Maeve McLaughlin
Foyle · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“However, as the Minister outlined, the Bill widened somewhat as a result of its passage through the Assembly, with the inclusion of the provision on smoking in cars carrying minors, the promotion and reporting of organ transplantation and organ donation, and the study by the Department on a levy on sugar-sweetened drinks.”
“Our amendment, which has been further amended by the Minister, provides an evidence base of the impact and details how a levy on sugar sweetened drinks would be administered, and I welcome the fact that it has progressed to Final Stage.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. On behalf of the Committee, I welcome the Final Stage of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The objective of the Bill, as the Minister outlined, is to modernise the model of the code of conduct used by the Social Care Council to bring it into line with other health and social care regulators.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee considered the provisions on transplantation and organ donation as part of its scrutiny of the Human Transplantation Bill. The majority of the Committee supported the duty to promote and report on transplantation and organ donation.”
“This is simply to protect children from the effects of second-hand smoke or from even taking up smoking. The stark fact remains that 2,300 people die every year in the North from tobacco-related illnesses.”
“However, stakeholders were content with the provisions as made. <BR /> <BR />There was significant comment on what was not included in the Bill: the banning of smoking in cars carrying minors.”
The complete record
Every one of 502 lines we hold for Maeve McLaughlin, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 8 of 11.
“<BR /> <BR />In relation to the role that we have played, whilst we have to do more, as Caitríona Ruane said, five of the last six co-options for Sinn Féin were women, three out of our four MEPs are women, and we have three female Ministers. So, certainly there has been a heavy lift and a lot of work done, not only to ensure that women are part of the process but that they are active participants in leadership and decision-making processes. <BR /> <BR />There are two important points that have come out of this discussion. The media's representation of this place, the media's rush to our male leadership and the negativity that comes from certain elements of the media will put wider society — of course, I include women in that — off the whole notion of active participation in politics and this place. There is a big lift there.”
“I reflect on coming to this Assembly as a PA to another very formidable MLA, Mary Nelis, at a time when women candidates and women MLAs were almost hissed at during their contributions to debates. So, whilst we have not got it perfect, we should reflect on the fact that this place has come so far from where it was back in 1998. <BR /> <BR />Hopefully, we will have actions coming out of the recommendations. As a party, we changed our constitution to tackle and properly reflect gender representation. Those recommendations need to be both progressive and radical, and we need to reflect on other parliamentary structures. For example, if we look at the South African model, we see that 45% of the Parliament is made up of women. So, we have a long way to go.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. A lot of this has been said, but I would like to make a few comments as the only female MLA in Derry and Foyle. Given the population mass there, that is a challenge to other parties equally. My colleague Megan Fearon had hoped to speak today, but unfortunately she has a sore throat. I hope that I will give voice to her radical, progressive and hard work on the issue. <BR /> <BR />First of all, I congratulate the AERC. I am pleased that we are having the opportunity to have the debate, but the proof will be in the pudding, and we need to see the recommendations being advanced and delivered. I have a sense that society and the wider community will watch this one very closely. <BR /> <BR />We should acknowledge that this place, whilst far from perfect, has changed.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his statement on this hugely important topic. I welcome the commitment to implement all of the 14 recommendations and to develop the all-island clinical network. I think that it is a good example of real, genuine cooperation across the island, and I acknowledge the Minister's role in that in the interests of children and families. <BR /> <BR />The Minister talked about the two proposals; one covering adult services and the other children's services. Will he outline whether we are now talking about a children and adult service? In the investment that is required for the cardiology hub, he referred to £1 million in the change fund and an additional £200,000. Has that been costed; is there a gap in what is required; and where will the gap funds be found?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the deputy First Minister for his statement. I note that paragraph 15 refers to the interesting discussion on the north-west gateway initiative. I very much welcome that those discussions are taking place and, indeed, the rejuvenation of the north-west through the task force. Can the Minister provide more detail on those discussions, how they are progressing and any further details?”
“Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Minister for that response. The Minister will be aware that one of the reasons given for the cancellation of consultant appointments was, "Consultant on annual leave". Will the Minister comment on that? Will he also clarify the cost to the system of cancelled appointments by consultants?”
“If he is convinced that prescription charges are the only answer, maybe he will clarify to the House, given the huge health inequalities, exactly how much people will be expected to pay.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his statement on a hugely important topic to us all. I welcome his acceptance that the exceptionality clause is set too high. It is a barrier for clinicians, GPs and patients alike. The question is this: what will it be replaced by? I note that the Minister was very specific in his opposition to the cancer drugs fund in England. A view shared by a number of charities is that it is not sustainable. <BR /> <BR />The Minister talked up the concept of a specialist medicine fund. I think that most people would accept that as a concept. However, will the Minister clarify to the House the current cost of waste in the system, the potential savings from the use of generic drugs and, importantly, the cost of implementing the scheme that he refers to today?”
“Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Minister for his answer thus far. Given that some schools want to opt for subjects such as politics at an earlier stage, is there room to do that and what options are available?”
“Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Minister for that answer and for the investment and the particular role that she herself has played in relation to the City of Culture and investment in the north-west generally. Will she outline how the development of cultural hubs will benefit the communities in Derry and the wider north-west?”
“<BR /> <BR />The current consultation on adult safeguarding is welcome, but policy and guidance will not provide adequate safeguards and protections against the misuse or abuse of statutory powers. Professor Williams suggested that other models, where legislation is in place, be examined. He stated that England can be considered as having a minimalist approach, Scotland a maximalist approach and Wales as somewhere in between. The Scottish legislation provides significant powers of intervention. However, the lesson from Scotland is that the legislation led not to the use of those powers but to more preventative work. <BR /> <BR />It is important that, as legislators, we tackle head-on the 3,023 allegations of abuse in 2013-14 and provide safeguards and protections in a legislative framework for all of our elderly community.”
“He indicated that such laws must achieve a careful balance between the older person's right to be safe and their right to make their own decisions. <BR /> <BR />The BBC's 'Panorama' programme, 'Behind Closed Doors: Elderly Care Exposed', shocked us all but also highlighted the need for whistle-blowers to be protected, so that they can have the confidence to report abuse and neglect. On too many occasions, the whistle-blowers, who are aiming to expose flaws and protect our vulnerable, are expected to jump through hoops, often with very individual personal circumstances. It is important, therefore, to reflect on the definition of harm and the absence of legislation around goods, facilities and services linked to the Equality Act 2010.”
“Those words are a damning indictment of our society and cannot or should not be ignored. <BR /> <BR />Older people deserve to have confidence that, if they experience abuse or are at risk of it, the law can adequately protect them and punish those who inflict that abuse. As it stands, there is no single piece of legislation in the North of Ireland that protects older people from abuse. That means that people who may be vulnerable or at risk of abuse are not afforded the legal protection afforded to people in England, Scotland or Wales, all of which have dedicated laws in place to protect all older people from abuse. Professor John Williams, an expert in adult safeguarding, recently attended an evidence session with the Health Committee.”
“<BR /> <BR />The findings of the recent review of the Cherry Tree House Nursing and Residential Home are deeply concerning to us all. The Commissioner for Older People pointed out how:”
“The motion simply calls on the Minister of Health to introduce legislation to do two things: to clearly define abuse and to put in place the necessary legislative protections for our elderly population. In 2013-14, the adult safeguarding report suggested that some trusts still appeared to be under-reporting allegations of abuse. For example, in the Western Health and Social Care Trust, the accounts for allegations of abuse was for only 8% of referrals, but that actually makes up 16% of the population. It is for that very reason that legislation needs to be in place to define abuse. Abuse and, indeed, harm do not only take place in care homes and can take many forms: physical, sexual, emotional or even financial.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I welcome the opportunity to bring the motion to the Floor of the Assembly today. It is an extremely important issue for all of our communities and society in general. Put frankly, the abuse of elderly and vulnerable people should be a concern for everyone in our society, no less us as legislators. How we treat, respect and protect elderly residents is a reflection on all our communities and on society. Therefore, that protection should be a priority for all of us. It is nothing short of shocking that allegations of abuse against older people have increased from 1,715 in 2011 to 3,023 in 2013-14”
“— the health inequalities in our communities.”
“<BR /> <BR />I conclude with remarks as a constituency MLA. It is important to reflect and welcome the fact that health has been protected in the Budget. The £204 million has been allocated. We now need to take the tough decisions around the current health spend, how it is allocated and how it will target and eradicate —”
“We are therefore concerned that the strategic priorities are not actually driving how money will be allocated. Indeed, one expert witness from whom we took evidence described the Minister's separation of strategy from spending as "disturbing". We should not lose sight of that word. <BR /> <BR />Given that the provision of high-quality front-line care is the Minister's number one strategic priority, the Committee asked the Department for its definition of front-line services. We were surprised and somewhat concerned when officials informed us that they did not have a definition of front-line services. Without such a definition, the Committee is not clear how the Department will ensure that resources are directed to that end or that the additional £204 million allocated in the Budget will be spent as intended by the Executive.”
“The Department's approach to allocating the budget and its emphasis seems to be much more on using the budget to maintain existing services. Whilst the Committee accepts that the Department is required to provide certain services to fulfil statutory obligations, it believes that much more consideration could now be given to how those services are provided. This should not be limited to whether a service is being provided in a resource-effective manner or whether it provides value for money. Rather, we need to look at the outcomes of the services and whether they provide high-quality front-line care and do indeed reflect the principles of Transforming Your Care — one of the Minister's strategic priorities. <BR /> <BR />During an evidence session, the Minister told us:”
“<BR /> <BR />When the Committee turned to scrutinise the 2015-16 Budget, we wanted to determine whether the Department's proposed spending decisions flowing from the draft Budget were based on a clear understanding of its strategic priorities and whether the allocation of spend would indeed be directed towards those strategic priorities. The Minister advised the Committee that his top two strategic priorities are — number one — the provision of high-quality front-line care and — number two — the implementation of Transforming Your Care. Whilst the Committee has no issue with those priorities, it was concerned that the priorities are not clearly reflected in the Department's approach to allocating its budget.”
“However, that should not have been the case for the 2015-16 Budget, given that the Department is already fully aware of the pressures that it faces, including a 6% to 7% increase in demand from the trusts. Therefore, the Committee believes that the Department should have been in a position to approach the draft Budget in a planned and strategic manner so that the allocation that it receives is spent on priorities rather than on things that are simply committed to at an early stage of the financial year and therefore cannot be pulled back on.”
“When the former Health Minister briefed the Committee in September on the request to the Executive for the additional £160 million, he stated that the areas of spend that he would have to pull back on, which we are now witnessing, were not in any way strategic but were simply based on stopping money where it was not contractually committed. That is an important reference point. Those remarks made it very clear to the Committee that the Department has an understanding that, if spend has to be curtailed, there are areas that could be targeted that do not undermine strategic priorities. We were told that, for 2014-15, there was not sufficient time left in the financial year to do that.”
“The Department was not in a position to advise the Committee of the areas in which the trusts would make savings in the 2015-16 Budget or, indeed, the budget reductions that would be applied to the smaller arm's-length bodies. We were told that, ultimately, that information would not be available until January 2015 at the earliest. Given that the public consultation on the draft Budget is now closed, that afforded the Committee an extremely limited opportunity to influence those crucial decisions. <BR /> <BR />I want to focus on the strategic priorities for the health budget. I will provide some context.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I will speak from the Health Committee's perspective. The Committee identified the Department's approach to the Budget as a key area of work and took evidence on it from October/November. We had planned to take evidence from expert witnesses on approaches to health spend in other countries and regions that have been applied during economically challenging times, with a view to analysing whether such approaches could be usefully applied here by the Department of Health for the 2015-16 Budget. However, given the limited time frame allocated for Committee consultation, we were able to take evidence only from one such expert witness. <BR /> <BR />Linked to the timetable issue is the issue of the information that was provided to the Committee to enable us to scrutinise the draft Budget.”
“Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Minister for that detail, particularly on the level of responses. Could the Minister indicate whether he anticipates that there will be a public inquiry and give a sense of a timescale for that?”
“So, how, exactly, Minister, will these 10 recommendations be taken forward by the direct actions that are required to bring our health service into the 21st century and to provide that world-class service that we all strive for?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his statement. However, I suggest that there is little in the report that heralds the new dawn, if you like, for our health and social care service. <BR /> <BR />The Minister said that we need a mature debate. That is absolutely no problem. However, the report cost £116,000 for eight months' work. It has effectively told us that Transforming Your Care is too slow; that there are concerns about commissioning, but it does not outline what those concerns are or, indeed, how they could be rectified; that the health and social care system is not the one we need; that there will be a statutory duty of candour; that there will be a direction for pharmacy; and that there is a need to strengthen the serious adverse incident system.”
“Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Member for his intervention. He is right to acknowledge the work of the organisations, the local community and families in that area in taking the case to this point. I hope that, as a result of this debate, we get the equality of education through the Irish medium that is very much required in the County Derry area. It is important to stress that this proposal — it has been documented — is optimal. It is easily accessible from all five of the identified feeder schools. That is an important point. However, it is critical to point out that the arrangements as they stand today do not meet the obligations for a statutory responsibility under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages and article 89 of the Education Order 1989. I oppose the motion and the amendment.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is a gap in the strategic development of Irish-medium post-primary provision. There are currently 29 Irish-medium schools in the North of Ireland. As was stated earlier, there was a total of 5,000 people in Irish-medium education in 2012-13. That includes 803 children attending Irish-medium preschool settings; 3,061 attending years 1 to 7 in primary school; and 769 in post-primary. <BR /> <BR />The development proposal is for an all-ability, co-educational, multi-denominational, Irish-medium post-primary school catering for years 8 to 14 pupils, with a long-term enrolment of 350 to 400. The core argument here is that there is a demand for Irish-medium primary provision for pupils attending Irish-medium primary schools in County Derry. The Department has an obligation to meet that demand.”
“So, I ask the Members of this House this: how can that be referred to as a recommendation? As has been stated, CnaG, which is the body directed and charged with advising the Minister on these matters, formally supported the proposal. The ministerial advisory group made 33 recommendations. It highlighted the expansion of preschool and primary levels, with almost 3,600 children attending Irish-medium primary schools and units. Yet, it was still pointed up that there is a gap in the strategic development of Irish-medium post-primary provision. <BR /> <BR />The Department of Education has a statutory duty — and we know this — to encourage and facilitate the provision of Irish-medium education. The Minister is simply living up to the statutory responsibility and duty in that regard.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I rise as a member of the Education Committee in opposition to the motion and the amendment. So that there is no risk of this debate turning into one about whether a proposal is a proposal or whether a recommendation is a recommendation, let us be very clear again, as my colleague was earlier: the North Eastern Education and Library Board made no response whatsoever to this proposal. Two schools commented on the proposal. However, as an authority, the North Eastern Education and Library Board made no such response. <BR />The Western Education and Library Board, despite some Members in this House saying that it made a recommendation, did not oppose the proposal. Its only comment, as has been pointed out, was in respect of a possible impact on existing English-medium provision in Dungiven.”
“Given the Minister's commitment to the protection of front-line services, will he confirm that he will not move to close the Cottages respite facility in the Western Trust? Go raibh maith agat.”
“The final business case is now with the Employment and Learning Minister. It makes a very strong policy case for the expansion. I appeal to the Minister to back the business case and agree the expansion of Magee as a departmental priority. Go raibh maith agat.”
“I welcome the INI commitment to the ministerial task force. <BR /> <BR />I want to concentrate my final remarks on the expansion of the university at Magee. I take the opportunity to welcome the appointment of Mr Paddy Nixon as the new vice chancellor, and I look forward to taking forward the Magee expansion plans in partnership with him. Today, I met the DEL Minister regarding progress at Magee, and I appeal to Minister Farry — I appreciate that he is in attendance today — to clarify to the House the situation around the £11 million teaching block and the wider expansion plans.”
“To date — this is an important point — no one in leadership, civic or political, over the last 40 years in our city and region has broken that trend. <BR /> <BR />We believe that, if we are to change those outcomes, we must try to become a more resilient and self-reliant economy while doing all we can to attract inward investment. Sinn Féin has challenged INI and will continue to do so, and we will argue that it must promote Derry and the north-west in order to address the economic inequalities that exist. It is important to say that this work is paying off. INI has agreed to fund the development of Derry's unique selling point and the integrated economic strategy. That unique selling point will provide us all with a comprehensive tool that we, as a city and region, must use to market the region to foreign investors.”
“However, it all too easy to roll out the latest government statistics, point fingers at one another and depress the life of our communities by rehearsing the same old story. You will score high for stating the obvious, but how will that help anybody on the dole or improve our economic fortunes? <BR /> <BR />The thing is that, once the focus turns away from blaming the world and towards actually finding solutions, the usual naysayers seem to go quiet. We want to find solutions, and we are prepared to put the work into finding them. We recognise that our economic misfortune is not a result of the current economic recession, which some people are now calling the "Great Recession", nor is it the fault of the current Executive: it is the outworking of decades, even centuries, of discrimination and systematic underinvestment.”
“There is much to be proud of in the north-west and in the city of Derry as regards the civic and political leadership in the region. However, targeting regional disparities needs to be a priority policy area across all Departments. Whilst Derry very much took centre stage in 2013 as a city that can deliver major events, it remains the case that we have many challenges and there needs to be a focus on skills and jobs. <BR /> <BR />Over the last number of years, the city came together in identifying the key catalyst programmes that would drive the regeneration of not only our city but the wider north-west region. It remains, as was stated today, that three of the four council areas with the highest unemployment are in the north-west.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate and to highlight the issues relating to the north-west, particularly my city of Derry. I will try to pick up on the scant splattering of positivity that has come from some MLAs in the Chamber today, because I very much welcome the recent announcement by Martin McGuinness of the ministerial task force focusing on the north-west. I join the business and civic leadership of Derry and the wider north-west in welcoming the fact that that is now in place. It establishes and actions a number of interventions aimed at redressing the regional disparities that exist with such stark evidence, as we have heard today.”
“I note that the Minister said that he is committed to assessing performance in Health and, in particular, to progressing a health sector review. Given your comments, Minister, about the mismanagement of the Health budget, maybe you could clarify to the House where that mismanagement lies. Also, where the unallocated money in the January monitoring round is concerned, can I ask the Minister to indicate his commitment to the expansion of the university at Magee?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement today. I welcome the £204 million allocation to Health and, particularly, the additional focus on the all-Ireland children's heart services model.”
“Health cannot stagger from crisis to crisis. The Minister now has the opportunity to provide that leadership and take the tough decisions.”
“There is £34 million going to senior consultants' bonuses; £55 million to £65 million every year to the independent sector; and £134 million to the private sector over three years. Is this value for money? The Minister must bring forward proposals for revenue generation. We need proposals on generic medicines, the sale of real estate and savings on all-Ireland working as recommended in 2009.”
“We have seen the issues around the proposed closure of Dalriada, the decision to cut home care for over 500 elderly people and the decision now, wrongly, to close the respite facility at The Cottages in my constituency. These decisions are contrary to the policy of Transforming Your Care and have not been subject to proper equality impact assessments. <BR /> <BR />There has been a 20% increase in administration in health and social care. The Minister therefore needs to initiate a robust root-and-branch review of the health and social care system. There is over-administration, duplication of commissioning and a lack of transparency and accountability in decision-making. We must have the debate around the current spend going in the right directions.”
“Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Member for his intervention. Yes, I certainly agree that the Minister's silence has been deafening over the past week or 10 days. I would hope that, in the next 24 to 48 hours, he will step up to the plate on a number of issues. <BR /> <BR />It is right that the Minister is there to provide strategic leadership. He needs to increase investment to community and primary care and preventative models of care. Only £25 million has been shifted from acute to community care. Is it therefore any wonder that emergency departments are in crisis when we are not investing in alternative models of preventative care? Again, we note the issue of protection of front-line services, but in the very same week, the Minister allowed trusts to bring forward proposals that slashed the very services that were needed.”
“The big discussion in health is whether the current spend is going in the right directions to ensure maximum health provision and outcomes. On two separate occasions, the Finance Minister referred to his concerns around the management of the current health budget. We have now ensured, thankfully, that additional oversight is in place on how this budget will be allocated, but the Health Minister does need to take the tough decisions. It is, in effect, poor leadership when we are told that a Minister wants to protect front-line services, but then his very Department admits that it does not have a definition of such services.”
“<BR /> <BR />We know that the Finance Minister announced that an oversight mechanism will now be developed to monitor how that £200 million will be spent. As a Committee, we think that is important to ensure that the maximum benefit in health outcomes is achieved from that additional resource. However, we have no further details from the Department of Finance or the Department of Health as to what that oversight mechanism may look like. <BR /> <BR />I would like now to address my remaining comments as a Sinn Féin MLA. It is important to reflect that health has been protected in this ongoing round of discussions, with the additional £200 million that has been allocated in 2015-16 and the £80 million allocated in the monitoring rounds.”
“we were concerned that the strategic priorities are not driving how the money will be allocated. Indeed, one of the expert witnesses who appeared in front of the Committee recently described the Minister's separation of strategy from spending as disturbing. <BR /> <BR />Given that the provision of high-quality front-line care is the Minister's number one strategic priority, the Committee asked the Department for its definition of front-line services, and we were quite surprised when officials informed us that they do not have a ready definition. Without such a definition, therefore, the Committee is not clear how the Department will ensure that resources are directed to that end or how it will ensure now that the additional £200 million for 2015-16 will be spent as intended by the Executive.”
“So, when the Minister told us during a recent evidence session:”
“Whilst the Committee has no issue with those as priorities, it is clearly concerned that the priorities are not reflected in the Department's approach to allocating its budget. The Department's emphasis seems to be more on using the budget to maintain existing services. Whilst the Committee accepts that the Department is required to provide certain services to fulfil its statutory obligations, it believes that more consideration could be given to how those services are provided. That should not be limited to whether the service is being provided in a resource-effective manner or whether it provides value for money; rather, we need to look at the outcomes of the services and whether they provide high-quality front-line care and whether they reflect the principles of Transforming Your Care.”