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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“Of course, he would already have been aware of residents' concerns had he bothered to turn up for the debate on that issue. <BR /> <BR />That is not to mention the effects on pollution levels of other environmental factors like topography and weather systems, which also appear to have been overlooked in the study. Whilst the proposals focus solely on bituminous fuels, they notably exclude the burning of peat and wood, which are equally as polluting through polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Indeed, examining the levels of nitrous oxides that are emitted during the burning of so-called smoky coal shows that they are equal to those of oil and gas.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I also thank my party colleagues for bringing this motion to the House today. Sammy Wilson has already highlighted a number of important issues. I feel that it is prudent to add my concerns about the Minister's proposals to the record. <BR /> <BR />Whilst a solution to air quality issues is in all our interests, I believe that the all-Ireland air quality report contains fundamental flaws and lacks locational context. The impact of traffic pollution has not been taken into account in the study, which therefore ignores the bearing things such as the impact of HGV traffic will have on levels of airborne pollutants in a given area. I trust that the Minister will take the many dozens of HGV lorries that will bear down on Mallusk into consideration should he decide to approve the Arc21 proposal in South Antrim.”
“The young people of Antrim need to continue to contribute to and be proud of the education system that we have in Northern Ireland. I hope that the current situation will be rectified in the near future.”
“It is also planting the seeds of economic inactivity, which will have ramifications for generations to come. I am concerned that, by allowing that impasse to continue, young people, through no fault of their own, will put additional pressure on our already stretched welfare system, which we all know creates a cycle of reliance on benefits and is detrimental to the confidence of young people who are just starting out towards their adult lives. <BR /> <BR />I implore the Minister to look at the long-term consequences that the lack of post-16 education will give to the current and future generations of young people in Antrim. I feel that a more strategic view is needed for the town to continue to prosper economically and socially.”
“During those formative years, many young people do not have the confidence to leave the security of the school that they have attended for the last five years and are simply dropping out of the education system through lack of support and provision for their futures. I fully appreciate that every student is not suited to the post-16 formal school system and feel that the possibility of some vocational training also needs to be explored for the young people of Antrim. For a young person, it is a huge leap from school to working life, and I believe that local schools could also look at providing support for those who wish to pursue apprenticeships or begin the search for employment. <BR /> <BR />To put it bluntly, the lack of post-16 education in Antrim is failing the young people of my constituency.”
“However, that opportunity is simply not there for all of our pupils in the Antrim area. This leaves many pupils adrift, following their GCSEs without proper structure or direction to their academic future. I know of several pupils who are either forced to enrol and travel to other schools as far afield as Larne and Carrickfergus or take up a place at Newtownabbey or Ballymena regional colleges, or at Belfast Metropolitan College. <BR /> <BR />My greatest fear is that the inconvenience and upheaval is resulting in young people leaving the education system altogether and joining the not in education, employment or training trend.”
“I should say at this stage that all three of my children, who are all now over the age of 18, were fortunate enough to have been able to avail themselves of the opportunity to study for their A levels at Antrim Grammar, which is a very successful school.”
“I also support the topic, and I thank my fellow Member for South Antrim Danny Kinahan for securing the Adjournment debate. <BR /> <BR />We are all aware that the education system in Northern Ireland is well renowned for producing world-class academic achievements and is the envy of education systems throughout the United Kingdom and beyond. It is unfortunate, however, that young people in my constituency are being let down by the lack of learning provision once they have reached the age of 16 and wish to continue their education. Antrim Grammar, Parkhall Integrated and St Benedict's College have a combined enrolment of around 2,000 pupils, yet only Antrim Grammar offers A level or Key Stage 5 post-16 further education.”
“Thank you for that response, Minister. I have to say that I was very disappointed to discover that Booktrust is having 100% of its funding removed in the draft budget, given the excellent work that it does and, as you outlined, the importance of parents and grandparents reading to their children. There is research to show that all children do better at school if their parents read to them. Given the tremendous work that Booktrust does, will the Minister reconsider the removal of 100% of its funding?”
“Mr Speaker, I, too, welcome you to your new role, especially as a South Antrim constituency colleague. I welcome the Minister's statement and, indeed, the good working relationship that the two Governments are continuing, to the benefit of us all. On the back of my colleague's initial question, can the Minister give us some more detail about the impact that alcohol has on hospital services?”
“<BR /> <BR />I close by saying that it is perhaps telling that the European Parliament, which cannot balance its own books and continually fails to meet its own targets, seeks to bail itself out by passing the cost of its failed targets on to businesses, backed up by threats of fines to the Executive if they are not delivered. If only the European Parliament was subjected to similar accountability, I might be more enthusiastic in examining the directives it issues. However, I support the motion this morning.”
“I, too, thank the Minister for his explanation of the background and purpose of the draft affirmative statutory rule. I thank the officials who briefed the Committee back in November. <BR /> <BR />There is little to add to what has already been said, given the relative lack of clarity around the exact costs and savings to businesses. On rereading the Hansard report of the officials' evidence, it struck me that the reported costs to businesses of between £10,000 and £40,000 simply to carry out a cost-benefit analysis was apparently the best guess of consultants. Given the existing financial pressure that all the affected businesses are likely to be under at present, I ask that the Minister keep a close eye on the costings provided and seek to agree the most cost-efficient way to carry out this mandatory exercise.”
“The very least that they expect of the Department is for the matter to go to a public consultation before any decision is taken. <BR /> <BR />I reiterate my bitter disappointment that the Minister has chosen to disregard such a huge number of people's opinions in refusing to be present to respond to this debate. I hope that the Minister employs a common-sense approach on this proposal, and I look forward to being able to hear a positive outcome for my constituents in the very near future.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have not even begun to mention the failures of the tendering and procurement processes, which are fundamentally flawed and show inherent problems with this proposed development. Arc21 is a business and, as such, has seized on an opportunity to profiteer from our need to reduce our waste going to landfill. However, the Minister cannot allow a commercial operation to ride roughshod over the feelings of those who will have to live with the short- and long-term consequences of residing next to this mammoth intrusion into our community. <BR /> <BR />I call on the Minister of the Environment to listen to the groundswell of public opinion before making his final decision on the Arc21 proposal. My concerned constituents and the No-Arc21 group are not willing to let this go ahead without a fight.”
“It is willing to seek further permission to be able to process our entire landfill waste total. The plant will also serve as a sustainable energy source for the operation of Bombardier. This will enable Bombardier to reduce its energy costs and maintain its position in an extremely competitive industry, and, in turn, safeguard the future of Bombardier's 6,000-strong workforce. It is vital that it goes on record that not one single planning objection was received to the Bombardier developments. <BR /> <BR />The Arc21 proposal is very clearly a non-starter. I fail to see how any credence can be given to the proposal given the vast number of objections from local residents and, more prudently, because a non-contested, sustainable and productive plant is already agreed only a stone's throw away in the harbour estate.”
“Despite the protestations of Arc21 that there would be enough waste for both plants to coexist, it is a fundamental point that, whilst there is currently enough waste in Northern Ireland and the Arc21 area to feed the plants, as we move towards our waste reduction and recycling targets, this supply should become significantly less if the Department is doing the work to reduce waste to landfill and encourage greater recycling. Will my constituents be faced with a white elephant of a development once these waste reduction targets are achieved? <BR /> <BR />Not only has the plant at Bombardier gained planning permission, but it is non-controversial. It is able to handle the huge amount of domestic and commercial waste that we in Northern Ireland produce.”
“We understand the need to deal with our waste in more efficient ways than we have done in the past. I could stand here all evening and put forward reasons why the Hightown site is simply not suitable for the proposed incinerator. However, the most compelling argument that I can make is the basic fact that it is not needed. <BR /> <BR />In January, the Minister of the Environment awarded planning permission to Full Circle Power to begin development of an energy for waste gasification plant at the Bombardier site at Belfast harbour estate.”
“<BR /> <BR />The most worrying repercussions of the development for my constituents have to be the potential health hazards caused by small particles that are formed as part of the incineration process and released into the surrounding atmosphere. It is an undeniable fact that the health ramifications of such pollutants are often not known until many years down the line, by which time it may be too late. The dioxins produced will remain in the air and soil for decades to come and may stay in our food chain for significantly longer. I fully appreciate that incineration plants will have strict internal protocols and will be governed by stringent legislation in order to limit their emissions, but to site this plant in such close proximity to a densely populated area seems ill-advised. <BR /> <BR />Neither I nor my party is anti-incineration.”
“The environmental impact of such a development must also be considered. Pollution of the watercourse by fuel, oil and concrete have all been identified by Arc21 as potential hazards during both construction and operation. That is not to mention the impact that development of the area would have on various protected species such as otters, bats, smooth newts and marsh fritillary butterflies. The vital contribution that these creatures make to our delicate ecosystem cannot be underestimated. The destruction and devastation of their natural habitat has the potential to have wide-ranging environmental implications across County Antrim and beyond. We have enough industries polluting the Sixmilewater and other areas of south Antrim without allowing more to add to that damage.”
“The proposed upgrades would barely be enough to bring the road infrastructure up to the standard required for current traffic levels, let alone the vast increase in heavy vehicles that would be using the road network in the vicinity. <BR /> <BR />In an area with such a high concentration of homes and families, I have profound concerns that we are looking at potential fatalities on the surrounding roads should the development proceed, both during any construction phase and when the plant is up and running.”
“Its proximity to the city centre and motorway links has meant that the Mallusk area has essentially become a conurbation of Belfast. That said, the existing road infrastructure is grossly inadequate for supporting the traffic that that increased development has brought, and it is far from suitable for handling the volume of heavy vehicular traffic that a waste disposal facility at Hightown would bring. The very obvious road safety concerns have clearly not been taken into consideration in the proposal. Whilst Arc21 has stated that it plans to upgrade Boghill Road and Hydepark Road, that is all relative and therefore a moot point.”
“Members of the No-Arc21 group planned to be here for the debate, but because the time of the debate moved forward, they have been unable to get here in time. <BR /> <BR />The need to reduce landfill waste is paramount. For that reason, I find it difficult to comprehend that the focus is on developing a plant to incinerate waste, rather than on encouraging further recycling, reusing and repurposing initiatives. Although no one can argue with the need to reduce the amount of domestic and commercial waste that we send to landfill, particularly given the European directives and the penalties for non-compliance, the proposed Hightown development, quite simply, is not safe, not sustainable and not wanted. <BR /> <BR />The area around the proposed site is intensely populated. Indeed, in recent years, several large developments have been built.”
“The proposed incinerator at the site of the old Hightown quarry is highly controversial for a host of reasons and is opposed by almost 3,000 local residents. Last year, I canvassed the doors of many of those residents during the local election campaign, and this was by far the issue that raised most concern. <BR /> <BR />I begin by taking this opportunity to praise the work of the No-Arc21 group and its tireless efforts to ensure that the issue has remained to the forefront in the area. I thank the group for its diligence and determination to ensure that awareness is raised. It has secured the support of a large number of elected representatives, including my colleague William McCrea MP, who led a cross-party delegation of MLAs in a meeting outlining opposition to the planning proposal to Minister Durkan.”
“I could understand if he came to the Chamber and could provide only limited responses, owing to the fact that the decision-making processes are ongoing, but it appears that he is hiding behind the advice of his officials and does not deem the people of south Antrim or, indeed, north Belfast, important enough to leave his office for. He did come to the House for the debate on the illegal waste dumping at Mobuoy, but, of course, that affected his own constituents. Perhaps that explains why that debate was important and this one is not. <BR /> <BR />Opposition to developments such as this are often derided as simply a case of residents being against any progress or change in their locality, but I can assure you, Mr Deputy Speaker, that this is far from a case of "not in my backyard".”
“I thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to speak on an extremely important issue. I welcome the opportunity to raise this on behalf of my constituents in South Antrim ahead of any planning decision by the Department of the Environment. At the outset, I declare an interest, as family members are current employees of Bombardier. <BR /> <BR />I am incredibly disappointed that, at the eleventh hour, the Minister decided that he would not be present to provide clarity to my constituents or to answer any of the questions that I wish to raise.”
“I thank the Minister for her answers so far. Given that Belfast International Airport employs a large number of people in my constituency, what work is your Department doing to encourage new routes into Northern Ireland to sustain and grow employment in the future?”
“<BR /> <BR />I put on record my praise for the Northern Ireland postal network and am very much looking forward to visiting delivery offices in my constituency as normal over the coming weeks in the run-up to Christmas. The service that we receive is often taken for granted, yet we would sorely miss it if we did not have it. I am pleased to support the motion.”
“The post office is often described as a digital bridge for the elderly and vulnerable, and we must ensure that those people do not lose their access to postal counter services or their right to receive bills and communications from companies through the postal service. The Keep Me Posted campaign seeks to ensure that customers continue to be offered the choice of how to receive their bills, that there are no charges or penalties for receiving paper bills and that paper bills are taken away only with customer consent. With 40% of adults in the UK stating that not receiving a paper bill would seriously affect their ability to manage their finances, it is vital that we continue to press companies on that issue to ensure that that is carried forward.”
“In the last few days, another example of that was seen as the Ulster Bank announced the closure of branches across Northern Ireland, including the branch in Randalstown in my constituency. That is just one small way in which the Post Office has reacted to changes in the community to sustain a service for its customers. Other examples such as handling housing benefit claims, reporting a change of circumstances for benefits and paying fixed penalty notices have all been identified as ways in which the Post Office can provide greater cooperation with local authorities and offer community-based facilities. <BR /> <BR />Whilst it may be the case that we are largely moving towards greater technological integration, it is important to remember that 5·2 million households in the UK do not have Internet access.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I wholeheartedly agree that it is vital that local government uses the post office network in any way it can to support and continue the success of the network and ensure that we have it into the future. <BR /> <BR />I urge that consideration be given to the introduction of a post office diversification fund for Northern Ireland to grow the post office network and increase its long-term viability as a core part of our community. <BR /> <BR />As consumers, we are changing the way in which we shop, bank and manage our finances. It is vital that the post office network adapts to those changes to remain relevant. One example of how the system has reflected a change is seen through the ability of post office counters to maintain banking services for customers whose bank branch has closed.”
“The remaining Departments that use the network do so in a very limited way, with Social Development the only Department to use services in any real way to administer benefits and pensions.”
“Following a two-year roll-out in Wales, where 318 grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 were awarded, 65% of businesses reported an increase in non-post office turnover, with 60% reporting an increase in profits. That is a huge 83% of grantees that reported that their business had increased in commercial viability. The Scottish scheme provided similar successes, and the potential for increased economic activity alongside greater post office use cannot be underestimated. <BR /> <BR />It is worth noting that some Departments — OFMDFM, Regional Development, Employment and Learning, Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Education, Culture, Arts and Leisure, and Justice — do not use the post office network in any way.”
“The post office is so often at the heart of communities and provides an intrinsic social service that the vast majority of us will use in one way or another in the course of our daily life. In order that we retain and build on the postal service that we all rely on, it is vital that we view the services that it provides in a strategic and long-term manner. <BR /> <BR />The introduction of the post office diversification funds in Scotland and Wales has enabled post offices to establish new business activities and become more sustainable, providing long-term economic return and perpetuating their strong social purpose. Post office diversification funds are designed to ensure that post offices remain a hub of services in communities, with priority given to offices serving deprived or isolated areas.”
“I rise as chair of the all-party group on postal issues to support the motion. I welcome the fact that it has gained cross-party support in recognising the significant role that the post office network plays in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />In the UK, 93% of adults live within a one-mile radius of a branch, with 92% having visited the branch in the last year. A staggering 20 million people — half of the UK adult population — have visited their local post office in the last week to avail themselves of diverse and wide-ranging services such as passport application checks, vehicle tax services, rates payments and collection of benefits and pensions through the Post Office card account.”
“I thank the junior Minister for his answer. Has he confidence in junior Minister McCann providing support for the domestic violence strategy, given the Maíria Cahill revelations?”
“I thank the Minister for his brief statement to the House this morning. In relation to road safety, Minister, what actions will you be taking in light of the very tragic death of eight-year-old Adam Gilmore recently? Will you be working with the Education Minister towards ensuring that we have the best road safety measures for our schoolchildren?”
“A joined-up approach between the Department of the Environment, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Department of Justice is long overdue so that a clear message can be sent to the culprits of environmental crime that they will be subject to the full rigor of the law. I hope that the recent incident on the Sixmilewater is fully investigated, the source identified and prosecution sought. Environmental crime is a growing problem that cannot be overlooked or underestimated. It is a problem that affects each and every one of us, although, at times, it is often taken lightly. The long-term ramifications cannot be disregarded, and we must do all within our control to discourage and deter those who think that it is acceptable to pollute, contaminate and poison our environment.”
“Currently, sentencing is inconsistent and too lenient and serves no purpose in acting as a deterrent to those who feel that it is acceptable to carry out such acts.”
“Whilst I am pleased that the Department of the Environment, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure acted quickly to minimise the impact of the incident in the short to medium term, a commitment must be given to find the source of the incident, and the perpetrator must be brought to justice. <BR /> <BR />The penalties for environmental crime are simply not robust enough to act as a deterrent to individuals and businesses intent on wreaking havoc on our environment. I would like to use this opportunity to call on the Minister of Justice to ensure that adequate resources are directed to ensuring that the perpetrators of environmental crime feel the full force of the law.”
“Lough Neagh is a significant breeding and spawning ground for fish such as pollan, Atlantic salmon and European eels and is home to kingfishers, sand martins, otters and bats, amongst many other species of flora and fauna. <BR /> <BR />Pollution on the scale of the recent Sixmilewater incident is sure to affect the delicate environmental balance of the area for many months or even years to come. The Sixmilewater is an important habitat for the dollaghan trout that migrate from Lough Neagh in the autumn to spawn in its tributaries. Given that the latest incident occurred in late October, it will have a devastating effect on the dollaghan population of Northern Ireland.”
“It has been a devastating blow for local anglers, particularly for Ballynure Angling Club, who have worked tirelessly to restock the river following previous pollution incidents and ensure that the environment is conducive to aquatic life. This latest incident has, once again, decimated the river and undone all the hard work that has been carried out to return the river to full stock. <BR /> <BR />Given that the river is an important tributary of Lough Neagh, the pollution of the river has huge implications for the whole of Northern Ireland. As we are all aware, Lough Neagh has a vastly significant ecosystem, and the wider implications of fish kills such as this should not be underestimated.”
“I rise as a Member for South Antrim and not as Deputy Chair of the Environment Committee. I thank my colleague Paul Girvan for bringing this important matter to the House this evening. <BR /> <BR />On 29 October, anglers discovered dozens of dead fish in the stretch of Sixmilewater. Upon inspection by the Rivers Agency, a total of 964 dead fish were found, and a major fish kill was declared. The Department of the Environment and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency assessed the area, and the pollution in the river was classified as being of high severity. It is the third major incident on this stretch of river in the past six years.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I recognise the progress that is being made and welcome it. Will the Minister outline what efforts his Department is making to ease the regulatory burden on housing associations?”
“I thank the Minister and welcome his statement to the House today along with his plan to establish a health and social care child sexual exploitation response team. When I think of child sexual exploitation today, the first name that comes into my head is Maíria Cahill. If we are talking about accountability and transparency, we all have to have a collective responsibility. Will the Minister explain what members of the public told the inquiry about paramilitary involvement in child sexual exploitation?”
“I am sure that nobody in the Chamber underestimates the difficulties that the Minister is under at this time. Will he provide a breakdown of the extra £5 million that is being directed to unscheduled care?”
“In bringing my remarks to a close, I point out that it is somewhat rich of the parties that choose not to make tough decisions on welfare reform, on revenue matters such as the HGV transport levy or on measures to deal with massive fraud to the taxpayer that could be tackled by the National Crime Agency to question others on Budget matters in an opportunist and self-serving fashion. Those who have to suffer from cuts being imposed as a result of the failure of parties to accept the need for change might do well to ask those parties why they were prepared to sit back and let this happen and what millions have been lost to the health service as a result of their actions. I oppose the motion and the amendment.”
“No one wants to see the closure of minor injuries units, wards or reductions in outpatient clinics, but a good safe service must be maintained, particularly in unscheduled and urgent care.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is clear that there has been a radical change in the demands on our health service that was first identified in the autumn of 2013. In looking at the difficulties that we currently face, we must not underestimate the demand that an ageing population and the number of people presenting for treatment are placing on the service. By way of an example, the Department faced an increase of 7% in demand for domiciliary care in 2013-14. That is a huge increase, and its impact is felt across the health service. Demand can be expected only to increase in the coming years as our population continues to live longer. <BR /> <BR />Whilst £80 million was made available through the June and October monitoring rounds, a further sum in the region of £160 million would be required to maintain the current level of service.”
“The trusts are fully aware of their obligations and requirements, and the Department will seek assurances from them that their equality responsibilities have been met. <BR /> <BR />I move on to Transforming Your Care. From its inception, the former Minister was clear that the process would take up to five years to complete. It was always anticipated that the change of pace would be directly influenced by the availability of resources and that the focus would be on getting it right the first time rather than having to revisit mistakes at a later date. Despite the current financial difficulties, there have been significant advances in carrying forward the TYC process, and I fully expect that this will continue in order that it is seen through to full implementation.”
“I appreciate that an overspend of £13·1 million was identified in 2013-14, but, had other Departments taken collective responsibility for the health of the population of Northern Ireland, that extra funding would have gone a long way to alleviate the deficit, leaving the Department on a much stronger footing. <BR /> <BR />On equality impact assessments, each trust employs an equality officer to provide guidance on statutory equality obligations and implement the advice of the Equality Commission. The trusts produce an annual equality report, outlining the progress made in executing section 75. It is the role of each trust, not the Department, to ensure that those statutory obligations are met.”