Mark Durkan
Foyle · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“That review involved an extensive engagement exercise with charities, regulators and funders, aimed at creating a more modern and proportionate regulatory system.”
“When the review was commenced in 2021, many organisations were still in the midst of responding to the pandemic. Since then, they have faced a succession of new and evolving challenges. The ending of European funding programmes, on which so many in our communities relied for decades, has left a significant gap.”
“<BR /> <BR />The broad principles behind the Bill are sensible. The changes will modernise charity regulation, strengthen the Charity Commission's ability to intervene where misconduct or mismanagement occurs, improve information sharing and, importantly, reduce unnecessary red tape, particularly for smaller charities with limited adminis…”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak today. Before turning to the detail of the legislation — there will not even be that much detail in the debate today at Second Stage — I pay tribute to our charity sector. Across every constituency, charities provide support that changes and saves lives every single day.”
“<BR /> <BR />Whilst the SDLP supports legislation that removes unnecessary bureaucracy, we should not kid ourselves that administrative reform alone will secure the future of charities and organisations in the voluntary and community sector.”
“I thank the Minister for giving way. Like other Members, I welcome the fact that we have reached this point. There seems to be consensus among Committee members and, I am sure, all Members that the introduction of these measures will save lives, which begs the question of whether the 10-year delay in introducing the measures had an opposi…”
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“<BR /> <BR />In January 2020, all parties committed themselves to the introduction of a climate change Act under New Decade, New Approach, and again, last July, Members stood in this Chamber making the same appeals and similar arguments when we called on Minister Poots to introduce a climate change Bill within three months. Now, almost a year down the line, Northern Ireland remains the only jurisdiction in these islands without greenhouse gas reduction targets enshrined in law. While the impact of COVID may, in part, explain the recent delay, it cannot be used as an excuse. <BR /> <BR />The focus on green recovery and the creation of a sustainable society is of even greater significance as we emerge from the fog of COVID. If we have learnt anything from this horrific year, it is that we must do things differently.”
“I thank the Member for her intervention, and I agree entirely. Everything that we do as legislators or as a legislative body from here on has to take those issues into consideration. We are right to be ambitious and to aim high. For too long, the Executive have rested on their laurels, not to mention the three years of complete inaction that we had in the absence of an Executive, to the detriment of denizens and climate. Successive Administrations here have failed the wishes of some MLAs — I say that as a former Environment Minister — and of people and the deluge of scientific evidence in our inability to grasp the single greatest issue of our time. It has taken a cross-party coalition of MLAs to push forward this crucial legislation, despite the prevarication of others.”
“The role of a Northern Ireland climate office and climate commissioner as overseers will be integral to accomplishing those goals. I agree that these targets are ambitious, but this is not some pie-in-the sky notion. Rather, they are ambitious because they have to be.”
“In doing so, we could develop a greater harmonisation of climate data; support for just transition; cross-departmental coordination, with supporting policy; and, most importantly, financial and funding mechanisms to deliver action on the ground. To truly effect positive change here, we need a strong legal underpinning of climate principles. It now falls to the Executive and the Assembly to play catch-up in that regard. <BR /> <BR />Some of my SDLP colleagues will go into more intricate detail on the Bill later. Scientific evidence makes it clear that Northern Ireland needs to meet net zero carbon emissions by 2045. That vision can only be achieved through collaborative working, declaring a climate emergency and establishing a mandate for climate change mitigation and adaptation.”
“It has spearheaded the first council climate adaptation plan in the North and has already launched its climate pledge, which commits the city and district to net zero greenhouse emissions by 2045. Vitally, the council has recognised that climate change is not only a global but a transboundary issue. It has developed the first regional energy strategy in Ireland and has an emerging multi-sectoral north-west climate action plan. <BR /> <BR />The Executive must work to establish an all-island response to climate change, given the similar challenges that we face in both jurisdictions on this small island.”
“If we are to turn back the clock on climate catastrophe, we cannot afford further delay; we must act now. <BR /> <BR />It remains a stain on Northern Ireland's record that specific legislation on the prevention of climate breakdown, through emissions reduction targets and working towards carbon neutrality or preparing industry for tomorrow's economy, has taken so long to implement. Credit must be given to citizens and councils here, many of whom have been ahead of the curve by taking individual responsibility to consider their own personal choices and to enact green initiatives. In my constituency, Derry City and Strabane District Council has taken action and declared a climate emergency.”
“Sadly, although the science is beyond reproach, it appears, like most things in here, that it is not beyond dispute. <BR /> <BR />If we are to combat the devastating environmental, health, economic and societal impact of climate change, we have, as Ms Bailey outlined, a responsibility to act. We owe it to ourselves and future generations to face up to that uncomfortable reality. No longer can it be swept under the carpet or stuck in a hole in the ground to be dealt with at a later date. Climate change is here; it is happening. We are already bearing witness to its dire consequences that are playing out globally and here on our own doorstep. Communities here have been devastated by flooding in recent years. Fluctuating weather patterns have seen us experience practically every season in the course of the last week.”
“I support the Bill and, indeed, I am privileged to be one of its co-sponsors. I have worked with colleagues across party lines on an issue on which we all recognise that something needs to be done. <BR /> <BR />The urgent need for a climate change Bill has been well established. The extensive body of research demands that we act immediately — globally, locally and as individuals — in response to the emergency. Climate change is, arguably, the most serious threat that we face to not just our environment but our health, economic prosperity and global security. The overwhelming scientific consensus points to the fact that the impacts of climate change are accelerating and that they are largely driven by greenhouse gas emissions as a result of human activity.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. With regard to his last remark about this being some sort of opportunistic attempt by the Green Party to do something, does the Member recognise the cross-party support and involvement in the Bill and the fact that there are co-sponsors from every party in the House, bar his party and the TUV?”
“I appreciate that they have been detailed by the Minister and the Chair, but I highlight those made in relation to supporting a cap on exit charges on certain occupational pension schemes. That cap, in many instances, has acted as a barrier, preventing many individuals from accessing their pension savings. It is important that we remove that barrier and provide certain levels of flexibility and freedoms. The new provisions in relation to a ban on member-borne commission charges are similarly welcome. <BR /> <BR />The Bill will improve pension schemes. It will make them safer, and it will make them greener. We support the amendments and the Bill.”
“<BR /> <BR />One key issue discussed at Committee was the exponential increase in members of master trusts in the North. Members recognised the need for inbuilt protections but were reassured that, when master trusts do not have access to a pension protection fund, there is a safety net in the event of fraud. Likewise the fact that the Pensions Regulator will have a role in regulating cross-border schemes and can intervene, if necessary, is very much welcome. <BR /> <BR />Assurance was sought, because of the Committee's nervousness, about potential changes to the Bill that would happen at Westminster on which we would not have a say. We got assurances that we would, and we are having that today. <BR /> <BR />As for the amendments, we certainly support them.”
“I thank the Minister for bringing the Bill back for Consideration Stage. <BR /> <BR />My hesitancy around the LCMs and accelerated passage for any Bill, let alone a Bill that will impact on all pension savers throughout the North, is on record. However, I do acknowledge and have acknowledged that there was a huge element of urgency with this Bill as a result of the Assembly's three-year hiatus, which had already placed pension scheme members here at a disadvantage to their counterparts in Britain. This Bill, however, will bolster protections for pension savers, providing people with a safety net of assurances surrounding their pension schemes. It is, therefore, vital that those safeguards are implemented without further delay.”
“I thank the Minister for his answers thus far. My supplementary question is almost as similar as my original was to Ms Mullan's. I also look forward to meeting the Minister when he comes to meet young Tamzin in Foyle. Karen, the other reps and I look forward to that engagement. <BR /> <BR />Will the Minister give a commitment that he will use his office and influence, along with the undeniable evidence of need, to exert pressure on the Executive Office and the Northern Ireland Office to honour the pledge made in 'New Decade, New Approach' for a new addiction unit in the north-west? He will have no shortage of support in doing that.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement on this very important subject. Over the past number of years, we have seen an increase in the misuse of prescription drugs. Can the Minister tell us whether the situation is more pronounced here than elsewhere? Are there lessons that we can learn from other Administrations' efforts to tackle it?”
“<BR /> <BR />The SDLP is built on foundations of equality. We fully support the motion and the ban on conversion therapy.”
“<BR /> <BR />Some promote mental health and well-being but, in the same breath, support — well, tolerate — conversion therapy. Those viewpoints are completely incompatible. Tolerance of the latter is effectively a denial of the former, and we will oppose the amendment today. Homosexuality is not a brokenness; rather it is the system and attitudes here that are broken. I apologise to every member of the LGBT community who has been failed by our system. Every citizen should be free to live and to love without fear of shame or judgement. We need to start from the premise of understanding and to champion inclusive education in our schools to allow young people to form healthy relationships with themselves and with others. By engaging and educating, we can create a society that works for all.”
“<BR /> <BR />Many victims have spoken of their struggle to accept themselves, and practices such as conversion therapy serve only to compound their feelings of self-hatred and shame. That discredited practice is completely unethical. No one should be put through that traumatic ordeal or be led to feel that they are deficient in any way. Put simply, it is abuse. The Governments here and in Westminster have not done enough to establish protections for the LGBT community. It is incumbent on us all to acknowledge and tackle all forms of discrimination in our society. We must find a way forward to protect victims and to send a clear message to practitioners that this so-called therapy is wrong. To do that, we need legislative backing in the form of an outright ban.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. Love is, indeed, love. <BR /> <BR />Any strategy that is brought forward must focus on addressing LGBT health inequalities. Research from the Rainbow Project has shown that LGBT people are particularly vulnerable to developing mental health problems due to the homophobia, discrimination and oppression that exist in our society. It will, therefore, come as no surprise that that community is more likely to self-harm, to feel suicidal and to suffer addiction issues. Most shocking of all is the statistic that Ms Ennis quoted on the number of people who have attempted suicide. Consider those horrific statistics in the context of conversion therapy, in which organisations perpetuate the falsehood that sexual orientation can be controlled and prey on extremely vulnerable individuals.”
“However, the LGBT community wants a swifter and separate approach. We have seen too many strategies launched to great fanfare, only to sink without a trace.”
“However, thanks to the bravery of victims — yes, victims — who have come forward to share their harrowing experience, a light has been shone on just how widespread the practice is here, with 7% of LGBT+ people having been offered or having undergone that deeply distressing practice. That abuse should not be tolerated, let alone provided for, under current legislation. <BR /> <BR />For too long, the LGBT community has been let down and has had to fight for the rights that are afforded to others and an equal place in society. While we have come some way in advancing LGBT rights, the fight is far from over. The Executive committed to a sexual orientation strategy in 'New Decade, New Approach'. The Minister has said that legislation to outlaw conversion therapy will be a part of that.”
“I want to start by saying that no one should be told that their identity — who they are as a person — is wrong or that it is something that must or even can be cured. It needs to be said emphatically and unequivocally that sexual orientation is not a sin to be confessed. The freedom to be oneself is something that most of us take for granted, yet, for some gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals, being themselves can be the most frightening step that they will ever take. <BR /> <BR />The practice of conversion therapy is not only abhorrent but barbaric and must be consigned to the past. The untold damage and trauma that it has caused people here will never truly be known.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer, and I hope that this issue can unite parties and people here. Political discord and instability do nothing to help our population's mental well-being. As chair of the all-party group on mental health, I take this opportunity to ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister, together with all MLAs, to unite in support of Mental Health Awareness Week next month and to renew their commitment to tackling the pandemic of poor mental health.”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. In case anyone is in any doubt, I place on record that Derry is an extremely welcoming city. We have opened our arms, our hearts and our doors to people from all over the world who are seeking refuge and a better way of life. <BR /> <BR />Will the Minister confirm that she will commit to working with the Housing Executive, the PSNI, other agencies and, extremely importantly, communities to ensure improved management to minimise risk when it comes to rehousing known offenders?”
“Can the Minister outline what steps or actions, if any, government here or even elsewhere can take to ensure the tighter regulation of online betting sites?”
“The intrinsic value of our country parks, open spaces and forests has been amplified over the past year. Will the Minister commit his Department to continuing work with Derry City and Strabane District Council to facilitate the repair or reinstatement of the footbridge in Muff Glen forest, outside Eglinton, which was destroyed by floods in 2017, thus making that tremendous asset more accessible and increasing the number of people who can enjoy it?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I very much welcome it. Will the Minister give his view on what I and many consider to be an entrenchment of a two-tier healthcare system? Those who can afford to go private will do so, and those who cannot will languish on lists while their physical and mental health deteriorates, with many of them getting into debt to pay for treatment. Can any steps be taken to eradicate the perverse situation in which a consultant at a hospital can tell someone that they will have to wait four years for an operation but he can see them next month if they are willing to pay and go private?”
“Furthermore, when our young people voice the fact that the job prospects here, or lack thereof, are impacting on their mental well-being, the Executive have a duty to act. <BR /> <BR />Our young people desperately need support to enter the labour market at what is the most challenging economic period that many of us will ever face, I hope. It will be ridiculous if the Finance and Communities Ministers fail to get the scheme over the line, and it will cost us much more in the long term, and not just economically. I, of course, support the motion, because, as I previously outlined, the myriad of failures within the draft Budget must be addressed to give our younger generation a fair and fighting chance.”
“When we weigh that up with the Department's proposed cut to the independent advice sector, which we have been assured will not happen, when universal credit claims are up 126% and when the bid for 900 new staff is put on ice, which, mind you, will probably get sorted as well, it is unsurprising that our young people feel that they have been treated with contempt. The Communities and Finance Ministers' approach has been haphazard, with little evidence of any strategy, be that long-term or otherwise. Their failure to commit to the Job Start scheme, while disappointing for the businesses involved, is utterly devastating for young people who have been left in limbo. They do not know where their future lies and feel that the North has nothing to offer them.”
“In a response to the Committee, departmental officials confirmed that the Minister first became aware that the Executive's draft Budget did not include an allocation for labour market interventions in mid-December and that that resulted in her approval of the decision to shelve the Job Start scheme. That fact did not come to light until a month later with the publication of the draft Budget, and after months of preparation by businesses and many promises to young people. <BR /> <BR />It is important to note that, last year, a staggering 72% of job losses here were among 16- to 24-year-olds.”
“When it became evident that there may be insufficient funding to run the scheme into next year, did the Minister make the call that no scheme would be better than a reduced scheme? <BR /> <BR />At a time when youth unemployment stands at 11·7% and rising, the Job Start scheme provided a glimmer of hope for many 16- to 24-year-olds who were facing a bleak job market. However, despite repeated assertions from the Communities Ministers — Carál Ní Chuilín and Deirdre Hargey respectively — that the scheme was imminent, the hopes of the young people were cruelly dashed.”
“It now seems that the only ones who are being left behind are the young people here in the North. Once more, they are at a disadvantage to their peers elsewhere on these islands. The youth labour market intervention, which was marketed as Kickstart in England, Scotland and Wales but proposed as Job Start here, was due to commence in December. We were assured that the delivery would be of a new and improved scheme as lessons had been learned from issues that were encountered by the roll-out of Kickstart across the water. Instead, we got false start — the latest twist in a game of smoke and mirrors from the Communities Minister: lots of announcements and not a lot of action. It begs the question: where has the very significant Barnett consequential for the scheme been spent?”
“Now, with the added challenges surrounding the pandemic and more and more young people finding themselves out of work, we run the risk of forcing even more of them to leave these shores in the pursuit of opportunities elsewhere. <BR /> <BR />In the summer of 2020, the Chancellor announced a significant £2 billion Kickstart scheme, as part of a COVID recovery package, to prevent:”
“The importance of giving young people opportunities here cannot be overstated. It is incumbent upon the Executive to show our youth not only that they have a future in Northern Ireland but that they are our future. On our airwaves again today, we have heard sectarian bile being raked up over Brexit and the protocol in a pathetic attempt to stoke the fires of hatred and to re-entrench division for the purpose of electoral success or electoral survival. We also have the constant undermining of our political institutions. That serves only to send more young people away from here in their droves. The brain drain and its detrimental effect on our local economy has been evident for as long as I remember.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. Is it in order for a Member to address a Minister or another Member for that matter as a "Little Irelander"? The remark made by Mr Allister about Minister Mallon is not just inappropriate but insulting and inflammatory. The Member should apologise, withdraw it and wise up.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer and for her investment in the Strathfoyle and Maydown area. With the progress on the Strathfoyle greenway along with that of the shared-use path between Strathfoyle and Maydown, do the Minister and her officials see merit in the ultimate continuation of the greenway as far as the village of Eglinton?”
“The Minister has spoken of the challenges facing his Department, and we do not doubt those. We cannot, however, underestimate the challenges facing people out there who are living with disability, particularly autism. Does the Minister envisage an expansion of physical and sensory disability services being part of the fully developed autism strategy later this year?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. When she is doing that, will she also ask her colleagues in Westminster and the Executive to ask for an extension of that uplift to those who are on legacy benefits and have not yet migrated to universal credit?”
“My amendment was not accepted, but I reiterate our call for a sufficient self-isolation grant rather than the discretionary support grant hybrid that we have, which does not help people enough and does not help enough people. That is borne out by the shameful fact that, at a time when we have never had more people in need, the Minister handed back an underspend of £2 million that was meant to protect people against poverty and its effects. <BR /> <BR />We have to make a decision: can we afford a system that protects people from poverty? We cannot afford poverty and the problems that arise as a result of it.”
“It was a slap in the face to advice workers, causing them massive anxiety at a time when they are under unprecedented pressure. I support the sentiment of the amendment, although I am not entirely sure of its accuracy, given that I never thought that the inclusion of those cuts in the draft Budget was anything more than a cynical political exercise. <BR /> <BR />The motion refers to financial support for those suffering financially due to COVID. We had submitted an amendment that noted with concern the very limited financial support provided to those on a low income who have to self-isolate, which is having a detrimental impact on reducing community transmission of COVID-19.”
“The DFC workforce has witnessed a 127% increase in universal credit claims: 1,400 new staff are needed to address that growing demand, yet none has been recruited, putting further pressure on overstretched workers and resulting in increased hardship for those waiting to have their claims processed. <BR /> <BR />It is crucial that individuals and families facing financial hardship can access the vital support to which they are entitled and that they so desperately need. The independent advice sector plays a hugely important role in helping people to do that, as trained professionals and sympathetic people who go above and beyond to help those in need. The kite flown in the draft Budget for an already under-resourced sector to suffer a £1·5 million cut was grossly misjudged.”
“I know that that is something that the Minister is seeking to address urgently because Ministers have told us consistently for the past 15 months that they are dealing with this hugely important issue urgently. <BR /> <BR />In the interim, people have been pushed to another cliff edge while others have fallen off the precipice completely. The review of welfare mitigations must be progressed as a priority, but the need for scrutiny by us and, importantly, by experts from the sector must be afforded in line with the principles of co-design. Sadly, more and more people are falling into the benefits system, and those numbers are set to rise dramatically as the economic impact of COVID becomes clear. It is vital that there is a safety net for those people, yet a safety net is only as good or as useful as the people holding it.”
“However, we cannot pretend that there has been no impact: the disastrous roll-out of universal credit and its intolerable five-week wait, which has led to increased hardship and debt for many families, and the bedroom tax that, we were promised, would never grace our doorsteps yet is squeezing over 225 households. Not only did the DUP, Sinn Féin and Alliance rubber-stamp the Tory Welfare Reform Act, they left people here vulnerable to further attacks against which the mitigations provided no cover, including the benefit cap and the two-child rule, which have had a devastating impact on many low-income families. For those reasons, I welcome and support the motion and implore the Minister to bring forward not only an extension of the mitigation package but an improvement on it that closes the existing loopholes.”
“Having a fair and sustainable welfare system here is crucial, now more than ever, as society prepares to address the emerging challenges brought about by the COVID pandemic. Of course, the SDLP made attempts to amend the Welfare Reform Act to remove its most draconian elements, while others in the Chamber voted against those amendments, and we got the Welfare Reform Act in its full, devastating glory. <BR /> <BR />We welcome the fact that a mitigations package to the tune of £500 million was agreed, and I welcome the fact that it has shielded so many from the worst impacts of welfare reform.”
“As Ms Woods mentioned, child poverty figures have not improved here in five years. There are now 122,000 children living in relative poverty. Will the Minister mitigate the two-child tax credit rule and benefit cap in order to ease the immense pressure on families with children, and, if so, when?”
“I very much welcome the junior Minister's update on all the schemes. I, like Ms Mullan, have a particular interest in the Meenan Square scheme, and I commend the officials who have been working diligently on it and worked hard to seal the deal with landowners, albeit for a price lower than that originally agreed on. This will be much more than a simple physical regeneration scheme. Will the Minister outline any of the detail of what the scheme will consist of and how it will be sustained going forward?”
“We need a dynamic and coherent strategy that invests in the economy and in people and recognises the new challenges of a post-Brexit and, hopefully soon, post-pandemic world.”
“Sadly, we still do, but what we export now is our most valuable commodity: our young people. So many of them do not return to these shores after they have gone elsewhere to study. <BR /> <BR />I am sure that the House will be thrilled to hear that we, as Foyle representatives, will not just shut up now that we finally have our city deal signed off. It is a great start, but that is all that it is. Even in the Department for Communities' draft budget, £8 million of capital is earmarked for Belfast's city deal but only £500,000 for Derry. <BR /> <BR />Failure to think creatively and strategically and lackadaisical implementation are a toxic mix for public finances. Budgets are the bedrock of government strategy and have the power to change lives here for the better.”
“I am conscious of time, Mr Speaker, so I will highlight briefly the potential of city deals and the subregional stadia strategy, particularly for my home city of Derry and my constituency of Foyle. City deals have the potential to generate economic returns far beyond the original investments and rebalance regional disparities in the North. As Mr Newton mentioned, consultation on the subregional stadia programme ended in 2016, and, as I have said previously, it has taken on an almost mythical status for many clubs and communities. As I have said, there must be a fair geographical spread. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Sinead McLaughlin has once more made the case for the expansion of Magee. It not just Derry that needs it but Northern Ireland. She referred to how, 100 years ago, we led the way in exports.”
“We can all express our support for positive mental health, but what people really need are the services to manage it and to prevent problems with it in the first place. When assessing bids or looking at how we are going to use COVID funding for next year, mental health must be top of the list.”
“That is pretty stark, and that was from the officials. However, that is because the Job Start scheme for young people, or false start, as I have taken to calling it, the work experience programme and the upfront childcare costs for parents who are returning to work have all been denied funding. Those labour market interventions are critical. This will cost us much more in the long term, and I do not just mean economically. <BR /> <BR />As a post-conflict society, we already have our complex and intergenerational mental health issues, but those have been compounded massively by the pandemic, particularly for our children and young people and for those who have lost their jobs and businesses and are under massive pressure. Yet, the full scale of the crisis does not seem to have been grasped.”