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 First Minister for her answer. Will she give an assurance for businesses in particular that, as COVID data continues to improve, economic recovery will be an ever-increasing focus of the Executive?”
“I thank the Health Minister for his statement. I welcome any ramping up of services and reform of our health service. There are many people waiting for cancer operations or diagnostic tests to detect cancer and other potentially fatal diseases, but there are also many people waiting for routine elective surgery. Those people are living in agony, and some have been waiting for a year for the vital healthcare that they so require. In the plan for an elective care framework, how does the Minister envisage elective care being given significant enough recurrent funding to effectively reduce waiting lists and meet targets to bring the numbers to more acceptable levels?”
“He has provided the template and set the standard for all those who do likewise. As he might have pointed out, with a little more directness than I, we might learn not to wait until we are 99 years of age before being able to speak some kind words about one another. My thoughts and prayers today are with the Queen and the royal family as they mourn their great personal loss.”
“Remarkably, shortly after the assassination of President Kennedy, it was Prince Philip who was found on the floor of the White House playing with the slain President's infant son, who had become upset because he had no one to play with any more. Those are wonderful qualities that show that, at heart, he was, in private, a man who cared deeply for those around him, even if, sometimes, his public manner suggested otherwise. His ability to care for younger generations was no doubt the driving force behind the incredible scheme that bears his name and which has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people. <BR /> <BR />Perhaps, in his passing, the Duke of Edinburgh offers a final lesson to those of us who serve in public office: there is no greater privilege than to serve.”
“He was a war hero, a pilot, a naval commander, a top-class sportsman, a pioneering champion of wildlife and nature, an author and a philosopher. He was a man who, despite seemingly having no barriers to what he might achieve in his chosen career, made the choice to step back and instead devote his entire life to serving Queen and country, knowing full well all that that would entail for his ambition and complicated family history. <BR /> <BR />It was fascinating to learn that that seasoned war hero was also the first to offer support to the younger generations who followed him into a royal life of service. He was the first to provide comfort to William and Harry on the death of their mother, Diana.”
“I am very grateful for this opportunity to pay tribute to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who has died aged 99, having given, quite literally, a lifetime of service to his country and the wider Commonwealth. One of the saddest things when it comes to someone passing away is that it is only when they have gone that we offer the deserved words of celebration and recognition of a life well lived. It is only then that we set the record straight with a narrative that is much more reflective of the person rather than the headlines written about them. That is why, over the past few days, it has been an absolute joy to hear from those who knew him best about exactly what type of man the duke was. He achieved more in his lifetime than most of us ever will.”
“I recognise that a difficult task lies ahead for all of us to make it a success, but it is most necessary. As an Assembly, we must take a firm stance against all forms of violence. Our justice system must get tougher on violence against women and girls. We cannot have a light-touch approach to perpetrators and abusers.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I fully agree with his comments. We must call out harmful behaviour and attitudes from wherever they come. <BR /> <BR />I welcome all the steps being taken to initiate a strategy to tackle violence against women and girls.”
“Women need to have confidence that any report of violence and abuse will be taken seriously, that they will not be victim-blamed and that the perpetrator will not be able to harm them any more. Education is vital in tackling negative and toxic attitudes towards women. Our young people need to be educated about healthy relationships, how to recognise dangerous and coercive behaviour and where to turn to for help. As a society, we should address and never tolerate attempts to victim-blame, excuse or justify violence against women, and that includes those who perpetrated violence and who disappeared, murdered, maimed, abused and orphaned many women and girls under the guise of so-called political objectives during decades of terrorism in Northern Ireland.”
“All of that must be put in the context of a wider strategy to deal effectively with present issues and prepare for new challenges. Over the past few years, we have seen the emergence of new forms of abuse and violence against females, including cyberflashing, upskirting and revenge pornography, to name a few. There are increasing reports of abuse and extreme sexism in online forums and social media platforms, which is not recorded in official data. The pace of technological change means that evolving forms of crimes against women and girls are emerging. The key test of any strategy is how it identifies new trends as well as the volume and prevalence of offences. <BR />A strategy must also consider the importance of prevention and education.”
“My party colleague Lord Morrow's Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Further Provisions and Support for Victims) Bill received Royal Assent in 2015, yet referrals, prosecutions and convictions for human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women remain unacceptably low in our Province. We need to ensure that the existing tools are applied effectively by the judiciary to protect women and girls. The exploiters of women must feel the full force of the law and be made an example of, and a clear message must be sent that we will not tolerate their behaviour. <BR /> <BR />A strategy should include mechanisms for monitoring the success and outcomes of all paths and forthcoming legislation. By doing that, we can better identify what more can be done.”
“I hope the Act's powers of tougher sentencing will be properly utilised. Legislative progress on stalking and upskirting will also make a positive contribution to tackling some of the abuse faced by women in our society. I commend the Justice Minister and the Department for the progress made in those areas over the past year. There is, however, a risk that the current mechanisms to address harm against women and girls are not being used to full effect. Many will, rightly or wrongly, say that our justice system is not tough enough on criminals on a wide range of crimes. I have the same fear about how those who commit crimes targeting women are dealt with in the courts.”
“More long-term funding for core services in the community and voluntary sector will also be necessary to achieve many of the aims of a successful strategy. <BR /> <BR />PSNI crime and domestic violence statistics paint a frightening picture of the situation in Northern Ireland. In 1998-99, almost 900 sexual assaults on females were recorded; in 2019-20, that number had grown to over 1,400. The recent horrific murder of Sarah Everard in England and, indeed, the tragic killings in Newtownabbey on Friday have really brought home the issue of violence against women. Our justice system, police and other public services must be given every possible tool to tackle violence of that nature. <BR /> <BR />The recently passed Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act is an important step in the right direction.”
“I put on record my thanks to Women's Aid and other advocates who have consistently and passionately highlighted the need for stronger measures on the issue. The issues surrounding violence against women and domestic abuse have not disappeared during the COVID-19 pandemic; if anything, they have increased. A strategy must recognise our situation and the consequences of COVID-19 and lockdown on vulnerable women and, often, their children. The support given by organisations such as Women's Aid during the pandemic has been nothing short of phenomenal. They have adapted to the challenges and continued to support women and children across the country. Any steps to develop and implement a Northern Ireland strategy must be co-designed and must command the support of our committed and highly valued community and voluntary partners.”
“As a party, we fully support the calls for a Northern Ireland strategy on violence against women and girls. It is regrettable that Northern Ireland is the only part of the UK not to have such a strategy in place. That is worrying, as sexual and violent crime against females continues to rise, and it is astounding that, across the UK, one in five women will experience sexual assault during their lifetime. The Justice Minister's commitment to bring forward a paper to the Executive to kick-start the process of devising a violence against women and girls strategy is, therefore, not only welcome but long overdue.”
“My question also relates to the provision of sign language. The first language of the deaf community is not English or Irish but signing, and communication is very difficult. There is an equality issue around communication and access to information for the deaf community. Will the Commission be looking at the provision of sign language for plenary sittings, for example?”
“I thank the Member for his response. The decision has understandably caused great hurt and disrespect to thousands of victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland. Will the member outline exactly how consensus is determined and reached by the Assembly Commission?”
“<BR /> <BR />Let the coming weeks see the vigilance message continue to resonate, but let us match the public's sacrifice for so long now with an easing of restrictions and the much-needed freedom that so many people crave. The vast majority of the public are sensible and responsible, so let us treat them as such.”
“That welcome easing is going to be appreciated by many as we seek to address the issues of loneliness and mental health. We ought to consider, however, how larger families can also enjoy socialising with friends in their garden. <BR /> <BR />Looking ahead, the vaccination programme continues to make great strides. I commend all those involved. We look forward to Easter, and, in that vein, we need to offer people hope. A perpetual lockdown or unreasonably keeping restrictions in place will only damage public support for the wider health message. There are now many postcodes in Northern Ireland with no cases of COVID-19. We long for that to happen in more areas. As we know, communities will ask why they cannot sit for a coffee, get a much-needed haircut or take their kids swimming.”
“We have all witnessed bunged supermarkets, especially coming up to Mother's Day, and wonder why Diane Dodds's proposal was not accepted as a practical and safe option at the time. We must not unduly penalise local independent retailers when a sensible way forward is possible and does not compromise public health. <BR /> <BR />The regulations also increase the limit for outdoor gatherings from six to 10 people:”
“is a sensible approach, albeit, again, one with some illogical anomalies. <BR /> <BR />This week, many of our children have returned to school. I am sure that many will have tried on their uniform and shoes for the first time in months and realised that they do not fit. It is therefore rather illogical that a child's feet cannot be measured to allow for the correct new shoes to be purchased. <BR /> <BR />There are sensible accommodations in the regulations, such as allowing mobility cars to be collected, and we need more of those. Furthermore, it remains a matter of deep regret that the sensible proposal brought forward by my colleague the Economy Minister on click and collect from florists was not permitted.”
“— such as shops that sell baby equipment, clothing, footwear or electrical goods —”
“After the suspension for the National Day of Reflection, I will say that it is good to remember all those who have lost loved ones and friends and endured a very difficult year. As you have said, Mr Speaker, people have had a time of impossible, unnatural grieving. <BR /> <BR />I support the motion. As we continue to face the threat of COVID, albeit the threat is less severe, we need to recognise that restrictions must continue to be in place. An extension of the restrictions to 18 March was therefore quite sensible. <BR /> <BR />Given the lessening of the COVID threat and the reduced prevalence in our community, however, it is right that we look at the restrictions and find a sensible way out of the current measures that we call lockdown. The Executive decision to permit:”
“The DUP is a pro-life party that is focused on saving lives, not on taking them. The commissioning of abortion services is a cross-cutting matter. Indeed, there is nothing more controversial than this particular topic. It is quite ironic that Sinn Féin, whose MPs cannot even be bothered to take their seats at Westminster, seems happy to rely on UK Ministers to implement its oppressive abortion agenda. <BR /> <BR />Does the Minister agree that those who advocate the commissioning of radical abortion services without any robust scrutiny or due process are showing deep contempt for devolution and the need for consensus?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister. Will the Executive Office support a 24/7 roll-out of the vaccination programme if the supplies allow that in Northern Ireland in the near future?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her answers so far. Can the deputy First Minister tell us in which phase outdoor airsoft is included? Is it in phase 2, as a sport and leisure activity? Given that sport can take place outside at a social distance and that preparation and set-up can also happen outdoors, will that be treated as phase 2 and will it go ahead? Are there any indicative dates, or how much advance notice will be given to those types of groupings and organisations so that they can resume business?”
“I thank the First Minister for the statement today. This is an incredibly difficult time, with such a prolonged period of lockdown. Many are feeling negative physical and mental impacts of the restrictions, and many will be quite disappointed today. Will the First Minister confirm that further changes or easements to the restrictions will not necessarily have to wait until the next formal review, which is due on 15 April?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers so far. Given where we are in the pandemic, the huge success of the vaccination roll-out to date and the corresponding data on serious illness among our older population, is it time to look at moving on from care partners? Although the scheme has worked very well for some, it has been very much underutilised. Given the issues that have arisen for care homes in particular, will the Minister also consider what help can be provided to the care sector on the issue of indemnity and the provision of COVID insurance?”
“<BR /> <BR />To conclude, I welcome the Second Stage of the Bill. I trust that it will be just one of a number of future legislative steps that will be taken to protect and develop our health service, as was promised most recently to the people of Northern Ireland under the New Decade, New Approach agreement.”
“<BR /> <BR />With the proposed changes, the Department of Health will and must take on more responsibility for the strategic steps necessary to take our health sector forward. It must ensure that true equality of services is available to service users across all regions, allowing more joined-up strategic measures to be made between trusts to improve outcomes and to share resources when needed. <BR /> <BR />The public perception is often that our health service is far too bureaucratic. The intention of the Bill is to simplify the administrative structures. Having a more streamlined structure in place will help to better focus resources and enable the system to operate more effectively. If, and once, it is agreed today, I look forward to further scrutiny of the Bill at Committee Stage.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important that these reforms are not taken in isolation but are viewed through the lens of a wider transformation agenda for health and social care. For example, the reform of social care will have a bearing on accountability arrangements and performance management. <BR /> <BR />Whilst it has been going through a number of very challenging years, not least those of late, we should all be very proud of our National Health Service here in Northern Ireland. I, for one, am proud of all the staff who see their role not just as a job but as a vocation and put their heart into serving and caring for others. We owe it to them to ensure that health transformation is progressed, giving them the resources and support that they need to face the challenges of today.”
“Unfortunately, delays caused by the collapse of the Assembly and by the COVID-19 pandemic have pushed back many of the efforts to properly transform our health service. We must ensure that there is no more delay and strive earnestly to implement what has been recommended to the Executive by many experts for years. <BR /> <BR />I very much welcome that all staff in the Health and Social Care Board will be redeployed to other roles and that their terms and conditions will be protected through the reform process. It is vital that staff affected by the closure of the Health and Social Care Board are kept fully aware of the changes and are given adequate space to make their views and concerns known.”
“Significant investment is required in present and new services, and a solution is required to fill many staffing vacancies, ending reliance on agency posts. <BR /> <BR />The present pandemic has served as a reminder that we cannot keep doing the same things over and over again and expect different results. Health transformation is needed. It needs to happen in a manner that supports staff and patients alike to deliver the best services possible to our country. <BR /> <BR />Speaking as a DUP representative, we are pleased that the Bill has been introduced. I commend the Minister, Robin Swann, for ensuring that this progress has been made under the current challenging circumstances for his Department.”
“<BR /> <BR />The public consultation also found that current arrangements are not lean or agile enough to respond quickly to changing demands in health and social care and that changes should be part of a broader strategy for transformation. If implemented effectively, the closure of the Health and Social Care Board will allow the Department to take firmer strategic control of the health and social care system, allowing cleaner accountability, removing complexity and ensuring that decisions are more efficient and responsive. <BR /> <BR />The changes proposed in the Bill must be part of a broader strategy for transformation. The restructuring on its own will not resolve all the problems that face our health sector.”
“<BR /> <BR />On 4 November 2015, the DUP Health Minister, Simon Hamilton, set out the very proposal that we are discussing today as part of a package of administrative reforms. Much of that proposal was based on the Donaldson report, which found our current structures to be overly complex and bureaucratic and identified a lack of clarity in relation to accountability and decision-making as well as a lack of challenge to providers. The review also highlighted how the annual nature of the financial and planning cycle inhibits long-term strategic planning. I mentioned the need for multi-year budgeting in recent Budget debates. Strategic planning cannot be done properly without that foresight.”
“I welcome the opportunity to say a few words on the Health and Social Care Bill at its Second Stage today. <BR /> <BR />The Bill represents a major bureaucratic change in the manner of governance of our health system through the transfer of responsibilities from the Health and Social Care Board. On 8 April 2014, the then Health Minister, Edwin Poots, announced his intention to commission the former Chief Medical Officer of England, Professor Liam Donaldson, to advise on the improvement of governance arrangements across Northern Ireland's health and social care system. Several months later, the report was published alongside a set of recommendations that are intended to modernise our health system and better equip it to meet the demands and needs of today's society.”
“They have called on us to vote for the Bill. My constituency office in South Antrim has received hundreds of emails, letters and calls from constituents urging the same. I know that every Member will also have received many such calls. I ask Members to join me in responding to their call.”
“The Bill is one such opportunity to do that, and I hope that there will be more. <BR /> <BR />More than 1,500 people with Down's syndrome and their families have signed an open letter that gives us a very clear message. Regarding regulation 7(1)(b), they say:”
“Women need to be provided with unbiased information about their child's diagnosis in order to reassure them that they and their child can thrive. <BR /> <BR />I am very conscious, in the context of the pandemic, of our duty to ensure that people with disabilities have all the support that they need to thrive. That has never been clearer. A recent survey that was conducted by Disability Action highlights significant concerns among people with disabilities and their families regarding the ability to access support during the pandemic and in the longer term. I am aware that a number of schools for children with special educational needs have been struggling to remain open for full-time education. We must listen to those with disabilities and ensure that improvements are made in those areas.”
“<BR /> <BR />Voting in favour of the Bill makes it plain to all that the harmful stereotypes that are perpetrated in conversations that suggest that life with certain disabilities is not worth living do not and should not have any place in our society. Screening for disabilities with the purpose of not providing the best possible tailored care but of offering terminations is deeply unethical. Those children are not a risk; they are a joy. Some have suggested that the Bill may pressure women into taking decisions too quickly in order to evade the 24-week limit. They have spoken of late diagnoses at 20 weeks or more. That misses the point entirely. No one should be pressing women to have a termination for non-fatal disability at any stage of pregnancy.”
“It concerns me greatly that, some 30 years after that provision was introduced in Great Britain, we have simply reiterated those negative stereotypes here. <BR /> <BR />We must fully comprehend the shadow that is thrown over these children's lives when one of the very first conversations that their parents have with their antenatal teams is about termination. Sadly, as others said, the impact does not stop there. One woman in England spoke out on social media recently about her experience of being asked at a hospital appointment why she chose not to terminate Betsy, her daughter, who was, by that point, three years old. It is appalling that people with certain non-fatal disabilities and their families must continually justify their very existence. Their lives are as valuable as everyone else's. Their lives matter.”
“The Disability Rights Commission, now the Equality and Human Rights Commission, has said of the equivalent disability selective abortion provision in the 1967 Act that it:”
“We should not need to be reminded that the value of an individual is not reliant on their possessing a particular physical characteristic, but hearing the stories from parents who, at the birth of their child, have been met with silence or have received expressions not of congratulations but of sorrow tells us that we have quite some way to go. I commend Joy 21, which is doing fantastic work and providing resources to new and expectant parents whose child has a diagnosis of Down's syndrome to ensure that they receive the warmest welcome, a welcome shaped by the voices, the stories and the encouragement of those who themselves have Down's syndrome and their families. <BR /> <BR />The regulation that permits abortion up to birth in the case of non-fatal disability should never have been made.”
“<BR /> <BR />At this point, I want to thank my colleague Paul Givan MLA for his work in introducing this private Member's Bill and for the great efforts to ensure that the voices of people with disabilities are heard loud and clear by the Assembly. These disability campaigners have schooled us on the richness and the joy that people with disabilities bring to their families and the wider community, and I hope that this is a lesson that we will think deeply on. <BR /> <BR />Today we have an opportunity to work together to ensure that our laws better reflect that truth.”
“I am grateful for the powerful words of colleagues from across the House who have set out why this Bill is crucial to tackling discriminatory attitudes towards disability, and I want to add my very special thanks to disability campaigners Heidi and Liz Crowter and Lynn Murray of Don't Screen Us Out, who gave evidence to the Health Committee last week; Ailis Cullinan Keown, mum to Tess, whose blog Little Hands speaks to the need for this Bill far more eloquently than I ever could; Ciara Smyth, mother to Jacob and founder of the Northern Irish charity, Joy 21; and many more who have given painful personal testimony as to the need for this Bill.”
“Politicians should not allow themselves to be dragged into any anti-vax arguments that could harm the uptake of the vaccine.”
“I very much welcome the fact that the Chair of the Health Committee has booked his vaccine. I hope that it will not clash with his Committee on Thursday morning. <BR /> <BR />It is an important question. I very much welcome the success of the vaccination roll-out in Northern Ireland. I am delighted that we are taking an evidence-based approach to the concerns about the vaccine. Obviously, both the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the European Medicines Agency have reiterated support for the AstraZeneca vaccine, highlighting that the benefits continue to greatly outweigh the risks. Does the Minister agree that politicians need to be mindful of their language and the effect it may have on public confidence?”
“Government need to consider the kind of strategy needed for these issues, and my party will reach out to organisations such as Women's Aid in Northern Ireland to talk to them about what is a very important subject.”
“The death of Sarah Everard was an appalling and tragic act. It has, understandably, reignited the debate about how we tackle violence against women and girls and ensure that they are safe on our streets, in their homes and in society. The dignified acts of individual remembrance for Sarah in Portstewart and Londonderry, among other places, over the weekend highlighted the extent of the outpouring of grief for this young woman. The reality is that this could have been any one of our daughters, sisters or mothers. Communities and households across Northern Ireland stand with the Everard family in their fight for justice and in the determination to drive out unhealthy and violent attitudes towards women in our society.”
“Let us ensure that every effort is afforded to using those funds effectively and in a targeted way to help our society to recover and prosper beyond COVID-19.”