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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“I am happy to write to the Member and give him a full breakdown of what will be funded, where it will be funded, where the projects will happen and the duration of that funding and provide him with a status report of what I intend to bid for in the next monitoring rounds. I think that that is important, given that everybody is committed to ensuring that the legacy of the City of Culture is met but also to make sure that people have their facts right. I am not saying that there has been mischief, but some confusion has certainly been spun, either by certain media outlets or people on the media who are either really confused, deliberately confusing or who are really not in full possession of the facts. I am happy to furnish the Member with that information.”
“<BR /> <BR />DCAL is also still committed to providing the £2·5 million sought by Limavady Borough Council towards the development of a sports and community complex in the Dungiven area. Provision of that funding will also be subject to a business case, as the Member would no doubt expect.”
“God bless you. <BR /> <BR />Sport NI has confirmed that phase one of the north coast sports village was completed by August. In relation to capital investment, as part of the legacy of the City of Culture, boxing projects in Derry have received £120,000 so far for equipment. In relation to the Daisyfield/Showgrounds project, I welcome the fact that Derry City Council has awarded planning permission for the Brandywell. Also in relation to that project, the Department will receive a business case from Derry City Council for that element of the Foyle valley gateway master plan and has been working very closely with the city council on that. On the basis of receiving that final business case, funding will be awarded. I imagine that that will be a seamless process.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question.”
“This week, for example, the CultureTECH festival, which is supported by my Department through NI Screen, will enhance the national and international profile of the north-west as a centre for innovation, digital technologies and creative industries. Inspirational programming as part of the festival will also engage over 16,000 schoolchildren.”
“Building on additional funding I secured earlier this year, I submitted a significant bid to the June monitoring round to maximise the ongoing development of a social and economic legacy from the City of Culture 2013. I was disappointed that funding was not allocated to this bid. I remain committed to harnessing the momentum created by the City of Culture and realising the full potential of the culture, arts and leisure base to transform the lives of people. <BR /> <BR />Achieving that is not solely dependent on the allocation of new or additional funds. The DCAL family of organisations, programmes, facilities and services is already actively targeting and delivering interventions across the north-west.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. The additional money is not to plug gaps in the Arts Council budget. It is additional money relating to legacy commitments that we made as part of the World Police and Fire Games and the City of Culture. As the Member will be aware, I made a statement in the city last November about commitments. However, it is not just for the city of Derry; it is for the neighbouring communities and villages. So, while an additional £1 million is to be welcomed, it is regrettable that some groups that have been recipients of arts funding for many years feel it appropriate to criticise those that have never received funding and are now doing so through the additional £1 million.”
“In addition, marketing budgets may have to be reduced, leading directly to reduced income from a consequential reduction in ticket sales. The Arts Council board met on 10 September to consider its options, and organisations are being advised of decisions on budget reductions. I am conscious of the potential impact that those budget reductions will have on programmes, staff and services. I will continue to work with the sector during this difficult period, particularly as the final position emerges.”
“The proposed cuts are not unique to the Arts Council. All business areas across my Department and its arm's-length bodies have been asked to closely examine their budgets to meet the reductions. I met the chair of the Arts Council to discuss the potential impact of reductions and examine how best to implement them, with a view to minimising the effect on front line services. However, it is not just the end users' enjoyment of the artistic product that may be affected if programming is scaled back. Organisations may have no choice other than to make savings from other strands of work, notably, perhaps, their outreach programmes, community ticketing schemes and staff or overhead costs, as suggested by them.”
“I will have to take the Member's word for that. I do not know what the temperature was last year in comparison with this year. The fact that I cannot remember and that there seems to be no report of fish kills last year suggest that the temperature and the possibility of toxic algae in the Brantry added to the high level of fish mortality. I will try to bring the Member's question to my officials and get answers. I am sure that the Member will join me in saying that we need to do anything that we can to reduce the impact on angling in our public waters. I would be happy to receive any information about the river that the Member may have from anglers in his constituency.”
“<BR /> <BR />In view of the ongoing fish mortality and reports of possible toxic algae bloom, the lough was closed for angling as a precautionary measure and a notice posted on the website. The Department also provided statements in response to a number of media enquiries. In addition, it erected a public notice at Brantry which advised of the possibility of toxic blue-green algae blooms during prolonged periods of sunshine and the risks that that could present.”
“I thank the Member for his question. He should be aware that I have been advised that the recent fish kill at Brantry was a natural occurrence that it was not possible to predict or prevent and was brought about by a sustained period of hot, still weather. The conditions raised the water temperature and lowered the oxygen level in the water, resulting in fish mortality. <BR /> <BR />Inland Fisheries staff visit all public angling estate waters regularly to assess operational needs and respond to reports from other agencies such as the Environment Agency and, indeed, from members of the public. If angling is affected on any of the waters, anglers are informed through the NI Direct angling website.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I totally agree that the work that the organisers of the Ardoyne Fleadh have done this year and in previous years has to be commended. It is regrettable that the Druids became the story of the fleadh rather than all the activities in the week leading up to that. The organisers do cross-community work. They are trying their best along with their partners in the Shankill and elsewhere. The organisers of the Ardoyne Fleadh and other cultural programmers and partners are coming together to look at ways in which they can make applications next year. I welcome that regardless of where or whom it comes from.”
“Certainly, there is cross-party support for ensuring that sectarianism is ended and that any support for people who take part in bands, festivals or other activities and are involved in what could be perceived to be sectarian behaviour needs to be scrutinised. Any action needs to be taken after careful review.”
“I thank the Member for that question. I am sure that he heard the answer that I gave to Mr William Humphrey. I will indeed. I want to take the opportunity to say again that I, too, was very disappointed and saddened by the remarks that the Druids made at the Ardoyne Fleadh. I was very content with the rebuttals in statements from the organisers and, indeed, from all politicians across the House. <BR /> <BR />We all need to be careful and cautious about the way in which Question Time is sometimes used for political point scoring. Sectarianism, regardless of where it occurs, needs to be condemned. We should do that regardless of where it happens.”
“— parade in certain parts of our constituency and play offensive tunes outside places of worship. I hope that the Member will join me to say that funding and investment for those bands should also be looked at and scrutinised and, indeed, that the organisations that march with them and have responsibility for them should, too, be penalised and scrutinised. I have answered the question.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I condemn any remarks that are sectarian or not befitting any community. I welcome the Member's sentiments. I look forward to his support when bands that are funded through the Arts Council or the Ulster-Scots Agency —”
“Neither my Department nor the Arts Council has provided funding for the Ardoyne Fleadh for this August, although I do not preclude funding being made available to the fleadh in the foreseeable future.”
“I thank the Member for her supplementary questions. Since 2011, the Ulster-Scots Agency has invested over £852,000, and the Arts Council has invested over £605,000. I know that both agencies plan to look at value for money in every aspect of their work. I have absolutely no doubt that that, as well as other aspects of the work and the services that they provide, will be under review, particularly given the budgetary constraints that we all face.”
“A very long tune with a short answer: yes, I absolutely congratulate the band from the Member's constituency. All politics is local. I am certainly keen to make sure that support for pipe bands and other bands involved in the purchasing and development of musical instruments continues. The Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band is probably the exception, but many bands have participated in competitions and won, and some bands may not have won competitions but are certainly getting there. They need to be supported, and the Arts Council and the Ulster-Scots Agency have continued to do that to their best efforts.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I recognise the significant contribution that the voluntary and community art sectors make to many aspects of life here. Pipe bands can introduce people to the appreciation of music and start some on the road to musical excellence. This year, the Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band won its tenth and fourth consecutive world title, which is a truly great accolade for the band and the pipe band sector. <BR /> <BR />In recognition of the importance of music making in communities, my Department, through the Arts Council, provides support for bands by contributing to the costs of the purchase of instruments. In addition, the Ulster-Scots Agency makes funding available to bands through its financial assistance scheme, which can provide funding for musical tuition.”
“It is incumbent on us to support athletes competing not just in that forum but in other fora, because we need to ensure that their performance will be consistent. They need the confidence and contentment of knowing that they do not have to worry about funding. Their efforts should be focused on their performance. <BR /> <BR />I am due to meet the chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Council fairly soon, and I will meet Sport NI.”
“I pay tribute to the Down camogie team; its success has been amazing. Samoa and St Lucia have been mentioned regarding the youth games. The Commonwealth Games Council has received funding. It is working with Sport NI. I cannot remember the date — it is soon — but I have a meeting organised with the chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Council to discuss this matter.”
“That is the criterion; I am not changing it to suit Sandy Row boxing club or anyone else.”
“First, I refute any allegation — the inference in his question is that my Department or Sport NI have been responsible for the sectarian harassment of Sandy Row boxing club; that is not the case. That is not to say that it has not experienced it before in St Kevin's Hall. It was well documented, and the Member has consistently raised it. I need to put that on record, because I do not think that it is fair, given the way some programmes are edited, to suggest that Sport NI, me or anybody else has been involved in the sectarian harassment of Sandy Row. <BR /> <BR />Sandy Row boxing club, just like any other boxing club that wants to avail itself of this capital investment, knows what it needs to do. What it needs to do is become affiliated to a governing body in order to receive funding.”
“I thank the Member for his question. As I said to Mr Hilditch, Sport NI is planning to have debriefs around each of the sports. That includes not only the athletes who competed in Glasgow 2014 but the governing bodies. Once that happens, a review will be undertaken using that information, which will act as an appraisal of performances and will look at making recommendations, particularly about what other support is needed. <BR /> <BR />It really is incumbent upon us all to use the experience — the most recent that we have is from August — to try to build on and direct it in future. That is due to be completed by December of this year. In between times, I will be talking to the chief executive of Sport NI. Indeed, I will have a further meeting with the forum on the Sport Matters strategy, and I have no doubt that that issue will come up.”
“<BR /> <BR />I certainly think that we need to build facilities to help performances, and we need to build facilities in order to increase the aspiration and self-confidence of those athletes who have yet to present themselves to the sport of their choice.”
“I thank the Member for his supplementary question. It will come as no surprise — the Member is well aware — that boxing continues achieve success despite the facilities, not because of the facilities. There has been some investment that has slowly started to take effect, but you could argue that the boxing performances well preceded the capital investment. At its board meeting at the end of the month, Sport NI will agree on how the capital programme will be brought forward. There is a long list of what is needed in terms of sports capital investment, which includes, the Member will not be surprised to hear, a velodrome.”
“A review will also be undertaken using information that was collected as part of each of those debriefs. The review is intended as an appraisal of performance and as a mechanism to make recommendations to appropriate partners on what changes are needed to help all our sports to improve their performance. It is anticipated that that process and initial review will be completed by December of this year.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Member for his question. First, I acknowledge the tremendous success of all our athletes at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Overall, we finished fifteenth out of 71 on the medals table, with over 6,500 competing athletes to win 12 medals at the games. I am sure that the Member will agree that that is a remarkable achievement. I hosted a reception here yesterday evening to celebrate the team's remarkable achievements. In addition, I met the chief executive of Sport NI last week to discuss the plans to build on that success. <BR /> <BR />I can advise that Sport NI will be carrying out debriefs with the governing bodies of each of the sports that had athletes competing in Glasgow.”
“We wish him all the best, and it is appropriate that he is mentioned in the House today as a Matter of the Day. On behalf of everyone — I am sure that everyone will have an opportunity to speak — we are all absolutely delighted for Carl and extremely proud of him and the rest. Well done.”
“I had the privilege of being there, representing the Executive, and what I saw was a city in concert in support of Carl Frampton and the other boxers. For me, that is another success story. <BR /> <BR />As we all know, boxing, to use an old but well-trodden phrase, like the nine medals that we had in the Commonwealth Games, punches well above its weight in this part of the island and, indeed, in the whole of the island. Carl Frampton — for his mother Flo, father Craig, wife Christine, daughter Carla and, indeed, all the family and the entire north Belfast community — is one of our own. We are all extremely proud of him and will continue to be proud not just of his achievements as a professional boxer but, indeed, of the achievements that our boxers on the ticket on Saturday night brought to us all.”
“That in itself will provide great inspiration and aspiration for young people, particularly those in north Belfast who are coming behind him. <BR /> <BR />William mentioned the role that Billy McKee, Gerry Storey and many others had in Carl's illustrious career as an amateur boxer. Certainly, the McGuigans, Cyclone Promotions and others were involved in giving us what was a boxing treat on Saturday evening. We have been told that 120 countries had television rights to the boxing matches, with an estimated 250 million people watching what we in Belfast already know was an absolutely brilliant display of boxing on Saturday evening. That was against the magnificent backdrop of the Titanic building.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I join my north Belfast colleague William Humphrey in congratulating Carl Frampton and, indeed, all the boxers on the ticket on Saturday evening: Marco McCullough, Jamie, Eamonn, Conrad, Anthony and Matthew. Each one of them did us proud, but today is about Carl Frampton, the Frampton family and the McGuigans. Kiko Martinez put up 12 rounds to give us an excellent boxing match, as did the rest of the opponents. They are all very worthy. Carl Frampton, as the many of us here who have met him on occasion will know — some of you will know him better than I do — is an excellent role model for young people involved in sport, whether that is at an amateur or professional level. Carl Frampton is now the world champion bantamweight.”