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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“However, there is still work that can be progressed in some specific challenges that COVID-19 presents and which we see developing daily if not weekly.”
“The memorandum of understanding that we have on COVID-19 is working well. As I said in an earlier answer, however, it could be working better, especially in the sharing of data of passengers arriving in the Republic of Ireland and travelling into Northern Ireland. At an official and ministerial level, there is good cooperation and coordination between CMOs, public health agencies and contact-tracing services, but there are still legalities that we need to challenge. <BR /> <BR />I do not think that they could have been covered in that detail in the memorandum of understanding. However, by how both jurisdictions work together, how we combat COVID-19, and what is necessary, the memorandum has built a firm foundation.”
“The arrangements whereby the UK may be able to access the successor programme, Horizon Europe, are subject to ongoing negotiations in the EU.”
“We discussed health and social care services across the island of Ireland. They face major challenges in meeting rising demand in a constrained fiscal environment, which have been made more difficult by the pandemic. However, EU programmes, such as INTERREG VA, are extremely valuable not only in the funding that they provide but in facilitating new ways of collaborating and delivering services on a cross-border basis. <BR /> <BR />The withdrawal agreement reflects the continued commitment of the EU and the UK to the North/South INTERREG and Peace programmes funded under the current multi-annual financial framework (MFF) 2014-2020, and to the UK's participation in future PEACE PLUS programmes. So, continued access to EU competitive funds, such as Horizon 2020, is also guaranteed under the terms of the withdrawal agreement.”
“I thank the Member for his questions. There is no concern about how that data will be shared following Brexit at the end of the month.”
“One of the early advantages that we had — I mentioned this earlier — was the interoperability of our proximity apps and sharing data and alerts from those apps. Whilst no data is captured through the app, the number of shares that are going back and forward across the border show that it is being effective. To date, 5,620 have been alerts received by Northern Ireland app users from the Republic of Ireland's app service, and our app has alerted 8,355 people going the other way to the Republic of Ireland. Sharing information on our contact-tracing apps is working well. The contact-tracing teams are also proving to be very valuable, especially when we see the large numbers of outbreaks that previously happened in border areas in particular.”
“I thank the Member for his support for the soft opt-out organ donation. Anybody who meets Dáithí will not fail to be convinced that that is a worthy cause, because he has such a strength of character for what he has come through and what many other children are going through. If there is anything that we in the House can do to provide help and support, we should do it. I look forward to the Member's support when the matter is brought to the Committee and then when it is brought to the House so that we can put it in place. <BR /> <BR />There are continual conversations between my officials, the Public Health Agency and the Republic's contact-tracing service on sharing data, especially in border areas. That is done on a weekly, if not a daily, basis depending on the size of an outbreak or on an outbreak in a certain location.”
“It remains a serious area of concern that people can enter not just Northern Ireland but the UK via Dublin and not transfer that information as seamlessly and openly as we would like. My officials continue to work with Stephen's officials in order to make sure that we can provide a legal resolution to a problem that we wish, on both sides, was not there but that is due to the technicalities and legalities that seem to be causing the sticking point.”
“Again, that has been a matter of great concern, and I have raised it on numerous occasions in any conversations I have had with my counterpart in the Republic of Ireland. As yet, it has not been resolved, to my frustration and disappointment. At the end of last week, we wrote again to Stephen Donnelly, and he responded at the weekend, laying out, I think for the first time, some specific details of the Government's concerns. They are concerned that any information that they pass to our jurisdiction will be used to legally force people to self-isolate, which is not a requirement in the Republic of Ireland. Now that we understand their specific concern, which they raised in the past without that level of detail, we can work our way around it to see whether there is a solution that we can bring.”
“I thank the Member for his point. That has been raised with me. I have not discussed it with my counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, because my understanding is that that is a private Member's Bill, so it has not been brought forward by the Government. The Bill has not had its Committee Stage yet. I know that there are concerns being raised with health professionals across Northern Ireland about the implications for Northern Ireland residents, should the legislation come into being. We have not yet had that discussion, because of the status of the Bill and its current position in the Dáil.”
“Unfortunately, there has been a delay in implementing the midterm review recommendations as a result of COVID-19, but we hope to resume that work soon.”
“I thank the Member. If I recall right, in 2015, it was a party colleague, John McCallister, who brought that issue to the House. By way of an update, draft regulations to introduce a ban on smoking in private cars when children are present and prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors are being progressed and will be subject to Assembly debate. A midterm review of the tobacco control strategy for Northern Ireland was published and updated on 11 February 2020. That review assesses progress made against targets and objectives and makes recommendations for the remaining term of the strategy. That work was supported by an extensive evidence review taken forward by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland.”
“Hard copies of a 'Concerned about suicide?' leaflet have been distributed throughout local areas across Northern Ireland, with a print rerun of the leaflet delivered each year. That is a common resource that will be used in Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland, albeit with some variance in the information contained within it, depending on the area. The Public Health Agency also continues to support the Lighthouse Charity in Northern Ireland in coordinating discussions with the Department of Health and the Southern health sector to gain support for an all-island approach. Focus groups and pilot training have now been implemented and evaluated in the Republic of Ireland.”
“As Members are aware, Professor Siobhán O'Neill has recently been appointed as interim mental health champion. In my opinion and that of many in the sector, Siobhán will be a positive voice in advancing emotional well-being and good mental health. <BR /> <BR />As regards the conversations that we continue to have with the Republic of Ireland, a wide range of work continues on a cross-border basis to tackle emotional health and well-being, mental health and suicide prevention. That includes the collaborative work through the self-harm registry, work with sporting bodies, official teleconferences on the COVID response to mental health, the development of a memorandum of understanding on the psychological response and support for families in cases of suicide in border areas.”
“I thank the Member and welcome her to her place on the Health Committee. She continually brings to the House the issues of suicide and mental health, and I can tell her that mental health and suicide prevention are priority areas for the Executive that are going forward through the implementation of the Protect Life 2 mental health action plan and the future publication of the new mental health strategy. As the Member will be aware, Protect Life 2 focuses on suicide prevention as a societal issue and seeks to ensure collaborative cross-departmental engagement to address risk factors for suicide and self-harm, as well as engagement across wider society.”
“<BR /> <BR />When we get down to that level, we are clear that the criterion to be met to access the COVID vaccine is that people are employees of the health service, irrespective of residency. It is therefore our employees whom we will be protecting and supporting.”
“I thank the Member for her point. Managing any new strains was not raised at the meeting, because the strain found in mink in Denmark had not been discovered or disclosed at that point. I have had conversations with my counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, however. The issue has also been raised UK-wide, given our concerns that three mink farms are operating in the Republic of Ireland. From the update that we have received at both a Northern Ireland and a UK level, we are assured by the Republic of Ireland authorities that they have tested their mink and that the current strain that caused concern in Denmark has not been detected and is not present. They continue to monitor the situation, however.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the expansion of CAWT and the work that is going there through the circa €37 million support, we, the Republic of Ireland and the UK Government are having ongoing discussions about how that work can be continued and funded.”
“I thank the Chair for his questions. I welcome his support and that of many Members across the House who have already been in contact with me about the announcement of the consultation on organ donation. <BR /> <BR />The issue of paediatric pathology was not touched on at the meeting, and it was not included in the minute, but it is something that I and my officials have been engaging with, on not just a North/South but an east-west basis, because the issue has been raised previously in the House. The lack of available service is as a result of the lack of skilled and trained paediatric pathologists available not just in Northern Ireland and in Southern Ireland but across western Europe at this time.”
“The Council noted that Safefood’s business plans for 2017, 2018 and 2019 will be presented to the Council for approval at a future meeting. Ministers approved two appointments to the Safefood Advisory Board and 11 appointments to the Safefood Advisory Committee. Ministers approved the appointment of Mr Ray Dolan as CEO of the Food Safety Promotion Board, better known as Safefood. <BR /> <BR />Finally, we agreed that the next NSMC meeting on health and food safety will be held in early 2021.”
“Ministers also noted the progress of the tripartite initiative between Safefood, the Public Health Agency and the Food Standards Agency in Northern Ireland on rolling out minimum nutritional standards in catering for staff and visitors in health and social care settings. They noted Safefood’s annual reports and accounts for the years 2016, 2017 and 2018, which have been laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly and both Houses of the Oireachtas. <BR /> <BR />Ministers noted that Safefood has prepared a draft 2020-22 corporate plan, which includes a 2020 business plan, and that, following approval by sponsor Departments and Finance Ministers, it will be submitted to the NSMC for approval at the earliest opportunity.”
“The Council noted that Safefood has developed and distributed various resources in educational settings. Ministers noted that Safefood has engaged with customers on social media and carried out research on food allergens, folate status in women, lifetime costs of childhood overweight and obesity, food portion sizes, treat foods and the impact of climate change on dairy production. Safefood has developed networks including community food initiatives, knowledge networks and the all-island obesity action forum. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted Safefood's attendance at the Balmoral show and the ploughing championships to highlight the childhood obesity campaign.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Council noted that the cross-border steering group of officials, co-chaired by the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in the Republic of Ireland, continues to meet to promote a coordinated approach on child protection issues. The Council noted the update of provision, including the updating of the protocol between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for handling inter-jurisdictional child cases, and that an updated protocol will be considered at a future meeting of the NSMC. <BR /> <BR />The CEO of Safefood provided an overview of its work and referred to high-level achievements and campaigns, including successful campaigns related to handwashing, childhood obesity, cooking chicken and cooking burgers.”
“The Department of Health in Northern Ireland's Protect Life 2 suicide prevention strategy is being implemented, and new structures have been established to drive progress. <BR /> <BR />Ministers noted that a memorandum of understanding has been developed between the Health Service Executive in Ireland, the psychosocial response to COVID-19 Programme, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland and the mental health and resilience strategic working group to engage in cooperation and collaboration on the psychosocial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The Council noted that, in February 2020, the Department of Health published a midterm review of its tobacco control strategy and that the development of the strategy was assisted by the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, which provided a comprehensive evidence review and facilitated a stakeholder engagement exercise. <BR /> <BR />Ministers noted that the various research initiatives under the physical activity plan have been progressed on an all-island basis, including the Irish Physical Activity Research Collaboration and the 'Children’s Sport Participation and Physical Activity Study', led by Sport Ireland and Sport Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted that suicide prevention continues to be a key priority in both jurisdictions.”
“The Council noted that the potential for collaboration between Ireland and Northern Ireland on the implementation of appropriate aspects of their drug and alcohol strategies will be explored. They also noted that the North/South alcohol policy advisory group, established to contribute to reducing alcohol-related harm on the island of Ireland, has continued to meet since 2016. <BR /> <BR />Ministers noted the update on smoking initiatives in both jurisdictions, including a tobacco-free Ireland, electronic cigarettes and banning smoking in cars.”
“It is leading four health strand INTERREG Va projects and is partnering in a fifth, including projects that focus on acute services, mental health, population health, primary care and older people and children's services, with a total allocation of approximately €37 million.”
“The Council noted that patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) from County Donegal continue to be transferred to Altnagelvin Area Hospital for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) treatment. Ministers noted that both jurisdictions intend to maximise the opportunities of the new cross-border structural funds programme — PEACE PLUS — which is currently in development. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted the updated memorandum of understanding that is in place between the ambulance services to provide for cross-border assistance in the management and resourcing of emergency and urgent calls and declared major incidents. Ministers noted that the Cooperation and Working Together (CAWT) cross-border health and social care partnership continues to benefit from EU funding to support cross-border service delivery.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Council noted that the all-island congenital heart disease network has successfully delivered its initial work programme and will move forward with the next phase of establishing the academic partnership and developing the research programme. Ministers also noted that a memorandum of understanding between the Beaumont Hospital in Dublin and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has been signed for a North/South living donor exchange kidney transplant service. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted the success of the North West Cancer Centre in providing radiotherapy services for the whole north-west region and in delivering the highest standards of specialist care with the latest high-tech radiotherapy equipment.”
“We discussed the implications of UK withdrawal from the EU, and the Council noted the update provided on the matter. <BR /> <BR />The Council noted the current work programme in the health sector and welcomed the progress made to date in the relevant areas. We noted that an update paper on the review of the work programme will be brought to the next meeting in this sector. We noted that a review of the current child protection work programme, which was under way in 2016, was recommenced and that a draft revised all-Ireland work programme will be presented at a future health sectoral meeting.”
“The Council noted that Health Ministers will continue to meet both within the NSMC and outside the structures of the Council to discuss the response to the pandemic.”
“We noted that the Chief Medical Officers had met on 25 September to review the ongoing response to the pandemic, including the particular challenges being faced in the north-west region, and the joint statement that was issued following that meeting. We recalled the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on public health cooperation on the COVID-19 response agreed between the Departments of Health, North and South, on 7 April. The Council noted the further memorandum of understanding for the sharing of the anonymous diagnosis keys generated by each jurisdiction's COVID-19 proximity app that was agreed between the Departments of Health, North and South, on 30 July. We welcomed the achievement of interoperability on an all-island basis of the apps that are deployed in each jurisdiction.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Council renewed its expression of appreciation to all those who have played a part in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular the health and social care workers who have led the front-line response. We welcomed the close and productive cooperation that has taken place between Health Ministers, Chief Medical Officers (CMOs) and health administrations — North and South — to deliver an effective public health response. The Council noted that, since the meeting of senior representatives of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government and their Chief Medical Officers at the NSMC secretariat offices in Armagh on 14 March to review the situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, senior representatives from both Administrations have continued to meet regularly to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 response.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I wish to make the following statement on the twenty-second North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meeting in the health and food safety sectoral format, which was held by videoconference on 2 October 2020. Junior Minister Declan Kearney MLA and I represented the Northern Ireland Executive at the meeting, while the Irish Government were represented by Stephen Donnelly TD, Minister for Health. Minister Donnelly chaired the meeting. The statement has been agreed with Junior Minister Kearney, and I make it on behalf of both of us. The following topics were discussed, and decisions were taken where appropriate.”
“An effective vaccine will be the best way in which to protect the most vulnerable from coronavirus, and it is the biggest breakthrough since the pandemic began. Although the pandemic is not over yet, and there are still difficult decisions ahead, this may, at last, signal the turning of the tide.”
“In closing, I want to leave the House with three main messages. First, work to deliver the vaccines is well advanced. Our health service is primed and ready to deliver a vaccination programme, safely and systematically, and I look forward to updating the Health Committee in more detail on Thursday. <BR /> <BR />Secondly, mass vaccination is an enormous logistical challenge, and it will take time. There is no way around that and no quick fix. We expect that it will take many months before the vaccination programme is complete, and we need to recognise that we are not through this yet. <BR /> <BR />Thirdly and finally, although there is some way to go, the appearance of these vaccines is real grounds for hope.”
“It is a huge step forward in our fight against coronavirus and will potentially save tens of thousands of lives. Once vaccinations begin, we will closely monitor the impact on individuals, on health service pressures and on the spread of the virus. As large numbers of people from the at-risk groups are given a vaccine, we will be able to examine the impact on infection rates, on hospitalisations and of reduced deaths. If successful, that should, in time, lead to a substantial reassessment of current restrictions.”
“It is expected that this will help to optimise the targeting and the deliverability of the vaccines. The JCVI position is available on its website and will be updated as more information becomes available. <BR /> <BR />An effective vaccine will be the best way to protect the most vulnerable from coronavirus. It is the biggest breakthrough since the pandemic began.”
“The JCVI has access to all relevant information on the COVID vaccines and to the clinical data on the groups who suffer the worst outcomes if they catch COVID-19. <BR /> <BR />Although we are not strictly obliged to follow JCVI recommendations, up to this point, Northern Ireland has always implemented its recommendations. It is appropriate that we follow its expert advice on who should be offered the vaccine first. On Friday 25 September, the updated JCVI interim position on prioritisation was published .It was produced on the basis of a combination of clinical risk stratification and an age-based approach. It has advised that the vaccine first be given to care home residents and staff, followed by people over 80 and health and social care workers, and then to the rest of the population in order of age and risk.”
“As always during this pandemic, I have been overwhelmed by the commitment and enthusiasm of staff from across the health and social care system. Already, almost 1,000 individuals have registered their interest in helping to deliver this programme, and over 400 applications have now been submitted. <BR /> <BR />In recent weeks, I have received a number of queries related to how different groups will be prioritised in receiving the vaccine, an issue that has also been raised here today. Vaccination policy in Northern Ireland is based on the recommendations provided by the JCVI, which advises the four UK Health Ministers. Made up of independent experts, it advises the Government on which vaccines the UK should use and provides advice on who should be offered the vaccination first.”
“The exact composition and location of vaccination teams will vary according to the requirements of the different vaccines and the population receiving the vaccine as well as the timescales of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approval. <BR /> <BR />On 16 November, an expression of interest was issued to all registered healthcare professionals, including pharmacists, nurses, dentists and allied health professionals, in relation to becoming sessional vaccinators. These individuals will be trained up and brought into the programme as and when they are required. In addition, we are seeking healthcare assistants and admin staff to support the programme and free up the time of the vaccinators.”
“<BR /> <BR />I mentioned earlier the importance of getting this right. Th most important aspect of this is to have a systemic, reliable and sustained vaccination programme. While we want this to start as quickly as possible, we also need to minimise waste and, above all, ensure that vaccines are delivered in the correct environment for them to be effective. The vaccination workforce will initially be based mainly on occupational health staff, trust peer vaccinators and GP staff, who have a proven track record of delivering the annual flu programme to thousands of patients over a 12-week period.”
“It will extend to the over-80s and care home residents early in the new year as additional vaccines become available, <BR /> <BR />In addition, we are rapidly exploring the most effective way to safely deliver vaccines to other priority groups as quickly as possible. The Pfizer vaccine, which is expected to come online first, presents a number of logistical challenges. With colleagues in England, Scotland and Wales, we are continuing to work through those challenges. The handling of subsequent vaccines is expected to be more in line with that of routine vaccines. It will therefore be easier to deploy those outside of the mass vaccination sites, and it should allow them to be delivered by GPs and others, as some mentioned in the House, in the same way as the current flu vaccination programme.”
“<BR /> <BR />Members will be aware from media reports of some of the requirements for the different vaccines in terms of storage, transport and other logistical issues. At present, the two vaccines that are expected to be used first require two doses to be given 28 days apart, which answers some of Mr Easton's questions. We are therefore planning on the basis of a number of scenarios based on different vaccines becoming available at different times. This is a developing situation, and our plans are flexible enough to respond to any emerging developments. <BR /> <BR />The vaccines will be rolled out to eligible groups as quickly as possible, bearing in mind the limitations of where the Pfizer vaccine can be safely deployed. This will initially involve health and social care workers and care home staff.”
“I assure everyone that, while the process is being progressed as rapidly as possible, the experts in the MHRA will provide that approval only when they are assured that the vaccine is safe and effective. <BR /> <BR />Nevertheless, we expect to have authorised vaccines available for use shortly, and we are ready to begin a programme once sufficient quantities are in place. Realistically, it may be early in the new year before the full vaccination programme is in operation, but we are hopeful that the programme will be launched in only a couple of weeks in each of the four UK countries. As I mentioned earlier, the planned vaccination programme will be a major logistical exercise that will last many months and will take us well into the middle of next year at least.”
“That meant that the UK would be required to stop its negotiations with manufacturers with which the EU had launched negotiations, and I suspect that Members will agree that that would have been a mistake and a challenge. <BR /> <BR />The UK is well positioned nationally. The Government have secured early access to doses through agreements with several separate vaccine developers at various stages of trials. I can confirm that Northern Ireland will receive its Barnett share — 2·85% — of the total UK stock of COVID-19 vaccines that are eventually approved for use. It is important to say that the vaccines will be deployed only for use when they have passed the required safety and efficacy tests and received authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).”
“The vaccination programme will build on the Northern Ireland health service expertise in delivering immunisation programmes, as was mentioned by the Chair of the Committee and a number of Members. <BR /> <BR />As Members may be aware, the UK Government have secured access to seven vaccine candidates across four vaccine types, which could result in 357 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines being made available in the United Kingdom. While I am always open to all-island solutions, the UK did not sign up to an EU procurement process as the Commission confirmed that it was not possible for the UK to pursue parallel negotiations with potential vaccine suppliers.”
“<BR /> <BR />The motion calls for the appointment of a professional expert to lead our vaccination programme. I can confirm that that has already happened. I have appointed Patricia Donnelly, who is a former director of acute services in the Belfast Trust and a highly experienced health professional, to drive and oversee the planning and delivery of our vaccination programme. She has been working extensively with officials and clinicians in the Department, the Public Health Agency and the health and social care trusts for some time, and she gave a presentation to the Executive last Thursday on the advanced stages of planning. <BR /> <BR />Vaccination plans are at an advanced stage and will be delivered over a number of phases, which will see different groups or age cohorts being invited in to receive the vaccine over the following months.”
“They will save lives, and not just the lives of patients with COVID but of any patient who urgently needs treatment. <BR /> <BR />I have listened with interest to Members' contributions, and I should state that I wholeheartedly support the motion. This is an important subject and a valuable discussion, but I am sure that all Members will agree that it is imperative that we get this right. <BR /> <BR />At this point, I will take a few moments to describe the planning and preparations for the vaccination programme. As has been said across the House, we need experts to lead the House, and, as has been said by most parties, we need experienced health service professionals who know what they are doing and can act quickly and decisively.”
“Daily life has changed beyond anything we could have imagined at the start of this year. <BR /> <BR />We are now in the midst of a further period of extended restrictions. I fully appreciate the huge impact that these restrictions are having across so many sectors in Northern Ireland and the many sacrifices that people are making. However, thanks to those restrictions, the number of infections is starting to come down, although the system is still under significant pressures. As I speak, there are still COVID-positive inpatients in our hospitals and a high, but stable, number in critical care. These are not decisions that anyone wants to take, but they are necessary. They will prevent our health service from being overwhelmed.”