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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“Within that 95%, I know that there is overwhelming support from everybody in the community for this to be brought forward. When the report is published, people will see the responses to the consultation themselves.”
“The Member rightly points out that the language is cherished, supported and enjoyed by members across the community, and that goes throughout the communities, including the different Churches. There is an unhealthy assumption that, once people hear of a percentage in support of an Acht na Gaeilge, they assume that they are all from one side of the community. I can tell the Member that responses to the consultation for an Acht na Gaeilge come from right across the community. That gave me heart because, at times, the Irish language, particularly in this place, has been the subject of some very offensive comments. Right across the community and the Churches, people are saying that an Irish language Act threatens no one; the language belongs to everybody.”
“People would certainly see it as a sign that people have moved on politically and recognised that the language does not belong to one section of the community; it belongs to us all. I believe that an Irish language Act is well overdue. For the generations who are waiting for language rights, it would definitely be a sign that this place was moving in the right direction.”
“The Member will be aware that many people have been waiting for an Acht na Gaeilge because it is very important for language rights. As part of the consultation process, I met extensively with people in that sector and different sectors. It is incumbent upon me that I receive cross-party support to bring this to the Executive. I have told people who are lobbying for this that my door is wide open, and it always has been. I am one of the advocates for this. Perhaps people — I am not suggesting that the Member does this — who have yet to be persuaded of the need for an Acht na Gaeilge could talk to the people whose parties are in the Executive about trying to convince them to support this.”
“As a member of the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee, the Member will be aware that my officials will brief the Committee, in its role as a super consultee, on the findings of the Bill consultation on 1 October. I will consider all comments that the Committee wishes to make regarding the content of the Bill and will publish the report of the consultation after the briefing. <BR /> <BR />I remain committed to an Acht na Gaeilge, and the consultation shows, once again, that there are huge levels of support for an Acht. Nearly 13,000 people responded to the consultation, and 95% of those support legislation for the Irish language. <BR /> <BR />I am determined to progress the Bill as far as possible, and I call on all sides of the House to show their support.”
“That is not related to the question at all. However, with the authority and respect that the Sports Grounds Safety Authority has, many people look to it for feedback and guidance. If the Member wishes to ask a relevant question, I will try to answer it.”
“The Member raised something similar when I was in front of the Committee, and he will be aware that we are dealing with a very small pool of companies. The connection with that company is with one of the partners that is developing the stadia. They are connected and involved in developing stadia across Britain and, indeed, even other parts of Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I do not think that there is a conflict of interest and neither does CPD. As the Member will be aware, I deliberately sent the PAR to another Department to look at it, and I asked for the assurance of CPD. It sought assurances and was assured by the response that it got. I do not believe that it is the direct conflict of interest that the Member perhaps perceives it to be.”
“As part of the process to engage the independent technical expert advisers for the review team, CPD specifically sought appropriate conflict-of-interest assurances from the eligible companies to ensure that any company that had previously worked on the regional stadia programme or any of its constituent projects would be ruled not eligible to advise the review team.”
“I thank the Member for his question. A shortlist of eight companies that could provide expert advice was identified by the Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) using the RIBA database, and that list was reduced to three. Three companies were immediately ruled out as they were already directly involved in the regional stadia programme and projects, another was ruled out as it was not available during the period of the review, and a further company did not respond to CPD's request. <BR /> <BR />Of the remaining three companies, KSS was deemed to be the most suitable and was, therefore, engaged by CPD.”
“Given the seriousness of that, perhaps people will now see the need to support an overarching all-departmental strategy for culture and arts.”
“One is a capital programme, and one is a resource programme. That has been organised and developed for at least a year and a half. That is why good progress has been made. In terms of the resource, that is the difference between the capital and the resource: further money for the Arts Council. The budgets have not been confirmed yet. <BR /> <BR />I absolutely can justify it. Even though the Member lives in the east of County Antrim, he will know that, particularly in that whole swathe of the shoreline and in the north-west and particularly west of the Bann, investment of this nature has not been what it should have been for decades. He may be happy enough or content with that, but I am certainly not. I am also certainly not content with a lack of support and value, particularly around the arts.”
“I mentioned that in response to Cathal Ó hOisín; the Member referred to that. We are working very closely with the council. It is a very positive experience in that people want to see the programme delivered in the same way that the programme and the sports facilities were delivered for Coleraine. It is part of that package. There is a process to make sure that the committees and the full council have ratified the money, but, as well as that, that the questions and queries, now in their final stages, in the business cases are completed before a final announcement is made. I have no reason or indication to believe that any of that is impossible. In fact, I am very optimistic that we can announce it fairly soon.”
“In anticipation of your question, I checked with officials, and things are very well progressed. I have made very public commitments at every opportunity about the investment in the Dungiven area, but there are governance issues that we need to cover, not due diligence. We need to complete the business case and ensure that the security of the additional funding that is needed is there and that it has the approval of council. The Member will be aware, particularly with the new super-councils, that there are new criteria. All that is in a good place, and, like the Member, I look forward to making a public announcement of when the programme can be delivered.”
“In addition, under the boxing investment programme, Sport NI has issued an indicative letter of offer to St Canice's amateur boxing club in Dungiven, and that club also received boxing equipment with a total value of £1,600. In the last financial year, DCAL has also provided £12,000 for a range of digital equipment for the cultural hub at the Benbradagh community association through the north-west social and economic development plan.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I am committed to seeking to secure £2·5 million for the development of a community sports facility in Dungiven as part of the legacy of the City of Culture for the north-west. That commitment, like all major capital investment, is subject to budget availability and to the approval of a business case that will include confirmation of any necessary partnership funding for the project. <BR /> <BR />I understand that the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has completed a consultation exercise on plans for sporting provision in Dungiven and is progressing with the development of a business case and detailed designs. Officials from DCAL and Sport NI are working very closely with the council to provide support and advice on the business case.”
“It is important that we get a good profile of where the need is.”
“It is important that we do not just stick to the usual, such as just look at the website or maybe you might see it in a box somewhere in a local paper some night or whatever. It is important that I, as Minister and as the lead for this, and my Department go out and explain to people as much as possible. We will do it with the IFA and others, but I want to ensure that as many people as possible have an opportunity to feed into the consultation. In response to Mr Dallat's question and Mr McGimpsey's question, while this is the first phase of the subregional, I anticipate perhaps phases two and three for the other two partners in the regional stadia programme.”
“However, there will be an assessment of how we anticipate clubs being able to proceed. If we get a sense that a club might have all the needs and tick all the boxes but cannot progress because of its own capacity, we will need to identify some support.”
“I appreciate the Member's question. It is a concern that I have had for some time, not just within sport but within the arts, that, when it comes to some of the big, well-organised organisations, those who shout the loudest get. That is not where I want to be. In fact, that is not where most Members want to be. To that end, I have asked my officials to take responsibility for the programme. As part of the consultation, along with the IFA, they and others will be out and about. We have had engagement with some of the new councils, but it is important that clubs can come forward in their own right, and they will be supported in doing so. <BR /> <BR />My officials already know that some areas and clubs are better organised than others, so, in the first instance, everybody will be given the same information.”
“I expect the programme to be delivered from the beginning of 2016, in this financial year, through to 2018 and into the next mandate.”
“The Member will be aware that it is the remainder of the regional stadium money, which is £36 million. In terms of the number of clubs, I cannot say at this stage because it all depends on their eligibility and, indeed, the criteria. I have made my intentions known. I would like a phase 2 of subregional development for the three sports. There is a big need for it. <BR /> <BR />In this first subregional phase, it would be anticipated that as many clubs as possible that are in a state of readiness will bring their plans forward. I am aware that many have been doing that for at least a year, and I welcome that. I am delighted that I received DFP approval in June. We are in the final stages of preparing the public consultation.”
“A step-through of the assessment process, including the various audits of need, competitions and business cases, is planned for 2016, with capital delivery to be undertaken in the financial years 2016-18. <BR /> <BR />The forthcoming process for the allocation of funding will be fair, open and transparent and based on an evidenced approach to demonstrating need and investment. Award recommendations will be made on the basis of criteria and projects attaining a high assessment score. I will approve all award decisions.”
“With the Speaker's permission, I will take questions 3 and 6 together. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Member for his question. My Department has been developing the subregional programme for soccer. A strategic outline business case has been developed with DFP, and approval was received in June this year. Programme-specific details in terms of criteria, funding strands and funding limits are being finalised. Plans for formal public consultation with stakeholders are under way, and I hope to commence a consultation shortly. <BR /> <BR />Following that public consultation, it is envisaged that the subregional programme will be formally launched in 2016.”
“The concern that the Member has highlighted is one of the main reasons why we need to ensure that there is a cross-departmental strategy for arts and culture. The situation that we are all in, in not having budgets secured, is completely unsatisfactory. It is crucial that we get cross-departmental and cross-Executive buy-in to a robust strategy for arts and culture. It needs to be properly costed and consulted on. I have a focus on the economy, and I know that the Member raised concerns about intercultural arts strategies, which impact on various Departments. For me, it is about embedding the arts in government spend from here on in. This is about future-proofing. I completely agree with the Member: we need to have better security, particularly around the arts.”
“When we look at our film and television industry, we can see that there are trends in the economy that are not getting the attention that they deserve.”
“As I indicated in my primary answer, I anticipate that the consultation will be brought forward before Christmas. I actually hope that it will be around November. I would like it to last for no less than 12 weeks, but I am looking at the possibility of it being for 20 weeks. This is the first time that there has been an overarching cross-departmental strategy for arts and culture. We have one for sports. It is the right thing to do, and it will be for at least 10 years. I would like as many people as possible to engage in this consultation, because it is not just about people participating; it is a good economic driver. I think that that is what is missing, particularly when people talk about the arts. It is also about creating job opportunities and apprenticeships in the arts.”
“In conjunction with the ministerial arts advisory forum that I established, DCAL is finalising a consultation document that I propose to launch before Christmas. Through this consultation, we will listen to the views of the public, and I intend to bring forward an arts and cultural strategy that will have a focus on delivering to the public and promoting equality. I totally believe in the value of arts and culture and all that they can bring to everyone. I think that it is vital that the best opportunities to enjoy arts and culture are made available to everyone. I hope that an aspiration can be shared and achieved by delivering a successful, engaging consultation that will inform future policy direction.”
“Gabh mo leithscéal. I thank the Member for her question. I am currently developing an arts and cultural strategy to ensure that recognition is given to the value that arts and culture have in enriching the lives of individuals, building capacity in our communities, growing our economy and creating a more inclusive society. I firmly believe that the arts and culture deserve a central place, given their importance in contributing to positive health and well-being and in developing skills and confidence on individual levels as well as in communities. <BR /> <BR />Arts and culture are also inspirational drivers for our creative industries. They make a significant contribution to creating a cohesive society, and they certainly help with promoting tourism.”
“We certainly need to ensure that, if we receive additional moneys, we target those who are in most need.”
“We need to look at protections for disability sports, particularly in the arm's-length bodies. As I said in response to Mrs McKevitt, we are working with Sport NI, Disability Sport NI and, indeed, some of the other governing bodies that provide opportunities for people with disabilities.”
“I thank the Member for her question. She will remember the build-up to the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In particular, the work of the families and the governing bodies ensured that the athletes were able to go over to London and perform. It is that sort of spirit that we are hoping to capture for the 2016 games, but that will not happen on its own without support, particularly from Sport NI to the governing bodies. I know that, as we speak, Sport NI is actively meeting all the local governing bodies about the athletes' performance programme and the other supports that we can give them in preparation for the 2016 games.”
“I thank the Member for her supplementary question. Indeed, Coleraine has a great heritage of Olympians, Paralympians and Special Olympians. There are greater numbers participating in sport generally across the board. There are clear increases there. <BR /> <BR />The answer is yes. At the minute, we are working with colleagues in Sport NI. I recently met Special Olympics Ireland as well. I will have meetings with Disability Sport NI to ensure, particularly when we are looking at the next CSR, that business cases are not only refreshed but try to reflect the increase in participation numbers among athletes. It is really important that we do that, given that, based on their successes in competitions, it is not only about participation but the athletes' achievements, which have been enjoyed by us all.”
“It included support for the athletes from here who represented Ireland in this year's Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. <BR /> <BR />The Special Olympics team had one of the most successful games ever, with athletes from the North making a significant contribution to the medals won at the games. I am delighted to report that the team did exceptionally well, securing 82 medals. I am also proud of the achievements of the 12 athletes from the North, who secured 19 medals, including five gold, nine silver and five bronze.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Member for her question. <BR /> <BR />I can advise Members that the funding allocation to Disability Sport NI has no direct impact on the activities of Special Olympics Ireland, which is a completely separate organisation. <BR /> <BR />I can confirm that, as part of a £2·3 million cross-departmental package, which also included funding from colleagues in OFMDFM, DHSSPS, DSD and DE, DCAL provided £459,000 of core funding to Special Olympics Ireland for the four-year period from 2011-15. The package was extended by a further £545,000 for the 2015-16 period. The funding package has enabled the organisation to expand its activities throughout the North and to extend its reach in providing sports training and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities.”
“While those who carried out these brutal killings are to blame for the grief and suffering brought to the families and to the communities to which the two men belonged, I believe that the populism shown around this is nothing short of cowardice. <BR /> <BR />I call on everybody here to support the motion. It is something that we all need to do. I commend the motion to the House.”
“To me, that is not about leadership; it is just stroke politics. <BR /> <BR />I will not go through all the bits and pieces that people said today. I want to finish where Gerry Kelly started, not like people who mentioned Kevin McGuigan and Gerard Davison to get it over with and then said what they had to say. There was a lot of that in the House today. I want to finish off where Gerry Kelly started: there are two grieving families at the centre of this. I have no doubt that those families will have been listening very carefully in the hope that the Assembly would assist them. As Trevor Lunn pointed out, this motion should have united everybody. These families want assistance in bringing people to justice. They need and deserve that.”
“Very few parties here actually mean what they say when they talk about opposing ongoing Tory austerity. I believe that what is required from everybody here is to get involved in initiatives that bring us all back to the place where we need to be in terms of resolution. How can you be involved in resolution when your instincts are to walk away? As Gerry Kelly said in his opening remarks, Mike Nesbitt was nearly there during Haass but decided to go. He was in and out of the Stormont House Agreement, but decided to go because of an Orange parade in north Belfast. Again, when talking about dealing with the legacy of the past, particularly in relation to the Stormont House Agreement and, indeed, the narrative around victims and survivors and mental health services, what did Mike Nesbitt do? He sent someone in to observe.”
“I will not. <BR /> <BR />He has challenged criminality and threats to the peace process, no matter what quarter they have originated from, and he will continue to do so. Others need to show the same leadership to oppose all efforts to undermine the peace process. That is what needs to prevail. Sinn Féin wants to achieve the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement and deal with the issues in all our constituencies, particularly around legacies of the past, welfare protections, the impact of the conflict, including the impact on families who have been bereaved through state forces as well. We all must ensure that that happens.”
“<BR /> <BR />I think that there is a lack of leadership by some parties in this Assembly. Look at what Martin McGuinness has done in the past. I will tell you now. Martin McGuinness, unlike your party, stood shoulder to shoulder with people, condemning all attacks and actions of the past, and faced down threats from within his own community.”
“Indeed, if what Lord Morrow has foretold comes to light and it descends into a full-blown political crisis, in my opinion it will be as a direct result of a lack of political leadership and total political opportunism. Indeed, given the manner in which the debate has descended into personalised attacks against some Members from my party, it is hard to know how any of the parties, particularly Mike Nesbitt's — he is pointing there — hope to sort the crisis out. <BR /> <BR />In relation to our credibility, Sinn Féin will not allow ourselves and, more importantly, our electorate to be demonised or marginalised over matters that have nothing to do with us. I firmly believe, and I agree with the words of my party president, that there is nothing more that we can do.”
“I will not. <BR /> <BR />— in very difficult times to overcome obstacles. The Sinn Féin leadership has worked hard to find imaginative ways to resolve problems, but let me be clear that this problem is not of our making. Sinn Féin has no responsibility whatsoever for those who killed Kevin McGuigan or Gerard Davison. The response from some of the other political parties here today to these killings, frankly, has been self-serving, short-sighted and deeply cynical. So, again, let me be clear: anyone, regardless of who they are, who breaks the law should be held accountable by the justice and policing agencies. <BR /> <BR />There is no basis for the charges made by some here today against Sinn Féin.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. It is regrettable that this debate is an example whereby some politicians have ignored the bits that did not fit with their narrative and have jumped on George Hamilton's claims that the IRA still exists and, indeed, ratcheted up a political crisis. <BR /> <BR />I want to deal with the facts, even though some here do not. The fact is that the IRA has gone and it is not coming back. Republicans have taken a series of historic initiatives to create opportunities for peace. They have also taken initiatives to sustain the process —”
“I did not personally meet the ICO. That is what the officials' job is; they met the ICO. The ICO would have been in a position, if it felt that the breach had been of such a severe nature, where it could have awarded penalties against the Department. That is what is meant by that term, in response to the Member's point. The ICO is assured that the remedies that we have taken thus far are satisfactory. It also asked that the Department have an overall look at all its Internet usage and to ensure that data protection is adhered to, which we have done. We have asked independent experts to come in to ensure that not only has it been done but that it is maintained. As I am sure the Member will agree, data protection is something that we need to strive for to ensure that we get the best possible outcome for people.”
“Once you are a member of Líofa, you also get a newsletter giving updates. You can access Irish language classes at different levels and find out where some of your local classes are.”
“I thank the Member for her question. The money that was spent on the website included paying for the IT experts to come in to not only fix the breach but to provide firewalls and security steps to ensure that the website cannot be breached in the future. There are many people who, like the Member, have expressed an interest in joining Líofa. At a very basic level, and I am not an IT expert by any stretch of the imagination, if someone cannot access the DCAL website they should google "Líofa". That will bring you directly to a link. If you go on the Internet and look, or even look at liofa.ie, you will definitely get a link to it. There is a very easy step-by-step approach to join and become a Líofa participant. Once that happens, members of our team will be in contact to see what services can be availed of.”
“Back in September of last year, when a Líofa participant reported that they had seen their email details on the website when that should not have been the case, the problem was remedied and the website was tested independently within the Department. That is how you do it: the IT experts come in and independently test the security of the website. They use different mechanisms to test it to ensure not only that the website is not breached but that data protection is upheld. I think that that is really important, and I am sure the Member will agree with me. <BR /> <BR />I have no difficulty with people from outside the Department testing the website to ensure that not only does it work but that it functions and provides the best possible security screens to ensure that data protection is not breached.”
“I thank the Member for his question. The ICO advised that it did not intend to take any further regulatory action, but it advised the Department to take actions to ensure that such breaches do not occur again. We have taken its advice, and we have taken the skills and services of IT experts to ensure that data protection is adhered to. I am content not only with the report from the ICO but with the measures that we have taken thus far, as I believe everyone is.”
“I thank the Member for his questions. I will take his last point first: I am responsible only for my Department, but certainly the experts that we have now and even the fact that the website is being managed centrally by the Civil Service should provide additional assurance. <BR /> <BR />As I said in response to Leslie Cree, we are looking at how the breach happened. As I said to him, we terminated that contract on the basis that we needed to move forward. I am content with the time taken, not only to look at how the breach happened, but to terminate the contract and to get new IT experts in who have looked at the security and tested and verified the new arrangements.”
“We have not only rectified the breach but enhanced security arrangements to ensure that Líofa participants have confidence in the website and in getting access to it. We brought in renowned IT specialists who have not only verified it but checked that the website is functioning as it should be and that confidentiality is adhered to for Líofa participants. Although it has taken some time, I am happy that we have taken that time to get it right.”
“The statement that the Member will have received laid out clearly that there was a breach.”