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 his question. The comment is timely. Yesterday afternoon, the two junior Ministers, the Chief Medical Officer and I met ethnic minority groups, including our faith-based groups.”
“The Member's opening comments are correct. Ministers — not a single Minister — decide. There seem to be some grounds for believing that Professor Whitty's comments have been misquoted. There was, in principle, a reference to a joint CMO statement that was issued last August/September on the return to schools. In that statement, Professor Whitty also made it clear that a return to school was the best option from the child's point of view, and that has surely never been in dispute. The issue is what schools being open means for wider society and the health service and how it fuels transmission. The Minister of Education brought a paper to the Executive last week that included two options, the second of which was adopted unanimously by the entire Executive. The Executive did not divide on our current stance.”
“That is a step away from the initial question. I am not aware of any advice having changed from what was provided either to my Department or the Executive.”
“<BR /> <BR />In April 2020, the health improvement division in the Public Health Agency established a regional group to oversee the recovery of health improvement services throughout the first surge of the pandemic. Additionally, the test, trace and protect contact-tracing service operated by the PHA seeks to provide advice and support to those who need additional help and to help people to isolate, as required, when they have a positive test. The service also works closely with health improvement colleagues in the Department for Communities to address any health inequalities in cases identified through contact tracing or as part of the ongoing management of clusters that may face particular challenges with self-isolation.”
“The latest coronavirus-related health inequalities report was published by my Department on 16 December 2020, and it shows that the hospital admission rate for COVID-19 confirmed cases in the 10% most deprived areas was more than double the rate in the 10% least deprived areas. However, while deprivation was found to be an important factor in the likelihood of hospital admissions, age was found to be a greater factor. The pandemic has, no doubt, exacerbated existing inequalities, and therefore my Department, with the Public Health Agency (PHA), continues to deliver a range of actions to address the impact of COVID-19 and other health conditions and behaviours in the most deprived communities and to reduce health inequalities.”
“When the Department publishes its weekly paper on the R rate, that paper also contains the number of people who are in hospital, the number of people in ICU and the number of people aged over 60 who are testing positive in any one period. R is the cumulative number that people have concentrated on, and it has been a useful measure of the rate of decrease, but Members also have to take into consideration where we started from and where we want to get to.”
“The R number should not be the sole number that we focus on or concentrate on. Today, we reckon that the R number could be between 0·7 and 0·9. Whether R is taken to be the rate of increase or the rate of decrease, it is always proportionate to where we started from. We started with 1,000 inpatients in January, after the wave coming up to Christmas, and it is that rate of decrease that we see now. If you are driving a car at 100 mph and put the brakes on, it takes longer to slow down and come to a stop than if you had you been driving at 30 mph. That is what R is about: R is also the measure of decrease in the rate of cases. <BR /> <BR />The Member will be fully aware that R is not the only measure that we rely on.”
“I thank the Member. I welcome Edwin back to the House. His presence is very welcome, and I am glad to have him at my back.”
“I recommend the regulations to the Assembly. I will give way.”
“Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I hope that that provides you with a summary of the context in which the regulations were made and an outline of their content.”
“<BR /> <BR />The anomaly was drawn to my Department's attention by the Fire and Rescue Service, and my Department recognised that that was also likely to be the case with driving instruction provided by the PSNI and the Ambulance Service. Following receipt and consideration of the proposed mitigations for the Fire and Rescue Service, the PSNI and the Ambulance Service, the amendment was made to permit driver training to continue for emergency services. <BR /> <BR />I believe that the restrictions were a measured and proportionate response to the information that was available at the time. The trajectory of the epidemic since their introduction has demonstrated that they are having an effect, but we are not yet where we need to be. I believe that the restrictions continue to be necessary today.”
“They will recognise, as I do, that we expect our emergency services to be there when we need them. They have continued to provide their services to the public throughout the pandemic. I put on record my thanks to them for their dedication. However, to keep those services running, they require a sustainable supply of suitably skilled drivers to allow them to continue to deliver our vital public services. Members will be aware that, under the existing regulations, driving lessons were considered to be close-contact services and were not permitted other than for motorcycles. There was no exemption for emergency services to continue to provide this training.”
“The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) advised that it was a low-risk activity and appropriate mitigations were in place. This is why I amended the regulations. <BR /> <BR />Finally, Members, I come to the third of the three statutory rules: SR 29, amendment No. 4 of 2021. The regulation was made on 9 February, came into operation on 10 February and remains in place today. The regulation permits an exemption to allow the provision of driving instruction by or on behalf of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) or the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Board for the purpose of testing the competence of employees to drive a vehicle as part of their job. <BR /> <BR />Members may ask why we needed the change.”
“The scheme requires Motability customers to collect their vehicle, which means that car retailers are unable to deliver new vehicles to their Motability scheme customers. Furthermore, current restrictions on movement and on non-essential retail prohibited customers from collecting vehicles from car dealerships at that time. In effect, the restriction on movement prevented new Motability scheme users from obtaining a Motability car as they could not visit a car dealership to collect their vehicle, and that was an unnecessary disadvantage to people with disabilities. I assure Members that it was never the policy intent of the restrictions to disadvantage any Motability scheme customers who require a vehicle for essential travel.”
“That regulation amends the date on which my Department must review the need for restrictions and requirements imposed by regulation 3 of the principal regulations to be on or before 18 February. Regulation 3 also amends the expiry date of the principal regulations to midnight on 5 March 2021. <BR /> <BR />SR 27, amendment No. 3 of 2021, was made on 5 February. It came into operation on 6 February and remains in place today. That regulation permits a customer to collect a Motability vehicle from a car dealership following an online application. The amendment was made to resolve an anomaly with the Motability scheme that had been brought to the attention of my Department. Members will be aware that the Motability scheme enables individuals to exchange part or all of their disability benefits as a payment towards the lease of a new vehicle.”
“There were 65 confirmed COVID-positive inpatients in ICU, an increase of 67% in the previous 14 days. Members should note that that was in comparison with previous highs of 51 COVID patients in ICU in April 2020 and 52 in November 2020 during the first and second waves of the pandemic. That left us with little choice but to request that the restrictions should continue, and the Executive supported that view. <BR /> <BR />The three amendment regulations that we are debating today gave effect to a number of essential changes agreed by the Executive that I will now outline to Members. SR 18, amendment No. 2 of 2021, was made on 2 February. The regulation came into operation on 3 February and remains in place today.”
“It was very important for families to meet up, but, unfortunately, we know that the virus transmits easily in enclosed spaces where people are in close proximity, as is the case in our homes. By the review of 31 January, there was extreme pressure on the health and social care system, and the third wave was at its peak. We saw a rapid rise in hospital inpatient numbers and ICU bed occupancy, with 800 COVID-positive inpatients across the system, and, by Monday 18 January, we had seen a 48% increase in 14 days.”
“The Executive formally reviewed the restriction regulations on 21 January having examined the evidence on the ongoing transmission of the virus, the high number of hospitalised COVID patients and ICU capacity. The Executive agreed that the existing post-Christmas restrictions should remain in place until midnight on 5 March, with a review to take place on or before 18 February. <BR /> <BR />We saw the COVID-19 infections rise significantly after Christmas, with the R value for new positive tests between 1·5 and 1·9 on Monday 5 January. That sharp rise was a consequence of the relaxation in restrictions prior to Christmas. Families were mixing with their grandparents and grandchildren or relatives who had come home for the Christmas period and who they may not have met since the start of the pandemic.”
“Thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. Today, I am bringing forward for debate the latest three amendments made to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations 2021. They are SR 2021/18, SR 2021/27 and SR 2021/29, which are amendment Nos 2, 3 and 4 of the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations 2021. With your permission, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I will set the context and briefly summarise the statutory rule. <BR /> <BR />Members will recall that the restrictions that were introduced on 26 December were originally planned to be in place until 6 February. However, evidence was emerging during January that the huge pressures on the healthcare system that had been experienced would not have eased sufficiently by 6 February to allow any relaxation of restriction measures.”
“I know that it is not easy, so I commend you on your strong support and your contribution to reducing the impact of COVID-19 in our community. <BR /> <BR />Secondly, I remind everyone that the most important actions that we can all take to limit the spread of the virus are to stay at home, limit our contacts with others, and, if we have any symptoms, isolate from others immediately and seek a COVID test. It has made a difference, and it continues to make a difference. I say this to people: do not give up yet. I commend these regulations to the Assembly.”
“We need to want to do it. That analogy reinforces the message about staying at home. Nobody would intentionally burn their own house down while they, their loved ones and their families were in it. We can look at the virus using the analogy that Mr Carroll expressed. We continue to utilise the independent sector and work with it to pick up whatever capacity we can to support our health service. <BR /> <BR />I hope that I have answered as many of the Members' questions as possible. In closing, I would like to do two things. First, I express my thanks and the appreciation of all of us here to all those who are working across our health service at this difficult time. I thank the public for adhering to the guidance and regulations that are in place.”
“Therefore, I caution restraint with regard to opening up too much or in indicating what and when we are going to open up so that it does not have an adverse effect. <BR /> <BR />Mr Carroll spoke about not wanting any fires. That is a very apt analogy. Unfortunately, there are still too many people running around with matches in their pockets. That it is a firm analogy for the virus because when you go about with matches in your pockets, you can still transfer the virus or start another fire in your own home, in somebody else's home, in a shop or in a conversation that you are having with somebody down the street while not wearing a face mask.”
“That is beneficial because not knowing who is coming in through the Republic of Ireland and travelling here, or coming in through the Republic of Ireland and travelling on to Cardiff, London and Manchester creates additional strains and stresses. <BR /> <BR />I touched on some of Mr McNulty's contributions and the many questions that he asked about when we can open up. I say to him: let us not get too far in front of ourselves with regard to putting out messages. These restrictions will be in place until 5 March. What we as an Executive, Assembly and society need is people conforming with the message to stay at home. If we start to get people in front of themselves about what we are going to open up next, there is a human tendency to get out before the formal announcement.”
“To update the Chair, we use a UK passenger locator form managed through the Home Office, and we get our data from it. I am aware that there has been some media attention on the sharing of passenger locator data from GB to the Republic of Ireland. However, as far as I am aware, no formal approach has been made by the Irish Government to the Home Office seeking the sharing of that data. That may have changed since I received the last update, but, to my knowledge, no approach has been made. It is not within my gift: it is for the Irish Government to approach the Home Office about the sharing of that data. <BR /> <BR />I support ensuring that there is — I think that the Chair knows this — as much sharing of data, especially travel data, as possible across these islands.”
“Members will be aware of the work of the mental health champion to bring forward recommendations. <BR /> <BR />We here are well-rehearsed with the concerns that I have raised about the lack of data sharing with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on passenger locator forms. Small steps have been made, but we are far from addressing the real need as to how we identify travellers coming in through the Republic of Ireland. They are not just travelling to Northern Ireland but on to Great Britain as well. There is still a lot of work to be done with regard to international travel.”
“We have the Executive working group on mental health, well-being, resilience and suicide prevention. When Carál was Minister, she engaged with the youth group Elephant in the Room, which gave powerful testimony to the challenges that the pandemic is posing for our young people. To paraphrase: they are so zoomed in that they have zoned out. Our young people are now spending so much time in front of screens that it has almost become a way of life for them. It was OK when it was their escape from reality, where they went to play on their Xbox, or whatever else, but now that it is their only way of communicating with their friends and their social group, it is creating additional strains and stresses. That is an important piece of work. <BR /> <BR />Ms Ní Chuilín and Jonny Buckley asked what more can be done to work across Departments.”
“We need to put support in place because they stood up when many others were on their knees. <BR /> <BR />Ms Ní Chuilín and Ms Hunter raised the mental health challenge and its impact.”
“It is about taking those steps and not rushing but doing it in a proportionate way when it is safe to do so. <BR /> <BR />To move on to Carál Ní Chuilín's contribution, I am already looking forward to Thursday. It is an engagement that I always look forward to. One of the challenges that Carál will bring to the Committee is that she also sat around the Executive table, as there is proportionality, and we have had discussions and made difficult decisions at various times. I will do my best to have answers to the Member's questions. <BR /> <BR />One of the important facts that was raised was the importance of our health and social care workforce and the entire family across the whole health and social care sector no matter where they are and where they fit in to it.”
“The PHA is still working on how we collate and present the sources of those infections in a meaningful way. We are still seeing cases in homes and workplaces that are opened, and, unfortunately, we are still seeing outbreaks associated with funerals. In Northern Ireland, there is still an emotional challenge where a funeral is not just an acknowledgement of somebody's life but a social connection. Unfortunately, we are still seeing those cases, and that adds to the challenge. We have often said in here that the virus has changed our perception of death. Those things that were so normal for so many people have now been challenged. That is why, unfortunately, we still have that challenging restriction on the number of people that can attend a funeral when the guidance is being followed. It makes it personal and hard for many families.”
“That is where many of the challenges lie, and it leads on to some of Mr McNulty's contribution about all those things that we could open and that we should look at opening. They have to be taken at a steady pace when the time is right and when we will not see another explosion of the virus. <BR /> <BR />I reflect back to the approach that the Executive took in May 2020 when they set out a stepped, phased approach but did not put a timeline on it. Those restrictions were eased solely depending on where the virus was at any point in time and where the pressures on our hospital system were at any point in time. That is an important way to approach how we take the next steps out of this. <BR /> <BR />Ms Bradshaw mentioned the number of cases that we are seeing.”
“Another point that Cara Hunter raised was that some people are travelling to seaside resorts for their exercise, which is perfectly understandable, but if they could do that closer to home, it would be far better and it would be better for the communities that they travel to. There is guidance on how far people should travel from home. The sooner that we get the number of people making unnecessary trips down, the sooner that we can get back to enjoying the trips and outings that we all want to get back to. <BR /> <BR />That brings me on to Mr Chambers's contribution. He said that the cornerstone of the regulations that we have in place is the "Stay at home" message and the necessity to minimise travel.”
“As legislators here, it makes us reflect on the necessity for the regulations because of what they are achieving in driving down that rate of infection. We also need to make sure that we have the necessary support mechanisms in place. As I have always said, they will be in place for no longer than is necessary, but, at this point in time, they are necessary because we still have a high rate of infection. We still have more people in hospital with COVID than we had at the peak of the first wave, and we have more people in ICU than we did during our first and second waves. So, in my view, the regulations are proportionate and necessary at this point in time.”
“She said that the vaccinator's touch on her arm was her first physical human contact since the virus started. When you hear such moving testimony about the impact that the virus has had on people's daily lives in Northern Ireland, it really brings it home.”
“I wanted to ensure that that was on record. <BR /> <BR />Cara Hunter said that it was important to note that the numbers are decreasing. However, we started from a very high point. Therefore, although numbers are decreasing, there is still a long way to go before they get to where I would feel comfortable with the wide-scale opening of activities in Northern Ireland. She reflected that when she said that there was still some way to go. <BR /> <BR />One of the most important points that Cara raised, as did others, was how the virus has affected and changed the daily lives of many people across Northern Ireland as a result of the lack of contact with family and friends. One of the most moving tributes that I received about the vaccine programme was from an elderly lady who had been through the process.”
“As Health Minister, I would say that none has been more impacted than the health service. <BR /> <BR />Jonathan also raised the important issue of messaging with regard to the AstraZeneca vaccine that is currently out there. The Chief Medical Officer has issued a press release to give people reassurance. I want to read some of it into the record. Dr McBride has said:”
“Jonny acknowledged the vaccine programme, and he referred to the sense of pride that we have in Northern Ireland in what is being delivered and in the dedication of the staff who are working on that. We have all been getting positive feedback on the warm and friendly support, the encouragement of the staff and the operation being delivered by the regional vaccination centres and GP facilities. <BR /> <BR />Jonny referred to the financial support measures that are necessary to supplement and complement the restrictions that are brought in. I welcome the support that comes from the Economy Minister and the Finance Minister. They ensure that those measures are there and that they pay out as quickly and expediently as possible so that we get support to the sectors that need it. He referred to the sectors that have been grossly impacted.”
“However, again, as the Chairperson stressed, the vaccine programme will not work on its own; it will need to be supported by the other additional measures, which we all know work, of social distancing, good hand hygiene, good respiratory hygiene and the wearing of face coverings. <BR /> <BR />Moving on to Jonny Buckley's comments, I thank him for constantly acknowledging, as do others, the healthcare professionals who have been working through the pandemic for 11 months. Carál Ní Chuilín and others mentioned the extreme pressure that those professionals have been under due to working in an underfunded and under-resourced health service for many years. That has only been intensified by the pandemic.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank the Chair, also in his capacity as Sinn Féin health spokesperson, and everyone in the House for their acknowledgment of the vaccine and the vaccine programme and for how we are progressing that.”
“I say to the Members who asked about widening the use of click and collect that the Department for the Economy tabled a paper to the Executive for consideration. There was a round-table discussion, headed by the First Minister and deputy First Minister, about widening the use of click and collect to allow non-essential retail to operate in that way. I remind Members that, currently, the use of click and collect is restricted to essential retail only, but all retail can operate by delivery to customers. I take Members back to the intention of these restrictions, which is that the virus transmits when people congregate and have social contact with one another, especially where people are confined to indoor spaces such as shops and shopping centres, where they could also touch common surfaces. That is the challenge with click and collect.”
“whereas regulation 5A prohibits a person who is not an organiser or operator from participating in a gathering, thereby placing accountability on the attendees of larger gatherings as well as the organiser or operator. <BR /> <BR />Regulation 5A was made on 12 November. It was required in order to close that loophole whereby only the organiser of an event could be fined if many more participants than agreed attended an event. That work was done. In addition to that, while gatherings of more than six people from more than two households contravenes the requirements of regulation 5, regulation 5A covers larger gatherings, and more enhanced penalties can be applied. <BR /> <BR />The Chair also mentioned click and collect, as did Mr Buckley.”
“We know that, but the regulations, unfortunately, are necessary for the additional powers that are needed to make sure that those who do not want to do the right thing, or those who think that they are above doing the right thing, are brought to task and feel the rigour of the law. <BR /> <BR />The Chair mentioned regulation 5, and the issue was raised in Committee as well. Under regulation 5:”
“I welcome today's debate on SR 2021/3, the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) and thank Members for their contributions. I will comment on the issues that have been raised, <BR /> <BR />I thank the Committee for its support not just with these regulations but with the work that we have done as a Department and a Committee. When Carál Ní Chuilín joined the Committee, she summed it up correctly when she said that she could see the passion and understanding on the Committee. As Minister, I have noted that and welcomed it through the support that I have had since taking up post. <BR /> <BR />The Chair was right when he said that the vast majority of people want to do the right thing.”
“That is why, informed by the latest modelling and projections for the disease, the Executive agreed subsequently, when the regulations were reviewed in the third week of January, that the current restrictions should and would be extended for a further month, until 5 March. <BR /> <BR />I hope that that provides the House with a summary of the context in which the regulations were made and an outline of their content. I commend the regulations to the Assembly.”
“<BR /> <BR />The trajectory of the epidemic since their introduction has demonstrated that the restrictions are having a positive effect on infection rates. However, we are not yet where we need to be, and there is absolutely no room for complacency. The restrictions continue to be necessary today if we are to protect the health of our population. Hospitals continue to operate at a very high level of occupancy, and it will take some weeks and months for that to work through. We need to drive down the level of the virus circulating in the general population to a greater degree to allow the health service to regain its capacity to treat COVID and non-COVID patients alike.”
“Whilst they are all individually important, the importance not just in effect but in simplicity of the legal "Stay at home" message cannot be overstated. <BR />Mobility data in the weeks before Christmas clearly suggested that the "stay at home" and "work from home" guidance was not being adhered to sufficiently and that the level of adherence was far from that which was experienced during the first lockdown in March last year. In addition, I had regularly suggested to colleagues that a high-visibility policing operation through an increased presence of vehicle checkpoints, for instance, would send a clear message to the public. I believe that the restrictions were a measured and proportionate response to the information that was available at the time.”
“Indoor and outdoor gatherings were restricted to six persons from two households, with some exceptions, which is a reduction from the previous 15-person limit. Gatherings in private dwellings were restricted, both indoors and outdoors, to one household or to one household and its linked household to a maximum of 10 persons. That aligned the restrictions on outdoor gatherings in private dwellings with the restrictions on indoor gatherings in private dwellings. The exercise provision was amended to permit exercise alone, with your own household, a member of your own bubble or one other person. The power for the PSNI to direct persons home was reintroduced, as it was previously in place from 26 December to 2 January only. <BR /> <BR />Those regulations came into operation at midnight on 7 January and remain in place today.”
“<BR /> <BR />In order to ensure that our health and social care system could manage the predicted peak levels of disease and given the level of infection circulating in the community at the time, the Executive agreed that enhanced restrictions should be introduced with effect from Thursday 7 January in order to bear down on the rate of virus transmission. The amended regulations that we are debating give effect to the changes that the Executive agreed at that point, which was the first week of January. <BR /> <BR />The amended regulations SR2021/3 included the amendments that I will detail. General restrictions on movement were introduced, similar to those used during the first lockdown in March last year, but they were adapted to take account of those activities not currently permitted.”
“It was clear that there had been a substantial increase in virus transmission as a result of the behaviours during the pre-Christmas relaxations and Christmas social interaction and mixing. That was in line with the modelling projections that the Executive considered during December. <BR /> <BR />The restrictions that had been in place since 26 December were not yet having a significant impact on the indicators of disease. It was expected that their impact would be apparent in the data during the following one to two weeks. In the meantime, there was significant and growing pressure on our hospital system and on critical care. Those pressures were expected to continue to escalate and intensify against the backdrop of a system already under extraordinary and protracted strain.”
“Those amendments were previously debated in the Chamber, and I am grateful to the junior Ministers for leading on those debates. <BR /> <BR />At the time that the amendments to the regulations were made that brought into effect the current restrictions, it was the intention of the Executive to maintain those restrictions for at least six weeks, that is, until 5 February2021. At an Executive meeting on 5 January, I gave an update on the state of the epidemic at that point. That demonstrated that the case numbers had risen significantly over the Christmas period and that the reproductive rate of the virus, the RT value, had risen to the upper end of the modelling limits and was close to 1·8, based on the recorded case numbers. That was accompanied by a significant increase in COVID-positive deaths.”
“Today I am bringing forward for debate the first amendment to the Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (No. 2) Regulations 2021, SR 2021/3. <BR /> <BR />With your permission, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I will set the context and briefly summarise the statutory rule. The current set of restrictions was introduced on 26 December in order to address the escalation in COVID-positive cases and hospitalisations that had been predicted in the modelling just before Christmas. <BR /> <BR />There were also enhanced restrictions between 8.00 pm and 6.00 am from 26 December until 2 January, with an accompanying power for the PSNI to direct persons home where they were engaged in prohibited activity or were intending to be so engaged.”