Michelle O'Neill
Mid Ulster · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“We are shocked and deeply saddened for both the victim of the horrific incident in north Belfast and the people who have been impacted on by the disorder that we have witnessed since. There is absolutely no justification for racism, violence or intimidation.”
“It is the latest chapter in a political psychodrama. It has been playing out in Westminster for forever and a day but particularly over the past 10 years. Tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of Brexit, which inflicted so much damage to the wider economy. We are now on the verge of having a seventh British Prime Minister in 10 years.”
“We cannot look at things in isolation. Whether it is the refugee integration strategy, the framework or the legislation, all those things need to move together and at pace.”
“I agree with the Member about the ugly language that was used to describe some people in our community. Like the Member, I have met many people from the black and ethnic minority community in recent times. I do that on an ongoing basis, but I did so recently given what happened over the last number of weeks.”
“There is not just one answer to it, as the Member knows. We need to come at it from every angle. That could be a policing response initially, for which additional funding was secured. I agree that this is the third year in a row in which we have had that type of racist behaviour on our streets. Likewise, I would describe it as a pogrom.”
“Building on that progress, the Executive Office is contributing £3·3 million towards the Derry on the North Atlantic Museum, which is due to open in 2027 and will further enhance Ebrington’s role as a heritage and tourism destination. <BR /> <BR />Ebrington is also continuing to develop as a vibrant events space.”
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“On the first point, I am glad to say that, despite our ongoing conversations with the Treasury, we have secured £19 million for the 2021-22 financial year. We have also established the £6·7 million set-up costs, so there is no delay in that whilst we pursue the dispute resolution process with the Treasury. <BR /> <BR />I am glad to say that we are making progress on the appointment of a new commissioner. The recruitment process is well under way. We expect a new commissioner to be appointed in the next three months. In the meantime, we recognise that continuity is important for victims and survivors, and we have ensured that interim arrangements are in place with the commission to allow the provision of continued support.”
“The scheme that it designed was significantly broader in scope than what was agreed in the Stormont House Agreement. It has therefore imposed additional costs on the Executive that the NIO and the Treasury should cover.”
“In relation to the request for an update on discussions on funding for the victims' payments scheme for permanent disablement, it remains our shared view that adequate funding for the duration of the scheme should come from Westminster. In response to the NIO's refusal to contribute towards the funding of the scheme, the Finance Minister, on behalf of the Executive, commenced the dispute resolution process that is set out in the statement of funding policy. The process is ongoing, and no final decisions have been taken by Treasury. The Finance Minister will continue to make representations to the Treasury on behalf of the Executive in relation to the funding of the scheme. However, our argument remains clear: the NIO designed the scheme and legislated for it.”
“In addition to that financial assistance, all victims and survivors have full access to the frameworks of services and supports that are designed to meet needs in relation to psychological therapies, persistent pain, disability support, education and training, and advocacy. We are committed to ensuring that the needs of all victims and survivors are met as part of the forthcoming new strategy for victims and survivors, and the needs of bereaved individuals will be fully considered as the strategy is developed.”
“With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I will answer questions 3 and 9 together. <BR /> <BR />In relation to support for the bereaved, the First Minister and I are extremely sympathetic to the issues that affect bereaved victims and survivors, and we are very keen to address their needs and to acknowledge the ongoing loss that is felt by many people. We were delighted to be able to announce the reopening of the Victims and Survivors Service (VSS) scheme for bereaved victims in April, meaning that new VSS clients are able to access financial support. As of 27 October 2021, payments have been made to 3,470 individuals, 686 of whom were new clients.”
“I hope that we do not do that to victims and survivors and, certainly, that the institutions do not force us to do it.”
“We hope that we can get goodwill and that those institutions will work with the Executive. That work that is under way at the moment. I am glad to say that our independent facilitator is working with each of the six institutions individually, following on from the larger group meeting that we had. It is important that we get people to buy in to the fact that they have a responsibility to respond, with financial redress as well as the apology and everything else by way of support services. That very focused conversation is happening, and we expect to get a read-out of that over the next couple of weeks, after which we can progress to the next stage. I hope that we never have to reach for legal powers, but, if we do, so be it.”
“I have information today only on the work that we are doing with the institutions. We have been engaging with the six institutions, which are Barnardo's, the De La Salle Order, the Sisters of Nazareth, the Sisters of St Louis, the Good Shepherd Sisters and the Irish Church Missions. I am really pleased to say that that work has been progressing well, but none of these things can be divorced from each other. The members of victims groups, who have been hurt in different ways or, perhaps, by different organisations, are watching what is happening across the board. I will provide a more detailed answer to the Member in writing.”
“A number of engagements with representative groups took place during September and early October, and it is fair to say that those engagements were challenging but very constructive. Officials have also arranged meetings with representatives of the six relevant institutions and the Departments that were referenced in the Hart report. The engagements with the groups highlighted the need to consider how the review of the HIA redress process sits alongside apology delivery. It is our intention to work towards a timely apology being given to victims and survivors, and that means that Ministers can engage with victims and survivors in person in an appropriate and, most importantly, meaningful way.”
“As I said in my initial answer, it is crucial that we continue to make progress on all those things, all of which are interlinked. I am pleased to report that significant progress is being made across the range of key recommendations. However, in consultation with the Commissioner for Survivors of Institutional Childhood Abuse (COSICA), officials are working on the proposals for the content and timing of a public apology, which builds on our understanding of the importance of approaching an apology with care and sensitivity and which roots it in the experience of HIA victims and survivors. <BR /> <BR />An apology project group has been established and is operational. The group discusses practical arrangements, with a focus on ensuring that victims and survivors are supported before, during and after the apology has been made.”
“The draft terms of reference were shared with the groups for consideration in late October, followed by a short series of meetings and calls with key groups' representatives before the terms of reference were put to Ministers for approval.”
“Thank you for your question. I cannot remember whether I previously welcomed you to the Chamber. I just want to say that you are very welcome. I had a good working relationship with your father, and I hope that we can also share a good relationship. <BR /> <BR />You will be aware that, on 5 July, a motion was passed in the Assembly calling for a review of the redress process, and I was able to respond to that motion at that time. Eighteen months on, I support the importance of examining the experiences of the redress process and making improvements that are identified as being needed. Our officials have held a series of engagement meetings with the victims and survivors groups to discuss the terms of reference for the review.”
“We are determined that they will receive the acknowledgement, support and redress that they deserve for the pain that they have lived with over many years. Acceptance of responsibility from all concerned and recognition of the harm caused are both crucial in helping victims and survivors to move forward with their lives. We have made good progress in the last year with redress payments being made to victims and survivors. We must continue the momentum towards the full implementation of the outstanding recommendations in the Hart report, including those on the contributions from the institutions.”
“The First Minister and I hosted a round-table discussion on 14 October with representatives of the six institutions identified in the Hart report as being responsible for systemic failings and asked to make appropriate contributions to the overall cost of the historical institutional abuse (HIA) redress scheme. The focus of the engagement was to progress discussions on contributions, seeking support from all representatives for a fair and equitable approach. The conversation was constructive and forward looking. The work will be taken forward at pace, with separate bilateral discussions with the respective institutions already under way. That is being led by our independent facilitator, Paul Sweeney. <BR /> <BR />Victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse have our full support.”
“Anybody who holds public office needs to be very careful about the language that they use. I note that the comment to which the Member refers is not attributed to anybody, so I do not where it came from. Language of that nature is not appropriate in any shape or form.”
“We, as an Executive, are committed to making sure that we can protect the most vulnerable and are determined to drive forward the recovery plan, which will help to accelerate growth in our economy, as well as health and societal recovery.”
“We had the £10,000 small business support grant scheme, of which some were able to avail themselves; the £25,000 retail, hospitality, tourism and leisure grant scheme; the localised restrictions support scheme; the micro-business hardship fund; and, more recently, the COVID restrictions business support scheme. My colleague the Minister of Finance made available further top-up payments of £5,000 and £10,000 for businesses that had received grants during the first lockdown, and travel agencies operating in retail premises also benefited from the 100% rates holiday for 12 months, which was extended to the 2021-22 financial year. <BR /> <BR />We understand how challenging a time it has been for the wider economy, and the reverberations from that will no doubt be felt for years to come.”
“Thanks for the question. As the Member and everybody else in the Chamber knows, we brought forward an unprecedented number of interventions and packages of financial support over the COVID pandemic period, particularly from March 2020. That included the delivery of business-related support that has provided more than £500 million of much-needed funds to support local businesses in all sectors and all occupations. Our primary aim was to help those businesses survive the pandemic and to protect as many jobs as possible. <BR /> <BR />On the specifics of the Member's question, some travel agents, as I said, were able to avail themselves of other schemes.”
“I welcome the Member to her new role as TEO Committee Chair. I look forward to working with her. <BR /> <BR />The Executive Office took forward the scheme at a time when that sector was left out of every other scheme that had been developed. Sorry; it is unfair to say that. It was able to avail itself of a range of other supports that were offered. However, in this case, travel did not necessarily sit under the other Departments, and the Department for the Economy refused to bring forward a scheme, so the Executive Office stepped in to bring that forward.”
“We need to look at how we can help that industry going forward.”
“A range of meetings is happening between our local Ministers and Ministers in Westminster. We also engage regularly with Scotland and Wales to try to find common ground on travel, particularly in relation to the common travel area. We understand that that sector has been really hard hit. The tourism sector as a whole has been really hard hit. I am glad to say that we have been able to support businesses somewhat. Obviously, we always want to do more, but, unfortunately, that is not always within our capacity. I am glad to say that we have reached out to over 165 travel agents who were able to avail themselves of the scheme and that money has all been paid out. A number of applications are perhaps still being assessed, but I am glad to say that that support has got out to the industry.”
“I thank the Member for his question. I absolutely concur with everything that he said. The burning of buses is totally unacceptable, whether it is in Newtownards, Rathcoole or anywhere else. I am sure that everybody in the Chamber wants to send our thoughts to the bus driver involved and those people who were also taken off the bus. It is dangerous and reckless activity, and it should be condemned by everybody across this society. There can be no going back. Today, we need calm and steady leadership. We need less sabre-rattling and more political leadership to ensure that that type of activity does not happen on our streets.”
“<BR /> <BR />While no consideration is being given to a further specific scheme for travel agents by TEO, the Executive have funded in full the Department for the Economy's comprehensive economic recovery action plan for this financial year. The Executive have also agreed the COVID recovery plan, which is designed to accelerate economic, health and societal recovery in order to deliver sustainable economic development for all.”
“With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I will answer questions 1 and 12 together. <BR /> <BR />The delivery of the Travel Agents (Coronavirus) Financial Assistance Scheme is now complete. It paid out £1·2 million of support to our travel agents who faced losses as a result of the pandemic. Payments have been made to all applicants who met the eligibility criteria of the scheme. The scheme was one element of a wider support package that was provided to businesses. An unprecedented range and volume of financial support has been provided throughout the COVID-19 period since March 2020. That has all been aimed at preventing businesses from closing and protecting as many jobs and livelihoods as possible.”
“Staff and all workers should be able to go to work without fear of intimidation or harassment. I think we are all united in saying that none of those behaviours are acceptable, whether they are a nuisance or something more sinister, as with what happened last Friday. As legislators, we must defend democracy. We must also promote the rule of law. <BR /> <BR />Today, and for now, our thoughts are very much with the family of David Amess. We send them our deepest condolences. Again, my thoughts and prayers are with David's family, his wife and five children and his friends at what is a truly awful time.”
“I think, Mr Speaker, you referred to it as an almost daily occurrence: that is the fact, particularly on online platforms. I have received numerous threats that have had to be reported to the PSNI. Last year, I made a report to the police, and an arrest was made as a direct result of an attack. I have had to physically remove an uninvited person from my home. That is the type of thing that we experience as public representatives. It is not acceptable for anyone to have to deal with that. <BR /> <BR />Before I came into the Chamber, I spoke to one of our MPs, who this morning had to call the police to remove people from his office — people who had come to protest at the office but had intimidated the staff to the point that they were frightened and the PSNI had to be called. That is not acceptable.”
“For people with political differences to be able to come forward and pay their respects together is significant. He was obviously well respected not only by his party colleagues but by many others across Westminster. <BR /> <BR />I imagine there are few MLAs in the Chamber who have not, at some time or other, been subjected to abuse, whether that be in person or online. Few of us escape it. I think that everybody here will understand the level of anxiety you feel at times as an elected representative and the threat that we can experience on a fairly regular basis. We still carry on with our public duties, but it is not acceptable in any shape or form that anybody who steps into public office is subjected in any way to threats, intimidation or harassment.”
“I also put on record my condolences to the family and friends of David Amess following the shocking news of his tragic death on Friday past. No public representative should face any attack when carrying out their duties on behalf of their constituents. To hold public office is a privilege and an honour. It comes with many highs, but, equally, it comes with many lows. We are all trying to do our best by our constituents and the people who elect us. Mr Amess was also doing his public duty: listening to and representing the views of the people he served and the people who elected him. Whilst I did not know him personally, I have seen the expressions of sympathy from across the political spectrum. That usually tells a lot about a person.”
“As I said in a previous answer, there was a progress report on the NDNA commitments. There will be a further progress report, and I am happy to keep the Member up to date on progress, particularly around employment rights and workers' rights. We need to get to the point at which we have delivered on all the political commitments that were made in the New Decade, New Approach deal.”
“I encourage the EU and the British Government to work together fruitfully when the proposals are put on the table this week and to find that stability and certainty that our businesses, our farming community, our manufacturing sector and wider society want.”
“As I said, I hope that later this week we will find solutions to some of the outstanding issues that have arisen as a direct result of the implementation of a protocol that was necessary to stave off the worst excesses of a Brexit that the Member championed. I welcome your language of stability and certainty, because that is certainly where I want to get to. That will not be done by shouting from the sidelines; it will be done by being in the room, having conversations, ironing out the issues that need to be ironed out and finding solutions, which is absolutely possible. <BR /> <BR />I encourage the Member to inject a little bit of honesty. The protocol is here. There are issues that need to be resolved, and we will work our way through those via the Joint Committee.”
“As the Member knows, the plenary meeting is the culmination of all the sectoral work across the six sectoral meetings. That is where the detail of those things is gone into. I have no doubt that that was a more detailed conversation, and I am very happy to ask the secretary to provide you with any detail of the conversations. The plenary discussion of Brexit and its implications was at the macro level. I absolutely concur with you on the outworking of a lot of things that perhaps do not get media attention all the time but are real challenges that we will have to face in the years ahead as the direct result of Brexit being imposed on us.”
“We have to exploit our location and our geography as an island to harness the enormous sustainable and economic potential that that offers us. <BR /> <BR />We also have a part to play in the global response. We can best achieve that by developing a joined-up, all-island approach that encourages, supports and incentivises more sustainable practices, that sets zero emissions targets and, most importantly, takes the action needed to achieve them. Everyone on this island has a part to play in the response, and I hope that the NSMC becomes a key platform that allows us to advance that work.”
“I thank the Member for his question. We know that climate does not recognise any borders, as I stated when we attended the Chambers of Commerce conference. The First Minister, the Taoiseach and I all spoke at that, and the two Chambers of Commerce spoke jointly. It was a good initiative for them to come together to discuss not only the challenges but the opportunities that exist. It was a very healthy conversation. <BR /> <BR />The fact that heads of Government came together to have that conversation makes a clear statement about the seriousness of our approach and our shared thinking on how we move forward. We will be most effective in our efforts to tackle climate change by working together, North and South. There are significant opportunities through that approach.”
“We are all here as a direct result of the Good Friday Agreement. Power-sharing came about because of the Good Friday Agreement, and no one has the luxury of cherry-picking which parts they wish to work. We have to work faithfully — North/South, east-west and on our relationships in the North. That is very challenging at times, but it is absolutely worth the effort. We all need to double down on our efforts. I encourage those threatening the stability of politics, the future of the institutions and the much-needed investment in our communities to desist.”
“I want to support them in the time ahead, because they talk constantly of the pressure that they are under. Let us work to protect our healthcare workers, but let us also be ambitious for our health service and for people's outcomes in the future.”
“There are many brilliant examples of all-island cooperation, and I want to see a lot more of that potential realised in the time ahead. It just makes sense. <BR /> <BR />It takes political leadership to explore meaningfully how we can work better together and design a more modern health service through which we can work together on prevention. That is what people need. It is about meeting the needs of the public at large, whether they live in Tyrone, Cork, Galway or Wexford. Now is the time, as we step out of the pandemic, to be ambitious and aspirational about our health service. In speaking about health and our response to COVID, I say again that our health service's biggest asset is our healthcare workers, to whom we owe such a debt of gratitude.”
“I absolutely agree. I picked up on some of that a bit earlier. There are, of course, lessons to be learned from how we have dealt with COVID. There is no doubt that communication in particular could have been much better at times — that is just a fact— but there is also no doubt that having two health systems on the island presents its own challenges. As a former Health Minister, I firmly believe that we are yet to realise the potential that all-island coordination will bring, not just in response to an emergency situation such as a pandemic but for prevention. It is so important that we continue to explore that cooperation further. The practical outworkings and benefits of all-island cooperation can be seen particularly in health, whether that be the North West Cancer Centre at Altnagelvin or children's cardiac care.”
“That is most important and will maximise the opportunities that we have been afforded as a direct result of the protocol.”
“Members across the Chamber know that the protocol was put in place to mitigate the worst impacts of the hardest possible Brexit, to prevent a hard border on this island and to protect North/South cooperation. At a time when there have been empty shelves and fuel and labour shortages across Britain, we have been somewhat insulated from some of the difficulties because we have the protocol, and some local businesses have made that comment publicly. <BR /> <BR />My focus is on protecting the livelihoods and well-being of all our people. I encourage the British Government not to raise tensions and dial up the rhetoric but to work with the EU throughout this week to find solutions that guarantee simplicity, flexibility and stability.”
“I thank the Member. She refers to David Frost's comments. You would be forgiven for thinking that he was not the man who negotiated the protocol on behalf of the Tory Government. His description of growing all-Ireland trade as a problem to be solved is absolute nonsense. It is ludicrous. It is also another demonstration, if one were needed, that Brexit is about ideology, which takes precedence over the economic success of our economy in the North of Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The growth in all-island trade is a direct result of the post-Brexit trading arrangements. There were always going to be new trading realities in a post-Brexit world. This very British Government negotiated what we are discussing today. The commentary exposes how big a failure Brexit is.”
“In such matters, I try to find solutions to problems as they arise.”
“The Member has perhaps asked me that question before. If it was not him, I apologise, but I think that he asked me that before, and, at that time, I said clearly that, where there were barriers or problems, those needed to be resolved. As opposed to apportioning blame, I am more interested in trying to find a solution, and I welcome the fact that solutions were found across those areas. I also welcome the fact that the travel picture has slightly changed somewhat since then. <BR /> <BR />As I said in answer to another Member, there will be plenty of time for reflection on how effective the North/South cooperation was in response to the pandemic. I certainly have my criticisms of it, but I also point to some strengths. There will be plenty of time for analysis of all of that.”
“<BR /> <BR />Also, phase 2 of the Ulster canal project will benefit from the Shared Island Fund and the rural regeneration and development fund, which was awarded the €12·2 million estimated cost of the project. Alongside that, you have the all-island rail review and the air connectivity review. As you can see, there is a huge volume of work going on across all of those areas. It is so important that we are committed to sustaining and growing that work in the period ahead.”
“The Executive and the Irish Government have worked together to support the delivery of the north-west development fund, which, I know, the Member will certainly be interested in. That commitment goes as far back as 'A Fresh Start'. <BR /> <BR />There is also good news about enhancing and growing higher education provision in the north-west. Officials will continue to work closely with both the Magee and Coleraine campuses of Ulster University and the Letterkenny Institute of Technology. They will develop substantial proposals to address the commitments that were made in NDNA in relation to higher education provision in the north-west, and a draft proposal will be available shortly that will facilitate a shared analysis and a review by the relevant Departments.”
“I thank the Member. As he will know, the NSMC gives us a really good platform for Ministers to agree the outworking of the Shared Island Fund and take forward important North/South commitments that were agreed in NDNA. In practical terms, we are talking about projects such as the A5 western transport corridor, which is an Executive flagship project and a priority for the Executive. The Government in Dublin remain in close contact regarding the schedule of their contribution to that project. Also, as was just referred to, we have the connectivity and enhancement through the Narrow Water bridge project, the €3 million that has been brought forward for that project and the fact that it is moving to tender stage.”
“We also know that consultants have been appointed by Louth County Council to work towards the development of a detailed tender. Much progress has been made, and I want to see that built on. There is huge economic potential from that investment.”
“First, the Narrow Water bridge project will facilitate cross-border active travel. It is an excellent project that has been in the ether for such a long time, so I am glad to see some progress being made. There is also the further development of the greenway network and local connectivity. It is not either/or. There is a lot of scope for us to do really good things. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the €3 million in funding and the fact that the project will move on to tender stage, with the potential for further funds being made available for construction. We also know that the local councils — Louth County Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council — are working closely with central government to progress the project, and there is ongoing engagement.”
“Of course, the North/South Ministerial Council is not the forum at which to discuss the details of how you would respond to support athletes. That would come under the relevant Departments on this island. I am sure that the Member will want to write to the relevant Ministers to raise that. Of course, we want to support our amazing athletes as best we can, particularly when it comes to their training, access to facilities etc. The NSMC was merely noting the success and wishing all the athletes well. Obviously, time has passed, and the Paralympic Games have now also happened. The Minister for Communities will hold a reception for the athletes, and I am sure that Members will be invited to that.”
“Alongside that threat to investment, we had the announcement last week of the Irish Government's national development plan. They have redoubled their financial commitment, through the Shared Island Fund, to many projects. Again, that is under threat from the DUP. You can explain to the wider public why you are threatening investment in our communities and why you are threatening major investment projects across our society.”