle — the Speaker — to provide for hybrid proceedings and allows him to issue administrative guidance about how Members, including Members who are Ministers, can participate in hybrid proceedings. It makes it clear that Members participating by video link are not to be counted for the purpose of establishing a quorum. It sets out that provisions for hybrid proceedings do not include Committee proceedings, as those are already provided for. It also makes it clear that the usual practices, rulings and conventions governing plenary business will continue to apply.”
“Should a Member's connection fail, the Speaker can move on and invite the next Member to ask his or her question or make their contribution to a debate. However, if a Minister's connection failed, it would be difficult for that item of business to proceed. By agreeing the proposed Standing Order, which provides for the Speaker to have some flexibility, the Committee is content that this approach will not only mitigate the risk of items of business being interrupted but allow for a period of bedding-in for remote participation. It is therefore the Committee's view that the right approach is for the Speaker to facilitate a gradual introduction and that all plenary items should move to virtual proceedings from the outset. The Committee also noted that certain procedural limitations come hand in hand with remote participation.”
“However, if Members participating remotely were to count towards quorum, that approach could present significant practical and procedural difficulties. Therefore, the Committee decided that no alterations should be made to the number of Members required to achieve quorum and that only Members present in the Chamber and not participating remotely would count for those purposes. <BR /> <BR />The Committee acknowledged that, in introducing hybrid proceedings, there would be associated risks and certain limitations on how Members can engage when participating remotely. For example, no matter how robust the Assembly's arrangements and infrastructure, there may be occasions when a Member's remote connection is interrupted or even fails completely.”
“Members will note that the proposed Standing Order confers a general power on the Speaker to make provision for hybrid proceedings that may include but is not limited to the specific items of Assembly business that are listed. <BR /> <BR />As proxy voting already provides for a form of remote participation by Members, the Committee concluded that the current system of proxy voting should be maintained at this time. However, as part of its ongoing review of Standing Orders, the Committee may return to the issue of voting. <BR /> <BR />Regarding quorum, the Committee noted that, when the current restrictions on the number of Members who can be present in the Chamber to maintain social distancing were put in place, no alteration was made to the number of Members required to achieve quorum.”
“The Committee also considered how hybrid proceedings should be provided for in Standing Orders. The Committee was cognisant of the time that it might take to identify each of the plenary proceedings during which, it considers, remote participation could occur and then draft new Standing Orders to make specific provisions. Therefore, the Committee agreed to bring forward a Standing Order that allows for the general principle of remote participation in plenary meetings but is subject to the discretion and guidance of the Speaker. That approach will provide the Assembly with greater flexibility in managing and facilitating its business.”
“Therefore, the Committee concluded that any Member should be able to avail themselves of hybrid proceedings.”
“The Committee agreed that hybrid proceedings should be implemented to accommodate not only Members who cannot come to the Chamber because they are self-isolating but to reduce the number of Members who need to travel to Parliament Buildings.”
“As part of its consideration, the Committee received briefings from Assembly officials on the potential procedural and practical issues of implementing hybrid proceedings in the Chamber, which the Committee found to be very informative. <BR /> <BR />The Committee gave consideration to a number of important issues, which I will cover briefly. However, I wrote to all Members last week providing more details on the Committee's deliberations. <BR /> <BR />During its discussions, the Committee gave consideration to the purpose of introducing hybrid proceedings and whether there should be limitations on who could join a sitting remotely.”
“In light of that, the Speaker obtained agreement from the Commission to procure the necessary equipment for the Chamber. <BR /> <BR />The recent emergence of a new and potentially more virulent variant of COVID-19 has contributed to the Executive introducing a period of tighter restrictions, including the need for people to stay at home where possible, including for work purposes. Extended travel is also discouraged. In addition, the Executive have sought to limit the number of occasions when groups of people can meet indoors in any setting. <BR /> <BR />Given the recent tightening in regulations and guidance, at its meeting on 20 January 2021 the Committee considered hybrid proceedings as a matter of priority.”
“<BR /> <BR />On 12 January 2021, the Chief Whip of the Alliance Party wrote to the Committee requesting that it amend Standing Orders as a matter of urgency in order to enable remote access to plenary proceedings. On 13 January, the First Minister and deputy First Minister copied the Committee into a letter to the Speaker regarding the arrangements that the Assembly may put in place in order to allow for the virtual participation of Ministers in certain types of plenary business. <BR /> <BR />The Speaker wrote to the Committee on 15 January confirming that discussions on remote access to plenary sittings took place at a meeting of the Business Committee on Tuesday 12 January 2021. The Speaker confirmed that there was agreement to facilitate remote participation in plenary sittings.”
“<BR /> <BR />The former Chairperson wrote to the Speaker on 6 November 2020 outlining that decision and requesting an informal meeting with Assembly officials to discuss the practical and procedural implications of remote access to the Chamber for plenary sittings. Following that informal meeting, the Committee decided at its meeting on 16 December 2020 to add hybrid plenary proceedings as a substantive item on its forward work programme and arranged a briefing from Assembly officials on the practical and procedural issues of that. <BR /> <BR />Since its meeting on 16 September 2020 and prior to its scheduled meeting on 20 January 2021, the Committee received a number of items of correspondence that made it clear that introducing hybrid proceedings had become a much more pressing matter.”
“<BR /> <BR />A number of responses included requests to consider amending Standing Orders in order to allow for remote attendance at plenary proceedings via video link. In addition, during October 2020, a number of Members, and, indeed, Ministers, had to self-isolate for 14 days or received a positive test for coronavirus. Given the impact that that had on Assembly business, including the loss of a period of questions for oral answer, the Committee agreed at its meeting on 4 November 2020 that it would consider amending Standing Orders in order to allow for hybrid proceedings in the Chamber.”
“On behalf of the Committee on Procedures, I am pleased to bring the motion to the House, which proposes to amend Standing Order 110 regarding the introduction of hybrid proceedings in the Chamber. <BR /> <BR />Standing Order 110 is part of the temporary proceedings that were previously agreed by the House in order for Assembly, and, indeed, Committee, business to function while we navigate through the pandemic. As part of its continual review of the temporary provisions in Standing Orders 110 to 116, which include provisions for Committees to facilitate their business using teleconferencing and videoconferencing, the Committee sought views to consider potential further amendments to Standing Orders 110 to 116.”
“Therefore, on behalf of the Committee on Procedures, I commend the motion to the House.”
“A Committee motion to amend Standing Orders was agreed, and I hope this will be brought to the House in the near future for a cross-community vote. <BR /> <BR />Today's Committee motion and the ongoing work on proxy voting and hybrid proceedings are a reminder that we, as an Assembly, need to do our bit to keep ourselves, our colleagues and our families as safe as we possibly can. I welcome the recent update to all Members from the Cheann Comhairle — the Speaker — on managing Assembly business during COVID-19 and how:”
“First, as part of its ongoing review of the temporary provisions, the Committee has received some concern about the 9.30 am deadline for a Member to nominate a proxy. The Committee will receive legal advice on this at its next meeting, with the intention of bringing a motion to the House at a later date. Secondly, the Committee is continuing to consider the instances in which proxy voting could be retained on a more permanent basis and how that might be reflected in Standing Orders, relating in particular to Members who may not be able to attend Parliament Buildings because of parental leave or long-term sick absence. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I am pleased to notify the House that, at its meeting on 20 January 2021, the Committee agreed to proceed to introduce hybrid proceedings in the Chamber.”
“The Committee was cognisant of the increasing and alarming rate with which the disease is spreading, and that more and more people are getting ill and requiring hospital treatment. Rather than extend the provisions to Easter recess, the Committee agreed a motion to extend them right up to the summer recess on 3 July 2021. I hope that the Committee has been overly generous with this extension period but, given where we are today with the pandemic, it is very possible that social distancing and remote working will be required beyond the Easter recess period. <BR /> <BR />I will briefly update the House on a couple of issues that the Committee is considering in relation to proxy voting and remote working.”
“<BR /> <BR />When these temporary provisions were initially agreed, a time frame of 30 September 2020 was set, with the provisions ceasing to have effect following that date. However, at its meeting on 17 September 2020, given the prevalence of COVID-19 in our communities and, indeed, across the globe, the Committee agreed to further extend the temporary provisions to 31 January 2021. The motion to extend the temporary provisions was subsequently agreed by the Assembly on 29 September 2020. At that stage, we all hoped that the worst of the pandemic might now be behind us. Unfortunately, that could not be further from the current situation with COVID-19. Therefore, at its meeting on 16 December 2020, the Committee agreed to further extend the temporary provisions.”
“They also make provision for voting by proxy and, in particular, for the number of proxy votes carried by a Member to be taken into account in the collection of voices that precedes a Division. Furthermore, importantly for Committee operations, the temporary provisions provide for enhanced remote working practices. They also provide for Committee members to delegate their vote to another member of the Committee, including the Chairperson or Deputy Chairperson. Most importantly, they provide for Statutory Committees to make decisions without meeting. Similar provisions are in place for Standing Committees, with particular provision made for the Audit Committee and to maintain, so far as is possible, the existing structures of the Business Committee.”
“On behalf of the Committee on Procedures, I am pleased to bring this motion to the House today. It proposes amending Standing Order 110, which relates to the temporary provisions of Standing Orders 110 to 116. <BR /> <BR />Standing Orders 110 to 116 were agreed by the Assembly on 27 March 2020. The temporary provisions allow Assembly business and Committee operations to continue whilst adhering to public health advice and keeping Members and staff here as safe as possible. They include provisions for a reduction in the number of Members who are required in the Chamber in the light of the current circumstances and the need to socially distance.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Will he also provide an assurance that he will do everything that he can to protect the indigenous bee population, which is crucial and critical to our ecology and environment?”
“I thank the Minister for her very honest and robust response, given that, like many parties, she probably bears the scars of the Stormont House Agreement six years ago. She outlined some of the negative impacts on all families, regardless of who they are or how they identify themselves. She also indicated some of the potential impacts on her budget. Will she outline the other impacts that the lack of significant progress, or any progress at all, and the refusal of the British Government to legislate on what was in the Stormont House Agreement will have not only on her Department but on the entire Executive?”
“The short answer is this: as soon as I get the final business cases. My officials, Sport NI and the IFA are working very closely together. I hope that an announcement on the subregional programme will be made in the spring or early summer.”
“The model has been that, when the first application went in, when Deirdre Hargey was here, there was strong due diligence to ensure that any asks of the councils were tested by our financial mechanisms and procedures. They withstood that due diligence. The requests are coming in based on councils' needs, and, to be fair, that relationship has been respectful and inclusive, and it has worked. All 11 councils have received the full amount for which they applied to my Department.”
“At this stage, I am counting to well over £85 million, and we are still going. This money is needed. It will keep the councils open and essential functions going. In the Member's constituency, she will see that the council is the funding conduit to get money out for food and essential support for the community. The Executive have completely supported that. I met representatives from the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) and the NI Local Government Association (NILGA). I have no doubt that they will put in more bids, and my Department has fully funded each of their requests.”
“It will take time to develop the proposals. Next week, I will announce the consultation on the fundamental review of housing allocation points. My officials and I will meet Housing Executive officials to look at next steps. I want the proposals to be brought forward as soon as possible, particularly for victims of domestic abuse and violence to ensure that they are not further penalised as a result of the current system.”
“I thank the Member for her question. That was one of the first questions asked by Dolores Kelly and Linda Dillon at today's Question Time. We need a robust scheme that is properly verified because some people have abused intimidation points. While some people abuse the system, other people are lying on sofas with four generations under one roof. Some of us have constituents with over 200 points who have not received intimidation points, and they need to be supported. We need to ensure that the system is robust and that it verifies anyone's claim for intimidation points.”
“Some of the feedback that I have received from individuals is that they have been helped at the right time with the appropriate amount of money. I assure the Member and everybody else that the process has been as open and transparent as possible and has been supported and made easy by the staff of the Arts Council.”
“I want to assure the Member because I have heard speculation, not only about when the sports funding will be available but when the arts funding will be available. The Arts Council has got that out to people as quickly as possible.”
“I do not have that information to hand, but I will write to the Member. I want to assure him that we will make, and have made, additional funding available for individuals and freelancers because they are going through a difficult time. They do not normally receive public money. With regard to the breakdown, I am not saying this to be smart, but the Arts Council has published it on its website. I will get a breakdown of the grant given under each heading, but I suggest that the Member also goes to the website.”
“The primary function is about sport. A working men's club that does not have any attachment to sport, other than its name, need not apply. You would not be surprised at some of the queries I have had. In my opinion, this needs to be as straightforward as possible because people have had a tough enough year. If anybody is in any doubt, they should go to Sport NI to ask for support with the guidance. If they are not getting support from a governing body, or they do not get enough and maybe need more detail, they should go straight to Sport NI, because it is primed and ready to take any queries. I got that assurance last week because it was one of the things that I asked.”
“To assure the Member, the governing bodies are not making decisions on the applications; they are supporting them. The Sports Forum deals with a lot of other governing bodies — the smaller ones — and, indeed, Sport NI usually deals with the elite athletes and others. It is also to help smaller groups, in particular, with the template. For example, a small five-a-side football team should not have to go through the same due diligence as Linfield. That is not fair, but the IFA should be there to help them and, indeed, anybody else. That was the rationale behind that.”
“Like many others, or maybe not, I was shocked to find out that the Belfast Giants have been here for 20 years. Time has gone in the blink of an eye. I will not receive any applications; it will be Sport NI. I am aware that they will make an application because I saw it covered in a local news bulletin. I will not mention the name in case I give them an unfair advantage. It is something that many groups have been talking about because they need some support. The Belfast Giants are more than aware of the application process.”
“The applications are open, and, hopefully, awards will be made at the end of January or the beginning of February to help people not just with their loss but with the impact of COVID. The best thing that we can do is to get this guidance sorted out as quickly as possible so that people can get back to doing what they want.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I share his concern about the impact of what, indeed, David Hilditch raised. This year has been horrendous for many people, particularly young people, who have lost out on quite a lot of socialisation with their friends. There is no better example of when they are with their friends as when they are playing sport. <BR /> <BR />On sports hardship, I am sure that the Member will be aware that I have put a significant amount of money forward. Indeed, £25 million is going into sport. I met the governing bodies and the Northern Ireland Sports Forum last week, along with Sport NI. We want this process to be as straightforward as possible.”
“I would not ever contact the British Chancellor, because the normal protocol is that it goes through the Finance Minister. I have absolutely no doubt that the matter of supporting our local businesses has been raised. The issue of big global companies coming here and paying very little tax is one that has been with us for a long time, and I agree with the Member. I do not think that they pay their fair share. In fact, there have been court battles, which are probably still ongoing, around some of those big names. They are not paying their fair share. Their employees are, but, as companies, they are not, and that is not right.”
“I have not had a conversation with the Finance Minister about the long-term trajectory of rates. We are more focused on, first, the fact that there has been rates relief. We have had his support and the support of all of our Executive colleagues, including your colleague, for the revitalisation fund, which gets money out to help, in particular, small and local businesses. I am happy to copy the section from Hansard containing your question to Conor Murphy.”
“The Chair of the Communities Committee is here, and, when those regulations are brought forward and further clarification and guidance is offered, it will be copied to the Committee. I will make sure that it is copied to you as well.”
“I hope that they will be sorted out as soon as possible, because I know that a lot of the sporting bodies, and particularly the smaller clubs, have been excellent at social distancing and at providing sanitisers for the youngsters and trying to keep them as safe as possible.”