Pam Lewis
South Antrim · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Indeed, I thank her for the assistance that she, as Minister of Justice, gave my constituents Kathryn and Aaron McCollum following the tragic death of their much-loved husband and father. Her assistance was deeply appreciated.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. I very much welcome the amendment to the Justice Bill on this subject, and I thank my colleagues across the Chamber for the good work that they have done on it. What cost is the PSNI carrying for the seizure, storage and disposal of those vehicles? Is that cost creating a barrier to enforcement?”
“It progresses 18 recommendations from the independent review of charity regulation, with a focus on a more risk-based approach that promotes trust and accountability without placing undue burdens on charities.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak as a member of the Communities Committee at Second Stage of the Charities (Amendment) Bill. I thank the Minister and the Chair of the Committee for outlining the details of the Bill.”
“The public must have confidence that charitable funds are being used properly, that trustees understand their responsibilities and that there is effective oversight when misconduct or mismanagement occurs.”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome the streamlining of accounting and reporting requirements. For small charities, administration can be a real challenge and burden.”
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“I thank the Minister for her answer. I very much welcome the amendment to the Justice Bill on this subject, and I thank my colleagues across the Chamber for the good work that they have done on it. What cost is the PSNI carrying for the seizure, storage and disposal of those vehicles? Is that cost creating a barrier to enforcement?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Indeed, I thank her for the assistance that she, as Minister of Justice, gave my constituents Kathryn and Aaron McCollum following the tragic death of their much-loved husband and father. Her assistance was deeply appreciated. <BR /> <BR />Many victims and witnesses have clearly had to face uncertainty and much distress over court dates. How will anyone who has been affected by the Bar strike to date be kept properly informed of relisted cases? Is any longer-term work being done to ensure that such a strike does not happen again in the criminal justice and legal aid system?”
“The Bill is not about regulation for regulation's sake. It is about protecting public confidence, supporting good governance and ensuring that the framework works better for charities, trustees, volunteers and the public. For those reasons, I support the general principles of the Bill at Second Stage, and I look forward to the Committee's scrutinising the Bill further.”
“The Department did, of course, consult on key issues, including template reporting and section 167, and carried out a four-week consultation on the Bill. I recognise that that sought to balance engagement with the time left in the mandate, and responses were broadly supportive of the amendments made to improve proportionality and safeguards.”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome the streamlining of accounting and reporting requirements. For small charities, administration can be a real challenge and burden. Trustees often balance employment, family responsibilities and voluntary service, so they need systems that are clear, manageable and proportionate to the size and complexity of the organisation. <BR /> <BR />It is worth noting that the Bill repeals section 167 of the 2008 Act, providing clarity for institutions established elsewhere but operating, for charitable purposes, in or from Northern Ireland.”
“It progresses 18 recommendations from the independent review of charity regulation, with a focus on a more risk-based approach that promotes trust and accountability without placing undue burdens on charities. A key part of the Bill is the strengthening of the Charity Commission's ability to intervene proportionately in cases of misconduct or mismanagement. The vast majority of charities operate in good faith and with integrity, but, when serious issues arise, the regulator must have the tools needed to protect charitable assets and uphold public trust. I welcome the inclusion of safeguards where powers affect individuals or organisations. There are provisions around prior notice, representations, review mechanisms and appeal routes. Stronger powers must always be matched by fairness and proportionality.”
“The public must have confidence that charitable funds are being used properly, that trustees understand their responsibilities and that there is effective oversight when misconduct or mismanagement occurs. However, regulation must be proportionate and not overwhelm small charities with bureaucracy, discourage people from becoming trustees or make it harder for volunteers to carry out work that benefits local communities. The Bill seeks to strike that balance. Any action to reduce the administrative burden on charities is, of course, very welcome. <BR /> <BR />The Bill makes targeted amendments to the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 to ensure that the framework is modern, proportionate and effective.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak as a member of the Communities Committee at Second Stage of the Charities (Amendment) Bill. I thank the Minister and the Chair of the Committee for outlining the details of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />I recognise the enormous contribution made by charities, churches, community groups, sports clubs, youth organisations, older people's groups and volunteers throughout Northern Ireland. They do incredible work. I see that contribution every week in South Antrim. Many such groups are run by local volunteers, trustees and committee members who give of their time to help others, support vulnerable people and keep community life going. <BR /> <BR />Charity regulation matters very much.”
“Minister, what are your plans to retain doctors in Northern Ireland, given the fact that pay and working conditions are perceived to be better elsewhere, including across the border in the Republic of Ireland?”
“Will the Minister provide more detail on the work undertaken to assess fee-capping arrangements?”
“What progress has been made in the Executive Office to introduce a power to suspend?”
“I welcome the unreserved apology for the appalling abuse at Muckamore and the acknowledgement of the profound systemic failures in care, oversight and trust. Given the commitment to act swiftly, will the Minister provide a clear and detailed timeline for when the key recommendations, particularly those relating to redress, safeguarding reforms and accountability measures, will be fully implemented?”
“I apologise for missing the beginning of the Minister's statement, which is very welcome. I appreciate the mention of Antrim, in my constituency of South Antrim; any clarity around future plans regarding the provision would be welcome. <BR /> <BR />Minister, deposits are often a huge challenge for many first-time renters. What provision can you make for those who find it hard to pull together a deposit?”
“This question for urgent oral answer is really important. I thank the Minister for calling out to meet members of the Ballyclare ethnic minority healthcare workers' advice hub and Support Care. It is really important for us, as local representatives, to see the Health Minister out supporting those valuable workers. <BR /> <BR />I put on record the wonderful work that international healthcare workers do. I thank God that they come to this country, bringing their expertise to help and care for us. Minister, do you agree that violence and intimidation is wrong and has always been wrong, regardless of the colour of someone's skin? The reason why we should not attack people is not the fact that they are coming here and working for us; it is because it is simply wrong.”
“What is the Minister doing to support people into work and to encourage progression in employment to ensure that Northern Ireland works for everyone?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. It will not be lost on him that our agri-food industry is a prized economic asset in Northern Ireland, supporting over 100,000 jobs. Therefore, his climate change aspirations need to strike an important balance between protecting the environment and ensuring that one of our most important sectors continues to grow, thrive and provide food security to our population. I feel that the industry is not convinced that his approach does that. Is it time for the Minister to adjust his sights on the climate targets?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I welcome the work undertaken by the representatives on the regional dementia project board and the review into care standards. Research from the Alzheimer's Society indicates that around half of all training programmes provide only one or two hours' instruction. That suggests that baristas often receive more training than care workers who support people with dementia. Therefore, will the Department consider introducing a statutory requirement for all social care providers to ensure that direct-care staff complete best practice dementia training?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. It is a very important subject, and I will support the legislation going through to the next stage for further scrutiny. Does the Member recognise the fear among people who, like me, are pet owners that, if a dog is off a lead and takes off after a squirrel or a rabbit, that could lead to prosecution? If the Member does recognise that, will he look to amend the legislation during to ensure that that is not the case?”
“As the First Minister will be aware, women and girls in rural communities can be at risk due to isolation and lack of access to services and support. What are the Executive doing to ensure that women and girls living in rural areas are included in the EVAWG strategy?”
“The warm healthy homes fund, which was agreed as part of the Executive's fuel poverty strategy, must be properly resourced if it is to improve homes, reduce bills and protect vulnerable households. It is therefore deeply disappointing that that fund did not receive an allocation in Sinn Féin's draft three-year Budget. <BR /> <BR />The strategy must remain focused on making work pay; creating wealth; tackling child poverty; Executive-wide delivery; and properly addressing the issue of fuel poverty. If we are serious about that delivery, the Executive must ensure that the strategies are properly funded. On that basis, I support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />One area of delivery that is particularly important is fuel poverty. It is especially prevalent in Northern Ireland because of our heavy reliance on home heating oil. That has a particular impact on older people, many of whom are on fixed incomes and are more vulnerable to cold homes. There is a clear link there with the active ageing strategy and ensuring that older people can live safely, warmly and with dignity. That is why the upcoming £100 oil heating intervention by Minister Lyons is important. It is practical help targeted at the real pressures that households in Northern Ireland face. That is being delivered while Sinn Féin Ministers have shirked their responsibilities for that. However, short-term support must sit alongside long-term investment. We all understand the importance of that.”
“I thank the Member for his contribution. That is another piece of work that needs to be investigated fully. Industry has made its concerns clear that time is needed to investigate that legislation fully before committing to it. <BR /> <BR />At present, no additional funding has been allocated to implement the strategy, and that is a serious issue. A strategy without the necessary funding risks becoming a statement of intent rather than a plan for delivery. That is why I find the position taken by the Sinn Féin members of the Committee difficult to reconcile with the approach of their Executive ministerial colleagues. At times, they appeared to be completely at odds with those colleagues. People who are in poverty do not need mixed messages; they need delivery.”
“It also means that the Executive and the Finance Minister must ensure that the appropriate funding is made available to support the delivery of the anti-poverty strategy going forward. At present, no additional funding has been allocated to implement —.”
“The Committee report rightly also highlights child poverty, including evidence that more than 110,000 children across Northern Ireland live in poverty. That should be a concern for every Member of the House. No child should have their life chances limited by the circumstances in which they are born. Of course, that cannot be achieved by the Department for Communities alone. It is not simply a DFC strategy; it must be an Executive strategy. The Department for the Economy has a role in jobs and skills; the Department of Education has a role in attainment and opportunity; the Department of Health has a role in addressing barriers to employment; and the Department for Infrastructure has a role in access to work, training and services. All of those things are reasons why it is important that all Departments are brought fully into the strategy.”
“We must also, of course, be clear that tackling poverty cannot simply be about handing out money. Support will always be necessary for those who need it most, but, as a society, we also need to focus on creating wealth, growing opportunity and building an economy where people can provide for themselves and for their families.”
“The draft strategy is rightly focused on practical outcomes; on work and employment as the best route out of poverty; and on the need to make work pay. If we are serious about tackling poverty, we must also be honest about what works. Sustainable employment remains one of the most effective ways to lift people and families out of poverty, but that must mean decent, stable work that pays and provides dignity, purpose and a genuine route to a better standard of living.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Committee's 'Report on Engagement with Local Government on the draft Anti-Poverty Strategy'. I thank the Chair for outlining what is contained in the report, including the proposals. The Committee's report makes it clear that councils are already doing significant work on the ground to support people who face poverty. Councils are involved in emergency hardship support, social supermarkets, labour market partnerships and local interventions, which are often delivered closest to the people who are most in need. That local insight is, of course, incredibly valuable, and it should help to shape the final strategy. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the work of the Communities Minister.”
“The departmental officials also worked incredibly well with the Committee in order come to agreement on many of the amendments that were suggested during our scrutiny of the Bill; that was very welcome. Lastly, I thank the Committee Clerk and team who facilitated the many witnesses throughout the process and managed the process to this stage.”
“Preparatory work on that must be progressed at pace, because, as I have said before, the victims and survivors have waited long enough. They need clarity, recognition and a process that works for them. The Bill cannot undo the past, but it can make an important step towards truth, accountability and redress. <BR /> <BR />I put on record my thanks to the departmental officials and both junior Ministers for the vast amount of work that has been done. I am grateful for the good engagement throughout with the people who matter most — the victims and survivors — many of whom are here today to see the legislation reach another milestone in its progress through the House.”
“However, any expansion of eligibility has to be considered carefully in respect of fairness, consistency and the overall operation of the scheme. I welcome the clarity that the junior Minister gave on that particular matter. <BR /> <BR />This group of amendments goes to the heart of entitlement and payment. I fully understand why Members wish to test whether the scheme should go further. Those issues are not easy. However, the key responsibility of the House is to ensure that the redress scheme is clear, fair, trauma-informed, evidence-led and capable of being delivered without further unnecessary delay. The standardised payment scheme is not the end of that process. The future harm-based individual payment scheme will also be vital.”
“Families were affected in different ways, and the loss experienced by relatives should not be ignored.”
“<BR /> <BR />Amendment No 45 relates to three children's homes and raises the issue of whether further institutions should be added to schedule 2. I welcome the clarity from junior Minister Bunting on the amendment and why it is not appropriate. Where evidence supports the inclusion of further institutions, there must be a clear, transparent and evidence-led route for that to happen. The Bill already contains a mechanism for relevant institutions and relevant years to be set out and amended. The key point is that decisions on inclusion must be based on evidence, handled transparently and communicated clearly to victims and survivors. I thank the Chair of the Committee for her contribution on the topic. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 46 raises the question of who should be treated as an eligible relative. That is another sensitive issue.”
“It matters because the scheme must reach elderly victims and survivors, those living outside Northern Ireland and those who may only become aware of their eligibility later in life. The Assembly should have a clear role in considering whether the time frame remains appropriate. We therefore welcome the amendment. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 44, which has been tabled by the Department, provides a technical correction. The amendment to schedule 2 replaces "House" with "Hostel". It may appear minor, but accuracy matters in legislation of this nature. The names and descriptions of institutions must be correct not only for legal certainty but out of respect for those with lived experience that is connected to them.”
“That is a deeply sensitive issue, particularly where a victim or survivor has died before receiving truth, recognition or redress. The position of families deserves sensitivity. At the same time, any change to the level of payment would have wider implications for the structure of the scheme and how it will operate. The central aim must remain that the process is fair, clear and capable of being delivered. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 34 strengthens Assembly oversight of any extension to the application period. As drafted, the Bill provides for a three-year application window, with the possibility of extending that to up to five years. Amendment No 34 requires such an extension to be approved by the Assembly. That provides for proper scrutiny, and I welcome it.”
“I put on record the fact that no amount of money can ever properly reflect the harm suffered, nor should it ever attempt to do so. Indeed, it is important to remember that the payment is standardised, and it is not to address the harm. It is, however, a way to recognise the shame and stigma that were so wrongly imposed on those who were placed in those institutions. The purpose of that element is to create a standardised payment that can be delivered in a clear and accessible way and, I trust, at speed. As has been mentioned, there is a future harm-based individual payment scheme to consider. That scheme will be the appropriate place for more detailed individual assessment, and I trust that the preparatory work for it will be progressed with urgency. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 33 deals with payments to eligible relatives.”
“However, the Bill, as drafted, creates a standardised redress payment, and that structure is intended to provide recognition without requiring every applicant to go through a detailed, individual assessment of harm at this stage. Any movement away from that standardised structure would have wider implications for consistency, administration and delivery. Those matters have to be considered very carefully, particularly when victims and survivors have already waited so long. <BR /> <BR />On amendment No 31 in the name of Sinéad McLaughlin, I very much welcome that the standardised payment will be set in legislation. We have heard much evidence on that. The DUP will not be opposing the £12,000 payment. I thank the Member for her amendment and for outlining the reasons behind it.”
“That distinction is important. It helps us to ensure that the standardised redress scheme is focused on the circumstances that it was designed to address, and it helps to avoid uncertainty in the consideration of applications. There will have been women who entered some of those institutions for what would we all recognise as healthcare that you would expect to receive in any hospital. The legislation was not designed to cater for them, and it is good that the amendment provides that clear distinction. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 30 refers to more than one payment where someone was admitted to more than one institution or qualifies in more than one way. The amendment raises an issue that many people understand emotionally, particularly where an individual has experience of more than one institution.”
“It also clarifies that that does not include shelter or maintenance that was only:”
“and that the primary purpose of the mother's admission was:”
“The purpose of the amendment is to make the entitlement provisions clearer and avoid duplication in the clause. Amendment Nos 28 and 29 are also to clause 31, which concerns the redress payment entitlement. Amendment No 28 will link entitlement to the new conditions that are set out in amendment No 29. Amendment No 29 will provide further detail. It makes it clear that the person must have been:”
“I thank the Committee Chair for all her work and for outlining the Committee's work in such detail today. I will not repeat what she said or seek to draw out the debate for any longer than is necessary, but it is important to recognise, as has been made clear, that the legislation deals with facilitating the much-needed and long-awaited public inquiry and making provision for an admission-based redress payment. It is not a harm-based payment at this stage. That will come later, once the inquiry has done its work on individually assessed payments. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 25 will remove subsection (3) of clause 31. On its own, the amendment appears to be technical, but it needs to be read alongside the later amendments, which restructure that clause and more clearly set out the relevant conditions.”
“They relate to one of the most sensitive areas of the Bill, which deals with entitlement to redress and the amount to be paid. At the outset, I acknowledge the victims and survivors, who have waited too long for truth, recognition and redress. No payment can ever undo the harm that was caused, and no scheme can restore what was taken from people. The Bill can, however, provide formal recognition, a route to redress and a process that is clear, accessible and trauma-informed. <BR /> <BR />Throughout its scrutiny of the Bill, the Committee heard extensive evidence, including on concerns about eligibility, the adequacy of the standardised payment and the importance of ensuring that the process does not become overly complex or retraumatising.”
“This is an incredibly important day, as we consider the proposed amendments to the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill. I also came to the legislation at a later stage in the process, when the Committee was scrutinising the Bill. I declare an interest, in that I was a junior Minister along with junior Minister Reilly when the legislation was introduced. I thank both junior Ministers for their ongoing work on the Bill, because it is incredibly important. This is highly sensitive legislation, and I think that it is fair to say that all parties are united in welcoming the Bill's progress. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the opportunity to speak to the group 2 amendments.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Does he find it ironic that Sinn Féin continually talks about social housing as a top priority, yet, when it came to the draft Budget, the proposed allocation from the Sinn Féin Finance Minister did not come even remotely close to delivering what it had agreed in the housing supply strategy and, indeed, in the Programme for Government?”
“Robust challenging is expected to be a fair and necessary part of those proceedings, but that cannot be replaced by personal attacks that are peddled as legitimate political activity or some variation of truth. <BR /> <BR />Let me state, for the avoidance of doubt and to help those behind that pathetic activity, that I am in full support of the Communities Minister and believe that, like me, he is more than willing to demonstrate tolerance, accountability and cooperation at Committee and in the Chamber, providing, of course, that our voices are allowed to be heard in the first place.”
“In an era when it is difficult to put anything on social media without facing a barrage of abuse, especially as a woman, I ask the First Minister to call out that dishonest, childish and malicious behaviour that was, without doubt, inspired by Sinn Féin's coordinated, personal attack on the Communities Minister, who is being demonised for delivering for more than one side of the community. <BR /> <BR />Having served on many Committees in the Northern Ireland Assembly over many years, I have never experienced anything like the debacle that was dressed up as a scrutiny Committee last week. It saddens me, because we are all responsible for what the public witness in this place.”
“<BR /> <BR />Thursday's Committee session was a complete farce because of the TikTok-making theme of pelting words at the Minister and then continually interrupting and speaking over him and, laughably, trying to pretend that it was a form of scrutiny. I must put it on record, however, that no Committee member was involved in that other than the Sinn Féin members.”
“While I understand and accept that the use of social media clips to highlight a disagreement or offer a differing view is part and parcel of political discourse in the House, I am disgusted by the post and ask why it was deemed necessary. Perhaps it was inspired by the behaviour of the Chair and Deputy Chair, who seem content to heap abuse on members of my party simply for doing their job with honesty and openness. Perhaps they were buoyed by the Chair's comment that members would decide what facts they believed, while disregarding the actual evidence and deciding to post a fabricated video to support the Sinn Féin narrative.”
“Last Friday, Sinn Féin's official youth wing posted a video clip online that, it insinuated, was a statement made by me attacking the Communities Minister during a Committee session. The post described the statement as "not AI", implying that it was therefore factual. The post has received many comments and views. Its intention was clearly to bring negative, unwanted personal attention towards me and to intimidate, humiliate and gag me. It will do nothing of the sort. It was a complete misrepresentation of the facts. I quoted word for word the inaccurate and fabricated statement of the Committee Chair, Colm Gildernew, from the Sinn Féin website. <BR /> <BR />I ask that the First Minister, Michelle O'Neill, ensures that the post is removed and that she distances herself from that potentially defamatory content.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer and, indeed, for the time that she gave so generously last week when she met the family. Does she agree that it should not be necessary for an MLA to make representations to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), to her as Justice Minister and, indeed, to the Criminal Bar Association in order to see appropriate attention given to a case as traumatic and serious as the one in question? Will the Minister give me an assurance that she will do all in her power to ensure that the case comes to a conclusion on 29 June, before the summer recess?”