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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“That will ensure that we deliver improved outcomes across the board for the children and young people in our society.”
“I am content to support that amendment, and, indeed, I did so on that issue at Committee Stage. I am also content to support the proposal in amendment No 3 that the report on the operation of the statutory duty and other provisions introduced by the Children’s Services Co-operation Bill be considered in the production of a Programme for Government. <BR /> <BR />I understand that there has been agreement between the sponsor and the Minister of Finance and Personnel on amendment Nos 4 and 5, and I am content to support that approach. I am also content to support amendment No 6. <BR /> <BR />It is essential that the Assembly require the Executive to coordinate services and to maximise resources as effectively as possible, particularly on behalf of children and young people in our community.”
“Whilst it was not ideal to table the amendment at that stage, I have referred to the mitigating circumstances that required it to be done then. Whilst the process may not have been ideal, the amendment is consistent with the high-level outcomes being brought forward, and the substance of the amendment — to seek to ensure that our children and young people live in a fair, shared and prosperous society — is reasonable and good and is a good aim for us to have for our children and young people. I look forward to hearing the contributions from other parties and will be glad to respond to those. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 2 deals with a proposal to have the Executive report on the operation of the Bill not more than 18 months after the adoption of the children's strategy rather than after three years.”
“As I said, that was the first stage at which those new high-level outcomes were redrafted in that form. They are all issues that I have worked on as an Assembly Member with the sponsor, Steven Agnew, on the all-party group on children and young people, and it has been a pleasure to work closely with the children's sector on those issues. <BR /> <BR />In the time between Consideration Stage and Further Consideration Stage, I thought it prudent to table amendment No 1, which will add to that important list of high-level outcomes for the well-being of children and young people:”
“<BR /> <BR />It was regrettable that, given some considerable work in relation to the Bill by OFMDFM officials, there was no Minister available to bring forward an amended draft of the Bill at Consideration Stage. I have made my views known in relation to that. It is regrettable that it required the proposer to take the initiative to do so himself, but I welcome the initiative that has been shown in that regard. <BR /> <BR />That was the first stage at which we were able to see the new high-level outcomes that are to be monitored and achieved as part of the Bill: physical and mental health; enjoyment of play and leisure; learning and achievement; living in safety; economic and environmental well-being; enablement to make a positive contribution to society; and living in a society that respects the rights of children and young people.”
“I am glad to rise on behalf of the Alliance Party to give our continued support to the Children's Services Co-operation Bill. It is a long-standing manifesto commitment of ours to support legislation that introduces a statutory duty on government Departments to cooperate and collaborate. Indeed, improved cooperation is needed on many issues, but it is particularly encouraging to see that brought forward by the proposer in relation to the planning, implementation and monitoring of children's services. I am glad that the Bill includes a statutory duty to cooperate. It also covers the pooling of budgets and enhanced reporting mechanisms.”
“How is inescapable pressure defined, and how does her Department scrutinise such bids from other Departments?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. I am glad that my colleague Anna Lo, as Chairperson of the Environment Committee, will get a front-row seat for the unveiling of his plans for the creation of the agency. How important is an independent environmental protection agency to safeguarding our natural environment? Does he anticipate Executive agreement for it?”
“I thank the Minister and welcome that update on progress on increasing the maximum sentence for animal cruelty offences. The interim report also recommended a single animal welfare website and a public information campaign to ensure that the public know who best to contact when concerned about animal welfare issues. Are there any updates on those recommendations?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I welcome the progress that is being made on the provision of higher-level apprenticeships. How important is improving the provision of higher-level apprenticeships to the transformation of the Northern Ireland economy?”
“<BR /> <BR />I also add my best wishes to the Irish soccer team in their ongoing efforts for qualification and to the Irish rugby team as they continue to do us proud at the Rugby World Cup.”
“I know that many people questioned that goal, but they got behind our fantastic manager and team and dared to dream that dream. <BR /> <BR />I hope that the achievement will demonstrate to young footballers and everyone in Northern Ireland that we are a talented people and that, when we work together, we can achieve what seem like impossible dreams. The managerial ability and leadership of Michael O'Neill has been vital in building a unique belief and spirit in the Northern Ireland team. I know that Michael has said that it might be hard to top this achievement, but I certainly hope that, with the support of an entire community behind the team, they can achieve even more in France at Euro 2016.”
“Many people contributed to the transformation of football in Northern Ireland, and there are a few who deserve special mention: Michael Boyd, now IFA director of football development, his community relations team and the amalgamation of the Official Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs have been pivotal in delivering a football-for-all ethos and approach that has ensured that the sport is open to everyone across Northern Ireland and delivered the famous "sea of green" atmosphere in our stands that has seen Northern Ireland fans recognised as the best and most welcoming in Europe. IFA president Jim Shaw and CEO Patrick Nelson also deserve credit for setting the main target of the IFA and Northern Ireland as qualification for a major tournament.”
“All the history makers — the fantastic manager, Michael O'Neill, the players, the team behind the team, the fans and everyone who dared to dream — deserve all the credit and congratulations that they are receiving. <BR /> <BR />The achievement is no fluke; nor would it have been possible without serious vision, dedication and professionalism.”
“It is therefore only right that the Assembly and the Executive recognise the outstanding achievement of the Northern Ireland football team, the IFA and the best fans in Europe, the green and white army, in qualifying as group winners for the European Championship in France in 2016, our first major football tournament in 30 years and the first time that a fifth seed has ever topped a qualifying group stage. <BR /> <BR />It was an absolute privilege to be among the almost 12,000 people at the stadium on Thursday night to experience the historic sporting achievement that has united, inspired and lifted the spirit of an entire community. On a personal level, it made me proud to be Northern Irish, but, most important, it was a proud night for everyone involved in Northern Irish football.”
“Thank you very much indeed for allowing this Matter of the Day, Mr Speaker, to recognise the historic achievement of the Northern Ireland football team. <BR /> <BR />I think that it is fair to say that elected representatives seeking to acknowledge sporting success are often met with a fair dose of cynicism, but I think that it is worth saying that there are many elected representatives who are themselves amateur football players, coaches, board members, volunteers and, above all else, genuine fans of the beautiful game.”
“Given that, at times, the monthly cost of childcare for many families is bigger than their monthly mortgage payment, what is the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister doing to promote the existing financial assistance schemes, such as the childcare voucher scheme, to families and employers in Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the junior Minister for her answer and welcome the support that she has given to the Pensioners' Parliament. I think that it is an exemplary forum in Northern Ireland, and I credit everyone who is involved with it. I welcome the priority that she has given to the health and well-being of older people in our community. Can the junior Minister provide an update in relation to progress on the active ageing strategy and, indeed, age discrimination legislation?”
“We have heard stark warnings from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the UN and, today, in statistics that have been presented by DSD on the growing issue of child poverty. The UN has warned that the failure to achieve positive outcomes for children is one of the most costly mistakes that this society can make. I certainly hope that the Bill will go some way to ensure that we do not make that mistake in Northern Ireland and that we can deliver for children and young people.”
“With regard to amendment No 8's definition of the age of children and young people, I think that it is important that we appear to have provision for that age to be stretched to up to 21 years under particular categories. One particular piece of evidence that was given at Committee Stage was that the transitionary period between the ages of 18 and 21 and 23 and 25 can be extremely important for some of the most vulnerable children and young people in our community. I welcome the provision in the Bill of a duty to cooperate on those key age groups. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, it is absolutely essential that the Assembly require the Executive to coordinate services and maximise resources as effectively as possible, particularly on behalf of children and young people in our community.”
“<BR /> <BR />The proposer of the Bill has said that he is willing to reflect on the provision in amendment No 5. I will therefore do the same if and when it returns at Further Consideration Stage. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 6 is a very important amendment, as it ensures robust reporting on progress on the work that would be carried out as part of the new law when it comes forward. There can be no more important task for an Executive than to report to the public on whether they are achieving what they said they would achieve. We could improve drastically the Executive's reporting on the Programme for Government in general. I am glad that such specific reporting mechanisms for children and young people are being included in the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The other amendments are all positive.”
“I welcome therefore amendment No 2, the key amendment to the Bill, on the introduction of the statutory duty to cooperate and the provisions that are being made for all children's authorities to cooperate on the key high-level outcomes. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 3 to put the adoption of a children and young persons' strategy in the Bill is also a positive inclusion, as is the provision to ensure that it achieves specific outcomes, has specific actions, and is achieved within specific timescales. <BR /> <BR />I support amendment No 4 on the sharing of resources and the pooling of funds. Indeed, I have asked a number of questions of OFMDFM to seek updates on work that it has done on children's sector budgeting. That would be a positive provision in the final law that comes forward.”
“Those are physical and mental health; the enjoyment of play and leisure; learning and achievement; living in safety; economic and environmental well-being; enablement to make a positive contribution to society; and living in a society that respects the rights of children and young people. These are all issues that I have worked on as an Assembly Member and indeed on which I have worked with the proposer, Steven Agnew, on the all-party group on children and young people. Indeed, it has been a pleasure to work closely with the children's sector on all those issues. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the placement of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in the Bill, as other Members have done, and the opportunity that any amendments to those high-level outcomes would require the positive approval of the Assembly and full consultation with it.”
“Parties may not be surprised to hear me cite the Alliance Party Ministries of the Department of Justice and the Department for Employment and Learning as examples of where work is being done, such as to improve learning outcomes at the Hydebank Wood young offenders' facility. I also recognise the work of the DRD cycling unit, in cooperation with the Department of Health's Public Health Agency, to pool resources to improve the Active School Travel programme. That has had positive active travel outcomes for children and young people. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the amendments under consideration. Amendment No 1 sets out good, high-level outcomes to be monitored and achieved as part of the Bill.”
“It is not ideal that we do not have that final draft, or for us to be at this stage today, but I appreciate the sponsor of the Bill's desire to see progress made with this important legislation. I am glad that we have an opportunity to respond today. <BR /> <BR />Improved cooperation is needed on many issues in our society, such as early intervention in health and education and the delivery of a shared and prosperous society, but it is absolutely required to improve the well-being of children and young people. Cooperation is vital in any Government but perhaps most particularly in a multiparty Executive. We have some positive examples of cooperation in our Executive.”
“The Committee was broadly content with it, as was the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. It is regrettable therefore that a full, final draft was not presented by OFMDFM, meaning that the Executive did not have a full opportunity to respond to such a draft. It is also regrettable that we do not have full party and ministerial responses to this stage of the Bill. To be honest, I fail to see how a ministerial resignation or a ministerial boycott is doing what is right for Northern Ireland, given the opportunities that we have in the Assembly and at the Executive table to deal collectively with some of the difficult challenges facing society in Northern Ireland, not least to endeavour to improve the outcomes for children and young people.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to this stage of the Children's Services Co-operation Bill. The Alliance Party has had a long-standing manifesto commitment to support a statutory duty for Departments to cooperate as part of our commitment to step forward for better government in Northern Ireland. Therefore, I have been glad to support the principles of the Bill to introduce a statutory duty to cooperate on Departments to achieve better outcomes for the well-being of children and young people in society. Indeed, I was glad to engage proactively with the Committee Stage. During it, we gathered a significant amount of evidence to support and progress the Bill to this stage. We welcomed OFMDFM's contribution. It presented a revised draft of the Bill to the Committee.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Would he be in any way surprised to learn that many of the young people who gave evidence to the Committee inquiry showed strong support for integrated education and children being educated together?”
“I wholeheartedly support the Member's comments. Does he share my disappointment and concern that a key aspect of the Together: Building a United Community strategy was the delivery of the racial equality strategy by the end of 2013?”
“— much more action from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to support this important work on the ground, if we are to build a truly shared society in Northern Ireland.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. As he has raised the issue, I will confirm that his understanding is accurate. It is extremely disappointing, not least given that the person whom he mentions was deemed worthy enough by the Scottish Government to appoint as chair of a working group into tackling sectarianism in Scotland. Thankfully, there were many positive contributions made to the inquiry. We have a robust report to work from, and I am sure that Duncan and many of the other academic experts in Northern Ireland will add their support and ongoing efforts. <BR /> <BR />The Committee report also recognises the merit of bringing groups together on common issues. Groups such as Community Relations in Schools are to be commended and recognised for the work that they have done on a nursery buddy scheme, but we need —”
“However, I express on record my disappointment that some members of the Committee voted to exclude some of our noteworthy academic experts from giving evidence to this important inquiry.”
“I proposed that the report on this inquiry recommend the creation of a Together: Building a United Community forum. That was on the basis of my understanding of the positive contribution of the NEETs forum created by the Department for Employment and Learning. It has been a useful model in which to include the community and voluntary sector and other bodies in the design and delivery of this important strategy. I welcome that the recommendation has been made, and I look forward to hearing the ministerial response to it. <BR /> <BR />I also welcome the reference in the report to the level of academic expertise here in Northern Ireland with regard to the work of Together: Building a United Community.”
“I also welcome the recognition of the burden that is placed on the efforts of those people in our community through the short-term funding cycles that are provided to them and the often late funding offer that they receive.”
“I welcome the work that is being done by 'The Detail' and the Community Relations Council with their poster project, which is being rolled out as part of Community Relations Week. It shows in stark detail how Northern Ireland is now a community of minorities and that, to chart a way forward, we need compromise and a recognition of our inter-reliance and interdependence. <BR /> <BR />On that note, I welcome a number of the recommendations in the Committee inquiry's report into Together: Building a United Community, not least the recognition that is given to the passion, energy and enthusiasm that many individuals in our community and voluntary sector bring to developing a united community in Northern Ireland. I thank those contributors to the inquiry for their work on the ground.”
“That initial draft strategy was robustly criticised — rightly — by the community in Northern Ireland and led to the CSI working group, to which I contributed for many months before withdrawing on behalf of the Alliance Party, having identified a wholly inadequate lack of ambition in the draft strategy, not least with a lack of targets for integrated education and shared neighbourhoods and a wholly inadequate response to dealing with flags, parades and the past and, indeed, the lack of an action plan on budgets. <BR /> <BR />Dealing with this issue will not be achieved by tinkering around the edges. We need the Together: Building a United Community strategy to tackle underlying patterns of segregation, exclusion, discrimination and threat if we are to see a truly shared society in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Alliance Party strongly supported the shared future strategy in 2005 and the triennial action plans that went with the strategy. We worked tirelessly to ensure that the parties in the Executive brought forward a devolved good relations strategy for Northern Ireland and supported the cohesion, sharing and integration (CSI) strategy consultation in 2010.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion. The ambition to contribute towards tackling division and building a united community is one of the main reasons why I stepped forward to get involved in politics in Northern Ireland. The Alliance Party firmly believes that building a shared society in Northern Ireland is the single biggest challenge facing us. Indeed, it should be the central overarching priority for the Executive. I echo Megan Fearon's comments, therefore, that it is disappointing that we do not have a ministerial response to this crucial issue. Indeed, I think that it is a disgrace and is a real missed opportunity for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to tell us what positive contribution and development it thinks has been achieved by the strategy to date.”
“I thank the Minister for her update. It is encouraging to hear of progress on that Stormont House Agreement commitment to audit the cost of division to Departments. Given that the Executive have to deal with significant pressure on our public finances, how urgent a priority does she consider the study in order to feed into a reconfiguration of our public-service delivery on a shared rather than on a separate basis?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. The Member will be aware that, on 9 September, as Deputy Chair of the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, I requested that officials seek an update from OFMDFM on the contact it had with the Home Office and, indeed, on the refugee integration strategy. Would she agree that the people of Northern Ireland deserve a fuller and more formal statement from OFMDFM on these matters as a matter of urgency?”
“On behalf of parties, I thank the Acting First Minister for her helpful clarification of the issue of amnesty. I ask her to update the Assembly on the progress that is being made on additional advocacy assistance for victims and survivors in helping them to navigate the various avenues of assistance that are available to them.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he acknowledge that childcare is a devolved provision in Northern Ireland and that to introduce additional provision, notwithstanding underspends that have rightly been referred to already, there may be a need to generate additional revenue to meet that increase in provision, given that it is not a direct transfer?”
“— set times each day in nursery classrooms, as has been suggested. <BR /> <BR />Those are issues that we want to see worked out. I encourage people to get involved with the childcare consultation to ensure that we drastically improve provision in that vital area for families in Northern Ireland.”
“Some key questions remain to be asked on that, particularly about whether we wish to follow the English model of flexible childcare, where it can be taken up in a preschool-based setting or through a strictly childcare-based approach, or whether we want to maintain our model of —”
“I think that is an indictment on that Department, given the scale of savings that could be available from that provision for extremely hard-pushed families. <BR /> <BR />I agree with the motion that improved childcare provision would be good for the economy, access to skills development and working families. The motion also proposes an increase in the free childcare provision that is available here to a level that is equal to or in line with the proposals for 30 hours a week in England. We are not necessarily comparing apples with apples, and I think that the proposer of the motion alluded to that.”
“Employers — large, private companies and public-sector organisations — are saving around £4 million per year in total, and parents are delivering collective savings of around £9 million per year. However, that leaves a huge number of families and employers who are not availing themselves of that scheme. That could be anywhere in the region of 200,000 families. They, employers and the Northern Ireland economy are all missing out on millions of pounds worth of savings. <BR /> <BR />The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister has been presented with proposals for public awareness campaigns on a regular basis. Indeed, Employers for Childcare stepped in when that Department failed to raise awareness of that type of assistance and had to conduct its own awareness campaign.”
“<BR /> <BR />Any response to the childcare challenge faced by families in Northern Ireland has to recognise the need for a comprehensive strategy based on improving accessibility, affordability, quality for parents and for childhood development. We also need a high-profile public awareness campaign to promote the take-up of existing financial assistance that is available to families and employers, such as the childcare voucher scheme, and to explain how the proposed childcare subsidy announced in the 2014-15 UK Budget might be implemented in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Approximately 11,000 parents in Northern Ireland and 1,400 local employers benefit from the childcare voucher scheme, making savings of around £13 million per year through tax and National Insurance savings on that salary sacrifice scheme.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. The explanations so far have been vague at best. We have to recognise that OFMDFM, under the DUP and Sinn Féin, has brought forward Bright Start, which has key actions in relation to childcare. Indeed, there is a childcare strategy out for consultation, but it is long overdue. Other parties that held the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister previously need to take responsibility and work collectively with parties in the Assembly to address the long overdue nature of that improved provision, and today's motion is hopefully a start in doing so.”
“I will be sponsoring the launch of the Employers For Childcare cost of childcare survey 2015 on 9 February, and I have no doubt that those issues will be as stark as ever. <BR /> <BR />It brings into stark contrast, therefore, the approximately £8 million underspend of a £12 million childcare budget for 2011-15 in the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. That is a startling fact given the scale of the challenge for families in our community.”
“It gives evidence that 51% of parents in Northern Ireland reduced their working hours or left work due to a lack of affordable childcare, and it goes into a raft of other startling details on the impact of childcare on families in Northern Ireland. Forty-four per cent of earnings are allocated to childcare. After housing costs, the childcare bill is the largest outgoing for families. Fifty-eight per cent of parents struggle with childcare costs throughout the year. Twenty-seven per cent of respondents said that their childcare bill exceeded their rent or mortgage payments and, indeed, 49% of parents were unsure if they were claiming all the family benefits and entitlements that are available to help them with those extreme childcare costs.”