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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“It should also be noted that private diagnosis at a private clinic often logically ties families into costly post-diagnostic early interventions. <BR /> <BR />Meanwhile, the postcode lottery continues between our five health and social care trusts, with families reporting huge service inconsistencies depending on which side of the health and social care boundary you live. We also know from research that families living with autism already make financial sacrifices, with many carers being forced to move to part-time employment options. That leads to many parents and carers having increased stress, depression and anxiety compared with the general population, and that is compounded by the lack of access to professional expertise due to the Executive's long-term failure to invest in autism training and resources.”
“Obviously, that corresponds with the lack of investment in leadership, motivation and resources during a period of accelerating prevalence. <BR /> <BR />Another important issue is the current financial cost to families. Private autism diagnosis clinics are on the rise as parents turn in desperation to any service they can to access timely diagnosis and intervention. Many families cannot afford that route and are getting into debt to find answers and get help. That is damning evidence of the failure of our Health and Social Care (HSC) sector, which should be free and timely at the point of need for autistic individuals. The fact that a private diagnosis is recognised by our health and social care trusts, whereas 10 years ago it was not, can be interpreted only as an admission of not having the capacity to meet the need.”
“Ninety-two per cent of respondents supported the need for an independent scrutiny mechanism as they believe that scrutiny, transparency and research in relation to autism services are inadequate. Ninety-five per cent of respondents supported a cross-departmental accredited autism training strategy that is coordinated to target key staff and reduce costly duplication. Ninety-four per cent of respondents highlighted concerns and the need for consistent adult autism services. Similar support was evident in the consultation for assessment and post-diagnostic services to be consistent across trusts. Most significantly, there has been overwhelming concern that the situation regarding support services has become worse.”
“That has created serious funding imbalance for conditions such as autism that require educational, social and community intervention. The Autism Act (NI) 2011 requirement for an autism awareness campaign has been replaced by an optional in-house intranet exercise and coffee mornings instead of the implementation of the initiatives recommended by the NI autism strategy's research advisory committee. <BR /> <BR />The impact of all that is best summarised by the reaction to the October 2020 public consultation on the Autism (Amendment) Bill that we are debating. The public consultation received in excess of 1,800 responses, making it the highest response to draft legislation in Northern Ireland's history. The high response rate is a huge indicator of the level of concern.”
“We have a letter from the Health Minister acknowledging that his Department does not know why there are such inconsistencies from trust to trust. <BR /> <BR />No Department has submitted any new bids for funding for autism services in the last 10 years. The autism prevalence report produced by the Department of Health now reflects that we have the highest autism prevalence rate in the world, with one in 22 school-age children having a diagnosis of autism. No new funding was attached to the Autism Act (NI) 2011 implementation. The only published new recurrent funding injection was in 2016, when £2 million was allocated to the Health Department towards diagnosis. <BR /> <BR />The Department of Health maintains a medical rather than a social model of disability.”
“<BR /> <BR />The all-party group on autism has, as a consequence, gathered evidence confirming that only one of the three action plans in the mandated Northern Ireland autism strategy has been completed; the Northern Ireland autism strategy progress reports are extremely subjective, generic and absent of any measurable outcomes or targets; no independent research or evaluations have been generated to assist discovery, planning or delivery; and a well-publicised plan by the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) to initiate an independent study to explore the differential rates of diagnosis across the five health and social care trusts was never implemented. Answers to Assembly questions submitted by members of the all-party group on autism confirm that the causes of diagnostic inconsistencies across trusts remain unknown.”
“My comments today will leave many of us not proud but ashamed at our failure in oversight. A lack of accountability, scrutiny, motivation and leadership by those entrusted with implementing the landmark legislation has meant that a uniquely mandated national strategy has not been actioned despite annual departmental promises of renewed and refreshed actions or intentions to the contrary. <BR /> <BR />In 2016, the all-party group on autism sponsored the launch of the 'Broken Promises' report published by Autism NI and the National Autistic Society NI. That report remains the only objective, independent evaluation of the post-Autism Act era. The damning concerns highlighted by the report were further investigated by the all-party group on autism during the three-year suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Publications were launched, and delegations met counterparts in the US Congress, Westminster, the Dáil, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly. The Celtic Nations Autism Partnership was formed, which was a coalition of indigenous national autism charities in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and it acted as a facilitator during that time. <BR /> <BR />All that work represents nearly two decades of political action on autism, and that is the legacy that I refer to. There are Members here today who were an integral and vital part of that journey. However, the reality is very different from what we anticipated. Ten years after the introduction of the Autism Act, I stand here to remind Members that a key pillar of the original Act has failed.”
“It was also the first legislation passed by the Assembly that mandated cross-departmental service planning and delivery across adult and children's services. As such, it predated the Children's Services Co-operation Act by four years. The 2011 Act was ahead of its time, and it mandated a recurrent seven-year NI autism strategy across all Departments. Unlike other strategies, the implementation of the strategy was a legal requirement. <BR /> <BR />The all-party group on autism, established in 2008, evolved from a network of MLAs in the Assembly who had been lobbied by Autism NI over the previous seven years. The period was characterised by evidence gathering with grassroots parent organisations that linked all our constituencies and by the building of international partnerships.”
“As chairperson of the all-party group (APG) on autism, I am conscious of the legacy of political action that I lean on; in particular, I refer to the late John Fee MLA, who brought the first debates on autism before the House, and to the dedication of Dominic Bradley, a former MLA and chairperson of the all-party group on autism, who saw his private Member's Bill on autism pass into law in 2011 and emerge as the most comprehensive, lifelong, cross-departmental, equality, single disability legislation worldwide. <BR /> <BR />When the Autism Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 was introduced, it amended the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to recognise and protect the rights of people with autism: autism could no longer be ignored or denied.”
“Let us all continue to encourage those who are able to do so to take up the offer of vaccination and hopefully free up some vital hospital resources to allow critical life-saving surgery and treatment for non-COVID conditions to resume at pace, while remembering to continue to wash hands, sanitise and wear face coverings as required, because we are all in this together and everyone has role to play. I commend the regulations to the House.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also welcome the relaxation on the use of face coverings in places of worship. I know from conversations with constituents that that has been greatly appreciated and is seen as another step, hopefully, towards normality. <BR /> <BR />While case numbers remain high, we need to continue to strike a balance between returning freedoms and moving towards normality and protecting people and the health service. Key to that progress will be the public's continuing to get vaccinated. By now, we have all heard that the vast majority of those who are sick with COVID in hospitals are unvaccinated.”
“Over the summer, because of the rule changes, it has been encouraging to see pubs, gastropubs, restaurants and cafes reopen. People are glad to be back out again, experiencing the very best of what local facilities have to offer, socialising and taking care of their mental health. However, restaurants have also closed, never to open their doors again. We need to continue to meet the needs of industry to help more businesses to survive. Key to that is amendment No. 13, which reduces social distancing to 1 metre in hospitality venues. Likewise, the amendment that allows live music is also essential. Amazing local artists use pubs as a platform to propel their careers. Again, those musicians need that platform to make a living. That is most welcome after such a prolonged period for those individuals.”
“The strain that has been inflicted on the arts and on artists themselves has been substantial. <BR /> <BR />I declare an interest as the wife of a playwright and secretary to my husband's production company. Right across the creative industry, which was booming in Northern Ireland pre pandemic, it will be hard to recover from the loss of livelihoods and the closure of venues. I welcome the long-awaited reopening of theatres and concert halls under the amendment No. 12 regulations. Those venues bring people together, break down barriers and enrich society. We need them to be open and to stay open, not just for the venues to survive but for the artists who perform in them and whose livelihoods depend on those venues remaining open. <BR /> <BR />In previous debates, I often talked about the hospitality industry.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I also put on record that my thoughts and prayers are with Councillor Paul Hamill's family as they go through this difficult period of grief. <BR /> <BR />Since we last met in this place, we have made proportionate progress in the easing of restrictions. That has helped us to move towards the normalisation of society that we all crave, while not forgetting the public health dangers that still lurk across the country. I have an interest in the arts and enjoy an evening in some of the many excellent hospitality venues in my constituency of South Antrim and across Belfast. With the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021 (Amendment No. 12) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2021, we have seen those sectors open up again.”
“I put on record that my thoughts and sympathies are with all those families who have lost a loved one during the entirety of the pandemic, which we know continues to plague, not least of all —.”
“That is the most important ingredient in increasing the availability of organs. I suggest respectfully that we do not wait for the outcome of the legislation but prepare now to meet the needs of those who wait for organs today.”
“I trust that this debate stimulates those critical conversations and that, once a decision has been made, it is clearly communicated for the peace of mind of all involved. <BR /> <BR />I put on record my gratitude and appreciation to the many individuals and organisations who have campaigned passionately to bring the Bill to this stage. I think in particular of young Dáithí Mac Gabhann and his parents, whom I met, along with the Chair, in my first meeting as Deputy Chair of the Health Committee. <BR /> <BR />On this, the first day of Organ Donation Week 2021, I urge everyone to join the organ donor register and have that conversation with your families. I call on the Health Minister to look at ways of ramping up organ donation education and awareness across all age groups in society.”
“Given that the rates of family consent for donation remain low, with 35% of families in Scotland and England having refused consent for donation between 2018 and 2019, it is vital that we know the wishes of our loved ones. <BR /> <BR />I have often talked about what I believe to be the most important issue around organ donation. Whether we opt in or out, for me the most important issue is awareness of the subject. The Bill provides a further opportunity to create debate and discussion on this most sensitive of subjects. That is a good thing, and, for most of us, the most important thing is to be clear on the wishes of friends and family at the end of life. Who among us would not want those wishes to become reality?”
“<BR /> <BR />I reiterate my support for the intentions of the Bill, but we need additional clarity on the points that I have raised and that colleagues around the Chamber will highlight in the debate.”
“I thank my colleague for that intervention. I agree wholeheartedly with that position. I remember looking at a similar issue on a previous Health Committee. I was very conscious that many clinicians were nervous around this type of legislation at that point. They were very keen to see the results from Wales and the impact that that would have on the availability of organs. Having that conversation is vital. The most important thing that we as individuals can do is to be very clear with our families, friends and loved ones so that, should the opportunity arise — the Health Minister said that it is probably a very slim opportunity — our wishes are fully known and protected.”
“Another key issue as we explore how this would work is the role of clinicians. We need to ensure that we protect our medical professionals from additional pressure, such as potential challenge. We need further clarity on whether clinicians are likely to move ahead with a donation even though someone in a qualifying relationship cannot present evidence that their loved one would not have consented. In the same vein, we need to be clear around the definition of "information" or "recorded evidence" that would be accepted for the purposes of demonstrating someone's wishes. It is a difficult time for those mourning the loss of a loved one; it is a time when additional stress and strain are not needed.”
“Those are welcome exclusions, but further clarity is needed in a number of areas. We must have a clear understanding of the significance of family consent, which, traditionally, is lower than the overall rate of support for organ donation. Furthermore, the definition of "qualifying relationship" in the context of family consent must be clarified. Who falls into that category? Is it open to challenge and dispute among families, for example? We must also have provision for when a family member cannot be reached under the Bill's approach. In Scotland, the presumption seems to be that donation can proceed. What will the approach be in Northern Ireland, where many people have children who have moved away to study, work or live and are not always contactable easily or quickly?”
“I fully respect those who decide that organ donation is not for them. I encourage them to think again, but they are entitled to decide that, and that right must remain. Fundamentally, we must ensure that those who opt out are not stigmatised, pressurised or marginalised for exercising the rights that are made clear in the Bill. <BR /> <BR />The Bill includes a range of groups and situations that may arise, and I welcome that. The Bill will not apply to adults in certain categories or circumstances, including people who lack the capability to fully understand the consequences of deemed consent for a "significant period" before dying. No changes are proposed to the rules on consent to organ donation in respect of children under 18. It will not cover those:”
“I rise to speak on my own behalf to support the principles of the Bill. I do so after considered thought. I am very conscious of the sensitivities around the issues at the core of the Organ and Tissue Donation (Deemed Consent) Bill. <BR /> <BR />We all know someone who has required an organ donation to improve their quality of life or, indeed, to save their life. That life giving at a time when life is ending is one of the truly inspiring things about organ donation. New or better life can come as the result of the loss of another. Hope and maybe even a little comfort can come from sadness and grief. <BR /> <BR />Broadly speaking, we talk of presumed consent, which is consent that has to be actively withdrawn in order to stop organs being donated. At the core, there remains choice, rights and the ability not to be a part of this.”
“We need to see proper resurfacing schemes instead of surface dressing or patching, more money for rural road recovery programmes and investment in improving pavements where surfaces are uneven and have become dangerous for certain users. Our constituents may note the debate and listen to plenty of talking, but what they want from the Minister is delivery, so I urge the Minister to deliver for my constituents in South Antrim.”
“They are really good and are responsive in addressing all the issues that we, as elected representatives, raise with them. Again, those are issues such as potholes and emergency repairs to things that pose an immediate danger. The staff are dedicated to their roles and to delivering the best service possible with the resources given to them. However, I stress the need for greater financial resource to be made available. <BR /> <BR />I know that the Minister has priorities in Belfast and other major urban areas, but we need to see rural areas benefit too from our budget. Rural communities are long awaiting proper attention to their roads. Roads such as those in South Antrim should not be at the bottom of the priority list.”
“<BR /> <BR />In more residential streets, such as Sherwood and Fairview in Newtownabbey or very close to my home near the Dublin Road estate in Antrim, a number of locations have been the source of many pothole reports over recent years. Also, the state of footpaths and, indeed, disabled access are issues. The need for quality dropped kerbs and safe routes for mobility scooters is just one example. We have many regular complaints in many areas of South Antrim about all these issues. The list could go on, and I have raised many more issues with the Department in recent months. <BR /> <BR />Like my colleague, I put on record my thanks to staff on the ground in the Antrim and Newtownabbey district office, who do their best.”
“<BR /> <BR />We are now left to address this situation, and I have several examples of where we need investment, particularly in resurfacing. In the Ballyclare area and surrounding villages, numerous locations need further attention. A resurfacing scheme is badly needed on the main Hillhead Road into Ballyclare and on Rashee Road, both of which are main arterial routes, of course, and very heavily used by commuters. In the more rural areas, residents in places such as Grange Road in Parkgate, Ahoghill Road in Randalstown and Moyra Road in Burnside have regularly been in touch with my office to complain about the poor condition of the roads and some poor path and pothole repairs carried out by contractors.”
“I also thank my colleague Trevor Clarke for securing the Adjournment debate this evening. Obviously, this is a matter that needs focus, a plan and sufficient investment. There needs to be a marked change in the conditions in South Antrim for all road users and for the residents. I suspect that, as my colleague mentioned, Members representing every constituency in this place could propose a similar debate, particularly those of us elected to represent large rural areas. At times, in our role as MLAs and on personal business, we visit other parts of the country, and we see the same issues everywhere: potholes, uneven surfaces, lack of adequate road markings and dangerous junctions. So much needs to be done.”
“My colleague Arlene Foster submitted a question last week to ask whether, given Her Majesty's Government's announcements on social care, the Department had any plans to replicate the proposed cap on the cost of social care for residents in Northern Ireland. Perhaps the Minister can give some clarity today. <BR /> <BR />Is there not a moral obligation on the Department to look at the cases of many people in nursing homes across Northern Ireland who were not even made aware of their eligibility for continuing healthcare before the policy was scrapped?”
“I thank the Minister for making himself available to the House to answer questions on this incredibly important topic. Many across NI will, rightly, be concerned at how their caring needs are going to be met now and in the future. <BR /> <BR />The Marie Curie response to the consultation on continuing healthcare in Northern Ireland, specifically on option three, which was to introduce a single eligibility criteria question, which was the Department's preferred option and has now been introduced, was:”
“I beg to introduce the Autism (Amendment) Bill [NIA 31/17-22] which is a Bill to amend the Autism Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.”
“I welcome the opportunity to get an update from the Minister on the very concerning news from the Northern Trust. Given the distress that the recall will cause the affected patients, clear and speedy communication is of utmost importance. Will the Minister give us an assurance that patients will be regularly and properly updated throughout the review process should concerns arise relating to their particular case?”
“We want a generation of responsible drinkers who are aware of the dangers but also the responsibilities. <BR /> <BR />While I am late to joining the Committee, it would be remiss of me not to thank the officials and Committee staff who have done so much work on this significant legislation. I also thank the Chair, Deputy Chair and all the Committee members who have done so much work on the Bill. I am not sad to have missed the 3.00 am night shift debate, but we are grateful to those Members who were here to see that process completed. <BR /> <BR />The legislation is a long time coming, but it is timely, nonetheless. As the tourism and hospitality industry embarks on its recovery post COVID-19, we wish it all the best going forward.”
“The Bill strikes a balance between supporting the economy and protecting health, but we cannot wait for another 25 years to see the outcome of the legislation. We must continually review practices and the law to ensure that we have not exacerbated the problems associated with alcohol misuse in our society. <BR /> <BR />One of the Bill's greatest benefits is that it may well shift people away from unregulated problem drinking at home and more towards the regulated sphere of local licensed premises. In my experience, the landlord is someone who looks after their patrons, and licensed premises are a much more controlled environment. <BR /> <BR />The Bill has been through significant consultation, and I particularly welcome the strong focus in the passage of the Bill on consultation, not least with young people.”
“<BR /> <BR />I recognise that the change in licensing laws around holiday periods will cause concern for some, but we need to strike that balance and recognise consumer demand and expectations around certain holiday periods and the impact on tourism. <BR /> <BR />All of us have seen the damaging impact that alcohol can have on people's lives. Excessive consumption destroys health and relationships. Day and daily, our hospitals and health service face the consequences of alcohol misuse. It costs hundreds of millions of pounds per year to treat the consequences of alcohol misuse and addiction in our society. <BR /> <BR />It is of some comfort that the Bill does not give any great latitude to exacerbating the problem.”
“I welcome today's legislative milestone and the progress that it represents for our licensing laws. For our hospitality and tourism industry, this day has been long-awaited. As we respond to the needs of that industry, we are all the more aware of the need to support it to fully recover from the impact of COVID-19, to protect the jobs of thousands of people employed across those sectors and to create the conditions to see further job creation and revenue generation. I hope that the Bill and its long-awaited reforms of Northern Ireland's licensing laws will be a boost for our hospitality industry after such a challenging period.”
“<BR /> <BR />I want the best for my constituents, and I am sure that the Minister does too, but the reality is that we are offering some people homes that are simply not good enough and that, if we are honest, we would not live in. How dare we do that. The time to address the issue is now. No more kicking the can down the road — now.”
“We also need to look at how, across local and central government, we can work more closely with the environmental health teams to tackle the problem. We also need to get the powers to take the necessary action to fix the problems when issues around ownership occur. <BR /> <BR />I know of one example where a Housing Executive property is now experiencing damp because the adjacent property has been vacated by the private owner for some seven to eight years and the place has been left to ruin. Charges exist against the property, and all interested parties are washing their hands of addressing the problem. That is not good enough for the tenant who lives next door.”
“When mushrooms are growing on walls and wallpaper is falling off as soon as it is hung, it tells us that we are failing our neighbours and that we must strive for better. <BR /> <BR />Recently, the problems facing Housing Executive tenants in the New Mossley estate in my constituency were highlighted in the local media. Those residents are at their wits' end awaiting repair work to their homes after multiple inspections and promises of a scheme to address extensive damage caused by damp over several years. I urge the Housing Executive to ensure that the long-overdue maintenance work takes place at the earliest opportunity. There should be no more delays. <BR /> <BR />We need a clear pathway and a targeted programme of intervention from the Minister to address the damp crisis in our social housing stock.”
“My friend and colleague the Member for North Down Mr Easton asked the Minister, last November, how many claims against the Housing Executive had been made in relation to damp in the preceding 10 years. There had been 869 claims. Indeed, my friend and colleague from South Belfast Mr Christopher Stalford, who is in the Speaker's Chair, ascertained from the Minister that, from February 2020 until February 2021, a total of 2,121 defects associated with damp had been reported to the Housing Executive, with a further 55 connected to housing associations. Those figures are startling. They show the prevalence and seriousness of the issue and how it is affecting so many people day and daily. What does it say about government that it is letting people live in homes like that? These are not just houses; they are homes.”
“Traditionally, lung disease has a low profile in both the public mind and the healthcare system, even though nearly twice as many people per day are diagnosed with respiratory disease than are diagnosed with non-respiratory cancers. Lung disease is costing over £250 million a year in Northern Ireland, and, prior to the pandemic, nearly 2,000 people died every year of respiratory diseases. Kellie Armstrong has already mentioned that damp and mould are key triggers for asthma attacks and can also lead to rare lung conditions. It is a fact that, if you have damp and mould in your home, you are more likely to develop respiratory problems. No individual or family should be put at such a health disadvantage by their landlord, yet it is to the Housing Executive's shame that it does that. <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, it is all too common.”
“I support the motion. I thank my party colleagues for securing the debate on an important subject. <BR /> <BR />As constituency representatives, we all deal with Housing Executive tenants daily. The range of issues can be varied, as indeed can the experience of dealing with the Housing Executive to get a remedy to the issues raised. I must say that I find the issue before us today — damp in Housing Executive properties — to be one of the most serious matters. <BR /> <BR />The health impact of living in such conditions ought to prompt swift and decisive action from the Housing Executive, as the responsible landlord. Nearly one in five people in Northern Ireland is affected by a lung condition, and those conditions can be COPD, asthma, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), sleep apnoea, long COVID and severe asthma, amongst others.”
“The public desperately need to move on and should not be penalised by the refusal of the party opposite to nominate to the role of deputy First Minister <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I commend the Health Minister for his ongoing work in keeping us safe in the pandemic. I must put it on record that Robin Swann is not dangerous. As we continue to remain vigilant to the new variant, I trust that, at the same time, we can work towards recovery. For me, that will include a full resumption and a transformation of our incredible health service.”
“The SRs also indicate a significant step forward in the resumption of normal activity. The reopening of our local hospitality, accommodation, leisure and other sectors is a vital step forward. I commend my colleague Diane Dodds for her work on ensuring that that has happened. It is also worth reinforcing the importance of wearing face masks. While compliance is still very high, I have noticed some slippage in mask wearing. I urge the public to remain committed to the "Hands. Face. Space" message. <BR /> <BR />Will the Minister outline what will happen with easements and restrictions come Thursday?”
“Many travel agents, many of whom are self-employed, are in dire straits, with no end to travel restrictions in sight. I urge the Executive to continue to provide that much-needed support. Likewise, we must keep that channel of communication open for our airports, such as the International Airport, which is in my constituency, and meet their ongoing needs. Connectivity is vital to our economic recovery, and, as we have seen this week, that connectivity is fragile. We cannot afford to lose it.”
“I support the regulations. It is regrettable that our travel industry remains so badly affected by the pandemic. We must continue to do all that we can to protect our constituents from countries where COVID is still prevalent, given that people incoming from such nations add to the risk. As we move forward, we need to look at how the information about green lists and so on is communicated. We need to ensure that the public have clarity on what travel is allowed, the implications of travel and the impact that it has in terms of cost and quarantine. <BR /> <BR />We must also look at support for our travel industry. It has been decimated by COVID restrictions, and we need to assess the ongoing impact on it and provide support.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Does he agree that health will need to be a high priority for budgetary allocations in future to properly address the horrendous waiting lists and to deliver the health transformation that is so badly needed, which may mean a tightening of the purse strings for less important political projects?”
“So many have paid a huge price for the restrictions placed on the delivery of healthcare in the last 12 months: cancer patients, stroke victims and heart surgery candidates, to name but a very few. It is now time to give priority to them, politically and pecuniarily.”