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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“— services in the community and voluntary sector across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I have tried to keep my comments succinct and to the point. It would be impossible to cover all the complexities of this concerning issue today. I encourage Members to support the motion and amendment.”
“<BR /> <BR />In respect of services, the motion specifically references rehabilitation; an issue that has often been raised with me. That is why one of the key early actions that we have undertaken under the strategy is the independent review of inpatient tier 4 detoxification and residential rehabilitation services across Northern Ireland. That work was commissioned in 2023. A report has now been submitted for consideration. Following the tier 4 review, that will provide an overview of current service provision and will help to set the future direction for inpatient treatment services, both statutory services and —”
“<BR /> <BR />The problem is significant, but ongoing work and recurrent additional investment will address some of the core issues in the system, such as ensuring that there are clearer pathways, better support for dual diagnosis when an individual experiences co-occurring mental health and addiction issues, and greater consistency in inpatient treatment services. Those services range, as we have heard, from tier 1, the provision of information and education, to tier 4, inpatient treatment services. While we seek to improve the accessibility and quality of services that we provide, there are already vital life-saving services in place. If you think that you may have an issue with substance use, or you know someone who needs help, you should come forward and seek help and support.”
“Dual diagnosis, or co-occurring mental health and addiction problems, is a key priority in both those strategies. Therefore, it is critical that we reinforce the linkages between the two strategies, with early intervention and an action plan, development of the regional mental health crisis service and development of the regional mental health service. Again, recurrent funding has been provided to appoint a co-occurring mental health and substance use project manager who will be based in the SPPG. Recruitment to that post is under way. That should ensure improved pathways with more timely access to the treatment and support that a person with a co-occurring mental health and addiction problem needs to enable them to maximise their recovery.”
“When it was published, it was estimated, at that point, that its implementation would require an additional £6·2 million in recurrent funding. In what will undoubtedly be an extremely challenging budget environment, I am pleased to confirm that, to date, I have managed to assign an extra £750,000 recurrently towards that strategy's implementation. <BR /> <BR />I am conscious of time. With regard to other positives, a number of Members mentioned dual diagnosis services. Members will be aware that dual diagnosis is mentioned in both the mental health strategy and the substance use strategy, because, when we were co-designing and co-producing those two strategies in the Department, we recognised that dual diagnosis sat across both.”
“The Member raises an issue on which her party leader, the Minister of Justice, and I have said that we want to work closely together. I look forward to continuing work on how we make sure that substance abuse and addiction are not treated as criminal activities; we should address them as health issues. We have to look at how we as an Executive approach that as well. <BR /> <BR />Miss McAllister raised the issue of naloxone in her comments. I can confirm wider expansion of its use. Earlier today, I corresponded on the issue with Andrea Leadsom, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health, Start for Life and Primary Care, who is looking at introducing legislation on that in Westminster, on how we develop that and bring it forward. I will continue to work with her on that. <BR /> <BR />I go back to the substance use strategy.”
“— to new interventions, as appropriate, within the wider legislative framework. It is not, therefore, something that I am opposed to.”
“However, we will monitor forthcoming evidence on the effectiveness of two different interventions: the pilot overdose prevention facilities in Glasgow and Dublin. We will give due consideration —”
“I do. It goes back to the point that the Member and others made about how we look at the abuse of drugs. The substance use strategy sits, rightly, in my Department. Addiction is a health issue, not a justice issue. We should not punish people who cannot step out of addiction and out of that cycle that keeps them where they are. There is a health response and a public response. There is a holistic approach to be taken across the Assembly, too. <BR /> <BR />The Member mentioned the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. We talk about overdose prevention centres and the opportunity to have one in Northern Ireland. As the Member acknowledged, that is UK-wide legislation, so it is not within my remit to be able to set one up here in Northern Ireland.”
“That strategic plan is being updated and finalised following the consultation and will be published in the near future. It will then become the new road map for effective services, not just for my Department but for any organisation looking to address substance-use-related issues. However, a plan on its own will not solve all our issues.”
“The strategy also recognises the risks that face our young people today and set outs what more we need to do in that space. Our strategy aims to directly reduce harm through that focus, as has been said, on prevention and on harm-reduction support measures for people in those groups who use alcohol and other drugs. <BR /> <BR />In recognition of the fact that it is a growing issue, work is under way to develop what will be a new, holistic, strategic plan for the delivery of substance use services. That will seek to improve the availability, accessibility and quality of the treatment and support provided right across Northern Ireland. The strategic commissioning plan was consulted on earlier this year following a co-production process that involved over 100 individuals and organisations.”
“As Members will be aware, I launched our 10-year substance use strategy, 'Preventing Harm, Empowering Recovery', in September 2021 with the full support of the Executive. The alcohol- and drug-related statistics that we have already touched on demonstrate why we need to continue to drill down and focus on the strategy's full implementation, because it is that strategy that sets out the values and priorities that underpin all our efforts in this area. Those efforts include targeting groups for which the need is greatest and for which it is most necessary that the strategy be effective. The strategy describes three main priority groups believed to be most at risk of harm: those who are homeless; those who inject drugs; and those who are in contact with the justice system.”
“I will continue to work with colleagues in the House and in the Health Committee and across all areas, and especially with my ministerial colleagues in other Departments, to address the challenging societal issues. For example, my Department works closely with colleagues in the Department for Communities to look at the needs of those who are suffering homelessness. That includes doing work through the Complex Lives initiative in Belfast, which takes an inter-agency, multidisciplinary approach to those who are most vulnerable and wraps support around them in order to meet their basic needs. We also work closely with the Department of Justice on enforcement, community safety and the healthcare needs of those who are in the justice system. <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, the motion rightly calls on me, as Minister of Health, to:”
“It is my view that every single one of these deaths is preventable, and we must continue to work to address all the issues. The Members who tabled the motion are asking us to acknowledge the worrying statistic that the rate of drug-related deaths in the 25- to 34-year-old age group was the highest of any age group in 2022. In addition, the figures confirm once again that drug-related and drug-misuse deaths continue to be higher in areas of highest deprivation. <BR /> <BR />Rightly, the motion also notes the intrinsic connection, as I mentioned, between social deprivation, poverty, isolation, mental health and addiction issues. As we are all aware, those are not issues that Health and Social Care can solve on its own. To be truly effective, our response must therefore be a collective one.”
“That is a stark reminder of the tragic and potentially lethal impact that alcohol can still have. As has been mentioned, the harm related to substance use is driven by a range of multifaceted issues that exist across the whole of our society. Those include poverty and deprivation, homelessness, unemployment, lack of economic development, mental health and trauma, paramilitarism, community relations and justice issues, education attainment inequalities and the legacy of the past. As has been mentioned many times, tackling those societal issues requires the whole Executive to operate collectively. <BR /> <BR />The families whom I have met know only too well the pain and sorrow that sits behind each and every death recorded as a result of substance use, as well as the complex factors that drive people to substance use.”
“Although many Members have referred to the statistics, and I thank them for noting them, it has been realised in the Chamber today that behind every one of those statistics and each of the numbers is a person: a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister, a father or a mother. That is why the tone of the debate today has been particularly welcome. I will say, however, that we cannot be complacent. We must continue to make the issue a priority. It is important to recognise that the trend over the past decade has been an upward one. <BR /> <BR />Today's motion focuses on the harms from drug use, but it is vital, and Ms Ní Chuilín raised this, that we also consider the impact of alcohol. The most recent alcohol-specific death statistics, which were published on 14 February, show that 356 such deaths were recorded in 2022.”
“Mr Robinson noted the positive reduction in drug-related deaths across Northern Ireland, from 213 in 2021 to 153 in 2022. Like him, I hope that that is not a blip but rather an indication that society is going in the right direction as we use our strategies and the resources that we have available to keep concentrating on the matter.”
“The most recent drug death statistics, which have been quoted and were published on 31 January 2024, are a reminder of the tragic impact that drug-related harm has on individuals, families and communities across Northern Ireland.”
“In that regard, the Member noted that I am meeting families later this week — again, with her, at her invitation — because of how she is respected in a community that wants to tackle this serious issue. <BR /> <BR />Today's motion asks us to note:”
“It was summed up in two words from Ms Ní Chuilín in her contribution when she said that we are doing this because "We care". I believe that that is why we as Members, parties and individuals are in the Chamber. <BR /> <BR />I thank Ms Órlaithí Flynn for moving the motion. I have worked with her extensively on this. I thank her for the acknowledgement that she gave to my officials for the work that has been done on this. The co-working and partnership approach that she brings and that her colleagues and other MLAs have brought as we try jointly to tackle this serious issue shows how we can best work together. The previous work that we have done collectively is a prime example of what we can do when we set our minds to it.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to speak to the motion and the amendment. I will support both, because the amendment adds to and strengthens the motion; it does not take away from it or its intent. <BR /> <BR />I want to address some of the extremely important issues that have been highlighted by Members. However, I begin, as others have done, by offering my heartfelt sympathy to all of the families who have lost someone dear to them in similar circumstances, because, as has been said around the Chamber, too many people across Northern Ireland have suffered the devastating loss of a loved one because of substance use issues. I thank Members for the tone of today's discussion and for the way in which the issue has been taken forward.”
“Some trusts already operate a criteria-based system for the allocation of parking permits. Therefore, in the interest of consistency, regional collaboration has been recommended to promote consistency and a timely roll-out. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I do not support the amendments tabled by Mr McGrath or Mr Carroll. I assure Members that I and the Department are committed to ensuring full implementation of the Bill's provisions once they are passed into law, and I ask others to do likewise.”
“We have always looked to staff to do that. It goes back to Ms Bradshaw's point — she is not in the Chamber — and how we look at that reconfiguration. We must make sure that, when we ask patients and staff to travel, we support them not just by offering free car parking and free permits but by ensuring that there is public transport provision. <BR /> <BR />My primary concern has always been to protect access to hospitals for appropriate users. I know that many colleagues have supported this legislation because of the benefits to staff, patients and visitors. The trusts have been asked to stop charging for all existing staff car parking permits from 12 May. They should put in place a fair and consistent award process for the allocation of staff parking permits as soon as possible.”
“Given when the work under the original Bill was scheduled, it would have been the same staff working in two different time periods. The delay in the installation of the equipment due to the legal challenge, means that we are now looking for the installation of the car parking equipment to coincide with the delivery of Encompass. That was not the timeline under the first Bill. <BR /> <BR />The Member made a very valid point about supporting the lung care event in the Long Gallery. I encourage all Members to go to that. That ties into Mr Robinson's point about the conversations and meetings with the Infrastructure Minister about how we join this up with public transport. I am sure that the Member will be aware that it is an ask of the clean air fraternity that we use public transport as much as possible.”
“I thank the Member for his point. As I said earlier when I was talking about the criteria, there are currently 5,032 designated staff-permit-holder car parking spaces across the trusts, but we have 11,606 staff who have an allocated staff parking permit. It is about how we migrate those, with a consistent approach to permits, but also make sure that, come 12 May, those permits are free of charge. <BR /> <BR />I am sure that the Member will appreciate that, given the challenges created by Encompass, we are still working with very small teams across the trusts to implement what will be electronic criteria. He is aware that the delay in the introduction of the equipment was due to a legal challenge, which has only just been lifted.”
“Danny Donnelly commented on one year versus two years, and he was supportive of the rationale as set out. I welcome his support on that. <BR /> <BR />Mr Speaker, I think that I have covered the majority of the points that have been —.”
“Mr Carroll said, again, that £6·5 million is not a significant sum when it comes to the Department of Health. I can assure him that, when I look at this year's budget, what we want to do, the challenges that we have and what we could be looking at next year, £6·5 million is a considerable sum. <BR /> <BR />I think that I have answered Mr McGrath and the Chair's questions. Mrs Dodds asked a pertinent question at the end of her contribution about whether capital has been spent on additional car parks. I am not aware that it has, but I will ask trusts to confirm that, because, again, the capital budget line of trusts and the Department of Health is pretty tight, and I would be surprised if it was being used to buy land to simply extend the car parks estate.”
“— because we are a legislative Assembly, after all. Issues around the two-year period go back to Mrs Dodds's points on looking for a multi-year Budget that will allow those decisions to be made by the Department. The intention is that it is there for two years; that is why I set the criteria. If we can do things earlier and have the equipment and the finance in place, I hope that whoever is in this place does so. <BR /> <BR />I move now to some of the other comments that were made. Mr Carroll talked about Tory austerity and certain asks to be made of the Tory Government. I am aware, as, I am sure, Members are, that the First Minister and deputy First Minister met the Secretary of State on 19 April, and have asked for a meeting with the Prime Minister on the challenges that we face.”
“I thank the Member for his clear and astute point. If we find a point at which we can introduce it earlier, there will always be a point at which the House can change legislation —”
“The specific criteria are about looking at how we support the entirety of our staff base rather than focusing solely on one profession. The criteria that I listed earlier are what I want to see all trusts working towards to make sure that there is a consistent approach across all trusts. It is about those who provide regular clinics or services, hold a blue badge due to a disability, or even do cross-site working. We also look again at the shift criteria and whether it is before 7.30 am or finishing after 7.30 pm. The initial intention of the Bill was to make staff car parking free, as I would like, but we are constrained at the minute to maintaining the number of permits that we have, but we will make sure that those are accessible to as many people as possible.”
“I thank the Member for her intervention. On her first point, as I said, I considered at the start the time frame that I would ask for in the Bill. I have carefully considered the amendments that Mr Carroll and Mr McGrath have tabled about a change of timeline. I would not be standing here asking for two years if I did not think that that was the reasonable and practical ask to make sure that we can deliver free parking without risk, and, if we can do so, we will bring forward the date.”
“To be realistic about delivery, however, and given the commitment that I have made to Executive colleagues that trusts will look at how we manage the financial impact rather than seek additional moneys from the Department of Finance, I think that two years is realistic and deliverable and, to use Mrs Dodds's words, "reasonable and practical". Rather than have to come back in a year's time to seek a further extension, it makes sense to embed the two years in legislation now, and, if that period can then be shortened, it can be. That is why I ask Members to oppose Mr McGrath's amendments and definitely Mr Carroll's amendments. <BR /> <BR />I will give way to Miss McAllister.”
“I thank the Chair for her intervention. I will address her comments. As I said, the 12-month date is not without risk. The original Bill was introduced over two years ago, and we now face additional challenges with our finances. It comes back to the point that Alan Robinson made, and the Chair raised it as well. If I thought that this could be done in less than two years, that is what the legislation would state. If the changes could be delivered in less than two years, I would seek that my officials do that.”
“Staff permits are currently allocated on a needs basis, including on the basis of shift working, disability and the time and distance required to travel to the workplace. My intention is to apply the criteria consistently. <BR /> <BR />Diane Dodds raised a query from the Children's Health Coalition about children with long-term conditions. I indicated at Second Stage that a number of conditions met the criteria for accessing permits. I will now ask that the trusts and my officials who are present engage with the Member and the Children's Health Coalition to see what more work we can do to make sure that eligible parents get full access to the permit system, because that is a criterion that I want to see maintained. <BR /> <BR />I will take interventions at this stage, initially from the Chair of the Health Committee.”
“The additional criteria will include the requirement to carry out shift working regularly scheduled to start before 7.30 am or finish after 7.30 pm; working permanently on night duty; being a registered car sharer who is actively sharing on a daily basis; having a public transport journey that involves one or more changes including park and ride and that exceeds one hour of commuting; or being a parent, guardian or carer who uses a private vehicle to transport children or provide caring responsibilities on the way to or from a base site and public transport is not available. <BR /> <BR />Income criteria are currently not applied in the Belfast Trust or the South Eastern Trust. I note that many lower-paid workers tend to live closer to their workplace at the minute, and that information is coming from our trust staff.”
“<BR /> <BR />Criteria-based permit allocation is preferable because it provides a mechanism by which the staff who are in most need of car parking permits are prioritised, I have, as the Member identified, directed all trusts to roll out criteria-based permit allocations. The Belfast Trust's eligibility criteria include being required to use a private vehicle on a daily basis to deliver patient or client care; to provide regular clinics; to provide services at more than one site; to participate in a scheduled on-call rota; to manage service staff on more than one site; to hold a blue badge through disability; and to undertake cross-site working.”
“They will become free of charge on 12 May. <BR /> <BR />Access to a parking permit is currently awarded on a non-criteria-based system in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust and the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. In those trusts, permits have been awarded to staff on a waiting list on a solely first come, first served basis. The Western Health and Social Care Trust does not operate a staff permit system, as the use of the vast majority of its car parking spaces is already free of charge. Criteria-based permit allocation is preferable, as it provides a mechanism by which the staff who most need a car parking permit are prioritised fairly and equitably. Due to limited capacity, not all staff who meet the criteria for a parking permit will have access to one initially, with many staff being placed on a waiting list.”
“I will respond to comments that have been made, and I will then give way to Members if I have not answered their questions during my contribution. <BR /> <BR />Mr Carroll talked about making permits free. I talked about that last time, Mr McGrath raised the issue, and other Members have spoken about it. If permits become free, a criteria-based allocation system will be rolled out regionally to ensure a fair and consistent award process. Regionally, there are 5,032 designated staff permit-holder car parking spaces, and over 11,600 staff have been allocated staff parking permits. Those spaces can be shared by part-time staff and hybrid and shift workers. I have committed and will commit in answer to Members' questions today that all 11,606 permits will be made free of charge if a deferral period is agreed.”
“That period will also allow trusts time to fully review the impact of the new traffic management system and its impact on demand and car park usage and to overcome any teething issues. That will place trusts in the best position to ensure successful roll-out of free car parking after the deferral period.”
“I have been informed that the Encompass project impacts on the availability of trust resources in ICT and estates services and that that will need to be taken into consideration in the roll-out of the traffic management system. <BR /> <BR />A time frame of 12 months, as proposed by Mr McGrath, is not without risk. I have proposed a two-year deferral period to provide my Department with more time to stabilise its finances and allow trusts time and space to fully commit to the roll-out of Encompass without placing additional pressure on ICT and estates time. I propose to use the deferral period to fully implement the infrastructure required to manage free car parking.”
“Training for front-line staff and back-office staff will take place during that period. The three-and-a-half-month timeline proposed by Mr Carroll would mean that, if parking were made free from 1 September 2024, there would still be a significant risk that trusts would not be able to control parking, preserve blue-light routes and protect designated spaces as required through traffic management systems, because those systems will not be fully operational. I think that Mr McGrath has recognised that. <BR /> <BR />Health and Social Care has advised that, once parking is made free with the desired traffic management system, it will be able to control parking, preserve blue-light routes and protect designated spaces. Trusts are at present fully committed to the implementation of Encompass, which will continue to 2025.”
“It is also expected that the installation of priority items and equipment will take place by that date. However, I have asked for a further period of approximately 12 weeks. That will be required for the installation of all other automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) items in areas such as the set-down locations, smaller parking areas, bus routes and delivery yards in order to facilitate free movement of on-site traffic and mitigate potential congestion. <BR /> <BR />Over the following eight weeks, there will be checks to assess whether the system is working as planned, management reports will be finalised, and data will be added in relation to permitted staff registration details, contractor vehicles and any known recurrent patient registration numbers to enable access to car parks.”
“Thank you for the opportunity to respond to the amendments tabled to the Hospital Parking Charges Bill. The amendments tabled by Mr McGrath would result in the postponement of the introduction of free parking for one year instead of the two years outlined in the Bill. The amendment tabled by Mr Carroll would result in the postponement of the introduction of free parking for three and a half months instead of the two years outlined in the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Members will recall that I hope that the traffic management system contract will be awarded in the next couple of weeks. In the coming period, it is envisaged that site surveys will be completed by the contractor to look at appropriate locations for equipment, assess ground conditions, assess signage requirements and order equipment.”
“<BR /> <BR />Proper consideration needs to be given to how we manage and control the limited capacity in hospital car parks and how provision and maintenance will be funded when parking charges are abolished. I commend the Bill to the House.”
“I do not have an exact date, because I want to ensure that the criteria are equal across all trusts and areas and that it is not simply a first come, first served continuation of the permits that are there currently. That is one of the issues that we brought forward with the sponsor of the original Bill and members of the Executive. The number of permits that we have on each trust and each site remains the same, but there is an equality of access. That was the point that the Chair of the Health Committee raised as Sinn Féin spokesperson. There are people who need the permits. That is why I listed the criteria as to who will be able to access one. There is work on that that is, again, dependent on this legislation going through.”
“He referred to agency spend: I direct him to correspondence that has been circulated and which was part of the answer that he received. Due to actions that I took when I was previously in office, the spend on off-contract agency has reduced by £20 million. Therefore, where he refers to the increase over a period, he has not acknowledged that work has been done to start to address agency spend in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />If I have missed any points that Members have raised, my officials or I will —”
“Alan Robinson referred to looking towards the definition of those permits. As I said in the earlier debate, I have directed trusts to make sure that there is a consistent approach across all trusts. I give him a guarantee that I will not be standing here as Health Minister in two years' time to see a further extension of this legislation. <BR /> <BR />I move to Mr Carroll's contribution. My intention to support our health workers through the Bill is genuine. He said that £6·4 million is small beer to the Department of Health: I assure him that, in view of what I am looking at in the budget for 2024-25, £6·4 million is not small beer, considering the challenges that we will face in the delivery of services.”
“They are genuine — she knows that — and I received the support of the Executive for introducing the Bill and for accelerated passage.”
“That issue was raised by the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in regard to wider commitments on climate change, reducing the number of car journeys and the wider utilisation of public transport. I have been working with Minister O'Dowd in Infrastructure, and we have had a conversation about how we look at pooling not just public transport but all those other transport services, should that be school buses or hospital buses, to make sure that we are utilising the full extent of that. <BR /> <BR />I have had the conversations with Aisling Reilly, the sponsor of the previous Bill, and she knows my intended consequences of moving this legislation.”
“Over the following eight weeks, there will be checks to assess whether the system is working as planned, finalised management reports and adding data in relation to permitted staff registration details. Contractor vehicles will be put in place as that stage as well. <BR /> <BR />Diane Dodds referred to access for parents whose children are receiving care. As I said earlier, there are specific times when family members can receive car parking passes. I engaged with the Access to Childcare group myself. I actually sponsored its launch because, as a parent who had a child in a Belfast hospital for 13 months, I know exactly what that means, and that is why I am keen to make sure that this legislation does not have unintended consequences for others. <BR /> <BR />A Member made reference to access to public transport.”