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.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,734 lines we hold for Carál Ní Chuilín, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 54 of 55.
“This figure includes £3,462,107 that has been allocated to Foras na Gaeilge for the 2014 calendar year. Funding is also available from departmental mainstream projects that have an Ulster-Scots, Irish-language or cultural dimension that cannot be separated from the primary funding objectives.”
“I thank the Member for his question. My Department has planned to spend approximately £3,850,000 on Irish-language projects in the 2014-15 financial year. This figure includes £3 million —”
“We will have a meeting and work out what we need to do, where we need to go and how, collectively, we can provide constituents in the north-west with sporting facilities that are fit for purpose. The population in the area is growing, and doing that will provide a good stamp. It will be a stamp of value showing that there has been investment, and I believe that it will not only provide local employment, in the construction and post-construction phases, but will hopefully give people an opportunity to be healthier. It will provide a further opportunity for people, in that it has been proven that investment attracts more investment. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the debate, but, for me, the challenge is what we do next, and I am looking forward to working with you to achieve those facilities in the north-west.”
“I believe that the work that is done through sports is fantastic and needs support, but I do not think that our constituents need us coming here with big bust out crying faces and scoring political points. OK, stuff happened, and we need to move forward. In moving forward, the test for us all is this: what can we do? <BR /> <BR />I have visited Coleraine, Dungiven, Limavady and many areas in the constituency. There is a need for sporting facilities. How much it will cost and what those needs are for this mandate and future mandates is something that we need to work through, but, as sure as the day is long, there will be sporting facilities in those constituencies. Nobody is getting dragged to the table, but we can come with a collegiate approach from officials in the council areas, elected representatives and DCAL officials.”
“<BR /> <BR />Let us be honest: in that whole constituency over decades, there has not been the investment that it was entitled to. There has not been, and my constituency and other constituencies can also claim that. By claiming it, we throw it out and walk away. We need to do something with it. With the councils coming together, I do think that we have an opportunity to provide sport and physical activities, but we need to look at this with a can-do attitude. Two and a half million pounds is no mean feat, and £1·5 million in Coleraine is no mean feat. We are looking at Strabane, Derry and the outskirts in-between. I went and visited cricket facilities in Magheramason and other areas.”
“Equally, I have a right to say to John Dallat, who I have huge respect for, without being patronising, that the Executive meeting that John described that Alex Attwood was at is not the same one that I was at. I will say no more than that. <BR /> <BR />The issue is that we have an opportunity. I want to go to my colleagues in the Executive as well, because it will involve working with my colleague Mark Durkan. I want to take the opportunity to wish him and Anne all the best on the birth of their baby daughter. I want to talk to and work with Mark on planning what we need to do. I want to work with Mervyn Storey now in DSD, and, indeed, I want to work with other Departments. The bulk of this money will, hopefully, come from DCAL, with Executive colleague support.”
“We have all been involved in debates about sporting provision, and we had one recently about the Commonwealth Games and even a velodrome. There is a wee bit of 'Field of Dreams' here: build it and they will come. You have to inspire people to become physically active, and you have to provide access to participation for them. If we can agree that that is a good way forward, we need to move forward. <BR /> <BR />People are suspicious about labels, and, if they feel that someone is potentially using bureaucracy to score points or potentially to be sectarian or to exclude, even if they are proved wrong, no one has the right to say that they have no right to say that even if they disagree. So, people have a right.”
“I am trying to be generous, and I hope that that is the case. Coming out of this debate, very soon, I will ask Limavady and Coleraine councils and the Causeway Coast and Glens shadow council to come together for a meeting with me and my officials and their officials and elected representatives. I think that we need to assure each other that we are serious about sports provision regardless of where it comes from. It needs to be on the basis of need and not creed. So, if we are all agreed on that, that is a good way forward. I could lift a whole pile of stuff on sports provision in each of the constituencies that some of the sporting codes have brought themselves without the help of Sport NI or the lottery. That is not a good thing, but the fact is that, despite what was said about the population there, the population is growing.”
“I imagine that the capital needs arising from the City of Culture in the city of Derry and the surrounding areas of Coleraine, Limavady, Dungiven and Strabane will not only come to the end of this mandate but, potentially, go into the next. Given that money is not flush, we may need to prudently organise and plan around having those facilities fulfilled if we can.”
“Gabhaim buíochas le Cathal Ó hOisín as an díospóireacht. I thank Cathal Ó hOisín for bringing forward the Adjournment debate to the House and the five other Members who contributed to the debate. All the contributors spoke about the need for facilities in the new council area. I will bank that, because we need to move forward. I appreciate the fact that Robin Swann, through representing other aspects of the council, contributed to the debate, but, for me, this is primarily around the capital investment legacy of the City of Culture. I might not go into detail about projects in his constituency, but that is not to say that I am oblivious or agnostic about them, because I am not.”
“It is great that we hopefully have three stadia that will be developed for those sports to avail themselves of opportunities. There is much more to be done, but I welcome the fact that we have had the debate today.”
“It is regrettable that past athletes missed their opportunity to perform. <BR /> <BR />I also acknowledge that, despite the personal bests that they achieved, some of the athletes fell short of what they expected of themselves and were very disappointed. I was delighted, even from the tone of the debate, that it was not personal, because those athletes are children and young people with families supporting them. They need our encouragement to participate fully in future competitions. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the debate and all the contributions that Members have made. There is much more to be done, particularly on the investment that we need in infrastructure for things such as velodromes, track and field, and strength and conditioning.”
“Sport Matters recognises that there is a requirement for additional funding from not just government but stakeholders, including councils. There is much more to be done. As Minister for sport, I remain committed to ensuring that we do all that we can. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the fact that all Members spoke very positively about our athletes. They made special mention of the boxers, which is right. Mention was also made of all the other roles that we need to fulfil to ensure that the athletes have their opportunity. The role of rugby sevens and hockey was mentioned. As Nelson McCausland and Michael McGimpsey said, this is something that predates us all, but I intend to send a transcript of the debate to the governing bodies of those sports to try to ensure that we have full inclusion.”
“However, it was also determined that, although that target had been partially achieved, there was evidence of significant additional need and demand for performance facilities to support sport governing bodies. <BR /> <BR />As part of that, Sport NI is working in partnership with councils to deliver a sports facilities strategy along with the 11 council areas. The documents will take into account the existing facilities and the demand for new ones. We must, however, where possible, continue the process of developing our sporting infrastructure so that we all have the opportunity to inspire and help those who want to compete. If they do so, they need all our support to realise their full talent and potential.”
“There will be a focus on 2018 and the Gold Coast games, and that focus will be shaped by the outcomes of Sport NI's review of the Glasgow games. In 2013, the Sport Matters monitoring group received a report detailing the actions around this target. It agreed that the target had been met and that facilities had been either newly developed or upgraded to support the player and athlete. The group toured nearly 20 projects that may be deemed as directly contributing to the PL23 target, including the 50-metre pool in north Down and new or upgraded facilities for boxing, which have yet to be completed, cycling, basketball, hockey, athletics, rowing and many more sports.”
“As part of this, the Sports Institute at Jordanstown does an excellent job through the provision of direct technical support to sports and athletes as they prepare for major competitions. <BR /> <BR />Sport NI also provides financial support to sports' governing bodies through its performance-focused and athlete investment programmes. Over the last two financial years, governing bodies that had athletes preparing for 2014 received funding from Sport NI of just over £2·3 million. That is substantial funding. In the same period, total funding of almost £834,000 was provided under the Sport NI athlete investment programme to athletes preparing for 2014. I anticipate that continued Exchequer and lottery funding will be provided through Sport NI to support athletes' preparation for future competitions.”
“Successful systems for athletes' performance must also include a range of important factors throughout the life of an athlete, namely encouraging initial participation in sport; having effective talent identification systems; having great coaches who will inspire and mentor athletes; providing crucial training and nutrition advice; providing access to suitable training facilities; and having effective governing bodies that will drive athletes forward, which is imperative. We have already achieved many of these factors; however, we recognise that there is much more to do. Sport NI is working closely with the governing bodies, the athletes, coaches and their support personnel who have Olympic and Paralympic aspirations for Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020.”
“The strategy is used by DCAL and Sport NI to inform and prioritise investment, including in our high-performance athletes. Sport Matters targets are set around three clear themes of participation, performance and places, all of which provide the building blocks for us to develop systems to help our current and aspiring competitive sportspeople. Preparing athletes for major competitions is not about just a few elements of this strategy.”
“They will need to be objective and strong in their assessments, and I know that Sport NI will provide the necessary support and guidance to them as they go through the process. To improve athlete performance across all our competitive sports in the future, it is vital that any identified actions that are required are taken by the relevant governing bodies and their partners. The motion calls for appropriate training and for resources and facilities to be put in place to ensure that we maximise our medal return in 2018, and that is what we intend to do. <BR /> <BR />In Sport Matters — our strategy for sport and physical recreation — there are 26 high-level targets that set out key strategic priorities for sport and physical education.”
“The review is scheduled to take place in January and February 2015, and it will allow Sport NI to make evidence-based recommendations to the relevant sports' governing bodies and the Commonwealth Games Council. The review will also set targets for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. It is therefore crucial that the governing bodies involved engage completely in this process with Sport NI. <BR /> <BR />It is really important, especially in light of the reducing resources that we all face, that the governing bodies focus investment on the athletes capable of delivering a return on that investment. This will, no doubt, require difficult decisions to be made by the sports' governing bodies in the future.”
“Sport NI will carry out debriefs with all the governing bodies of the sports that had athletes competing in the games. It will also talk individually to each athlete, the coaches and their support personnel. It will examine what worked well, what needs to be improved and what had a negative impact on performance. The debriefing process will be completed by the end of this year, hopefully by early December. <BR /> <BR />When all the information is collected, a review will be undertaken by Sport NI. The review will be used as an appraisal of performances at recent games and as a mechanism to identify the changes and improvements that are required.”
“I do not think that any of us are in any doubt that boxing is the leading light in our Commonwealth sports and, indeed, across all sports competitions. The achievements are all the more remarkable when we consider the poor facilities — they are among the worst — that we have to offer our sportspeople. They achieve these successes despite the conditions that they train in. My Department's current investment in boxing will go some way towards addressing some of these issues, but it merely scratches the surface. <BR /> <BR />The motion also calls on DCAL to reassess other sports where we may excel in future games. On Tuesday 16 September, I advised the House that I had met the chief executive of Sport NI to discuss plans to review the performance of all our athletes in the Commonwealth Games.”
“<BR /> <BR />Much has been made of the boxers' success, and rightly so: winning nine medals out of 12 is no mean feat. It is clear that there are significant interests here today to ensure that our athletes, current and future, receive appropriate training, resources and facilities in order to maximise medal achievements in all future competitions. Some of those have been mentioned here today: the next Commonwealth Games in 2018 on the Gold Coast in Australia and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016. I believe that the motion is worthy, and I wholeheartedly support it. <BR /> <BR />The motion also calls on the Assembly to recognise particularly the success of the boxing team and its achievements.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I have listened carefully to the debate and the views expressed on the motion. It is clear that there is widespread support for our local athletes, and I thank Members for providing me with the opportunity to once again congratulate the athletes, coaches, officials and families who were involved in the 2014 Commonwealth Games. I have had the pleasure of meeting those people on a few occasions, particularly when they departed Belfast for the games in July and again when I visited the athletes' village in Glasgow. On those occasions, I saw at first-hand the individual commitment of each of the athletes and the support that they received from the network around them. Those athletes are certainly deserving of the tributes that have come their way today.”
“The Member should be aware that a political agreement was reached on the three stadia. That involved some £30-plus million for Windsor Park and the remainder, also £30-plus million, should be subregional funding. That position has not changed.”
“The subregional funding for soccer will not be made available until early next year. It was not supposed to become available until the next CSR, but I have started the process, in conjunction with the IFA, to try to bring forward a facility strategy. On the basis of that, we will do an outline business case and get all the bureaucratic stuff out of the way to ensure that, when the next CSR is agreed for 2015-16 and thereafter, we can start as soon as possible.”
“To follow up on the Member's original question and supplementary, I will find out the exact position: when I can anticipate the business case being brought to my attention and what the process and procedure will be thereafter. The Member is aware of funding constraints, but this is one of the projects that will add to the overall attractiveness of Belfast to tourists. Also, a city the size of Belfast needs a library at its heart, particularly as the central library is at the heart of quarters and areas of massive regeneration. That regeneration cannot happen without the central library being involved.”
“I thank the Member for his question and for his continued interest in Belfast central library. I have not yet received a business case; I am waiting for it to arrive on my desk. It will involve substantial public money — in the region of £30 million to £35 million. We need the business case to start the process of upgrading, regrading, rebuilding and redeveloping the library.”
“I am happy to do that, and I am happy to go back to try to get that organised. I am delighted that, particularly in an area that has not seen the investment, there is a master plan where Departments, bodies and statutory agencies are coming together to try to pool their investment to make sure that there is a better outcome for people in that constituency.”
“Not in recent times. As the Member will be aware, I was in the constituency some months ago, and I looked at motor sport in the vicinity. I am also aware that, through him and other colleagues, including his council colleagues, there have been calls for it to be part of the master plan for that area, given that it has not seen the investment that it needs, particularly in sporting activities. I am happy to meet the Member to see how we can take that forward.”
“The Member made a decision not to go to the reception last night, so he made a decision to exclude himself from celebrating the achievements of the young people and the athletes who were involved in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014. I did not exclude him; he excluded himself.”
“I did not see the invitation that was sent out, and if you — or any Member — stopped yourself from coming because of what is on an invitation, I think that you need to grow up. There are lots of things that I encounter in my daily walk of life that do not reflect the community that I come from, but, to support athletes or to support people, you just move on and do your best. So, if you are preventing yourself from giving support to children and young people because of something that is said in an invitation from me, I think that you need to ask yourself questions.”
“To give the Member an assurance, I am happy, particularly on the basis of the intervention that he has made in topical questions today and on the basis that it is the right thing to do, to write to my colleagues in DAHG, and, indeed, to any other colleagues who have any influence or any potential investment, to see whether some support can be given to the area. I am certainly happy to do that, and I am happy to copy the Member in to any correspondence.”
“Yes and yes. I think that it is totally regrettable that the hall was attacked in the way that it was. I did not see the whole footage, but I saw a clip of some of the stewards of the hall and people who have attended it for generations. I could see how visibly upset they were, and I have to condemn the attack outright. Hopefully, the community can come together and help the Orangemen to rebuild their hall.”
“This is the first time that it has been brought my attention, so we need to find out exactly what is being run and what Sport NI can assist with, if at all, in conjunction with local government, particularly around the achievement of sporting events and participation in them. I am happy to hear representation from the Member on how we can do that.”
“I have not received any invitations or delegations in relation to golf in the south Down area vis-à-vis Newcastle. Certainly, Sport NI is working with the governing body for golf, but I have no knowledge of, and I have not received any delegations around, additional or new investment to that area in particular.”
“It is regrettable that the Causeway Coast and Glens Council adopted the position that it has. I imagine that that position should be, and will be, sorted out with local representatives in the new council configuration and, indeed, with officials that are there. When I made my investment to Coleraine Borough Council, I was very clear that it was part of a north-west legacy plan. Maybe the officials there, or even the elected reps, did not fully understand the implications and the import of that. I urge all local representatives, along with officials from both council areas, to come together to try to get the matter resolved, because proper sporting facilities are required in the Dungiven area.”
“In short, yes, I have done that. The Member may have been in the Chamber when I answered his colleague Raymond McCartney's question in relation to the legacy plans for Derry city and the north-west. To that end, I have a meeting organised with officials from Limavady Borough Council to see how we can progress the provision of sports facilities in that area.”
“The Member is right to be surprised. It was a surprise to me that a decision was made by colleagues in Dublin to add additional efficiency savings, as they call them, on the language bodies which would have a huge impact on the Ulster-Scots Agency. They made a decision to split the money between waterways and languages, and they gave an uplift to waterways and left the languages to take the brunt. I am far from happy with that, particularly given what I have just said in my first answer to you. It will have a huge impact on the Ulster-Scots Agency. The Member will be aware that the payments that are being made are irregular. They are still legal. I am working on the basis that the draft business plans are going ahead, and it is business as usual.”
“I think it is incumbent upon me and my colleagues in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (DAHG) to try to sort this out, because what you are looking at is having massive impacts, particularly on Ulster Scots.”
“Your understanding is right. I have not laid them. I have not approved them to come before the House, because it asks for an additional 4% cut on top of what was already agreed. A 4% cut, on top of what was already agreed, will have a huge and dire impact on the Ulster-Scots Agency.”
“Liaisons and discussions need to be ongoing with schools and the construction industry and with the community, voluntary and regeneration groups that exist in south Belfast in relation to Windsor Park and in west Belfast for Casement Park. It is really important that people do not feel that they cannot avail themselves of these opportunities that are based on their road. The worst thing that could happen is that opportunities become available when it is too late. We want to ensure that this happens and that it happens sooner rather than later. As I have said, once we get the decision regarding Casement Park, I will have a different story to report as to how west Belfast can benefit.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He is probably referring to social clauses and community benefits, rather than the issues outlined by Jimmy Spratt. <BR /> <BR />There have been discussions, particularly in relation to the governing bodies and community groups. I intend, once I get the Casement Park issue resolved, that that should take on a different complexion. We need to have more engagement with other Departments and, indeed, with partners and partnerships around apprenticeships and the monitoring of those apprenticeships, to make sure that whatever commitment is made is honoured and to make sure that there are training places.”
“All being well — if God spares us all, we will all be here, but certainly not in this place — the benefits for those communities will endure well beyond construction. Hopefully, construction will be completed in next year and the year after that.”
“I thank the Member for his sentiments. I am happy to pass that on to officials in the Department. It has always been my intention — indeed, it has always been the intention as part of this development — that the opportunities for communities do not end with construction. They have to exist pre, during and post construction. It is important that those communities, that are neighbours to these stadia, are not outside looking in. They need to be involved. I am content that the discussions that have been had so far are good. Can we do more? Absolutely. I think that it is important that Members, such as yourself, have continually come forward with suggestions about how we can do that better. The ongoing relationship needs to continue with officials, regardless of who is in the Department, because it will be a 25-year relationship.”
“<BR /> <BR />Certainly, in benefits and integration with local communities, as part of the development plans for all the stadia, the governing bodies have been extensively engaged in consultation with local communities, and it is my intention that the stadiums will have the potential to be used every day, post construction.”
“In relation to Ravenhill, the project is progressing very well, with all three stands now complete. The official opening of the stadium took place, as the Member knows, in May of this year. Completion of the remaining phases of construction work, on education and heritage facilities, is planned for early 2015. I expect that to happen in February or March 2015. <BR /> <BR />In relation to the IFA, construction at Windsor commenced on site in May after the Irish Cup final, and, provided that significant delays around any legal issues are avoided, the project can remain on programme, with completion of the construction works planned for October 2015. <BR /> <BR />The Member will also be aware that a judicial review is being heard regarding Casement Park, so it is not appropriate that I mention that.”
“With your permission, Mr Deputy Speaker, I will answer questions 8 and 11 together. I thank the Member for his question.”
“He has. I am glad to hear it. The story of the City of Culture, particularly with the bands, is something that we can learn from across the North and, indeed, across the island. The work of the bands and Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin has been remarkable. <BR /> <BR />I think that it is important that every aspect of musical and cultural heritage is celebrated — and celebrated within a context of respect. It is really important that we continue that tradition and heritage, not just for people who enjoy what we have now but to make sure that we pass it on to the generations behind us.”
“Absolutely. I am sure that the Member has been to the Walled City Tattoo, and if he has not, why not?”