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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“Some of the most deprived communities are in areas of Belfast that we represent, so let us stand up for them, not just those in Christopher's community or my community but the whole lot of them.”
“They will get their rights. You talk about economic rights and about the deprivation in communities. You are for academic selection and social engineering.”
“My answer is that the Member has apologised. What I hear from you is that you will not accept that apology. <BR /> <BR />Let me say this about Martin McGuinness: he very reluctantly left this place because of people like you denying rights. We talk about the generations coming behind us. I completely agree with Mark that there will be a bill of rights. There has to be a bill of rights. If it is not done by my generation, people like Emma coming behind me — I am proud to call her a comrade and a colleague — and people who are watching the debate will ensure that there is a bill of rights. Why? We have had trans kids who talked about ending their life because they felt that they were not included as citizens. We will get them their rights. We have Irish language speakers who were mocked in the Assembly by your colleagues.”
“Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. <BR /> <BR />Christopher, I am not surprised that you have made those points, because you have nowhere else to go. To be frank, you have nowhere else to go.”
“I will give way in a minute, Christopher. <BR /> <BR />Going back to Roman times and talking about the courts is pathetic. People had to go to court because of a denial of rights in this place. There was supposed to be an anti-poverty strategy, but activists had to go to court to ensure that there was one, and it was then reflected in NDNA. There was supposed to be an Irish language strategy, but the Member's party and others voted against it. Activists had to go to court, and it was then shown in NDNA. We were supposed to have a bill of rights, and you, even though you agreed in principle, then put forward your no bill of rights. Christopher, I will give way at this stage.”
“I fundamentally do not come to that position naturally, and I fundamentally disagree, but I have —”
“We spoke to a lot of people who came to us because of the rights deficit, and that is why a bill of rights came forward in NDNA. <BR /> <BR />We also need to step back a bit to the reason why these institutions collapsed in 2017. It was not just because the DUP incentivised people financially to burn money under the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme; it was also the complete and blatant disrespect for rights. Even in this Chamber, we had a DUP MLA — he is now an MP — mocking people who use the Irish language. <BR /> <BR />There are lots of things that go right across this community — I agree that it is not one or other; it is "the community" — and I am prepared to grow and develop with them. I will not use the word "tolerate", because it is offensive.”
“Unfortunately, you can almost see what way this is shaping up. I still do not know what the Ulster Unionist Party's position is on a bill of rights. We had Alan's attempt to set the record straight, but, if I go by what Mike Nesbitt said at the Committee about that party's intention, I think that the UUP wants a sort of bill of rights while it is clearly established that the DUP wants no bill of rights. Let us be clear about that. <BR /> <BR />We talked about the need for rights, but, first, let us go back a step. I thank the Committee staff and the staff in the Assembly for their engagement. More importantly, I thank the scores of people who came in front of the Committee. Most members attended the meetings. Most of us had the courtesy to attend the meetings, I should say.”
“None of us wants that matter to be left with any ambiguity.”
“It is really important that there is as much openness, transparency and accessibility as possible. The groups have asked for that. It is the least that we can do for those who have been through the system and are still traumatised. Given how bad and traumatic it is to be put into care and go through adoption, we must make it as easy as possible for people to get the right support and access to information. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I thank the Minister's officials, all the Committee staff, the Bill Office team and the Engagement team. The Committee met 11 organisations and received written evidence from 16 organisations that were broadly in support of the provisions of the Bill. It is a big Bill; it is long awaited. I hope that, between now and Further Consideration Stage, we can tidy up some of the elements on access to information.”
“I welcome that, but we have a lot to do. <BR /> <BR />Between now and Further Consideration Stage, we need to look at what can be done within the scope of the Bill on the disclosure or protection of information about adults and the documentation that has to be kept. It is an opportunity that is not to be missed. The Bill and, indeed, others that will come forward will get passage, hopefully in this mandate. <BR /> <BR />All Committee members were conscious of the number of people who have been through the adoption process. My colleague, Linda Dillon, tried to table an amendment on the matter, and she asked me to raise it on her behalf. I am sure that other political parties have heard it from Survivors and Victims of Institutional Abuse (SAVIA) and other groups.”
“We need to look after them a lot better than we have been doing, especially with regard to getting access to information. It is disappointing that the amendment cannot be made, but I look forward to seeing what alternatives we can bring forward. The Minister of Finance, under the Registrar General, will have responsibility under data protection to ensure that people get access to information. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased that clause 62 discusses counselling, because pre-'87, people were not compelled to get counselling. Compellability was raised by witnesses during evidence sessions. The support around people who are trying to get access to their information is much more specific now than ever before.”
“Paula and I met the youngsters from the Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) as part of the engagement of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Bill of Rights, and one of the things that really threw them, even before the pandemic, was that, when contact could not happen, the information that they got was very intermittent. <BR /> <BR />I raised that before, and, thankfully, one of the Minister's officials got in contact with me, so hopefully that concern has been cleared up. The contact setting needs to be age appropriate, and the information on why the contact could not occur should be age appropriate. Above all else, youngsters who have been going through health and social care since birth and whose corporate parents are the state have a right to know.”
“The fact that, as a jurisdiction, we now have responsibility for records, it is completely untenable that anyone, regardless of their position, would flout the Data Protection Act and the Public Records Act 1923; and I declare an interest as a former keeper of the records when I was in the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and DFC. While we do not have a human rights Act or an equality Act — I have no doubt that we will discuss that later in the debate on the report of the Ad Hoc Committee on a Bill of Rights — we have statutory obligations to ensure that people get access to that information. <BR /> <BR />We talk about support services and access to information, particularly under group 2, and the Minister and others raised contact.”
“So, if our ability to strengthen the Bill to give people access to information does not proceed in the way that we all hope, we need to look at other ways to ensure that, at the very least, we do not contradict those articles. We are all trying to strengthen the legislation for people here and now, in the current situation, and we need to be seen to try to correct all the wrongs that happened previously. <BR /> <BR />In group 2, we are looking at supporting access to information. Information on birth certificates, dates of birth and birth parents were tampered with and disposed of on occasions, and people who are in their 70s and 80s and even younger are still trying to find out who their birth parents were.”
“Every member of our Health Committee has come to the legislation with a good heart, and they all want to make sure that the whole experience of adoption is a positive one, as far as it can be. We have only to look at the history of the Magdalene laundries and the lack of redress, which Colm has just outlined, to know what we do not want to do. We want to ensure that citizens get a right to access their information. I will not go into the amendment, and I will not question why it was outside the scope of the Bill, but we need to look at other ways to strengthen the information. <BR /> <BR />Articles 8 and 13 of the ECHR are engaged in that, for example, a person has a right to a "private and family life". That includes their records. Article 13 states that a person has a "Right to an effective remedy".”
“I, too, want to send my best wishes to the Minister. Tabhair aire duit féin, a Aire, agus do do theaghlach. I send my best wishes to you and your family. It is a worrying time. I, too, remember the legislation in 2010. Indeed, Michelle O'Neill, Sue Ramsey and I were on the Health Committee. You should talk to Michael McGimpsey about that some time. It is good that it has eventually come to the Assembly, albeit there have been many setbacks.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht a freagra. I appreciate the response that the Minister has given. It is completely appropriate to look at north Belfast and west Belfast, as, regrettably, they are two areas that have suffered disproportionately through suicide. <BR /> <BR />In the Minister's capacity as a constituency MLA, she will be aware that several suicide attempts have been made at other bridges, including Hightown Bridge and Arthur Bridge. If the Minister could provide an update in writing regarding those, I would appreciate it.”
“I thank the Minister for her response in relation to South Belfast. Given what she said about North Belfast, will she agree to meet the local MP to hear the concerns of residents and traders and to ensure that the rapid transit system goes all the way through Glengormley village and beyond?”
“I am delighted to hear the Minister say that. I agree: you need to love your hospital rather than just try to save it, because that sends out the wrong message. Given the issues of staff retention and recruitment that existed before COVID, everybody, including the Minister, will know full well that staff retention and workforce planning are key. Can the Minister confirm whether, as part of overall workforce planning, he plans to take forward additional plans and strategies on staff retention and recruitment?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers to Doug Beattie; my question is in a similar vein. We all remember the tragic events at Grenfell in 2017, and I welcome the £1 million fund to remove unsafe cladding. Minister, when do you expect work to begin on the Victoria Place tower block in south Belfast? I will write to you about the other 11 buildings and the possibility of a new fund coming on board, because, as you will be aware, I have high-rise towers in my constituency.”
“Without an audit, it is more difficult to design and plan for services in an informed way, and, if one is achieved, it will allow us to provide patients with the support that they need. I ask the Minister to reconsider his position so that we can tailor our cancer services and treatment to all patients facing this health crisis and give them the hope that they so rightly deserve.”
“That is very disappointing news for patients across the North and, indeed, the island who are experiencing metastatic breast cancer. They feel that they have often been excluded. They may now face delays in accessing any treatment or specialist assistance that they will need. <BR /> <BR />According to Macmillan, secondary breast cancer diagnosis is always at stage 4, which can be treated but is incurable. The Breast Cancer Now consultation reveals that those living with secondary cancers suffer from extreme anxiety and uncertainty. We owe all cancer patients across the North optimal care. <BR /> <BR />We do not have a breast cancer audit for metastatic breast cancer, and we need to be able to access reliable data.”
“I want to speak on behalf of a number of constituents who have contacted me about the lack of data collected on secondary breast cancer. I thank them and acknowledge their commitment and drive to ensure that conditions and much-needed support are better for those with secondary breast cancer, the majority of whom are women, now and in the future. <BR /> <BR />In England and Wales, it was recently announced that a metastatic breast cancer audit will be funded to collate information on the number of people living with secondary breast cancer. In recent communications with the Minister of Health, he indicated that he had no specific plan for an audit and that data collection, coordination and application are being addressed as a central focus of the draft 10-year cancer strategy.”
“Minister, I appreciate your responses. You have answered two questions that I was going to ask. <BR /> <BR />I welcome your support for the CJI report, which is really important. You also mentioned that, with co-design and co-production in mind, you are still looking at part of your strategy. Will that be part of your strategy, along with your NGO partners, to ensure that the disproportionate outcomes for women and girls in the justice system are looked at through the lens of not only greater equality but better life outcomes?”
“One of the good things about the Health Committee is that, even when members disagree, we always try to get a good approach and a good outcome. I believe that people want us to deliver good outcomes — that is what legislation is about — and health and social care workers and their families deserve nothing less.”
“These are real things for health and social care workers who are getting called in by trusts as we go through this surge and into a deepening crisis with health. We are calling staff in and asking them to forgo their time with their family at the weekend, and a lot of them have done it. We are also asking them to pay for the privilege. This is like an additional tax. It is like a stealth tax on health and social care staff, and I do not believe that anybody in this House could support that. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to Aisling for stepping in. I was going to say that she has stepped into Fra's shoes, but you cannot. In a matter of weeks, she has stepped in to sponsor a Bill. Deborah has joined the Committee, and she has been hit with a raft of legislation.”
“<BR /> <BR />Having come out of COP26, I am not being flippant about climate change, but people who do not have a car are going to rely on public transport. If we do not have enough public transport, we are back to somebody stepping up to give a lift to somebody who is ill. That is what families do, particularly families living in rural communities. Colm outlined that, if you are not on the 8.15 am bus in the Brantry, you do not go anywhere. I am lucky enough to live on the doorstep of the city centre, but I know what it is like from talking to other people through the course of life. I know that it costs them £30 to get up the road, before they even put money in the meter for the car park, and that is before they even buy a sandwich.”
“This policy has worked well in other areas with far bigger populations than ours, and, while I am hearing that most Members will not oppose the Bill at this stage, they reserve that prerogative for a later stage. Again, that is legislation. It is really, really important, after all that our health and social care staff and, indeed, their families have been through, and what visitors have been through, particularly in this pandemic, that we factor that in. <BR /> <BR />We also need to factor in the differences between car parking at the RVH, the Mater and the City in Belfast and car parking at hospitals in other trusts. I imagine that that is down to PFI arrangements, which I believe are wrong anyway. Financing using PFI and PPP for what should be essential public services needs to be examined.”
“I mean this sincerely: God help anyone, let alone their family, who has had to go to a hospital daily and pay for the car parking. By the time they travel in, particularly from Derry or Fermanagh or whatever it is, there is a cost. When someone is unwell and there is a lot of uncertainty around their life, the last thing that people need to be worrying about is money to pay for car parking charges. <BR /> <BR />Yes, there are consequences for us all. We need to look at better infrastructure so that we can have better park-and-ride facilities. We need to have lots of things to get us from one point to another in our lives, whether we are going to hospital, work, school or wherever else.”
“Fra would invite people to his home to feed them — Alec knows him well — simply because of the costs that some families were facing in travelling in for specialised treatment, particularly for cancer, as well as for blood treatments that they needed that are not exempt at the minute. It is a really big burden on people. <BR /> <BR />We need to make a difference for health and social care workers. This is not to supplement the 3%. It is not about that. We need to make that clear. The calculation on the 3% is probably around an additional £45 a month. In her opening comments, Aisling said that — I think that this was from RCN — some are paying £18 a day and that, for some health and social care staff, that could amount to £60 a week. That is what we are talking about here, and it is a lot of money. It really is a lot of money.”
“If it ever did, you would be talking about 0·01%, because the traffic in the area is that bad. <BR /> <BR />I want to make a distinction. Macmillan and others have been saying this for a long time. They were saying this about car parking charges when we were suspended. Unfortunately, this place only lasted for, I think, eight months before it was suspended, so the honest answer is that I do not know whether Michelle O'Neill was ever going to bring it forward, but I know that Fra McCann was determined to try to do it. When Fra himself became ill, he spoke to many people in the hospital and their families, and none of whom were local to Belfast. They came from everywhere. If any of us were ever on Zoom with the Health Committee, we saw Janette, Fra's wife, who is a constant feeder.”
“No one goes to a hospital unless they need to. Even though visiting has been reduced because of the pandemic, with health and social care staff saying that there has been a noticeable difference, there are still queues into the car parks, particularly at the big regional hospitals like the Royal and the City, which has the cancer centre. The City car park is £11 a day. That is where you will see a big difference for people in terms of the money in their pocket. I honestly do not think that it will be abused, based on the experience at the minute. We have to get more detail on the Welsh and Scottish examples to try to allay some of the fears. From my experience living beside the Mater Hospital, I do not think that anybody would throw their car in the car park to dander into town. It just does not happen, as far as I am aware.”
“I also think that the trusts will do as much as they can to support the workers and the families who use their services. <BR /> <BR />I live right beside the Mater. I do not know anybody who would go near the Antrim Road, the Crumlin Road or Clifton Street around visiting time, let alone abuse the car park — I am just saying that — even at £1. Even if the car park was free, they would not go near those roads. It is absolute bedlam. Unfortunately, when people are looking to park to go into town, they park in constituencies like mine, rather than going near the hospital. I want to put that on the record. It is the same for the Royal. Anybody who goes to the Royal, or any hospital, does so because they have to. I do not know anybody who would go to a hospital for the craic, to sit in the car park and read the paper or drink a coffee.”
“They talk about the impact of climate change, yet they drive here to work and do not pay a penny for the car park. <BR /> <BR />Anyway, I will go through some of the other issues. The Bill has three clauses. Aisling and Catherine came in front of the Committee last Tuesday. I thought that some of the questions that were asked were really reasonable, because they are the questions that we are all going to be asked. Again, I am sure that Aisling will take away some of the comments made at Second Stage and provide answers where she can. There is probably some heavy lifting for the Department and the Minister's officials to do in scoping out the potential cost. I imagine that the five trusts will, equally, put out an estimated cost of either running down or buying out a PFI and what their infrastructure will look like.”
“Ar dtús, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le hAisling agus le Fra as ucht an Bhille. I thank Aisling and Fra McCann for bringing forward the Bill. <BR /> <BR />None of us pays for car parking here. Anyone who works on this estate does not pay, in old money, a sprasey for using the car park, so the idea of poor or really sick people paying for infrastructure, although the infrastructure needs to be considered, is slightly bizarre. Not one red cent do we pay for the privilege of coming to work, and we are very well paid. I have to say that I baulk at the idea. I understand some of the concerns that Members have raised; they are valid. That is what you do when you debate legislation. Some Members, however, are dancing on the head of a pin.”
“That is wrong, but the big supermarkets and shops have a responsibility, because they have the money to put staff on who have the wherewithal to ask people to use a face covering, where appropriate, even if it means providing face coverings for people to use. When you get on a bus, face coverings should be available. The smaller shops are doing it; my local shops are doing it. If you go into a pharmacy or somewhere else, even though there are screens, they are inviting people to take face coverings with them. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I know that it is being rolled out, but even a bit more information would be welcome about what you need to do in the event that you have not had vaccinations or you need your booster: where do you go, and can you get your booster and your flu jab all in one? That would be really helpful.”
“I ask the Minister, whether in the next Executive meeting or, certainly, when we look at the next set of regulations, to have a look at those issues. <BR /> <BR />Our health and social care system has been on life support for a long time. That may be hyperbole, but we have struggled, and some trusts have coped better than others. Health and social care staff have been in a battle since the onset of COVID, with no sign of any let-up. Given that situation, it is our absolute duty to go for as much public protection as possible. <BR /> <BR />I would like a bit more information and guidance in relation to both of the amendment regulations. None of us wants a situation where a teenager has to face a six-foot-two man giving off to her.”
“I am not asking anybody to have it, whatever views they have. I appreciate that they have their views, but there are many others whose voices are not being heard. <BR /> <BR />We have experts on Facebook and Twitter now. Those are the only social media outlets that I am allowed near. My kids have warned me not to go near TikTok or anything else, so I am going to respect them. I know that there are expert epidemiologists on those social media sites, as well as scientific modelling experts and virologists who are at the top of their field. I am being flippant, but the point is that positive voices and the voices of reason are not getting out there. Each and every one of us has a responsibility in that regard. Given the recent climate, particularly in the past fortnight, we all need to step up.”
“If we say things, they are going to have an impact on others. I am sorry that Paul Frew is not in the Chamber; what he says in North Antrim is going to have an impact on Robin Swann, Naomi Long and the rest of us, and, in my opinion, he needs to knock it on the head. <BR /> <BR />I want to turn to the vaccinations and the booster. Some people are now, thankfully, starting to get their vaccinations. I do not know whether that is to do with the COVID certificate process or not. Part of it is, but mostly it is because of better information. I would like the Minister to look at encouraging role models, particularly for young people, to talk positively about protecting themselves and their families. There are some role models who are anti-vax, and we all know who they are. I would not ask them to have the vaccine.”
“<BR /> <BR />Again, to be political, the next time that we have a debate about revenue-raising and tax-varying powers, I hope that your party supports them, because that is the sort of mature discussions that we need to have. I agree with all the rest of the stuff about what people can take in the rough and tumble of politics and what they cannot, and death threats cannot be a part of that. <BR /> <BR />I also want to go back to some of the things that Members have said in the House, because they also need to take responsibility. I clearly recall one Member in particular saying that we need to save the population from the Executive. That was reckless, in my opinion, and some of his language is irresponsible. People have different opinions but people in our positions of leadership need to take responsibility. OK?”
“Equally, I have had two young men who were concerned about fertility, and pregnant people as well. Better messaging needs to be considered in and around that. Our constituency staff, like the rest of us, got up the next day, went in and did the same thing, despite the abuse that they were taking, but seeing swastikas or photographs of swastikas at the City Hall on Saturday was absolutely outrageous. <BR /> <BR />Equally, one thing that I am glad about is that some of the people who have contacted us have said that health and social care was always underfunded. It absolutely was, and this is where I am going to disagree with Colin. This came from the Tories, OK? I know that you have to make party political points, but the Tories have starved those budgets for decades and they are going to do it while they are in power.”
“I have spoken to some younger constituents, and, like Colin said, the level of abuse that some staff members in our constituency offices have received in this past week or fortnight is off the charts. It is ridiculous, and it needs to stop. It is not us. We are not there to take it most of the time; it is them. It is not that staff are shrinking violets; they are not, but they really do not deserve that. All our staff go above and beyond, and, to be honest, some of the stuff that they repeated to me was absolutely ridiculous. <BR /> <BR />I followed up with a couple of constituents who were not abusive but who had concerns. They would be deemed as hesitant about the vaccine, rather than opposed to it. It is around the area of fertility. They were young women who were concerned about fertility and things like that.”
“For me, the whole issue around wearing face coverings and how that is implemented is critical. When people have the ability to open up their businesses, in my opinion, they need to take responsibility for those protections in their businesses. I have personally seen, albeit a few months ago, young female staff being abused at a local supermarket because they asked people to use a face covering if they were not exempt. Big stores in particular have a responsibility to put staff on to make sure that younger staff members are not getting abused because people cannot be bothered. There is a difference between people who cannot be bothered and people who cannot. <BR /> <BR />Equally, I ask the Minister to look at better messaging from the Department and the trusts, but mainly the Public Health Agency (PHA).”
“More often than not, our ability to scrutinise legislation is probably the most pressing thing that we need to do, despite all the other pressing and urgent issues that we need to deal with, not only as Ministers but as MLAs. Like many people, I get frustrated when we get pieces of legislation after the fact, but, given that we are in a global health pandemic, these things happen. I am looking forward to the day when we are able to scrutinise legislation and then have our debate, rather than the other way round. We are trying to take that in our stride but, at the same time, get a balance. <BR /> <BR />Minister, for the next set of regulations and discussions that you have, that would be helpful, particularly given the fact that, first of all, compliance has always been key, but it has not always been where it needs to be.”
“They absolutely do, but we all have to take our rights with responsibilities. The fact that we saw crowds gathering outside Belfast City Hall, calling us Nazis and linking our attempts to protect the health of people here to apartheid was not lost on me or my family members who were walking through the town after a 12-hour shift in health and social care. Like Colin, I have had people saying things like, "If Martin McGuinness was here, this would not happen". That sort of stuff is absolutely ridiculous. <BR /> <BR />From the outset of the pandemic, every Member — well, most Members — and I include all the Executive in this — have done their best to protect people.”
“Before I discuss SR 2021/292 and SR 2021/291 — the amendment (No. 18) and amendment (No. 7) regulations — I put on record my solidarity with Robin and his family, Naomi and her family, and all other Ministers, in particular, who have received abuse. Death threats go well beyond abuse. I want put on the record that it is ridiculous that we find ourselves in this situation again. <BR /> <BR />When it comes to the health protection regulations and amendment Nos 18 and 7, I also place on record my absolute opposition to the rally in Belfast on Saturday. I had some buck eejits on Twitter who tried to tell me that it was a circle with a "v" in it. They were swastikas. That was highly offensive. I have also had people saying that people have a right to protest about the health protection regulations and the COVID certification process.”
“I thank Patsy McGlone for submitting the question. The Minister mentioned that HMRC has already made its call on the tax. I am sure that the Minister will agree that HMRC is not slow in taking the money out of our pay packets but rarely gives it back. The Minister has given some figures. Will he try his best to press upon his officials the need to get the payment made before Christmas? I am not counting, but it is 33 days until Christmas. A lot of the people who work in the sector are women and are low-paid. I am sure that they would appreciate our doing everything that we can so that they get that payment.”
“What additional provision can we commission? That is really important. No one would wish to have the experience of having to bring back from England the remains of a child who has passed. We need to look at what we can do to support our population across the board. <BR /> <BR />Minister, I enjoyed scrutinising the Bill. I am delighted at the collaborative approach that we have taken, and I thank you and your departmental officials for accepting and tabling the amendments.”
“If you ask any MLA what are the top five issues that they deal with, health and social care will certainly be in the top three, if not at the top. You then have housing, mental health and stuff like the economy, education and everything else behind that. <BR /> <BR />Not to be political, but I want to raise the point that we should look at the potential for having all-island healthcare. For example, the Minister will know from his own experience that all-island healthcare can look at paediatric coronary care, as well as at cancer care for people in Altnagelvin and in Donegal hospitals. We need to look at big set pieces. We have no autopsy provision for children, for example. We need to look at what we can do on this island, because it is a small place. We already do some things across the island, and we do them very well.”