Chris Lyttle
East Belfast · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“The Department for Communities, councils, the Department for the Economy, further education stakeholders, the Department of Health and the Department of Finance all responded with their perspectives on and experiences of the provision of free period products and with ways in which the Bill's provisions could be coordinated and funded.”
“That is an important start in support of the implementation of the provisions of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The Education Committee undertook Committee Stage scrutiny of this cross-cutting Bill — I am proud that we did — on behalf of other relevant subject Committees.”
“and fighting our corners in media studios. Perhaps the hosts of some of those programmes see fit to encourage that type of approach, but I am thankful for the level of cooperation between parties on the key issues and hope that that will be the legacy for the next Assembly.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to move the Final Stage of the Fair Employment (School Teachers) Bill. It will remove the anachronistic exception of teachers from the Fair Employment and Treatment Order (FETO) and ensure that it is no longer possible for any teacher to be discriminated against because of their religio…”
“This opportunity has been made possible by a collective effort from many people, and I put on record my thanks to research officer Connie Egan and constituency officer Nick Mathison for the work that they contributed to the Bill's progress.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank my Assembly colleagues without whom the Bill would not have progressed to this stage and would not pass. I thank Sinead for the role that she played as Chairperson of the Executive Office Committee and for the time that she made available to me outside of Bill stages and Committee meetings, which, as I said, made the…”
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“I congratulate the Minister on her appointment as well, and I thank her for the update on Cairn Wood. Is she willing to meet me about the developments on that particular issue?”
“I heard it said this week that we have to be inspired by her courageous and compassionate life rather than intimidated by the evil and hate that caused her death. It was an attack on not only Jo, but her values and representative democracy, and we, therefore, have to heed the courageous and dignified call of her husband, Brendan, to unite against hate in her memory.”
“I first learned of the brutal murder of Jo Cox from my wife. She spoke to me as a spouse with some experience of intimidation and threat. Perhaps because I learned of it, first, from my wife, first and foremost in my thoughts have been Jo's husband, Brendan, and her children and family, and they will continue to be foremost in my thoughts and prayers at this time. <BR /> <BR />It is clear that Jo Cox was a brave and courageous woman, dearly loved by her husband, children, family and colleagues. She was passionate about her family, her constituents and the values for which she stood: tolerance, inclusion, social and international justice and compassion over hate. It is clear that she dedicated her life to the now urgent challenge of extinguishing hate-inflaming myth-making in our community, particularly around the issue of immigration.”
“The DUP claims to deliver low household costs, along with Sinn Féin. However, childcare costs for which they have been and continue to be responsible are second only to mortgage payments for many people and prevent many people from accessing employment. Will the Economy Minister, therefore, support an increase in the free hours of early education and childcare available to families in Northern Ireland to at least 20 hours per week?”
“I call on the Education Minister to avoid becoming associated with that flawed approach and to make clear his support for full-time special educational needs nursery provision in our community. <BR /> <BR />Mr Speaker, I thank you for accepting this petition on behalf of the over 300 children who are only three years old and face having their future made more uncertain. I hope that the Minister of Education will receive this petition. As I said, over 6,000 members of the public agree that we should be giving our children with special educational needs the very best start in life and should be maintaining those vital early education services. I know the Education Minister is monitoring this extremely serious issue. I call on all MLAs to wake up to the urgency of the issue and work together to ensure that the reductions do not happen.”
“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to present this petition of over 6,000 signatures to the Education Minister on behalf of the Parents for Equal Education Coalition, calling for full-time nursery provision for children with special educational needs in our community to be maintained. <BR /> <BR />Children like Charlie and parents like Angela and the many others who have gathered at Parliament Buildings today have been an inspiration to me and many other MLAs. The dignity and commitment that they are showing in their fight for full-time special educational needs nursery provision for their children is in stark contrast to the totally unacceptable approach of the Education Authority, which has failed to disclose to this Assembly parental and principal opposition to its proposals and to engage with parents meaningfully on the issue.”
“The Education Minister and the Education Authority speak of no new substantive arrangements but then outline substantive interim measures. Does the Education Minister accept that this approach is leaving parents feeling anxious and confused? Will he make clear his support for the retention of full-time hours in special educational needs nursery schools, and will he accept my invitation to meet with parents on this important matter?”
“I thank the Member for giving way and wholeheartedly agree with his analysis that a paradigm shift is needed in how Departments approach the issue. Does he share my concern that the Minister's insistence on dealing with early education and childcare separately, rather than the way in which the experts say that we need to integrate early education and care, causes concern as to whether that paradigm shift will occur and there will be a commitment to the increased hours that are needed?”
“<BR /> <BR />I think it is an Executive disgrace that much of the work in this important area of provision has been left to the independent sector. The community and voluntary sector and social enterprises like Employers for Childcare, which delivers a family benefit advice service —”
“The Alliance Party in principle supports that increase, but we make an additional call on the Minister, if he is in any way minded not to deliver that particular call as a matter of urgency, to at the very least introduce an urgent, open and independent review of early years education and childcare and urgently scope the cost and viability of introducing that more comprehensive and integrated model. I also hope that he will set out the childcare budget for us today, and perhaps he would be able to deliver where OFMDFM was unable to, despite persistent calls for a full public awareness campaign on the financial assistance that is already available to families in our community by way of, for example, childcare vouchers, which many families are still unaware of.”
“I, therefore, on behalf of the Alliance Party, support the motion. I welcome the recognition it gives to the centrality of early years education and childcare to development, health and educational achievement and the call it makes for improved provision of funding, inspection, regulation and access to those services. I support the call for legislation on the matter from the Minister and for improved training for our dedicated workforce in this area. <BR /> <BR />The motion calls for preschool, I presume, early years education and childcare provision in the preschool year of 20 hours per week in this financial year, rising to 30 hours per week.”
“That is 12 and a half hours a week of free preschool early years education, and there is no statutory childcare provision for free. The best systems in the world have around six hours a day, which is around 30 hours a week, of integrated preschool education and childcare provision. Therefore, it seems that the OFMDFM Bright Start childcare framework and, indeed, the Executive's early education and childcare provision is wholly inadequate in comparison with that best-practice approach.”
“As has been mentioned, the Employers for Childcare 2015 cost of childcare survey, which I was privileged to sponsor the launch of here at the Assembly, found that the average mortgage payment for families in our community is around £139 a week, yet the average full-time childcare place is as much as £164 a week. That is unsustainable, and it is therefore totally unacceptable that the DUP/Sinn Féin Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister could spend only £4 million of a £12 million childcare budget for 2011 to 2015 and that it has yet to publish a full childcare strategy. <BR /> <BR />We also know that families are struggling to access their first choice of preschool early years education place in our community, and our current system provides for, by and large, two and a half hours a day.”
“<BR /> <BR />We know that quality childcare and early years education is absolutely vital to the development of our children and to allow families to access the training and employment opportunities that they need to provide a good quality of life for their family and to obtain the skills and ability to contribute to our economy. It is also absolutely vital to ensure educational attainment for everyone in our community; to ensure equality of opportunity; to tackle poverty; to ensure that we meet the additional needs of children in our community, especially those with a disability; and to deliver on children's rights. <BR /> <BR />It is disappointing, therefore, that we continue to see families in our community struggle to access and afford childcare.”
“I am delighted to have his opportunity early in the mandate to speak on such an important issue as early education and childcare. I gave a commitment to the people of East Belfast that I would work to ensure that this Assembly mandate would be more open, more engaged and more relevant to the issues that affect the people in my constituency. I believe that early years education and childcare is of extreme relevance to families, our society and our economy. I commend the proposer of the motion for bringing it forward.”
“Can I ask the Member — you will allow her extra time to speak, I presume, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker — about the importance of awareness of financial assistance for parents?”
“I welcome the fact that the Minister has recognised that waiting times in our health service are totally unacceptable. It is my understanding that despite additional funds, urgent heart consultations at the Ulster Hospital, for example, are running at up to six months, and autism assessments in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust are almost two years. That is a crisis by any estimation. The Minister says that the root cause of this problem is slowness to deliver on radical reform. Can I ask the Minister, therefore, what specific radical reform she plans to deliver that her predecessor did not?”
“I also extend my deepest sympathy to the family of Adrian Ismay. I think of my family at this time, and my heart breaks for Adrian's family. They will be in my most sincere thoughts and prayers. Does the Minister agree that the bravery and courage of Adrian and his colleagues stand in stark contrast to the cowardice of the terrorists behind this heinous attack? May I seek an assurance that he will work to do all that he can to provide Adrian's family and colleagues with all possible support as they stand against violence and for peace and democracy for everyone in our community?”
“I thank the Minister for authorising his officials to meet me about a Clanmil Housing shared neighbourhood development at the former Lisnasharragh High School site in East Belfast. Would he be minded to support the inclusion of mixed tenure and a small number of affordable homes in that development?”
“I seek the assurances of the Minister for Regional Development that the Lagan footbridge and cycle bridge, which will connect the Ormeau Road and Ravenhill Road areas of south and east Belfast, remains part of the Department's plans, despite unionist councillors' opposition to the planning permission that was granted by Belfast City Council for that exciting project.”
“Their support for the Committee's position on the legislative consent motion was, therefore, without prejudice. <BR /> <BR />With those positions on the record, the Committee agreed, at its meeting on 2 March 2016, to support the legislative consent motion to extend certain provisions of the Northern Ireland (Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan) Bill to Northern Ireland.”
“The response, which was copied to the Committee, advises that, as well as formalising existing processes, it is hoped that the LCM will provide for improved transparency in respect of funding sources, spending controls and assumptions underpinning the Budget position. <BR /> <BR />The Committee considered those views and its position on the LCM at its meeting on 2 March. The Committee recognised that, should the provisions in the Bill not be extended to Northern Ireland, agreed aspects of the Fresh Start Agreement may not be implemented at this stage. The Committee also accepted that the inclusion of the provisions in UK legislation is a practical approach. <BR /> <BR />During the discussions, some Members indicated the intention of their respective parties to table amendments to the Bill at Westminster.”
“That states that the UK Government will legislate, with Assembly consent, to ensure that the Assembly cannot consider spending plans that exceed the block grant allocated by the Treasury or the Northern Ireland Executive’s borrowing limits when planned spending relies on those funding sources. The DFP official advised the Committee that that provision will not change the application of financial practice, because Northern Ireland is already required to live within the Treasury control totals. It will, however, formalise the process, as agreed in the Fresh Start Agreement. <BR /> <BR />The Committee for Finance and Personnel also sought the views of DFP on that provision.”
“The DOJ official confirmed that that Department had no objection to the provision but added that consultation with the Minister of Justice was expected on this matter. <BR /> <BR />In its response to the Committee, the Committee for Justice advised that it had also consulted with the Department of Justice. The Department’s response, which was forwarded to the OFMDFM Committee, reiterated the view that, whilst the Minister of Justice accepts that the provision in clause 1(4) is consistent with the Fresh Start Agreement, he would expect to be consulted by the First Minister and deputy First Minister on nominations. <BR /> <BR />As for the provision relating to the financial responsibility of the Assembly, the Committee heard that the LCM gives effect to a commitment in the Fresh Start Agreement.”
“<BR /> <BR />Given that these provisions are relevant to the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Department of Justice, officials from those Departments joined with an official from OFMDFM to brief the Committee on the LCM on 17 February. The Committee also sought the views of the Committee for Finance and Personnel and the Committee for Justice. During the briefing, the Committee heard that the provision relating to the nominations of two members of the Independent Reporting Commission is part of a wider set of provisions relating to an excepted matter. Rather than dealing with this provision separately, UK legislation is being utilised as a measure of efficiency and practicality.”
“I rise to speak on behalf of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Northern Ireland (Stormont Agreement and Implementation Plan) Bill legislative consent motion. I thank the junior Minister for her opening remarks. <BR /> <BR />The Committee considered the legislative consent memorandum on 17 February and noted that the Assembly's consent would be required in respect of two provisions. As the junior Minister has outlined, the first provision, in clause 1(4), is with regard to the power for the First Minister and deputy First Minister, acting jointly, to nominate two members of the Independent Reporting Commission. The second provision requiring consent is with regard to the establishment of new measures relating to the financial responsibility of the Assembly in clause 9.”
“I will speak very briefly on behalf of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Ministerial Offices (Number and Functions) Determination 2016. As the junior Minister outlined, the determination before us today will form the basis for filling ministerial offices in the next Assembly mandate. It reflects the ministerial positions following the restructuring of the Northern Ireland Departments to a nine-Department model. The Committee considered the determination at its meeting on 9 March and was content for it to be approved by the Assembly.”
“As a party, we have concerns that the Employment Service is being placed in the Department for Communities rather than the Department for the Economy. We have ongoing concerns that civil law remains split between Health, Justice and Finance. The Alliance Party fought to ensure that "Environment" was given named recognition in the departmental title, and we hope that environmental protection continues to be a priority of that new Department. <BR /> <BR />I also have concerns about key strategies that will cross from one Department to another in the new mandate — for example, the important childcare strategy, given the increasing costs that many of our families face, community relations and social investment. I sincerely hope that the new Departments are able to transition and deliver on those arrangements as smoothly as possible.”
“<BR /> <BR />The OFMDFM Committee formally considered the order on 2 March 2016 and, notwithstanding the points that we raised, agreed that it should be affirmed by the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />Speaking as an Alliance MLA, we as a party have supported reform of the Executive and Assembly, rationalisation of Departments, the reduction in the number of MLAs, the creation of an opposition, a voluntary coalition and an end to sectarian designation. As an Alliance MLA, therefore, I support the transfer of functions. However, I have concerns about the extent of the consultation that was possible in the time frame that we were given, and I support the Committee's call to ensure that there is a short focus review of the new arrangements.”
“Following the meeting, a draft of the order was issued to all Committees for information and consideration. On 10 February, the Committee noted the responses received from Committees. Most were content with the proposed transfers, although concerns were raised, for example, on organisational structures of new Departments, the relative weight that may be given to some functions in new Departments and the risk of a diminished voice. The OFMDFM Committee therefore recommended that a short, focussed review of the transfer of functions should be undertaken six months after the order comes into operation. That, we believe, will provide an opportunity to assess the efficiency of the new arrangements and identify adjustments that may be required.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee was briefed by OFMDFM officials in January on the restructuring of the new Executive Office. We wrote to relevant OFMDFM arm's-length bodies to seek their views on the proposed transfer of functions relating to OFMDFM. The Strategic Investment Board, the Planning Appeals Commission and the Victims and Survivors Service indicated agreement. The Children's Commissioner expressed concern that sponsorship of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People would fall to the Department of Education, which will have responsibility for services and policies that impact on children's lives. The commissioner believes that that may compromise the commission's independence. <BR /> <BR />The OFMDFM Committee received a briefing on the policy proposals in the order on 27 January 2016.”
“While the Bill set out the high-level framework for the nine-Department model, members heard that the reallocation of the statutory functions is provided for in the order that we debate today. <BR /> <BR />At that meeting, the junior Ministers committed themselves to work with the Committee on its consideration of the order. Although that commitment was welcomed, members were of a view that, due to time pressures, the opportunity to scrutinise the policy proposals in the order was likely to be limited. The Committee therefore wrote to the other Committees early in December to ask for their views on the proposed transfer of functions. We agreed to ask Committees for details of their consultation with, or representations from, stakeholders.”
“Finally, I call on anyone with information to search their conscience and soul and provide the PSNI with the information needed to ensure that the evil intent of these men and women does not prevail in our community. I thank you for the opportunity to do that, Mr Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />Trying to move on, I rise to speak on behalf of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the Departments (Transfer of Functions) Order. I thank the junior Minister for her opening remarks on the motion. <BR /> <BR />At its meeting on 30 November, junior Ministers briefed the Committee on the need for accelerated passage for the Departments Bill.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, perhaps you will first grant me an opportunity to respond to devastating news reaching the Assembly that a prison officer from my constituency has died further to the evil terrorist attack on his life on 4 March. I take this opportunity to send my heartfelt and deepest sympathy to the family and loved ones of this brave man and my support to his colleagues, who work courageously to serve every member of this community to keep us safe. This Assembly and our entire community must redouble our support for prison officers and the heroic work that they do, and we must isolate the men and women of violence who are involved in this.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Does he agree that the Psychoactive Substances Act is a clear demonstration that we will not allow the lives of people in our community to be put at risk by these dangerous and, at times, fatal psychoactive substances? Does he agree that those who seek to distribute them can expect to be brought to justice?”
“What has the Department done to reduce energy costs for companies in Northern Ireland? How successful has that been in comparison with other European regions?”
“I echo the sentiments expressed earlier that Mrs Anderson is highly skilled and extremely well suited to carry out this important role. <BR /> <BR />I would like to take this opportunity to convey the Committee's thanks to the outgoing ombudsman, Dr Tom Frawley, for his work as ombudsman. The Committee is also extremely grateful to Dr Frawley for his significant contribution to the development of the new legislation.”
“The Committee welcomes the nomination today by the Assembly Commission of Mrs Marie Anderson for appointment to the new office of Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, or NIPSO for short. Mrs Anderson is the first ombudsman to be nominated under the legislation brought through the Assembly by the Committee for OFMDFM, which merges and reforms the existing offices of Assembly Ombudsman and Commissioner for Complaints. The NIPSO will also have new powers over, for example, schools, universities and further education colleges, which are included in the ombudsman's remit. <BR /> <BR />This will be an exciting challenge for Mrs Anderson. On behalf of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, I wish her well in her new role and look forward to working with her.”
“I thank Mr Lyttle for that question. I outlined in my initial answer the importance of striking a balance. I have met residents on more than one occasion and I am fully aware of their justifiable and justified concerns. They have suffered from what they have perceived to be breaches of the existing agreement, and obviously they have concerns that any new agreement might be subject to similar breaches. Therefore, their concerns will be taken on board, and hopefully a balance that suits and satisfies them will be struck, along with, as I said, the undoubted socio-economic benefits of airport expansion and what those offer, not just to Belfast but to the whole of Northern Ireland.”
“I thank the Minister for his update. I seek his reassurance that the legitimate concerns of residents are being given due consideration in the devising of a coherent, transparent and enforceable noise-control mechanism for Belfast City Airport.”
“In a written statement on 3 March, the First Minister said that "continued progress" is being made on the projects funded by the UK Government/Northern Ireland Executive Building a Prosperous and United Community economic pact, including integrated primary schools. Which integrated primary school projects have been supported by the economic pact and by how much?”
“I welcome the £4 million investment in Strandtown Primary School in east Belfast, as part of the school enhancement programme delivered by the Minister. I ask him what benefits he thinks it will bring to the more than 1,000 pupils at the school.”
“I thank the Deputy Chairperson for giving way. I agree that we may need to re-examine the issue, because it struck me as being quite a low figure. In Westminster, for example, 10,000 signatures are required for a response from the Government and 100,000 signatures are required to trigger a debate in the House of Commons. Will there be a mechanism for the Committee, or other mechanisms of the House, to review some of those suggestions?”
“— actively promote petitioning. For all those reasons I think that it is positive to see these developments today. I should like to hear slightly more about what action will be taken as a result of the public petitions process, as that is an area that needs to be enhanced.”
“I also suggested an opportunity for petitioners, where relevant, to give evidence to the relevant Committee and the establishment of an online e-petitions system containing information about the process, templates for responses, and I suggested that any changes would require the Assembly to —”
“<BR /> <BR />MLAs have the right to present petitions to the Assembly, but, as other Members have said today and as is contained in the report, other devolved legislatures have more formal processes, and Westminster has a long-standing e-petitions process. It is good to see a recommendation for an e-petition facility to permit the submission of petitions without requiring the sponsorship of an MLA or political party. <BR /> <BR />The issue has also been acknowledged in the Assembly engagement strategy, published in May 2010, which highlighted how petitioning had been used effectively in other legislatures. I contacted the Speaker to seek an update on what work was being done to progress the issue. I suggested that a statutory duty on petitions receiving a response from the relevant Committee, Minister or Department should be considered.”
“I first wrote to the Speaker about public petitions in November 2012 to request a review of the public petitions process at the Assembly and that consideration be given to a more formal process similar to those in other legislatures on these islands. That was further to receipt of a petition from WAVE Trauma Centre regarding greater recognition and services for those injured or bereaved as a result of violent conflict in Northern Ireland. The lack of any follow-up mechanism to that led me to believe that a more formal process could help to clarify for the public petitioner and the recipient how to complete the procedure and what outcomes to expect.”
“I do not know whether it was a coincidence, but, on the same day or the day before, that petition was met with an announcement by the Minister of Health on investment in autism services. In addition to other important issues mentioned here today, that shows the power that public petitions can have in giving a voice to the public and effecting real change in resources, policy and law in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />I have been privileged to present petitions on ovarian cancer awareness in conjunction with the late Una Crudden, a fantastic and well-respected campaigner on the issue, that resulted in an ovarian cancer awareness campaign.”
“Public petitions have a long history. It states in the Committee report that the House of Commons first appointed a Committee for motions on griefs and petitions in 1571. That shows just how long-standing and important a process public petitions are in including our public in the democratic process. We have had a useful debate today, highlighting some of the extremely important issues and causes that the petitions process of the Assembly has allowed Members to bring to the House on behalf of our public. I think most recently of a petition presented by my colleague Kieran McCarthy on behalf of Councillor Kellie Armstrong and thousands of parents of children living with autism.”
“Whist I am no longer a member of the Procedures Committee, I have served on it, and I welcome the work that has been done by it on this matter. I imagine that other issues will continue to dominate the media headlines today — some are very serious issues — and it is because of those that the House needs to redouble its efforts to restore public confidence in our processes, engage the public and facilitate opportunities for them to feel included and have the power to influence the laws and policies that are created in this place. I think public petitions are an extremely important way of achieving that aim.”