Robin Swann
North Antrim · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for his detailed statement. I know how passionate he is about the subject and how many times he has brought it to the Executive.”
“It has been reported that today will potentially be the warmest day of the year. As we move into the summer and our summer holidays, I want to raise public awareness of wildfires across Northern Ireland, which have been detrimental to farmland and our environment over the past number of years.”
“Wildfires are still having a detrimental impact on our environment and, occasionally, on livestock, but that reduction shows the impact of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service's proactive approach to educating the general public and engaging with rural communities and schools on its fire safety message, which is to stay alert, not…”
“There has been a lot of talk of sport in this place over the past few days, with everybody concentrating on UEFA. One sport that is going on across Northern Ireland at the minute is cross-community and goes across all age groups without fear, favour or distinction: pigeon racing.”
“I want to put on record that, since this place passed the amendment that recognised pigeon racing as a sport under the 2016 Act, over the past five years, pigeon racing clubs across Northern Ireland have been able to obtain £113,000 of rates rebates through the sports and recreation rate relief, allowing many of those clubs to continue ra…”
“There was much coverage on social media over the weekend of an incident in Staines in England, in which a police car rammed a young calf to bring it under control. It has restarted the conversation about animal cruelty. <BR /> <BR />I am dealing with a specific case in my constituency.”
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“I thank the Member for that point. One of the strengths that we have seen since the beginning of the pandemic is the interactions that have taken place between the four home nations' Health Ministers on what needs to be done from a medical and scientific point of view and being able to set aside party politics to do so. The workings of that group are a testimony and an example that could be utilised elsewhere.”
“<BR /> <BR />As we see an increasing number of positive cases of delta as well, I alert the Member to the fact that the same test, trace and protect system chases those up. In the week up to 21 November, we transferred 11,500 positive cases to the test, trace and protect system, which engendered another 30,000 contacts. That shows that, for every positive case, three direct contacts are being identified, which is an increase on what we were seeing this time last year. More people having more contacts increases the number of positive cases and the pressures that we see. We ask people to look at the number of contacts that they have, because, if you reduce the number of contacts, you reduce the opportunity for not just omicron but delta to spread.”
“I thank the Member. The Chair of the Health Committee raised that last week during our debate on the regulations. We keep an ongoing review of what test, trace and protect provides and supports in regard to general testing and tracing. Our PHA has also stepped up as an incident management site specifically to follow the omicron cases that have been identified and the international travellers who have come into Northern Ireland in the past 10 days from the countries that have now been deemed red. There is a programme through which they are all contacted, traced and asked to come forward for additional testing if that is deemed necessary. Through our PHA and our test, trace and protect systems, we have the systems in place for what can and needs to be done.”
“I appreciate that and thank the Member, the GP and the midwives for encouraging her to come forward. There was a challenge in regard to pregnant women coming forward to get their vaccines, so I am glad that that message is getting out there. She does not meet the current age range, but, if the Member listens to the announcement that the JCVI will make later this afternoon and the follow-up guidance that comes from my Department with regard to that , she can pass that on to her constituents.”
“The Secretary of State for Transport took on that engagement on behalf of all four nations with regard to how that conversation could be had. The PCR test availability was there, and unfortunately I noticed that there was some commentary on how the price of those tests escalated as soon as the announcement was made. That was unfortunate, but I still encourage everyone who is coming here after international travel to take a PCR test on day two, because that will allow us to further sequence with regard to notification of omicron and its development.”
“I thank the Member. On her last point, yes, we eventually got to that stage, although it was only a number of weeks ago that the memorandum was actually signed. We are fortunate that we persisted with that work even though, at that point, it looked as if it might not be necessary. The sharing of information between my Department and our counterparts in the Republic of Ireland on travellers who have come into the Republic of Ireland through Dublin Airport and travelled on to Northern Ireland has proven very useful. We have been able to pass those details on to the PHA, which has been in contact with them. <BR /> <BR />The issue of direct liaison with the travel industry and PCR test providers was part of a conversation at a four nations meeting with regard to COVID-O — operational.”
“I have heard some of the reports and commentary on symptoms, including interviews that have been done with some of the South African medics who first identified the potential of the omicron variant. At this minute in time I have received no advice or guidance on changing the list of symptoms, but that is kept under constant review by the CMO and CSA.”
“I have had conversations with the CMO and the CSA; there is no specific change to the notable symptoms at the minute.”
“It is about making sure that we delay and slow that spread as much as possible until the scientists do their work, over the next couple of weeks, on how susceptible the variant is to our current vaccines and its transmissibility and severity.”
“We are not at that stage yet. We are waiting to see more evidence about the severity, the transmissibility and the potential medical implications of the variant. We are currently taking the precautionary steps that we know work. We enacted them when we saw what was classified as the mink variant, which originated in Europe and spread across it very quickly. We are taking similar steps now. The playbook is there for what we do and what we know works to slow and delay the variant in coming to the shores of Northern Ireland. However, we need to be realistic: there is no way of preventing it completely. As I said in my statement, for all that we know, it may already be here, given the indication of cases that we see in England and Scotland.”
“I was slightly disappointed that, about a week or a week and a half ago, some Members talked about the slowness of our vaccine system and the boosters being deployed. I thank and commend all those who have been involved since its commencement.”
“I thank the Member. We have not received the JCVI final advice and guidance as of yet, but we expect to receive it this afternoon. One of my officials has been an observer of some of those conversations; there has been an indication as to what is expected. I am confident that we have the vaccine and the vaccinators. As I said earlier, it is a complicated system at this point in time, but I am hopeful that the JCVI advice and guidance will start to make that a bit easier. <BR /> <BR />We have averaged over 15,000 vaccinations per day, across all settings, over the past seven days, which is a greater number than we were doing this time six months ago. As of today, our number of vaccines deployed is over 3 million, with over 372,000 third and booster doses having been deployed to date. The system is a credit to all those involved.”
“I stress that that is for all international travel apart from travel from red-list countries; anybody coming from a red-list country is subject to day-two and day-eight PCR tests and mandatory quarantine isolation through the hotel system. To be very clear, the day-two PCR that the Member referenced is in relation to international travel from non-red-list countries.”
“I thank the Member. He will be aware that that any change will be made through a change to the regulations that I have been making on international travel. <BR /> <BR />The change in sequencing of day-two PCR tests needs Executive approval. I have written to the First Minister and the deputy First Minister under the urgent decision procedure to ask for that decision to be expedited so that we keep in line with the rest of the United Kingdom. At this time, the initial test is at day two or prior, which, as the Member indicated, is day one of arrival. The individual has to wait for a negative result before they release themselves from the 10-day isolation.”
“As I said earlier, I think that our dashboard will today report that we have delivered 3,009,000-odd vaccines. That takes into consideration the fact that we did not have a certified vaccine at this time last year. The programme continues to expand, and we will follow the JCVI advice and get it implemented as quickly as possible. Our vaccination teams and management structures have been meeting since the end of last week in preparation for what the JCVI may say so that we can make sure that we can act on it as soon as possible.”
“I thank the Member. She will be aware that we take our direction and guidance on vaccination from the JCVI, and we will continue to do that. There were a number of meetings of the JCVI over the weekend. We expect an update from it later this afternoon, not just on eligibility for boosters but on a review of the timeline between receipt of second vaccination and receipt of the booster. If that advice goes the way in which some in the media seem already to have been briefed that it will go, accessibility will be made much easier, and it will be a lot simpler to confirm that to people, so there will not be those myriad avenues for people to go down. <BR /> <BR />At this point, I thank not only our GPs but our community pharmacists and those who work in trust settings to get the vaccines out to a large number of the population.”
“I thank the Chair for his comments. I am supportive of the international effort to make sure that there is an equitable supply of vaccines worldwide, as are the UK Government, by way of the vaccines that have been deployed through COVAX. Having listened to the WHO statements this morning, I think that it is important that more be done to ensure that there is vaccine equality, while also taking into consideration the needs of our population in Northern Ireland, the supplies that we have and the programme that is in place to make sure that JCVI advice and guidance is followed when we receive it, which I expect will be later today.”
“We all need to be aware of that, to keep looking after each other, to be positive and determined about the actions that we all can take and to convey a message of hope and not despair.”
“However, this is not a time for either panic or despair, and nor is it a time for helplessness, complacency or speculation. Variants all spread the same way — through contact between people — and we can all help to stop that happening. That includes getting vaccinated and encouraging others to do likewise. It also means making safer choices in our daily lives. The public look to the House to lead by example and to maintain a united front through our actions, our policies, our words and, indeed, the tone of our debates. I am very conscious of the toll that the pandemic has taken on the mental well-being of our citizens, as well as the devastating impact on the physical health of so many.”
“In addition, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has been asked to consider whether anything needs to change with our vaccination programme to meet the new threat posed by the omicron variant, including potential expansion of the scope of the booster programme. Further advice is expected shortly, which will seek to maximise the vaccination programme in light of the advice to be provided by JCVI and the threat posed by the omicron variant. <BR /> <BR />Let me conclude with a direct appeal to the House and to the public. This new variant is undoubtedly concerning. There will be more confirmed cases on these islands, and it is highly likely that these will include Northern Ireland. Preventative measures and vigilance are vital to delaying and reducing any incursion coming our way.”
“Vaccination remains central to our public health response to the pandemic, and some three million jabs have been deployed in Northern Ireland in under a year. The programme has had and will continue to have its challenges. That is inevitable with an undertaking of this magnitude by a health system already under severe and relentless pressure. <BR /> <BR />Let us be grateful for just how advanced the vaccination programme is here in comparison with many parts of the world and be thankful to all those whose commitment has made this possible. I appeal to everyone in the House — everyone — to support and encourage vaccination by word and by deed. That is the responsible thing to do. Let us not be bullied or distracted by the tiny minority of anti-vaxxers and their fellow travellers.”
“It should be stressed that, although the omicron variant may reduce the effectiveness of the current vaccines, it remains very likely that vaccination will continue to protect against severe illness from omicron, as it does against other variants. That means that it is critical that we continue and, indeed, accelerate our vaccination programme to ensure that as many people as possible avail themselves of this essential protection. We know that our vaccines provide good protection from the delta variant, which at this stage remains very much the predominant strain in Northern Ireland. While we quite properly need to take action on the potential omicron threat, let us not lose sight of the devastation that delta has caused and continues to cause.”
“I sincerely hope that the scale of the transmissibility advantage of the new variant is not as large as feared and/or that the symptoms are more moderate than the delta variant, particularly for the most vulnerable. However, until we know more about the characteristics of the new variant, it is not acceptable to take the risk with the health of our people, and we need to take action urgently.”
“However, it is essential that we follow the approach that has been announced for the rest of the United Kingdom in order to reduce the risk of a potentially even greater and more serious wave of infection than that which we currently face. The position in the Republic of Ireland will also be kept under close observation.”
“Therefore, the emergence of the omicron variant is a serious and concerning development that has the potential to act as a further shock to our health and social care system. Whilst it is inevitable that there will be cases of the variant in Northern Ireland, if there are not already, it is essential that preventative measures are now taken. <BR /> <BR />I recognise that the measures that I am announcing today will have consequences for individuals, their families and the local economy. Recent figures indicate that there are between 5,000 and 6,000 international arrivals into Northern Ireland each week, primarily from Spain, with only very small numbers from southern Africa.”
“Although the scientific evidence remains limited, it is now reasonably clear that the omicron variant is more transmissible, and it remains possible that it may reduce vaccine effectiveness compared with the delta variant. In light of those risks and the uncertainty, the measures will be reviewed in three weeks when more evidence will be available. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware of the severe pressures that we are already under from the delta variant. It had been hoped that the situation would improve in the coming weeks and months from a combination of further progress on the vaccine programme, the introduction of domestic certification and a renewed focus on the other measures to reduce the spread of the virus, such as improved compliance with wearing face coverings, working from home where possible and good ventilation.”
“We will keep all those arrangements under review and will consider what additional measures may be necessary in the coming days. It is planned that the changes will take effect in international travel regulations early this week, although the advice is that travellers should follow the new arrangements immediately. <BR /> <BR />Whilst it is inevitable that there will be more cases identified, in the current context, it is important not only to reduce the number of cases being imported but to limit and slow the spread of the variant in any local communities in which it may be identified. In response, contacts of new variant cases will be required to self-isolate for 10 days, even if they are fully vaccinated. Again, that is in line with the approach being taken across the rest of the United Kingdom.”
“However, the evidence that the omicron variant has potentially significant mutations that may change the behaviour of the virus with regard to vaccines, treatments and transmissibility means that there is a need to reinstate some of the previous requirements until there is a better understanding of the risks. <BR /> <BR />All arrivals into Northern Ireland from non-red list countries, including those who are fully vaccinated, will now be required to self-isolate for 10 days unless they receive a negative test result, with a PCR test to be undertaken on or before day two. The requirement for a PCR test when an alternative lateral flow test was previously available for day two post-arrival testing for fully vaccinated arrivals is because it is not possible to conduct genomic sequencing in respect of lateral flow tests.”
“<BR /> <BR />Over the weekend, there was confirmation of the first cases of COVID-19 in England with mutations consistent with the omicron variant, whilst, earlier today, the first cases were confirmed in Scotland. In line with the approach in the rest of the United Kingdom, I have decided that, in light of the characteristics of the variant, additional measures will shortly be put in place in Northern Ireland for all international arrivals. The Executive agreed in July 2021 to the relaxation of travel restrictions for those who have been vaccinated in the United Kingdom, and that has gradually been extended to other vaccinated travellers.”
“<BR /> <BR />In the United Kingdom, travellers who have been in a red list country for the previous 10 days are required to enter into managed quarantine accommodation for at least 10 days and take day two and day eight PCR tests. Although the local managed quarantine hotel had been scaled back due to the removal of all red list countries in October, it resumed operation yesterday. Any positive cases among arrivals from red list countries will continue to be prioritised for genomic sequencing. The imposition of travel restrictions on southern African countries has now been put in place by a number of other countries. In the Republic of Ireland, arrivals from Botswana, eSwatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe are required to undergo home quarantine and PCR testing.”
“The Public Health Agency is utilising passenger locator forms, and contact tracing has identified all recent returning passengers from southern Africa via the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It is actively contacting those passengers and completing enhanced questionnaires. In addition, pillar 1 and pillar 2 positive results for the last six weeks will be reviewed for any suspicion of the variant. <BR /> <BR />When evidence of the virus first emerged last week, I took immediate action and placed South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and eSwatini on the red list of countries, with further assessments to be made of other countries with strong links to South Africa. As a result, Malawi and Mozambique were added to the Northern Ireland red list last Friday, whilst Angola and Zambia were included yesterday.”
“The Public Health Agency (PHA) is undertaking detailed risk assessments of some returning travellers from red-listed countries and is advising on any immediate public health actions that are required to slow the introduction of the variant and to limit its spread in Northern Ireland. In light of the cases identified in England and Scotland, it is to be expected that there may already be cases of the variant in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The Public Health Agency has established with immediate effect a regional incident management team that is in close liaison with a UK-wide incident management team, and there is ongoing engagement with the Republic of Ireland.”
“Whilst the variant was first identified in southern Africa, it is now present in an increasing number of countries across the world. Although there is limited evidence of the impact of the new variant, there are concerns that it has a large number of mutations, which means that there is the potential for it to be resistant to vaccines and more transmissible. As yet, it is unclear whether its clinical impact will be more serious. <BR /> <BR />I add my thanks for the work of the scientists and clinicians in South Africa in identifying the new variant at an early stage. That highlights the importance of ongoing surveillance of the COVID-19 virus. <BR /> <BR />No confirmed cases of the omicron variant have been identified in Northern Ireland at the moment, but it is highly likely that that position will change in the coming days.”
“More recently, the distinction has been made in the restrictions between fully vaccinated travellers and those with a greater risk of onward transmission of the virus. <BR /> <BR />During the COVID-19 pandemic, a large number of variants have been identified, reflecting the natural tendency for viruses to mutate over time. Although many of those variants have involved only minor changes from those already in circulation, some may be more resistant to vaccines. Others, such as delta, are much more transmissible, as is reflected in its current dominant status in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Last week, evidence of a new, more concerning variant of the COVID-19 virus began to emerge. It has now been classified as the omicron variant of concern or B.1.1.529.”
“Mr Speaker, with your permission, I would like to make a statement on the new variant of the COVID-19 virus that has been identified in southern Africa. <BR /> <BR />Although only a small proportion of the overall COVID-19 cases in Northern Ireland has related to individuals who have recently been outside the United Kingdom, there is a particular risk from international travel due to the potential importation of novel variants that have originated in other countries. It is for that reason that restrictions on international travel have been put in place throughout the pandemic, with different requirements for the provision of information, testing and quarantine depending on the country travelled from and reflecting the level of risk for each country.”
“No problem. Thank you, Mr Speaker. <BR /> <BR />The Bill raises a number of reasonable questions, which have been articulated in the Chamber. I welcome the Bill sponsor and the Committee being given the opportunity to engage further with my Department and the trusts directly on the possible environmental and financial implications that the Bill may bring as unintended consequences.”
“Reference was made to the removal of car parking charges in the last financial year due to COVID, but I utilised COVID support moneys in order to do that.”
“The hospital travel cost scheme helps people who are on low incomes or income-based benefits and who may be able to reclaim car parking charges or other travel expenses for hospital treatment. Another point to keep under consideration as the Bill takes its further steps is that, if universal free car parking is provided for patients, visitors and staff, the full cost of running the hospital car parks will have to come from the Health budget. Whilst car parking charges should not be considered to be a revenue-raising tool, they generate around £9 million per year, which is then reinvested into the maintenance and security of our car parks. If that money does not come from charging, it will have to come from elsewhere in the budget. Has the Bill sponsor considered where the money would come from?”
“That includes a patient who has a number of outpatient appointments over an extended period; a patient who may benefit from lengthy or frequent visits from relatives or friends in order to help them adjust to a new environment; a patient who falls outside the prescribed treatment categories, who has to make lengthy and/or frequent visits for treatment; or someone who attends in a voluntary capacity, for example, as a blood donor or as a member of the volunteer driver service for patients. People in those circumstances should fall within the free car parking eligibility criteria. <BR /> <BR />All trusts have advised that they have the above free and concessionary plans for parking in place.”
“Given the capital spend pressures that are currently on the Department and are devolved to the trusts, I know where I would rather concentrate capital spend, rather than building more car parks. We have a large sustained underinvestment in the capital infrastructure of our hospitals and the equipment that we could be developing and using. <BR /> <BR />The policy on car parking provision and management includes the criteria for the provision of free and concessionary parking for patients on a particular care path, such as cancer. In addition, our health and social care trusts can exercise discretion to apply the eligibility criteria in other situations where the duration and/or frequency of visits leads to significant charges being incurred by patients or their relatives.”
“Legislation should not be developed or delivered in isolation and without considering further implications. For instance, charging for car parking in hospital sites where physical space is limited has been utilised as an effective mechanism in encouraging turnover in the use of spaces, which, in turn, helps to ensure that parking is available for patients and visitors. I look to the Royal Victoria Hospital in the Member's constituency as an illustration of that. While I fully recognise the current parking pressures at the Royal, the situation would possibly be even worse if the existing parking were free. <BR /> <BR />I note the Chair of the Health Committee's comments about the development of infrastructure being the responsibility of the Department.”
“It is only the Belfast Trust and the South Eastern Trust that charge staff for parking: the Northern Trust, the Southern Trust and the Western Trust currently do not routinely charge staff for car parking. However, there are voluntary pay schemes in the Northern Trust and the Southern Trust, and some staff have chosen to pay £30 a month for a designated car parking space. I appreciate that that variability can, at times, be a source of frustration for staff and patients, but it is important to clarify that. <BR /> <BR />While I do not for one moment doubt the good intentions behind Mr McCann and, now, Miss Reilly's Bill, we need to ensure that, during its consideration, all factors and possible consequences of any decisions are carefully reflected.”
“I congratulate Miss Reilly on her willingness, as a new Member, to take on the difficult task of sponsoring a private Member's Bill. Legislation is no easy responsibility — nor is following Fra McCann, as, I am sure, she is well aware — but it is what the House does best. <BR /> <BR />The current policy — as Ms Bradshaw pointed out, it is policy, not legislation — on car parking provision and management in the Health and Social Care sector was published in 2012 and has not been amended since. It sets the direction for car park management, including charging. The policy states that it is for each health and social care trust to determine the way in which the car parking policy is applied to each of its sites to enable it to take account of local issues. That is why the picture varies across Northern Ireland.”
“By making safer choices, following public health advice and complying with the regulations, we can all play our part to help to lower the spread of COVID-19. I commend these regulations to the Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />On Mr Carroll's closing point about the venue that we are now looking at as having been, basically, a superspreader event, I note that the local licensing authority is also looking at that venue with regard to what actually happened in the premises with the numbers and how they were managed internally. Outside COVID certification and all the rest of it, I think that there are concerns that have been raised there as well. <BR /> <BR />I hope that I have answered as many Members' queries and questions as possible. In closing the debate, I remind Members that the choices that we make now will be crucial in ensuring that the virus does not begin to spread once more. As we continue to remove the remaining restrictions that are in place, our society moves closer to a return to normal life.”
“Again, it goes back to the Member's point about cherry-picking. That is what we have seen with a lot of the utterances and leaking of certain papers or parts of papers over the past few days that are either about establishing a position or reinforcing a position that many have already taken. <BR /> <BR />On Mr Allister's point, I seek and continue to work for the Executive leading collectively on this issue. This is a challenging issue regarding how we manage our response to COVID. Many papers and strategies have been produced as to things that need to be done, but the proof of the pudding often comes when people have to enact what they have put on paper regarding the necessity. Part of the Executive's autumn and winter plan was about producing COVID certification, should it be needed.”
“It is self-certification. It goes back to the Member's question about who is going to be applicable. It is not a simple self-certification. You have to go through the Government's website to record a negative test, so it is not an easy, simplistic process of self-certification. There is a process to go through, but there is currently no validation from a third party or a photograph or having to go to an approved site. Other jurisdictions have looked at that, even with regard to travel certification, where they are now accepting lateral flow tests that have to be done having been observed or with a third-party certification. The reason for that is not to take away from what we are trying to achieve here but to allow that other avenue for people who cannot or will not take a vaccine. It is not about denying them the right of access.”
“In answer to the last question, I do not honestly know, and I think that that is part of the challenge. That is why we looked at that three-stranded approach of what COVID certification will be. As I said to the Member, I hope that we are in a position where it can come back to be debated.”
“Our COVID regulations have to go through that to ensure that they are fit for purpose and proportionate. I have asked again that that four-week review period be built into any regulations that are drafted.”
“It is about how we support those people who cannot at this time. <BR /> <BR />That, in turn, goes back to a point that Mr Allister raised. There have been deliberate and mischievous utterances and messaging about what was intended and what we presented on COVID certification. It was done through engagement with Scottish and Welsh colleagues. It is not solely about certification showing proof of vaccination. People can provide a negative lateral flow test or a positive PCR test taken in the previous 30 to 180 days. There was and is the intention to provide that basket of measures that people can utilise over the time frame in which we see the measure being in place. In the regulations that have once again been left with my Department to draft, there will be a four-week review period.”