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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“It is the responsibility not just of Executive colleagues but of all of us as MLAs who are responsible for legislation to give support and to do a bit more lifting for a community that has experienced marginalisation and isolation for decades.”
“As I said, I will start the work, and it will certainly go to the end of this mandate and be completed at the beginning of the new mandate. I felt that it was important to try not only to make ministerial colleagues aware of the process but to achieve support. <BR /> <BR />Regardless of who is in the new Department for Communities — indeed, for new Ministers in the new Departments — there are no statutory protections or rights in this area, and the process needs to start. I believe that the time is right for it to start now. Had we started the process earlier, it may not have been as fully inclusive as it could be. We are where we are. It is important to try to engage people in the sector, who, quite frankly, have been working in isolation.”
“The preconsultation exercise is to help us as legislators and MLAs, as well as the community and other stakeholders, to prepare to go out to full public consultation. As I said at the start, I am encouraged and heartened by the responses and the support that I have received thus far.”
“I thank the Member for her question. Even though the deadline for responses from ministerial colleagues is not until next week, I have already been very encouraged and heartened by the responses that I have had so far. They have all been supportive and positive. We all realise that there are resource implications, but, from what I have seen thus far, I believe that there is an attitude to see what we can do. The process of bringing the strategy forward needs to begin, first with the community and, indeed, with the people who have supported the sign language partnership and others. They need to see whether the framework is still the appropriate mechanism to bring forward for a consultation.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am aware of the Scottish Government's Sign Language Act. I believe that the consultation process will not only lean on and look to Scotland for some help and guidance, and, indeed, lessons learned, but that it will look to other legislators, not just in these islands but across Europe and further afield, to get the best possible legislation and protections for the deaf community. That is not just for the here and now but for the future. Scotland has been congratulated, and rightly so, for bringing forward these protections. I believe that we will be looking to Scotland, to other legislators and, indeed, to other experts in this field.”
“To ensure that the framework is the best way to start, we need to look at the group to ensure that it is still reflective of the needs of the deaf community and that, if we need to bring additional members, there is a flexibility to do so. <BR /> <BR />At this stage, there are many needs, but on the direct question that he asked, it is finance in my Department that is needed. There are excellent interpreters and excellent support, but, because of the increasing demand, there is a financial consequence for my budget.”
“I thank the Chair for his comments and, indeed, for his support for the statement. By "resources", I mean financial support in my Department to help families to access sign language support and classes. The need is increasing, and, rather than perhaps waiting until a monitoring round to make bids, which I will do anyway until the conclusion of this work, I think that it is important to bear in mind that, in building not only on his work as Minister but on the work of all of our predecessors, there are many more children and families who need support, particularly in the deaf community. Given that there is no statutory obligation to do so, I think that we need to start somewhere.”
“I believe that the political will exists, and we must grasp this opportunity. Go raibh maith agaibh.”
“In the meantime, if people have any views that they wish to share with us, I will be happy to receive them prior to the formal consultation. I am keen to hear any views that people have and to begin a period of dialogue in the run-up to the publication of the framework. <BR /> <BR />This is a challenging programme of work, but I hope and believe that equal rights for British and Irish sign language users will attract cross-party support and that my successor in the Department for Communities will continue this work in the next Assembly mandate. Likewise, I acknowledge the role played by my predecessors and their contribution in making improvements for sign language users. There are many issues that we disagree on in the House, but I am sure that we all share the same motivation to do the best that we can for our deaf community.”
“Before that, however, it is my intention to engage through the extended sign language partnership so that the agreed framework fully reflects the partnership’s views. Then, in the new year, the consultation document will be made available in the form of an online survey, with additional formats available on request, including Irish and British sign language translations. The 12-week consultation will be widely publicised and open to everyone who wishes to respond. Opinions will be sought from those groups with a direct interest in Irish and British sign languages, as well as those on DCAL’s list of consultees. DCAL’s key stakeholders, including MLAs, councils and other interested parties will be notified directly via email. Translations into Irish and British sign languages will be available.”
“It is my intention to continue this work in the new year so that we can strengthen the commitments from all Departments for people who use sign language. The responsibility is not DCAL’s alone; it requires a collaborative and effective response from everyone in the Executive. <BR /> <BR />Thirdly, I am announcing today my intention to engage in a pre-consultation through the sign language partnership, with some additional membership. We will, of course, be consulting formally in the new year. My officials will host a series of consultation events across the North of Ireland during the consultation period, where stakeholders will have the opportunity to engage with departmental representatives.”
“First, I want to publish and consult on a framework for sign language in the new year. This will build on earlier work that we have undertaken with the sign language partnership, as well as our experience in recent years of funding courses and supporting deaf people and their families. The framework will include a range of commitments but, importantly, it will include proposals for legislation in the next Assembly mandate. As I said earlier, sign language does not have statutory recognition, despite its importance. This cannot continue, and I intend to bring these proposals forward so that we can remedy the situation. <BR /> <BR />Secondly, I have already written to ministerial colleagues to seek their support for and commitment to the framework. Some responses have arrived already, and I am expecting more over the next week.”
“I know that we all want the very best for our children and grandchildren. I hope that you will support me and my successor as we try to make choices available for the parents of deaf children and their families. I have listened carefully to what the deaf community are saying and their message is clear; they want legislation to safeguard their rights as a cultural and linguistic minority. They want to be able to access services in their own language, and I want to support their efforts. It is important, therefore, that we build on the work so far and take steps to make accessibility and inclusion throughout society the norm for our deaf community. <BR /> <BR />As the Minister with responsibility for sign languages, I am taking the next steps to address this issue. I am taking forward three key actions.”
“Research clearly demonstrates that where there is early intervention, such as the family sign language courses funded by my Department, to help to develop communication skills and improve vocabulary, deaf children acquire language and communication skills that are proportionate to those of their hearing peers. <BR /> <BR />Although I am pleased that my Department has been able to provide Emma and her husband, along with some other families, with free classes to learn British Sign Language at Jordanstown School, unfortunately DCAL does not have the resources necessary to provide for every family that wishes to take such classes. Let me ask each and every one of us in the House this question: what choices would you make if your child or grandchild was born unable to hear?”
“Emma is determined that Patrick and indeed the whole family are able to communicate in sign language. I am determined to help her and families like hers, particularly during those vital early years of a deaf child's life, when the opportunity to acquire communication and language skills too often turns into an opportunity lost. <BR /> <BR />Deaf children typically start their early education without having the same level of language skills and vocabulary as their hearing peers. This places them at a substantial disadvantage in their early education, when the development of literacy and numeracy skills will help to shape their future academic achievements and employment prospects.”
“However, I believe that there is a need to do much more. <BR /> <BR />One of the many reasons why I believe we need to make change is that, earlier this year, I met Emma, the hearing mother of a young deaf boy called Patrick. Emma highlighted for me the difficulties that families like hers face when they are informed that their child is deaf. She described the shortcomings in the provision of adequate services to families with deaf children. This includes access to free sign language classes as a method of family communication for those parents who choose to use sign language as the primary method of communication. Raising children can be a difficult enough job, but raising children when there is very limited family communication is extremely challenging.”
“<BR /> <BR />Deaf children learn to use sign language from their environment, as hearing children learn spoken languages from their parents and others. The status of sign language varies in each country. In some countries, the rights of deaf people to education and equal participation are secured by legislation. Language and culture are closely related, and the vocabulary of any language, written and signed, is influenced by cultural changes. <BR /> <BR />Over the years, my Department's work through the sign language partnership group has contributed much to improving the lives of sign language users and their families; for example, through the provision of increased numbers of interpreters and deaf sign language teachers, and free sign language classes for deaf children and young people and for their parents and families.”
“While some sign language users are fully bilingual in sign language and English, many have limited literacy skills. This means that misunderstandings can easily arise, especially when using more complex concepts or grammar or less-common words. As such, sign language users cannot necessarily read or understand information on government websites or printed leaflets and various types of literature. <BR /> <BR />In every effort to improve deaf people's human rights, the removal of linguistic barriers is of paramount importance. A deaf person has the right to use sign language in any given situation. Communication, participation and access to services should not be a privilege; it is a basic right.”
“They are languages in their own right, which use hand shapes, movement of the hands, body language, facial expressions and lip patterns to convey meaning. They also have their own grammar, vocabulary and idioms that are completely different from the grammatical rules of the spoken language. <BR /> <BR />Around the world, profoundly deaf people identify themselves as a part of a cultural and linguistic minority and view sign language as a language of need. This is important to understand because, to some extent, our use of language influences how we perceive the world in which we live and our role in it. For many sign language users, spoken and/or written language is their second or even third language. As with all linguistic minorities, members of the deaf community have varied levels of English.”
“Many hearing people have the false impression that sign language is a worldwide, universal language or a visual translation of spoken language. That is not the case. Here in the North, Irish and British sign languages are the first or preferred means of communication for people who are profoundly deaf. They are also used by a significant number of their family members and friends.”
“It is little wonder that sign languages are so important to people who are profoundly deaf and their friends and families. <BR /> <BR />We can do much more as a society to support sign languages and the people who use them. Although Irish and British sign languages were recognised as languages in their own right in 2004 by the then Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, there is no statutory protection for either language. They are not covered by the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, and there is no formal Executive-agreed policy or strategy document for Irish and British sign languages. I intend, with Members' help, to change that position. <BR /> <BR />First, I want to make clear what I mean by Irish and British sign language.”
“<BR /> <BR />Before talking about the specific proposals, it is worth reminding the House why this is such an important issue. I can summarise the many reasons in one word: inclusion. Sign language is about including some of the most marginalised people in our society, and it must be a priority for all of us. If you want to understand the need, think about how important it is to be able to communicate. Think about the frustration associated with trying to make yourself understood and to understand others. Think about how we take communication for granted in so many areas of our lives: education; accessing public services; securing employment; living a full and healthy life; and, most importantly, connecting with others.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Thank you very much, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. With your permission, I will make a statement to the House on my intention to publish and consult on a framework for promoting sign language in the new year. It will include proposals for legislation, which will be taken forward through the remainder of this Assembly mandate and into the new mandate. I have already written to ministerial colleagues to seek their support and commitments in relation to the framework, and I am announcing today my intention to engage in pre-consultation through the sign language partnership, with some additional membership. The framework needs to be agreed with the partnership and to reflect members’ views.”
“As I said to other Members, the consultation is open. If Limavady or Coleraine believe that they should be able to apply for the funding when it becomes available, they need to say that in the consultation. They also need to make any points or comments in the consultation to strengthen not just the case for geographical clubs — and there are many — but to future-proof the development of soccer in all areas across the North. I encourage the Member to ensure that those clubs not only take part in the consultation but demonstrate how they will meet the needs of young boys and young girls and people with abilities and non-abilities in any future proposal or application because it is really important that we get feedback.”
“We should try to avail ourselves of any investment, particularly capital investment, where there are opportunities to provide social benefits and social clauses during and post construction. I believe that that is the case. <BR /> <BR />The decision was made in 2011, and things have changed since. In fairness to the IFA, it has tried to adapt its draft facilities strategy in line with emerging needs. The question that you are asking me is one for the Executive, and I believe that I have given you an answer as best I possibly can.”
“As the Member will be aware, the Programme for Government commitment on developing the three stadia as well as the subregional programme still stands. Prior to this consultation being launched today, I copied my Executive colleagues into correspondence to let them know that that is the case. I have had no feedback from anyone to suggest that this is not value for money. <BR /> <BR />I am aware that the Member has raised concerns, particularly about the private sector construction and all the rest. These stadia, these grounds and this investment will provide local employment, which is really needed, as well as sustainability for those communities, during and post construction. The Executive are very clear and very specific about that.”
“I have read that into the record. I can highlight the statement, and I can highlight the Hansard report, and he can do what he likes after that.”
“The Member is credited with being extremely intelligent, and he is also given credit for having the ability to scrutinise things, so I assume that he has done that and just does not like the answers that he is getting. Boxing needs to be affiliated to a governing body on receipt of a letter of offer. If there is not a governing body that the Member feels recognises his cause, he should support the boxers — end of story. If he has not the read the statement, I can highlight the following for him and put it in his pigeonhole. It says:”
“It is down to individual clubs to make their case for partnership funding. I have left it open enough so that, although this is the 2011 draft facilities strategy from the IFA, it has been very consistent in saying that the needs that have emerged since then should be reflected in the consultation.”
“First, the partnership funding depends on which strand they apply for. If they decide that some of these strands do not meet their needs, they should, as part of the consultation process, say so. They should say what their needs are and where they think additional strands need to be included. <BR /> <BR />As I have mentioned a few times, the consultation closes on 22 February, and it will take us a few weeks to gather up all of the responses to help us to design an application process. Once that process has been designed, there will be an open call, and I anticipate that it will last several weeks, which will take us into the next mandate. Maybe the Member has some suggestions or is working with clubs that feel that they meet one criterion but not another, and their partner meets one criterion but not another.”
“I am certainly not going to cite where any training centre should be located. The Member is right; part of the criteria for support through the subregional programme can be for NIFL, IFA, UEFA or Football Association of Ireland league fixtures, which includes the Brandywell. I look forward to and anticipate, from the Member's constituency but particularly for that geographical area, a lot of feedback into the consultation. If everybody who approached me any time I went up to that part of the town feeds back into this, I anticipate that the majority will come from Derry city, north Belfast, east Belfast and the rest.”
“I believe that, depending on the needs of certain clubs, we will certainly see the demand in the responses that come back, aligned to the comments and queries that have been raised around some of the draft strands thus far. This was 2011; the IFA has amended its facilities strategy since then, and it also appreciates that different needs have emerged. I anticipate that those will be reflected in the responses to the consultation.”
“It is far too premature for that. I launched the consultation this morning and you are already asking me to commit to a certain area; it is a bit silly. Putting that aside, I believe that there is an opportunity here. Some people feel that there is no need for a national training centre because Windsor Park has been developed, and others believe that there is a need for it and, if there is, it should be a, b, c or d. I am looking forward to everybody's opinion, not only on where facilities should be developed but on how much should be spent on them and all the rest. <BR /> <BR />The soccer community has been waiting for this consultation for a long time, and it knows and understands that it was something that would happen in the next mandate.”
“Those discussions have started and, while we are launching the consultation on the subregional programme for soccer, as I have already said there is, most likely, not enough money to meet the needs of all. Those conversations between the three big sporting bodies and my Department have started, and I want the Member to know that I am encouraged by what I have heard thus far. It would seem that the direction of travel for the three big sports is not only looking at single facilities but at facilities that they can physically share and which will allow them to share skills and expertise. They are looking in particular at the inclusion of children and young people from deprived areas, those with disabilities, and women and girls in their sports.”
“The Member is on the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, and he has certainly engaged with the three main sports. He would have heard that, along with the subregional programme for soccer, the IFA, the Ulster Council of the GAA and Ulster Rugby — the three sporting bodies — have asked for additional resources for subregional opportunities in the next mandate.”
“I believe that, within the soccer family, the consultation will be an opportunity for them to put down how they think that future needs can be met through this opportunity.”
“I was aware that that would be an issue before the consultation was launched, because, between the designation of grounds, and even for smaller clubs and the primacy rule, that issue has come up consistently. I have said to people — I take the opportunity to repeat it today — that, if they feel that this gap or confusion will disadvantage a group, geographical area or community, that needs to be said in the consultation. I believe not only that it should it be said but that it should be pointed out exactly how people will be disadvantaged. I am not expecting people to write the consultation for me, but I do expect to hear the opinions of soccer clubs and the challenges that they have experienced over the years.”
“The Department is primarily responsible for the consultation programme, although we work in a very strong partnership with the IFA. I am launching the consultation, taking responsibility for the process and designing the application process, which will leave the next Minister in a position to make decisions on who is successful as a result of the consultation.”
“I assume that the Member is not still playing for Bangor, because he would have had to declare an interest. As I said, this was the 2011 IFA facilities strategy. As I also clearly said, it is also looking at emerging needs that have occurred since then. It is up to the clubs. A lot of them will feel that the strand is not appropriate. In fact, I anticipate that £36 million is not enough to cover the needs. However, it is a substantial amount of money. If people have thoughts about the strands that are outlined as draft in the consultation, they need to put forward proposals that they think would better suit the soccer family. That is as open and transparent as you will get in any consultation.”
“I will do my best to ensure that as many people as possible are not only aware of the consultation but have their say. I am encouraged that Members like you will do likewise.”
“Clubs in areas like east Belfast, and many others across the North that are sitting within indices of high deprivation, will have to demonstrate their inclusivity for investment like this and potential investment. They will need to ensure that they are going to provide opportunities for children and young people, and for older people, to become involved in sport and physical activity.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I certainly agree with most, if not all, of his sentiments, particularly with regard to intermediate and junior football. Within that, I assume he is including boys and girls, because there is a real problem with the representation of women, particularly in the three big sports. In fairness to them, they have gone to great lengths to ensure that there is better inclusion. The bigger clubs will see themselves in different strands of this, but all must have and demonstrate inclusiveness; they must demonstrate that they are reaching people who have not been reached in the past, not just for the purposes of the application but for the future. That will be strongly tested.”
“The decision on Glentoran was part of the 10 March 2011 decision. That is something that has been there for at least four years, if not more. Certainly, I know that the Member will welcome this consultation and encourage clubs in his constituency to feed into the consultation, if they feel they can.”
“There are at least five questions there, but I will answer the Member as best I can. The IFA's facility management strategy was part of the Executive's decision and endorsement of 10 March 2011. That is why I have made it clear that needs have emerged since then. I know that the IFA has redrafted its needs since 2011. It will appreciate that other needs have emerged from clubs since then. We also now have the emergence of the 11 super-councils, which, hopefully, will have a role to play in this. That is a need that was not anticipated on 10 March 2011. I think, and I am sure the IFA will agree, that we have been as considerate as we possibly can be, beyond the Executive's agreement that was made in March 2011. We want to try to include as many opportunities for people to apply for this as possible.”
“First of all, the subregional soccer programme was never due to start until the next mandate, so, while it was announced in March 2011, the conditionality was that it would be for the next CSR. Given the fact that we had an additional year added on to the mandate, I have started a lot of the preliminary works. The consultation will close on 22 February. Within a few weeks, the application process will be designed and, hopefully, open for people. In the time between the old mandate ending and the new mandate beginning, the Department will be able to work with clubs to help them with the application process, and it will be for the new Minister of Communities to make a decision, but the decisions will be made by the Department.”
“I thank the Member for her question. I am sure that she picked up some of what I outlined to the Chair. As soon as the consultation process has closed, the feedback will be brought into the Department. Actually, with feedback that we get along the way, we will try to start a draft application process. However, it will be finalised only when the consultation process has closed. The application forms and process will be tailored to suit that, and it will be open soon after. It will be for the new Department for Communities to give assistance to clubs, but we will have laid down a template of what we feel is necessary. I anticipate a lot of feedback as a result of this consultation. I believe that the feedback will be inclusive, coming particularly from the soccer family, and help to design and form any new application process.”
“Basically, I am making sure that everything is good to go for whoever comes after me and ensuring that everything that can be done has been done, that the consultation will be meaningful and inclusive and that the application process reflects the consultation period. It will be designed around the feedback and the consultation process. The next Minister will then just have to open the application process and make the award soon thereafter.”
“I thank the Chair for his questions. As the Member will know — and it is the same response as the one I gave him last week in relation to the strategy for culture and arts — there was not an Executive meeting during the summer. Given that this is a key Programme for Government commitment, I felt that it was completely appropriate to consult Executive colleagues, which I have done. The consultation will run for 12 weeks. There will be a quick turnaround in looking at the responses to prepare an application process, but this was always meant to go through in the next CSR period.”
“I am delighted that the programme will also contribute to promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion. <BR /> <BR />I thank the House for this opportunity to update Members on these actions. I will keep the House informed of progress on the subregional stadia programme for soccer. Go raibh míle maith agat.”
“Opinions will be sought specifically from groups with a direct interest in the subregional programme for soccer as well as those on DCAL’s list of consultees. DCAL’s key stakeholders, including MLAs, councils and other interested parties, will be notified directly via email. <BR /> <BR />It is my aim to make the consultation on the subregional programme for soccer meaningful and inclusive so that all parties that are likely to be affected by, or have an interest in, the strategies have the opportunity to engage in developing the programme. <BR /> <BR />This is an excellent opportunity for those involved in soccer to develop their facilities as a means of improving the sustainability and viability of soccer at the subregional level.”