Stewart Dickson
East Antrim · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Minister, you will have noted that the Government recently announced a VAT cut for some family expenses for a range of activities over the summer. That is perhaps a change.”
“Many do not know how to apply; others do not even realise that the opportunities exist. If the process itself is a barrier to participation, it is really not open to all.”
“I was born in 1950 in Thorndale House, which was one of the homes that is named in the legislation. I was born to married parents, and Thorndale House was a maternity home. It was where you went to have your baby in 1950 on the Antrim Road. My mum and dad went there, I was born and, a few days later, I left with loving parents.”
“I agree with Mr Brett: amendment No 6 is important because it will deal with persons who refuse to provide information or evidence to the inquiry. Amendment No 8 to clause 20 is a tidying-up amendment that will allow the Committee to make interim reports, which will be of benefit to the inquiry process.”
“That is why I want the inquiry to succeed and why it is vital that it succeeds. That is why it is important for us to see that cruelty in the full glare of a public inquiry. That is why it is important that the scheme goes through without further delay. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I place on record my thanks to the Committee Chair.”
“The Assembly faces stark choices, and agreeing the draft Budget as it stands is not a silver bullet, nor is it sustainable for us to continue in the absence of a Budget. It is vital, therefore, that we break the cycle of crisis and collapse that has been destroying our public finances.”
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“The Department of Finance is ultimately responsible for the policing budget. Over the past few years, the PSNI's budget has been slashed by hundreds of millions of pounds, leading to a situation in which, due to those cuts, services may hardly be recognisable to the public. Thus, while the debate is valid and necessary, it barely scratches the surface of the problem. <BR /> <BR />There is a call for harsher penalties for those who endanger our officers. I commend the work of the Justice Minister — my party leader — on her intention to introduce new provisions for emergency and front-line workers, enhancing the maximum sentences for attacks on police officers, ambulance staff or firefighters. It is truly unacceptable for those serving and protecting our communities to be subjected to abuse and attack.”
“Across Northern Ireland from Derry to Down, Fermanagh to Antrim our officers face similar threats. It is a Northern Ireland-wide issue that demands a response on the same scale. Let us be clear: it is not just a Northern Ireland issue. In the past few days, police cars were rammed in Wigan, West Yorkshire — where there have been 58 incidents in the past year — and in Liverpool. In Mid Devon, a 100 mph police chase resulted in a police car being rammed. In Blackpool, a driver went on a rampage, damaging police vehicles and injuring police officers. The issue is not unique to Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, while the motion calls for an ambitious budget settlement for the PSNI, it genuinely neglects to negotiate with the true custodians of the purse strings: not the Minister of Justice but the Department of Finance.”
“The motion calls us to attend to a pressing concern: the rise of police vehicle ramming incidents, particularly those resulting in injuries to officers. The statistics are alarming. We have already heard some statistics in the debate. Last year, 77 police officers were injured as a result of their vehicle being deliberately rammed. That is a significant increase on the previous year. The escalation cannot and should not be overlooked. <BR /> <BR />While the Alliance Party supports the motion and the amendment, it is crucial to highlight some of the shortcomings. First, the motion directs much of its content and concern towards south Armagh, suggesting a regional focus that fails to address the full scale of the issue. Let us be clear: it is not an isolated problem confined to one part of the country.”
“Minister, I welcome the cross-border work that North West Cancer Centre does, but I encourage you to expand that work. Do you agree that none of it can really hit the ground running until the Northern Ireland cancer strategy has been implemented? When will that happen?”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. It is a clear demonstration of Ministers cooperating in the Executive. Hopefully, we will see a satisfactory outcome to the circumstances around the issue. <BR /> <BR />Minister, you will be aware that the National House Building Council (NHBC) provides a 10-year warranty for properties. Will you intimate how much the legislation may affect that right, which is provided to owners of new properties?”
“I am interested to tease out with the Member that business about where the additional funding would come from. Given that the vast majority of businesses in Northern Ireland are small or medium-sized businesses that struggle to pay their employees and their tax bills, where exactly would that funding come from?”
“Our Department of Justice acts as the ultimate safety net, and this situation therefore demands from the Department of Finance a budget that is not only sufficient but forward-thinking and ready to tackle the issues directly. <BR /> <BR />In closing, the erosion of the Justice budget to funnel resources elsewhere poses grave risks. The services delivered by the Department of Justice are not merely line items but the bedrock of public protection: from community safety to policing and from our Courts and Tribunals Service and all the many and varied roles and responsibilities of the Department of Justice. While today's debate is about looking back on the finance of the Department, without a significant realignment of the Justice budget to reflect its critical needs, we will face, and we stand to face, profound consequences.”
“The systemic underfunding and resultant delays corrode the very foundation of our justice delivery, affecting legal professionals and, ultimately, the timely and proper delivery for all. <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, it is crucial to recognise the demand-led nature of our justice system. Unlike in other services, we cannot predict who comes in or why. Often, those who enter the justice system have slipped through the nets of other support services, such as family support services and education, especially in cases of mental health issues or substance abuse. I have seen recently at first hand on a number of prison visits the shocking failure of those services and the impact that that has on the lives of people who would otherwise never be in prison.”
“The growth of our prison population, which has seen a 30% increase since January 2021, has further strained our facilities to breaking point. That spike, driven by judicial delays and backlogs exacerbated by the pandemic, necessitates not only the doubling up of prisoners in cells but the reopening of outdated facilities, which, in turn, require more staff. That pressure-cooker environment jeopardises the stability of our prison system and the success of rehabilitation and resettlement programmes. I am keen to delve into those cornerstones of public safety in the future in the Justice Committee. The ripple effect extends to legal aid, a cornerstone of access to justice, yet, again, one that is chronically underfunded.”
“While the Department of Health's budget has surged by 68% and that of Education by over 35%, Justice has been left behind with a meagre 3% increase that, amid escalating demands across the board, from policing and legal aid to prisons and youth justice, the impacts of new and important laws, coupled with inflationary pressures, has the potential to cause effects that will be felt at every corner of society that is impacted by our justice and police systems. <BR /> <BR />The Department's budget is stretched thin. It is consumed almost entirely by staff costs and statutory commitments, which relegate discretionary spending to less than 1%. Over the past decade, the Department has been squeezed tighter and forced to do more with less until, now, there is simply nothing left to trim.”
“Despite the efforts of Ministers past and present, the unprecedented cost-saving efficiencies delivered by officials, which were further impacted by the demands of the Department of Finance and the Secretary of State, coupled with the shameful failure of those who brought down the Assembly for the past two years, mean that there is simply no financial room left. Since the devolution of justice powers, there has been a glaring disparity in the allocation of funding.”
“I speak not only as justice spokesperson for the Alliance Party but as an East Antrim MLA and a member of the Justice Committee. <BR /> <BR />The past year has presented unprecedented challenges for the Department of Justice, making it one of the most difficult periods of its recent history. While I welcome the announcement of security funding and funding for the tackling paramilitarism programme, it rather pales into insignificance when compared with the underfunding that our justice system faces on all fronts. The stark reality is that our justice system is teetering on the brink.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. In light of the budgetary challenges associated with travel for many schools, including those in my constituency, how does his Department ensure fair access for schools not only to this Building but, as he said, to other extracurricular activities, particularly for schools in rural or economically disadvantaged areas of Northern Ireland and those that cannot, regrettably, raise large amounts of money through parental contributions and other fundraising activities?”
“There is no point in bringing in that which is good today but will not be here tomorrow. Rather, it is about providing opportunities that will be valuable and adaptable to our citizens not just today but down the line. <BR /> <BR />With that in mind, I call on the Minister for the Economy to go beyond the usual metrics and instead let us devise a strategy that is resilient, that builds on our strengths and that creates lasting benefits in order to build jobs for all in Northern Ireland.”
“Be it an NVQ, a primary degree, a diploma-to-apprenticeship pathway or a PhD, we need to deliver for everyone. <BR /> <BR />More than that, let us not forget our unique position post Brexit. With our dual market access in the UK and the EU, we are perfectly poised to drive growth, attract investment and create jobs. We need stability in this institution to achieve that and to give us a more appropriately qualified workforce that is ready to meet the demands of both markets. As we look to the future of our economy and job creation, we need to set targets that are not just ambitious but SMART — specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound — and that reflect our unique position in the UK and the EU. Those targets must be underpinned by planning and adequate resources.”
“Look at the cost of division in our education system: if we could invest that money in our education system to deliver for our young people and spend it on a more focused education system that delivers for all, not only would we give people the best chance in education but we would have a much better qualified workforce that would be attractive to business in Northern Ireland. Delivering reform of the Assembly will provide that assurance to business. <BR /> <BR />To deliver more and better jobs across the spectrum, we need to ensure that there is no hierarchy of qualification but rather that qualifications meet the needs of business and people and that we do not put all our eggs in one basket. We must consider the vast range of qualifications equally.”
“<BR /> <BR />Productivity continues to lag, and the ongoing brain drain has been detrimental to our skills economy, as young people continue to leave to seek better opportunities elsewhere, attending universities in the rest of the United Kingdom or Ireland or, indeed, emigrating with their qualifications. It is important that we endeavour to create a more balanced, productive economy that is in step with the demands of decarbonisation and our increasing difficulties with the environment, that is ready to face the challenges and opportunities that climate change offers and that will deliver for each person, for us all and for the world of work. <BR /> <BR />Achieving that will require us to go back to basics.”
“Absolutely. The Member has just repeated the words that I said. <BR /> <BR />Other work is needed, however, to grapple with the systemic issues that continue to cast a shadow over our potential. The economic inactivity to which Members have referred, particularly among the long-term sick and those with disabilities, remains stubbornly high, providing a key opportunity for organisations such as the many social enterprises that operate and deliver across Northern Ireland. I hope that this mandate will give the Minister the opportunity to make more legislative provision to support our social enterprises.”
“I will continue in the vein of my colleagues who have spoken in the debate. In reality, an ambition for our economy that is without direction is pointless. The journey ahead of us demands a clear focus on not just the quantity but the quality of the jobs across the skills spectrum. Despite our stop-start politics, we have made strides in some areas. For example, we have made a start on bridging the rural-urban digital divide. Much more needs to be done to accelerate that, however, in order to ensure equal opportunity in an increasingly digital economy, especially as more people than ever want to, and do, work from home.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that careers advice in schools is critical and that it is appalling that some schools in Northern Ireland will not point their students in the direction of appropriate careers advice?”
“<BR /> <BR />Additionally, while outright bans on zero-hours contracts may impinge on those who find some elements of flexibility favourable, we need to ensure that new adequate and effective safeguards are in place. The Minister needs to give special consideration to how she will craft legislation in order to protect workers from unscrupulous fire-and-rehire practices, such as those that we saw in the recent P&O scandal in my constituency, where I stood alongside workers who were disgracefully treated. <BR /> <BR />I urge the Minister to implement the necessary reforms, bring forward legislation that meets the needs of working people in Northern Ireland, strengthen their employment rights and offer protection from day 1.”
“The changes must be informed by a social partnership approach across business and trade unions. I pay tribute to my former colleagues in the Labour Relations Agency, who, since the introduction in 1976 of employment rights legislation in Northern Ireland, have worked tirelessly on that social partnership model and to mitigate industrial action. <BR /> <BR />The recent pandemic presented many benefits for addressing climate change. We know that many people prefer the greater working-from-home levels. We need to preserve those new flexibilities for those who want them while ensuring that changing work patterns do not create new forms of exploitation. We must ensure that workers have the right to turn off.”
“It is unconscionable to expect anyone to choose between their job and recovering from such a profound trauma. <BR /> <BR />Regrettably, we have seen attempts to expand anti-strike legislation in the United Kingdom, and I genuinely hope that this House will stand united against any attempts to extend that here. Our job is to protect people in employment, including their right to strike. Ultimately, the freedom to join a trade union and strike is a fundamental human right. I would welcome the Minister's views on that, particularly around industrial action and trade union recognition. In light of those formidable challenges, my party supports all key stakeholders, from businesses to trade unions, working together to shape the law and future practice.”
“It remains a stark injustice that our workers and their families in Northern Ireland lack those supports, protections and rights. <BR /> <BR />Together with those changes, I expect the Minister to bring forward a comprehensive employee rights Bill for workers in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, legislation for domestic abuse survivors in Northern Ireland, promising 10 days of paid leave, has yet to be commenced by the Department. Similarly, the extension of the Parental Bereavement Act, which I remember and was deeply involved in during the previous mandate, to cover miscarriage is an urgent necessity that demands immediate action from the Minister. Other provisions need to be expanded, such as the scope of the Safe Leave Act to include victims of sexual assault.”
“However, regrettably, stop-start politics has left our employment law in limbo, disadvantaging our workers compared with their counterparts across the United Kingdom, Ireland and indeed wider afield. <BR /> <BR />Despite having an anti-trade union and anti-workers' rights Government at Westminster, several steps have been taken, such as paid neonatal leave so that parents can look after their babies. Employees with caring duties can now take leave and protection for tip-based workers has been strengthened. We have also seen an enhancement in flexible working rights and redundancy safeguards for during and after family leave. <BR /> <BR />Meanwhile, in the Republic of Ireland, strides have been made with provision that allows workers to take breastfeeding breaks and leave for carers.”
“I declare an interest as a retired section member of the NIPSA trade union. Like my colleagues, I support the motion and the amendment, which underscore the critical need to improve workers' rights for those in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, which, across the years, has supported workers in Northern Ireland, whether through the years of violence and political strife or in defence of workers' rights. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland is uniquely positioned with devolved employment law. It is bestowed with the power to tailor its own employment law to our distinct needs.”
“Minister, do you agree that the Department of Justice has been chronically underfunded relative to other Departments? Indeed, that has been publicly commented on. Therefore, Minister, do you also agree that it is incumbent on all parties in the Chamber that are part of the Government to ensure that the Department of Justice has adequate funding?”
“We welcome the fact that a pathway has been set out clearly for the delivery of live links to take us into the future, and we welcome all the comments that have been made in the Chamber.”
“The vehicle is not one that, I think, anyone in the House is comfortable with, so I welcome the Minister's statement that she intends to introduce permanent legislation in a Bill that will cover concerns, particularly the area of concern that was raised at the Justice Committee last week. The Minister has made a clear statement to the House today that an early draft will be provided to the Committee. That should allay any concerns that the Committee has and allow us to consult on the legislation. The Minister also touched on the vital point of judicial oversight of the use of live links. <BR /> <BR />With those few words said, I am pleased that we are in a position today to support the order.”
“I thank the Minister for the work that she has done on the order and for the clear explanation that she gave to the House to assist us in its delivery. <BR /> <BR />I have no intention of going over issues that were raised in support of this by the Chair and vice chair of the Committee, but it bears consideration that, when we had the Commissioner Designate for Victims of Crime before the Committee last week, she spoke passionately and gave great examples of the work that live links can deliver, particularly for victims of crime. <BR /> <BR />It is important that we allow the legislation to go forward, imperfect though it is.”
“Their dedication and hard work has been an investment not only in their future but in the future of business, commerce and industry in Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />From my party's perspective, our vision for apprenticeships has to be expansive, from all-age apprenticeships to how we access them at the younger years, with the principle that regardless of the sector, fostering inclusivity, we can amplify our efforts to direct our focus on the genuine alternatives that apprenticeships deliver and enhance in education and skills. Furthermore, in our view, the apprenticeship wage is inadequate. In a cost-of-living crisis, it is impossible to envisage a person living on such a low wage, even though they are gaining valuable skills along the way. <BR /> <BR />In closing, I offer my appreciation to our apprentices: those who are in training today, those who will be in training in future and those who have been trained in the past and are adding to our economy in Northern Ireland.”
“Despite the crucial role played, a gap remains in the integration, and that gap needs to be bridged to ensure that there is a holistic approach to vocational training. There is now an urgent need to refocus and review the future of FE in Northern Ireland. I make that appeal to the Minister as well today: that we tackle clearly, sensibly and seriously the role and work of further education in Northern Ireland. It is too valuable — it has been valuable — in the relationship with apprenticeships.”
“In that context, as chair of the all-party group (APG) on social enterprise, I want to say that it has a role to play as well. The dedicated social impact and the ability to connect with people outside the mainstream makes members of the APG perfect allies to work with and expand apprenticeships. <BR /> <BR />A notable challenge is the entry barriers that are faced by many, which are often linked to additional support needs. There is a need for a cross-cutting and cross-departmental approach to all this, from the Education, Health and Economy Departments, so that we can deliver apprenticeships, try to reduce and remove all those barriers and enhance accessibility to apprenticeships. Furthermore, there needs to be a synergistic relationship between further education (FE) and apprenticeships.”
“Thank you. I appreciate the intervention from the Member who, as a former Minister, will understand the detail of the situation. However, it is a complex situation, which has been made more complex and, perhaps, has not been tackled — I am sorry to say it again — because of the lack of a consistent Assembly over the past number of years. Nevertheless, the Member is absolutely right: it is an area that needs to be tackled, and the best solution from our perspective is a local skills fund that may be able to replace or, at least, work directly with that. <BR /> <BR />Apprenticeships across all ages deliver a wide range of benefits. Not only do they offer hands-on training to fill existing vacancies, but they provide upskilling and expand the routes to qualifications. The expansion of those routes to qualifications is vital.”
“Unfortunately, since the important steps taken quite some time ago by former Minister Stephen Farry when he was Minister for Employment and Learning back in 2016, the apprenticeship sector has, sadly, seen minimal advantage over that time, in part, and not least of all, due to instability and the disruptive effects of the Assembly not being in place.”
“Like others, I am delighted to take the opportunity to discuss what can only be described as the transformative power of apprenticeships in bolstering our economy, reducing inequality and addressing the pronounced skill shortages faced by employers. <BR /> <BR />Recent data from the employer skills survey shows that there were nearly 40,000 vacancies across Northern Ireland, with a significant proportion – over 13,500 — attributed directly to a lack of skilled applicants. That situation reflects the need for a dedicated skills fund, as my colleague said, that aims to enhance our apprenticeship provision. Far from being a mere policy suggestion, that part is a critical step in nurturing a well-rounded, skilled and thriving work community.”
“I will. In conclusion, the time to reform is now, the time to defend our public-sector workers on pay and conditions is now, and they should no longer be used as a political bargaining chip.”
“While the financial packages agreed upon with the UK Government provide some relief for Northern Ireland's Budget, they do not solve the systemic issues in our public finances.”
“That approach protects the rights of parties to participate in government, but it also gives them the option to opt out if they so choose, which the largest two parties cannot do under the current system. No party would be excluded, but, equally, no party would have a veto over the operation of government. Such a veto denies others the right to do their job and deliver for our constituents and public-sector workers. Moreover, a long-term Programme for Government and a multi-year Budget are essential. They will set out agreed priorities for the next three years, maintaining a sustained focus on improving public services so that benefits are tangible in the day-to-day lives of our citizens.”
“Those changes can happen only if Northern Ireland has sustained stable government, and, to achieve that, reform of our institutions is needed. Furthermore, the repeated cycles of what can only be described as ransom politics have not only pushed the government structures to breaking point but eroded public confidence in the very concept of devolution. <BR /> <BR />If we are to safeguard the future of the Good Friday Agreement and our institutions, it is imperative that we implement significant changes in those structures. My party's reform proposals, which respect the fundamental principles of the agreement, offer a pathway to stability and fairness. The reforms must ensure that no party can stop the formation of a Government or single-handedly collapse one in the future.”
“Those are not the only challenges that Northern Ireland faces. Improvements are needed in areas like healthcare, waiting lists, school budgets, infrastructure, childcare, poverty alleviation, climate change mitigation and many more. All that would be difficult enough for a well-functioning Government, let alone one that struggles with stability, unity and strategic focus. <BR /> <BR />In the face of such pressures, we cannot have more of the same. Without genuine change, how will the Government work? Northern Ireland has little chance of addressing its problems, not least given the scale of the challenges that now face us over the next three years, with what are, hopefully, the dying days of a Tory Administration and the uncertain days of a new Government.”
“Strained budgets have led to cuts and overspending. Our services have deteriorated more than in any previous period of collapse, falling far short of public expectations and damaging the resilience of public-sector workers. It is evident that it is an accumulation of longer-term issues that have been neglected for far too long. <BR /> <BR />The current one-year package, which, broadly speaking, allows us to achieve pay parity with the rest of the United Kingdom, falls short of addressing the systemic pressures on public-sector pay going forward. Ultimately, without a long-term, sustainable option, the recurring costs of the pay awards will put continued significant, if not impossible, pressure on the Executive's finances, forcing them into a predicament in which they must choose between cutting services and ensuring fair pay.”
“Those negotiations, however, must go hand in hand with long-term fiscal guarantees and mechanisms to ensure that we can adequately fund our public services and implement the necessary transformations. Public-sector workers are not looking for special treatment. They are merely seeking fairness and equality in pay and conditions, and their funding must reflect that. <BR /> <BR />Funding has been delivered to their counterparts in England and Wales, but, as others reminded us in this debate, successive failures by Sinn Féin and the DUP have denied stability and certainty to, in many cases, underpaid and undervalued public-sector workers. One really wonders how contributors to today's debate believe that public-sector workers can take them seriously. It is that stop-start failure that led to the absence of proper long-term planning.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on a very important matter that has been a priority for the Alliance Party for a long time: the pay of our public-sector workers. At the outset, I declare an interest, in that I have been a public-sector worker for all my working life. Prior to coming to the Assembly nearly 12 years ago, I had the unique opportunity to work in the public sector and look at public-sector pay and conditions. For over 30 years, I worked as an employment relations officer in the Labour Relations Agency, assisting public-sector and other trade unions to negotiate their pay and conditions. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the long overdue work that is now being done by Ministers, Departments and trade union negotiators across the public sector to determine and deliver pay increases.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that, in addition to the damage that was done in the past two years, going back to 2019, when I was diagnosed with cancer and nurses went on strike, I, along with many other people with very serious illnesses and diseases in Northern Ireland, was treated shamefully not by the nurses but by a House that failed to sit and to deliver?”
“Minister, can you indicate to the House how the Encompass project has impacted the red-flagging of cancer cases? Has there been a positive outcome from that?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Given the advancement of the plans that you have outlined to the House, what are the capital investment needs for those preschool settings in order to facilitate the meeting of those requirements?”
“I extend my appreciation to Members for their recognition of the critical role of speech and language therapists in our judicial system. The journey towards a more inclusive and effective approach to rehabilitation and reintegration is long and complex. However, by committing to address the communication needs of individuals in our justice system, we take a significant step forward. Let us continue to work together to enhance our justice system's responsiveness and to ensure that every individual has the opportunity for rehabilitation, recovery and a positive return to society. The focus of today's debate is on Justice, but, in truth, the focus of the debate should be on all Departments from the earliest days of life.”
“By improving health outcomes and addressing the communication needs of those in contact with the justice system, we can significantly reduce reoffending rates and facilitate more successful reintegration into society. <BR /> <BR />Moreover, it is crucial to foster a collaborative approach that involves educators, health providers and justice system professionals in the identification and support of individuals with speech, language and communication challenges. We need to create a cohesive support network that can more effectively address the root causes of criminal behaviour and ensure that individuals receive the holistic care that they require.”