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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“<BR /> <BR />Plans to build on the current plastic bag levy are very welcome, and I do not doubt that they will make Northern Ireland a better place to live in from an environmental perspective and from a tourism perspective, as we will hope to see fewer plastic bags hanging in hedges and polluting our rivers and waterways and, indeed, polluting the whole of our communities. <BR /> <BR />Investing in this is important. The initial plastic bag levy has been positive and successful, and I congratulate the Minister on that. Prior to its introduction in 2013, some 300 million bags were estimated to be distributed each year. There has been a significant drop — to around 84 million — since the inception of the levy. That is a massive reduction, and I hope that the proposed change will see that reduce even further.”
“This is a very important issue and I am delighted to support the proposal. <BR /> <BR />It is no secret that we, as humans, are altering our environment at a terrifying rate. For some of the problems that we face, the solutions are difficult and complex. Others are within our reach, and this is one that is within our reach, at least in part. I am talking about the subject of plastic pollution and our throwaway culture. This is about changing our attitudes to that type of culture, which is having a devastating impact on our climate.”
“Minister, what positive contribution have you made to resolve the issues? At the end of the day, what is needed is the resolution of the sanitary and phytosanitary issues that have been raised as a result of the failure of Brexit not only in the United Kingdom but particularly in this part of the United Kingdom. What I want to hear from you is not what you are opposed to, but what you are doing positively to negotiate the changes that are required to improve the protocol that you so vehemently oppose.”
“As the Chair and others said, the Committee received powerful testimony from people on that issue, none more so than my colleague Kellie Armstrong, who came to the Chamber and gave a personal and open-hearted explanation of her journey and how she had had to deal with the situation with a number of employers. I thank all those who contributed to amendments at Consideration Stage and Further Consideration Stage. We are here to deliver for our constituents. I am proud to have participated in that process. The lesson of today and of passing the legislation is that there is much potential for what the House can deliver. Today is a clear signal of what we can achieve together.”
“It adds a further piece to the jigsaw of what I have been trying to achieve over many years. As an employment law practitioner for over 30 years, I can say that it has been significant for me, on a personal basis, to have participated in the progressing of an important piece of employment law. It is also right that we have been able to achieve this as a day-1 right. There are areas about which I still have concerns, but those are for another day and another mandate. I hope that, when regulation is brought forward, we will be able to work collectively and collaboratively through those issues as they may arise. <BR /> <BR />It cannot go unsaid that the addition of miscarriage to the Bill has been crucial.”
“I rise to support the Final Stage of this important legislation not only as the Alliance Party spokesperson on the economy but as a member of the Economy Committee. As others have said, the Bill will make a significant and important contribution to people who are going through what will be the darkest period of their lives. I thank the Minister and his officials and colleagues. It was not always an easy task to work through the Bill, but they rose to the challenge. It is important that we record our sincere thanks to them for dealing with the issues that the Committee raised and on which it challenged the Minister and officials. I give a genuine thanks to the Minister and his officials for the way in which we were able to collaborate on and deliver the Bill. <BR /> <BR />As others have said, it is important legislation.”
“That visit to the Republic of Ireland was vital. It was important to our peace process and it was important to who we are, to what we are, and to where Northern Ireland sits today. Her words will ring clearly — as they should — with us all. The ability to bow to the past but not to be bound to it sums up Her Majesty The Queen and her commitment to Ireland, North and South.”
“For many in Northern Ireland, the Queen will be admired and revered; for others, given their politics and where they believe that we should be, she is a more difficult individual. I do not believe, however, that many can genuinely say that they cannot recognise her devotion to service over that very long period. She has been a constant through many of our lives. She has shown compassion and strength of character over those years. <BR /> <BR />I have the vaguest recollections of her coronation and her first visit to my home town of Carrickfergus. One of the most memorable times for me, however, was her visit to Ireland in 2011 and her visit to Northern Ireland in 2012, which was marked by a historic handshake with Martin McGuinness.”
“As others have said, yesterday marked 70 years since Queen Elizabeth became monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Seventy years ago, in the United Kingdom, in Commonwealth states and around the world, flags were flown at half mast, theatres were shut and sporting events were cancelled to mark the death of her father. We are now moving to a time of celebration and jubilee. Her Majesty The Queen has served the United Kingdom in her role as head of state for a long time, clearly welcomed by many people and citizens around the world and in the Commonwealth. <BR /> <BR />Seventy years of service requires generosity of spirit, and we have seen that acknowledged in the Chamber today.”
“There has to be a commitment to working with all sectors to develop detailed plans to deliver that net zero target. Quite simply, sound bites and unfulfilled manifesto promises do not cut it any longer. It is important that we support our industries and all those sectors to move to greener alternatives. If we do not begin to address the long-term complex challenges that face us, the cost to our climate and consumers will be detrimental. Today, for those in the Chamber who support net zero by 2050, and even for those who do not, it is time, in terms of delivering sectoral plans, to not only talk the talk but walk the walk.”
“The Department needs to lay out plans that will give our industries and businesses the support that they need. We need to look for ambitious projects that are backed by the latest scientific research and certainty to take us forward in respect of climate change. The focus must be placed on levelling up our industries, setting a clear framework for targets, and aiding their transition to new ways of doing things. That will bring down the cost of new technologies, such as electric vehicles, and of heat pumps. If we are genuinely going to achieve net zero by 2050, our key objective must be delivering those sectoral plans. That will deliver very exciting opportunities for Northern Ireland, particularly in that sector. <BR /> <BR />We need to move away from political short-termism.”
“<BR /> <BR />Amendment No 22 relates specifically to developing and publishing plans for industrial processes. It is no surprise that our industrial sector is a significant direct and indirect source of greenhouse gas emissions. A report that was published by the University of Exeter found that industrial and commercial businesses accounted for 63% of the consumption of all electricity, 55% of the consumption of all gas, and 74% of all coal that was used in Northern Ireland. Undoubtedly, the Department for the Economy will have to play an important role in assisting, guiding and working with those businesses to not only reduce their carbon emissions but keep them in business and working, which will deliver the type of green economy that will make Northern Ireland stand out in the world.”
“That could be by planning through the Department for the Economy, for example, in how it delivers on further and higher education, upskilling and training people to go forward to deliver the new, sustainable industries that will need to be developed to deliver all that is contained in the Bill and much more in the future. We need to be able to deliver access to high-quality and environmentally sound green jobs right across the whole of our economy. That is why it is vital that we set out those sectoral plans very clearly at the beginning of this project. Delivering new heating and cooling systems has to be central to delivering change in our energy sector. We need to be able to develop those systems to harness local and renewable energy. All of that falls to the economy and other sectors to deliver.”
“Other countries, such as Denmark, France, Spain, New Zealand and the Republic of Ireland, have announced plans to stop new oil and gas prospecting and licensing. Sadly, that has so far been omitted from plans in Northern Ireland. There is a void and silence from Ministers. We need to hear a very clear change to the prospect of licences for petroleum, fracking and other fossil fuel exploration in Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Alongside those plans, we need to look at our workforce and labour as we go forward. Renewable energy will offer a transition that will allow us to take on a considerable amount of new work. However, we can only deliver that by planning ahead.”
“<BR /> <BR />Amendment No 19 places a duty on the Economy Department to develop and publish a detailed strategy for a greener and more sustainable energy sector, in line with emissions targets. In my roles as a member of the Economy Committee and the economy spokesperson for the Alliance Party, I cannot overstate the need for a comprehensive plan of action: targets and assurances that a Minister will be committed to delivering. We recently saw the publication of the energy strategy. Although that is a welcome document, which sets a template for the future and for going into the next mandate, it regrettably lacks ambition in targets and decarbonisation. In particular, the lack of policy intent about fracking and petroleum licensing was very disappointingly notable.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak today on the group 2 amendments and specifically to support the comments that my colleagues John Blair and Andrew Muir have made about sectoral plans. <BR /> <BR />Setting a clear road map across all sectors is fundamental to tackling the climate emergency. If we are to genuinely achieve net zero carbon emissions, we need a bold and holistic approach that is sustained by long-term government commitment. Without detailed plans and targets to underpin our environmental pledges, the road towards decarbonisation will become very difficult to navigate. Any real and meaningful change has to be based on the firm foundation of support, targets and advice.”
“I very much appreciate the comment about the Utility Regulator and the roles and responsibilities of that office. I put down an amendment that would have strengthened the role of the Utility Regulator. There are gaps in the current legislation, and that issue cannot be debated here. Obviously, it is important to the House, and it will be important going forward. I very much take Mr Aiken's point. The issue of regulation, particularly those aspects of the Utility Regulator, needs to be urgently addressed.”
“Maybe the Member could explain the confusion or the difference between his agriculture and climate change perspective on that matter?”
“As I listen to Mr Beggs, I am fascinated. Can he clear up my confusion? His party's climate change spokesperson has said that net zero carbon emissions can be achieved by 2035 — that came down from a previous target of 2045. In fact, the spokesperson highlighted the fact that the National Farmers' Union said that it could be achieved by 2045. The spokesperson stated:”
“It would be very difficult for it ever to meet them, and I look forward to it transitioning. This is important. A series of companies has owned and managed that power station, and those companies have been doing very innovative things such as battery storage, which is vital to delivering at times of peak demand, such as teatime, when power is needed quickly across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />There is much to be done. I commend amendment No 20 to the House. I encourage us all to support it, because it is a very achievable target.”
“It makes that impact today and every day in Northern Ireland. There is much more to be done. Onshore wind is somewhat less predictable than offshore wind. There is a much greater flow of wind offshore. Our energy strategy demonstrates that that is the next step that we need to take. As I understand it, arrangements have been made with the Crown Estate to ensure that that can be achieved, and we look forward to being able, very quickly, to develop offshore wind. That will take us way beyond that which we have been achieving in the last few days, months and over a reasonable number of years. It makes the target of 80% consumption achievable. <BR /> <BR />For me, it will end the inequity of a coal-fired power station in my constituency of East Antrim. It is already under threat because it does not meet the emission standards.”
“It is surprising, or perhaps not, that, in the last couple of days — in fact, on 30 January — Northern Ireland produced 1,042·96 MW of power from wind, exceeding all previous achievements and targets. We currently produce somewhere around 46% of our electricity from renewables, most of it from wind, and other sources include solar. The move to 80% will not be that difficult. There are opportunities through the Department's energy strategy, which the Economy Minister has brought forward. This is very much low-hanging fruit. That is why it is important that it is included in the Bill. It sends out the message that we are all in this together in attempting to achieve these changes. <BR /> <BR />We have proved that we can make that impact. Our renewables electricity sector has demonstrated that.”
“When we come to the group 2 amendments, there will be a wider-ranging discussion on that aspect. This is a narrow area: it requires the Department for the Economy to increase our consumption of renewable electricity. It is not an impossible call; in fact, it is very realistic. During the past decade, energy policy has become increasingly focused on the renewables sector. We have seen that time after time with initiatives that have taken place. We see the impact of wind farms across our landscape. There are those who do not like them, but there are many who like gazing at them as they produce and deliver energy for our homes across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />A massive transition will take place from fossil fuels to green electricity, which will be one of the key drivers in providing energy.”
“It is incumbent on me to comment on the Bill generally as it has progressed so far. My colleague Mr Blair set out where my party stands on the Bill and indicated which amendments we will support and those that we feel it is not appropriate to support at this time. <BR /> <BR />In this group of amendments, I want to deal specifically with amendment No 20, which is the renewable electricity consumption target. The amendment that colleagues and I propose is that the Department for the Economy should ensure that at least 80% of electricity consumption is from renewable sources by 2030. Some people have expressed surprise that we have raised this with another Department in this debate. This is a holistic Bill. It is about climate change. It is about delivering change for everyone, regardless of where government comes from.”
“Yet you have just said that you think that we should only get to 82% by 2050. I wonder who the real Ulster Unionist is here.”
“I am interested in the Member's comment. On 22 March last year, you posted a video on your party's Twitter feed in which you said:”
“Thank you, Minister. I commend you, not only for commissioning the report but for the very swift action that you and the prison staff took to alleviate the problems that were set out in the report. <BR /> <BR />Will you set out for the House some of the opportunities that are available for those who are held in CSUs? What activities and time out of cell are available to them?”
“It is important that the questions that have been asked by others in the Chamber and brought to the attention of the Bill sponsor are answered. I encourage her to start to answer those questions today. However, more important than addressing those in the Chamber will be to address them in the feedback to the Committee. That is where the detailed scrutiny of the Bill will take place. <BR /> <BR />Deputy Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to speak. I thank the Bill sponsor for introducing the Bill.”
“There is much to do on all of that going forward. <BR /> <BR />Over the last number of years, the coronavirus pandemic showed that many of our essential workers are in the lowest-paid jobs and unstable employment. If anything, the pandemic highlighted the vital role of essential workers and the need to end low pay. Low pay is another area that we need to legislate on. The legislation that is in front of us is certainly a step in the right direction, but a great deal more must be done. Work is needed across Departments to improve working conditions, tackle gender-segregated labour markets, address the lack of affordable childcare and invest in many of our other undervalued sectors. <BR /> <BR />I look forward to the Bill coming to the Committee and to the Committee doing its work to expand and consult on where we will go.”
“I return to the Minister's comments: it is important that there is a much-wider-ranging reform of employment law in Northern Ireland. If the Bill does not succeed in reaching its end goal, it will certainly inform the debate as we go into the next mandate. In itself, that is important. It is more important that we take stock in the next mandate and, as early as possible in it, look at all the areas of employment that we have, perhaps, fallen behind on in Northern Ireland. We, in Northern Ireland, have a record of doing things differently from the rest of the UK. That is very important, and I know that from my previous career as an employee of the Labour Relations Agency. It has been and remains one of the strengths of Northern Ireland that we can legislate in this area and that we can consult with employers and trade unions.”
“Hopefully, a great deal of positive comment will come back from a much wider range of consultees. <BR /> <BR />It is fair to comment on the fact that most European Union countries, including the Republic of Ireland since 2019, have made alterations to their employment law for zero-hours and similar types of contracts. Specific reference has been made to the area in which perhaps the highest burden falls: women in employment. The Women's Regional Consortium recently noted that there is an unequivocal relationship between unstable employment and in-work poverty. Pre-existing structural inequalities result in women being in not just the lowest paid jobs but often the most precarious and uncertain jobs. <BR /> <BR />It is important that the legislation was tabled, but it is only part of the task.”
“<BR /> <BR />As others have indicated, the Committee received a briefing from the Bill sponsor. It was very helpful and much appreciated. The Chair outlined the need for the Bill to move on to Committee Stage so that the Committee can undertake various statutory consultations with others. Although I appreciate that it must be very difficult for a private Member to undertake consultation, it was nevertheless disappointing that it was only the trade union movement and one employer that were consulted. There is a much wider framework of people out there, and I hope that that will be the area of operation for the Committee. I also hope that, as the Committee provides feedback, the sponsor will take on board the comments and concerns that may very well be raised.”
“That is just beyond the ability of many who find themselves in such circumstances. There is therefore no doubt that protection for those workers is long overdue. It is incumbent on us to deliver an economy that works for all our citizens, but it must work in all the ways in which our citizens want the economy to work for them. There are those for whom that type or concept of working is what they want to do and achieve. We need to be able to protect them, however. We need to be able to protect them from unscrupulous employers. Sometimes, we need to protect them from themselves, because people see that type of working as being the only opportunity for them to get some money into their pocket. It is not necessarily the best way, so it is important that we work to deliver good-quality legislation to help people in those circumstances.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is no doubt that the experience of being trapped in a low-paid job with no guaranteed hours, wages or security is a frightening reality for far too many people in Northern Ireland today. Figures have been bandied around, but we are looking at somewhere in the region of 11,000 to 12,000 people. Perhaps there is a hidden figure beyond that number of those who do not know whether they will still have a job or when they will get their next pay packet, if it is indeed a pay packet that they get at all. That brings us on to other regulatory matters that, I hope, a future Minister will deal with. <BR /> <BR />The situation means that it is very difficult for people to plan, save or work out their future to assist them even to get a rent agreement in place, let alone a mortgage.”
“I thank the sponsor for introducing the Bill. At least in part, the Minister has helpfully indicated to us, and solved a little of my curiosity, why he has not introduced such legislation under New Decade, New Approach and why it has been left to a private Member to do so. I will not criticise the situation in which we find ourselves, but it would have been preferable if the Department had introduced it. I welcome the fact that the Minister said that there will be an opportunity, hopefully in the next mandate, to bring forward more comprehensive employment law revision for Northern Ireland. This Bill will hopefully form part of that, should it not complete all the appropriate legislative stages in this mandate.”
“Thank you, Minister. Have you reached out to Maggie Black's family and friends in respect of the meeting that they would like to have with you to explore these issues? <BR /> <BR />Following on from your answer, I call on you to put that co-responder trial on a secure footing so that we can deliver a co-responder service not only in rural areas but in any area of Northern Ireland where it is relevant for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to do that together. Can we also ensure that there is a great deal of upskilling?”
“It is not a competition; it is about delivering for people and, with this Bill, for those who may be or are in highly distressing circumstances. It is vital that, today, we are demonstrating that, when we work together for the common good, we achieve much in this place.”
“Allowing an amendment that takes us to 2026, however, will give sufficient room for the Department and, after the hiatus that an election will cause, a new Minister and a new Committee to take all of that forward. My colleague Kellie Armstrong will want to talk about the consultation on those proposals, so I will leave that space for her. <BR /> <BR />Again, I thank those who contributed to the amendments at Committee stage. I also thank the Minister for making his changes, which are technical and complex; I do not believe that we could have done that work on our own. The collaborative approach that has been demonstrated in, I hope, bringing the stages of the draft legislation to a close should serve as a template for the Assembly's work.”
“Although that might be very few people, the circumstance may, nevertheless, be the same for them as for others in the event of a miscarriage or a bereavement. I am concerned for those who fall under the weekly limits, but I hope that the Minister will be able to clarify the situation. <BR /> <BR />Another concern, which Dr Archibald deals with in her amendment, was that the Department did not table an amendment to include a commencement date. Compromise, good consideration of the situation that we are in and the Minister's acknowledgement that it would be practical to have a date are, however, very welcome. <BR /> <BR />I thank the officials for their incredibly hard work through all of this. In our discussions, they indicated that they could deliver by 2024.”
“Many of the amendments are built on the work and discussions that took place in the Committee. I appreciate that some members joined the Committee part way through the discussion, while, for other members, the conversation has been going on since the Bill's introduction and the consultation on it. The consultation was important because it highlighted the missing piece, which was miscarriage. It was vital to highlight that and take it forward through our Committee considerations. The Bill has come a long way since its inception. The amendments deal with many of the issues that came to us as we worked our way through it. <BR /> <BR />I will pose a question to the Minister on the pay threshold. I have a concern that those who fall under the threshold will not be covered by the legislation.”
“It is incredibly important and welcome that parental bereavement leave and miscarriage leave will become a week-1 right, and that that is a central focus for the Minister. I thank the Minister for that.”
“I thank the Minister for the way in which that has been done and Dr Archibald for her two amendments, which are crucial to the passing of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />It is important to see that both compromise and collaboration have been the hallmarks of where we have been in the last few days on the Bill, and I welcome that in the amendments that have been tabled by the Minister and by Dr Archibald.”
“I speak on behalf of the Alliance Party and as a member of the Economy Committee. <BR /> <BR />It is vital that we support the passage of the Bill through Further Consideration Stage. I thank the Chair of the Committee. I also thank the Minister for the amendments, as the Minister has indicated, to help, clarify, tidy and amend as appropriate, given the will of the House at Consideration Stage. I also thank the Chair of the Committee for her amendments, which she tabled not as Chair of the Committee but in her capacity as a Member of the Assembly. I acknowledge, as she said, that there are amendments that she will not move because the work that the Minister has done through his officials meets the needs and concerns that have been expressed by Committee members and, as Mr Weir and others said, were discussed broadly in the Committee.”
“The question has already been asked, Mr Deputy Speaker. The question to the Minister is: what action is he taking to avoid the protocol?”
“Minister, did I hear you correctly when you said that you were not implementing the protocol? Will you tell the House how you are doing that and why you are avoiding meetings on North/South inter-parliamentary business between you and your counterpart in the Republic, when it is clear to everyone in Northern Ireland that the shelves in our supermarkets are well stocked in comparison with the rest of the UK and that Brexit is the problem? Brexit is the problem, not the Northern Ireland protocol. In reality, Minister, you need to encourage —”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. The height of criticism in the Chamber today has been about the £50 million-odd returned by the Department for the Economy. Minister, what responsibility do you bear for that as the Minister of Finance with overall responsibility to ensure that our moneys are spent effectively and efficiently? I share the concerns of others about that money being returned by Economy when businesses, particularly small businesses, have been crying out for support and resource.”
“Upskilling is also fundamental in creating an all-encompassing emergency service that is capable of responding not just to today's challenges but to the difficulties that we will face in the future. Investment in lifelong training for all our emergency staff will transform the learning experience for those vital services and ensure that we continue to have the best people trained to the highest standards to be on hand when our rural communities are most in need. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service need to be resourced and funded to deliver a joint response model.”
“The Department must now build on the promising co-responder pilot scheme in which fire services are despatched to suspected cardiac emergencies in the local catchment areas of fire stations, in addition to the standard emergency ambulance response.”
“The current unimaginable pressure on our health service is a terrifying reality for many people who live in rural locations. For others, it is simply the difference between life and death. <BR /> <BR />I ask for support for "Maggie's Call" to make it mandatory for the fire service to be despatched in rural areas in life-threatening situations. The reality is that, without systemic and planned change, emergency services are already stretched thin and have been forced into crisis. There are two choices: we can either resist change and slowly deteriorate until the point of collapse or embrace transformation and create a sustainable service, adequately funded and equipped to provide people with proper care, particularly in rural settings. Crucially, work must be carried out to improve medical care throughout rural communities.”
“I stand today to speak about the death of five-year-old Maggie Black, who was a schoolgirl from Glenarm. <BR /> <BR />Maggie died after becoming unwell with stomach pains at her home. As her breathing became difficult, her family dialled 999. It took 70 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. Thinking quickly, her parents contacted a family member, a local firefighter, for help. That crew arrived within 10 minutes, but, unfortunately, her condition deteriorated. For that family, the outcome was heartbreaking and utterly tragic. However, as the first responders had life-saving equipment, we know that Maggie was given the best support available. I thank the fire team for providing much-needed support and comfort in such demanding circumstances.”