Paula Bradley
North Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I am especially grateful to all the women who, especially in my first mandate here, were a constant support and encouragement to me as a new MLA. Nothing ever prepares you for this role, but many inside and outside this Building are the glue that holds it all together.”
“I thank them for their support, especially over the last week, with the phone calls, emails, cards and flowers, but, most of all, for allowing me to be part of their lives, sometimes at the most difficult times. Secondly, I want to thank my party, of which I have been a member for 20 years.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I will try my very best to get through these three minutes without tears in my eyes, though I doubt that that is going to happen. <BR /> <BR />I will begin by thanking you, Mr Speaker.”
“After much discussion with officials concerning the objectives of the Bill, the detail of an SMI loan, the process of registering and removing the statutory charge and how and when an SMI loan is repaid, the Committee was content with the Bill as drafted. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Final Stage of the Bill.”
“I welcome the Final Stage of the Bill. It is probably the shortest Bill that the Committee considered, but it is no less important, as it aims to protect owner-occupiers in receipt of an income-related benefit from the threat of repossession.”
“I know that I have caused a few headaches over the past two years, but you have always delivered week in, week out and put the needs of the Committee first and foremost. You have made my role as Committee Chair so much easier. For all that you have done, I am truly thankful.”
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“The overall economy and the hospitality and tourism industry have been hit hard by the impact of COVID and, as I said, will need all the help that they can get in moving forward. Clause 4 offers the industry the opportunity of further additional hours. Not every establishment has to take advantage of it, but it is good that the option is there. It is for that reason that the Committee cannot support the opposition to clause 4. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 47 provides for new clause 22A. The Committee discussed evidence that it had received from the PSNI regarding the issue of clubs wishing to alter their premises, potentially to avail themselves of an extension authorisation.”
“That was not called for in evidence to the Committee. Therefore, I cannot support the amendment on behalf of the Committee. <BR /> <BR />I move to amendment No 6. The Committee was informed by the Department that, given the significant increase from 20 late nights a year to 104, as covered by amendment No 4, which I have just discussed, the Minister believes that local residents should be made aware of any intention to apply for a late night authorisation. The Committee is in agreement and supports amendment No 6. <BR /> <BR />In relation to the opposition to clause 4, I go back to what I said on the opposition to clause 2. The Committee cannot support the opposition to clause 4 as it was supportive of the clause's inclusion in the Bill.”
“Members suggested that, given the 104 late nights in clause 2, there was a logic to increasing that proposal to 104 nights for clubs and small pubs. Subsequently, the Committee asked officials to bring forward an amendment that would increase the number of occasions on which small pubs and clubs can apply for late opening from 85 to 104 to allow them a more level playing field alongside larger establishments and to assist with the economic recovery of those premises once the hospitality sector reopened. The Minister accepted the Committee's request and agreed to take it forward as a departmental amendment. I welcome amendment No 4. <BR /> <BR />As I just stated, the Committee requested an increase in further additional hours to 104 nights from 85 for smaller pubs. Amendment No 5 calls for that to be doubled.”
“The overall economy and the hospitality and tourism industry have been hit hard by the impact of COVID and will need all the help that they can get in going forward. Clause 2 offers the industry the opportunity of further additional hours. Not every establishment has to take advantage of it, but it is good that the option is there. It is for that reason that the Committee cannot support the opposition to the clause. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 4 relates to clause 4. Members queried where the increase from the current 20 nights of police authorisations for additional hours to the 85 in the Bill originated. Departmental officials stated that that was to bring small pubs in line with the proposals for clubs in the Bill.”
“Amendment No 2 calls for that to be doubled to 208 nights. That was not called for by the Committee. Therefore, I cannot support the amendment on behalf of the Committee. The Committee called for a matching number of 104 nights for small pubs and clubs, and that has been taken forward in amendments that we will come to later. <BR /> <BR />The Committee supports the Minister's amendment No 3. It enhances clause 2 by increasing the requirement on a licensed premises to give notice in its vicinity of its intention to apply for further additional hours under clause 2. The Committee cannot support the opposition to clause 2 as it was supportive of the clause's inclusion in the Bill.”
“During our deliberations, the Committee wrote to the Department to ask if the issue was covered in the proposed Bill. The Committee was advised that it was not and that the Minister would put forward an amendment at the Committee's request. The amendment deals with the request to bring the legislation relating to an article 44 permitted hours late licence on Sundays into line with the permitted hours for the other late nights granted for premises. Rather than return to the same issue later, I will, at this point, highlight the Committee's support for amendment No 48 and new clause 23A, which deals with the same issue for registered clubs, regarding additional opening hours on a Sunday. <BR /> <BR />On the basis of its evidence, the Committee remains supportive of the 104 nights provided for in clause 2.”
“<BR /> <BR />I take this opportunity to thank the departmental officials — Liam Quinn, Carol Reid and Suzanne Breen — for all their help throughout Committee Stage and to highlight the good working relationships established between the Committee secretariat and the officials. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to amendment No 1. The Committee considered proposed new clause 1A at its meeting on 6 May, and members supported the amendment. It was taken forward by the Minister at our request, based on evidence that we considered from Hospitality Ulster. It brings the additional opening hours on any Sunday into line with those currently permitted on weekdays for both licensed premises and registered clubs.”
“We will come to those amendments in the later groupings, when I sincerely hope that we do not have to debate them for yet another 10 hours. <BR /> <BR />Based on the evidence that it took in its deliberations, the Committee wrote to the Minister requesting, and getting, agreement that a range of amendments be brought forward by the Department via amending existing clauses or through a number of new clauses or other ministerial assurances, and we also tabled a number of Committee amendments. At our meeting on 3 June, Committee members were content then to agree the Minister's amendments to our Committee amendments. We were assured that that would tidy things up, and it was done at that stage to try to ensure the Bill's swift passage.”
“In total, the Committee held 35 oral evidence sessions with interested organisations and explored the wide range of issues raised in the written and oral evidence with Department for Communities officials through oral briefings and written responses. <BR /> <BR />The Committee then considered and deliberated on the provisions of the Bill and proposed amendments at seven meetings, concluding with its formal clause-by-clause consideration on 6 May. The Committee specifically devoted a substantial amount of time to deliberations on clause 8 and on the issue of taprooms, which was not covered in the Bill. Over a total of eight meetings, the Committee devoted at least 10 hours of discussion exclusively to those issues.”
“With your indulgence, Mr Speaker, I would like to say a few words about the Committee's scrutiny of the Bill before I touch on each amendment in the group. <BR /> <BR />The Committee requested evidence from interested organisations, and 58 written submissions were received from a diverse range of organisations, businesses, government bodies, researchers and individuals, including those representing or with an interest in the health impacts of alcohol and addiction; public health; the wider justice system, including the PSNI; those concerned about safeguarding young people; sporting and other clubs; the hospitality sector; local alcohol producers; lobby groups representing wider interests; the retail sector; and the tourism sector.”
“The Committee is concerned that there will be similar increases for the subregional stadia programme. <BR /> <BR />The Committee looks forward to engaging with the Department on addressing priorities throughout the yea and shortly on the June monitoring round. Although that is a substantial pot, it is expected that much of it will already be spoken for.”
“The capital budget is allocated to deliver on priorities such as social housing building targets, as well as to meet statutory and contractual commitments. <BR /> <BR />The Committee supports the aim of remaining funding being used for prioritised projects in areas such as regeneration, housing, culture, arts, sports and libraries. The Committee knows that there are risks when delivering capital projects, particularly with one-year budgets and is pleased that the Department has projects such as urban regeneration that can be used to backfill any slippage. <BR /> <BR />The cost of the project for the regional stadium at Casement Park is now estimated at £112 million, so the total committed by the previous Executive, plus GAA partnership funding, falls far short of what we will need.”
“The amount of planning that it took for the Committee to hold an evidence session with members of the deaf community earlier this year clearly shows the need for urgent progress in that area. At our meeting last week, we had an update from the Department on the progress that has been made on developing a regional video relay service. We would like to see action being taken on that as fast as possible. <BR /> <BR />On Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) reform, I highlight the fact that the bid for £3·4 million for housing transformation was not met in the draft Budget, and, sadly, that remains the case in the final Budget. <BR /> <BR />On capital allocations, compared with last year, there was a £10 million increase, plus £38·8 million of FTC to support the co-ownership housing scheme.”
“<BR /> <BR />Despite being busy with the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill in recent months, the Committee made time to hold an informal stakeholder event on welfare issues in January and one last week on issues for the community and voluntary sector that highlighted the need for community wealth building. Committee members remain concerned about the slow pace of action, the lack of finance to take forward welfare reform issues and the impact on vulnerable people and families. <BR /> <BR />Other important NDNA bids were also not met. Those include bids to take forward social strategies, language strategies and the sign language framework and legislation commitments.”
“On many occasions, the Committee has raised the lack of progress on developing new mitigations and closing loopholes. We know that the Minister proposes to bring forward draft regulations to amend the bedroom tax and benefit cap mitigation schemes by closing the loopholes as soon as possible. We have been hearing that for many months, however, and we still have no timeline. The Committee has requested a briefing on those issues before recess. <BR /> <BR />The Committee was pleased to hear that the Minister is committed to addressing the terminal illness rules and that policy development is under way. Members expressed the hope that Westminster may yet provide for that under annually managed expenditure (AME).”
“Only the £42·8 million bid for existing welfare mitigations was met, which effectively means no money for any progress on NDNA commitments.”
“The Department made bids totalling over £139 million for NDNA, including over £57 million for new welfare mitigations.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee, at its meeting on 20 May, expressed concern that the resource bids that had not been met covered a range of key areas. I will highlight more of those areas today. The budget for Supporting People is £73 million for 2021-22. Unfortunately, the almost £6·5 million inflationary bid has not been met, so the funding for that vital programme continues to decrease in real terms. The bid for almost £6 million for COVID pressures has been met as one of the confirmed in-year allocations, however, and the Committee was pleased to note that the bid of £9 million for homelessness has now been met as one of the confirmed in-year allocations. <BR /> <BR />I am at a loss as to where to begin when it comes to the lack of allocations for New Decade, New Approach.”
“The Department's 2021-22 allocations total around £876 million resource DEL, which, thankfully, is an increase on the £824 million in the draft Budget; almost £225 million capital DEL, which is an increase of over £10 million on last year's allocation; and £38·8 million in financial transactions capital. The Department submitted resource bids of £301·6 million but was allocated only £109·6 million. That means that, although the final Communities budget represents an increase of over £55 million on the baseline draft budget, it remains a very challenging situation, and there is absolutely no funding to take forward many of the NDNA commitments. The pressure was eased somewhat by the recent confirmation of additional funds of £50·3 million to address a range of COVID pressures.”
“Members noted, however, the need to focus on the scrutiny of cross-cutting expenditure and its effectiveness at improving outcomes. We also discussed the futility of making bids or allocating spend if Departments do not bring forward relevant legislation in a timely manner. <BR /> <BR />I will move on to the Budget itself. Let us continue to hope that this one-year Budget is the bridge to a multi-year Budget and that we can soon get to the stage of having a Programme for Government with agreed outcomes so that resources can be directed to achieve those outcomes. <BR /> <BR />I will quickly remind Members of the allocations for the Department for Communities, and I will then move on to the specifics that I did not get to in my previous speech.”
“On that occasion, I did not get the chance to say all that I wanted to say, so this is my opportunity to highlight the issues that I did not cover and to reiterate some key points. I reaffirm the Committee's commitment to work with the Minister and her Department, within its budget allocation. I reiterate the Committee's dissatisfaction with the overall Budget process. It seems somewhat pointless having debates now, rather than earlier in the Budget process. As we know, however, some aspects of timing were outside the Executive's control. <BR /> <BR />The Committee, at its meeting on 3 June 2021, highlighted its general support for the fiscal council and its hope that it will have positive input into Budget scrutiny.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of the Committee for Communities. In the debate on 25 May 2021, I highlighted that, in the first instance:”
“Minister, what discussions have you had, if any, with the Minister for Infrastructure about rolling support for the taxi, bus and coach industry to counteract the ongoing challenges that the sector is going through while we build up public confidence?”
“I am running out of time so I will move on to New Decade, New Approach. The Department made bids totalling £130 million, and only the £42·8 million bid for existing welfare mitigations has been met. That has raised concern because there are other issues such as social strategies, language strategies and a very important sign language framework. When the Committee held its briefing with the deaf community, it showed that we really need to have that in place. <BR /> <BR />Finally, the Committee looks forward to engaging with the Department on the June monitoring round. However, although that is a substantial pot, we expect that much of it is already spoken for.”
“Nevertheless, it remains concerned about the link between the success of labour market interventions and the level of AME spend interventions that are needed to get people back into work and off benefits. The budget for Supporting People is £73 million for 2021-22. The bid of almost £6 million for COVID pressures has been met as one of the confirmed in-year allocations. Unfortunately, the almost £6·5 million inflationary bid has not been met so, in real terms, the decrease for this vital programme continues.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee has engaged with the Department on numerous occasions on welfare delivery and on labour market interventions, particularly the Job Start scheme. Thankfully, the final Budget now meets the substantial bids of almost £27 million and £25 million respectively for labour market interventions and benefit delivery. <BR /> <BR />The Committee is aware that the Department's annually managed expenditure (AME) is outside the block grant.”
“The Committee has learnt that, of the £220 million Community Renewal Fund for pilot projects, there is only an £11 million allocation for Northern Ireland. That in no way seems sufficient for groups across all areas to run pilot projects. <BR /> <BR />The Committee has considered the resource allocations, including those for arm's-length bodies, and has noted that the Department has overcommitted by £2·5 million on the basis that it can be managed down in-year. As I have already said, the Committee is pleased that an additional £50·3 million has now been confirmed from COVID resources. The Committee was alarmed to hear, however, that the Department was having to rely on that exercise in the first place.”
“<BR /> <BR />Last Thursday, the Committee queried the outcome of an efficiency exercise, and officials highlighted the fact that pressures have been addressed through £23·3 million of actions, including not filling over 320 vacant posts. That is the reality on the ground, and it means added pressure on existing staff and new work not being done. The Committee has requested a breakdown of the posts but was pleased to hear that that did not impact on the recruitment of 900 universal credit staff, with 367 in post and another 158 at the pre-appointment check stage. <BR /> <BR />Before I highlight specific areas, I note that the Committee has continued to keep a watch on the progress of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.”
“<BR /> <BR />Over £132 million of resource bids were for COVID recovery, but only around half that total was met in the final Budget. At its meeting last Thursday, the Committee expressed concern that the resource bids that were not met covered key areas. Never mind a week being a long time in politics, Committee members were relieved to hear only one day later that the pressure had eased somewhat, when the Finance Minister confirmed additional funds for the Department of £50·3 million to address a range of COVID pressures, including £10 million to councils; £3 million to support council-managed community development and advice centres; £13 million to arts, culture and heritage; and £12 million to progress the Restart programme, which will support older people in returning to employment.”
“The final Communities budget represents an over £55 million increase on the baseline draft Budget, which is mainly because of a number of COVID bids being met. That is still far from what is needed, but it goes some way towards easing the Committee's dismay at the draft Budget. The final Budget is still challenging, and there is absolutely no funding for the Department to take forward many NDNA commitments. The Department submitted resource bids of £301·6 million but was allocated only £109·6 million. That includes £48·2 million for existing welfare mitigations, while the remaining bids were for benefit delivery, new labour market interventions, homelessness and Supporting People. Thankfully, all those bids were met.”
“I have to speak today before the Committee has had a chance to finalise its response to the Committee for Finance. <BR /> <BR />The Committee shares the Minister of Finance's hopes that this one-year Budget is indeed the bridge to a multi-year Budget. The Committee wishes to highlight the fact that the Department for Communities provides many life-changing support programmes and services that need the continuity of funding that one-year Budgets simply cannot provide. The Department's 2021-22 allocation is around £876 million of resource DEL, which, thankfully, is an increase on the £824 million in the draft Budget; almost £225 million of capital DEL, which is an increase of over £10 million on last year's allocation; and £38·8 million in financial transactions capital.”
“Thank you for the opportunity to speak on the final Budget on behalf of the Committee for Communities. The Committee received a written submission and briefing from officials on 20 May, and it realises that the Department is allocating its resources to protect key services. I reaffirm the Committee's commitment to work with the Minister and her Department within its budget allocation and on delivering her overarching strategy for 2020-25: building inclusive communities. <BR /> <BR />The Committee wishes to express its dissatisfaction with the overall Budget process, however. Some aspects were outside the Executive's control, but others were not. The Budget process is also running somewhat late, and this debate is now out of line with the Committee's consideration of the Budget.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. I know that he has been working hard and lobbying on behalf of our Executive to get that money through. Are there any early indicators of how those groups and the wonderful work that is being done in the community might suffer because of the lack of continuity in the funding?”
“I thank the Minister for that very detailed answer. We know that there are many women in those families who play a very important role in the farming industry. What specific engagement have you had with women who are involved in agriculture?”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee was content that they did not represent new policy or change to the original policy intent of the Bill. The Committee also noted that legislative consent motions in relation to the Westminster Pension Schemes Act 2021 were agreed by the Assembly on 1 June and 2 November 2020. The Committee was content that the amendments were technical, drafting and consequential amendments required to the Pension Schemes Bill as a result of the Pension Schemes Act 2021.”
“During Committee Stage, officials advised the Committee that a number of amendments would be necessary at Consideration Stage in consequence of the Westminster Pension Schemes Bill, which, at that time, was before Parliament. The Westminster Bill has completed its passage through Parliament and is now the Pension Schemes Act 2021. <BR /> <BR />I take this opportunity to thank the officials — Gerry McCann and Doreen Roy — for all their assistance during Committee Stage and their patience with technical explanations and subsequent briefings on these amendments. The Committee was briefed by the officials at its meeting on 22 April on the text of the amendments that we are considering, and the officials outlined their purpose.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee reported on the Pension Schemes Bill on 19 November 2020, having considered the Bill at eight meetings and taken oral evidence from the Northern Ireland Assembly Research and Information Service (RaISe), the Workers Pension Trust and the Pensions Regulator.”
“The Committee for Communities welcomes the Consideration Stage of the Bill, which, overall, is designed to safeguard workers' pensions and introduce a welcome new regulatory framework for master trusts in Northern Ireland. Over the past few years, there have been sweeping changes to pensions, and master trusts have become very popular. The Committee was first briefed on the Bill by departmental officials on 17 June 2020, and members were reassured that the Bill will ensure that no master trust scheme can operate without authorisation from the Pensions Regulator and that specific requirements must be met.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I welcome the carrying forward of the COVID-19 money from last year into this year and hope that it goes some way to helping those most in need. There has been a huge increase in the universal credit caseload over the past year; we know that it goes beyond the Department for Communities and impacts all Departments. We know that when furlough ends, we will see another increase. Does the Minister know whether other Departments are prioritising that as part of their spend?”
“That will be of benefit to many young people who are in that cohort now and many women who are finding it difficult to gain employment. <BR /> <BR />I am heartened by what I have heard here today, Minister, but it is absolutely shameful that we could not get the scheme started, albeit I understand the reasons behind it. I look forward to hearing from the Minister what the way forward is going to be for the Job Start scheme in Northern Ireland, and I will give it my wholehearted support.”
“People have talked about the brain drain. I have spoken to a couple of graduates, who said that they wished that they had stayed at the universities in mainland UK, where they had trained, because they knew that they would have been able to avail themselves of the scheme over there. They are really disappointed that that did not happen here for them. However, there is another cohort of young people who are due to leave school, university or college this year, and we know that the youth unemployment figures are going to increase. When officials from the Department for the Economy briefed the UNSCR 1235 all-party group (APG) last week on their COVID recovery plan, it was good to hear that they were lifting the age cap on apprenticeships.”
“That is what made things so frustrating. <BR /> <BR />As someone who sits on that Committee, I know that getting any information from the Department, since the Job Start scheme was first cancelled in November and then in December, as to why we were in the position that we were in was like pulling teeth. I stand to be corrected if I am wrong, but when we came back in January, after the Christmas recess, we discovered that the reason behind it was that the money was not going to be available in the Budget. I welcome what Karen Mullan said earlier, and I am heartened that she said that the scheme will take place. I will support the Minister 100% when she takes it forward. <BR /> <BR />Some Members have spoken about the cohort of young people in Northern Ireland who left school, university or college last year.”
“To put that into perspective, the proportion of young people who were NEET in the UK was 11·3%. In the most recent reporting period, 20,000 of the 28,000 young people who were NEET were not looking for work or were not available to start work. <BR /> <BR />As has been said already, the Chancellor announced the new Kickstart initiative in the summer of 2020. We were excited, in the Assembly and in the Committee for Communities, to hear Carál Ní Chuilín's proposals for a better scheme that would be bespoke for Northern Ireland, and all of us in the Chamber backed that 100%. We knew, of course, that the money for it had to come via Barnett consequentials. We know that that money was consumed in the Executive and that the Minister then gave a commitment that she would find the money in her own Department.”
“Tomorrow, as we are all aware, we will reach the one-year milestone of the ongoing lockdown. We have spoken many times, inside and outside the Chamber, in the past year about the impact that the pandemic has had, whether economically, mentally or socially. We also know and have heard that women and young people have been disproportionately affected, especially in terms of employment. <BR /> <BR />The latest Northern Ireland labour force survey shows that, between July and September 2020, an estimated 26,000 young people aged between 16 and 24 were not in education, employment or training. That is equivalent to 13·2% of all those aged between 16 and 24. In the period between October and December 2020, that figure had risen to 28,000, which is equivalent to 13·9% of all those aged 16 to 24.”
“These regulations are one of a series of statutory rules relating to that annual review and uprating. They amend the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Payment of Claims) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1988 to increase the amounts payable under the order from 1 April 2021. Although there is no statutory obligation to increase the level of payments under the order, the amounts are usually increased each year in line with the rate of inflation as measured by the consumer price index the previous September, which was 0·5%. As payments made under the order are in respect of people who have been disabled by that disease through work, they are uprated in line with other disability benefits. <BR /> <BR />The Committee agreed to recommend that SR 2021/55 be affirmed by the Assembly.”
“The Committee considered this statutory rule on 11 March 2021. The statutory rule is made under the Pneumoconiosis, etc., (Workers' Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1979. Pneumoconiosis is a group of lung diseases that can happen when a person breathes in dust particles such as asbestos, coal dust or silica, usually from a workplace. Symptoms include difficulty breathing and a cough. It is not curable but is medically managed. The order provides for lump sum compensation payments to sufferers and also makes provision for payments to dependants, as defined by the order, where the sufferer did not receive compensation payment under the order before their death. <BR /> <BR />As Members will be aware, the rates of most social security benefits, pensions and lump sum payments are reviewed each year.”
“There are families grieving this morning, and my heartfelt thoughts are with them as they try to rebuild their lives in the days, weeks and months ahead.”
“We cannot allow Stacey Knell and Karen McClean to become yet another statistic; we cannot wait for another mum, daughter, wife or girlfriend to die.”
“Domestic violence and the threats of violence against women and girls are a very topical subject at the moment, and this brings home the reality that we need to do something to tackle it. <BR /> <BR />These abhorrent murders will leave an indelible mark on the victims' families, as well as the wider community, which will feel the loss deeply. Violence in all forms, but particularly towards women and girls, is completely unacceptable and can affect anyone or any home in our society. <BR /> <BR />In May 2011, my colleague Pam Cameron and I tabled a motion on domestic violence for our maiden speeches. Whilst some progress has been made, we still have a long way to go as an Assembly and as a society as a whole.”
“It is with great sadness that I bring this Matter of the Day to the Chamber. Before I begin, I offer my sincere condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in Rathcoole and Glenville Road on Friday night. <BR /> <BR />This time last week, we had a Matter of the Day on the murder of Sarah Everard. Little did I expect that I would be standing here today to talk about two women who were murdered on Friday night in my constituency. <BR /> <BR />The news that two women have been robbed of life has sent shock waves through the wider community and beyond. While such extreme incidents are, fortunately, rare in Northern Ireland, it is a stark reminder that we are not immune to such violence.”