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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“Unfortunately, support during the COVID-19 pandemic has been patchy. The taxi sector has fallen between the Department for the Economy and the Department for Infrastructure. While those two Departments disagreed with each other for months, time was lost to support the sector. Then, the Department for Infrastructure had to basically find a way to pay out funds, which it does not regularly do. Rather than the Department for the Economy, it was the Executive Office that, inexplicably, administered support schemes for travel agents. Similarly, it is clear to me that the Department for the Economy should have taken action to assist the taxi sector. I acknowledge, of course, that some non-specific assistance was provided to depots through the coronavirus restrictions business support scheme.”
“It is vital that we do what we can to help to secure that sector and protect those services and the jobs that it provides. <BR /> <BR />Prior to the pandemic, the taxi industry was already facing considerable headwinds, including falling numbers of drivers and an ageing workforce. During the first and subsequent lockdowns, we saw the complete collapse of travel, which has started to recover but which is not yet at pre-lockdown levels. That meant low-earning potential and little reason for drivers to go out, spend money on fuel and, of course, put themselves at risk of COVID-19 infection. Unsurprisingly, many drivers left the sector or retired, leaving us with significantly fewer drivers. <BR /> <BR />That was, sadly, not helped by the lack of timely support from the Government.”
“As we reopen our economy, we see the need for taxis more than ever, particularly for our tourism and hospitality sectors. Taxis open up parts of Northern Ireland that are not accessible in any other way to tourists, for example. They also allow bars and restaurants to serve many more customers later and people to know that they can get home safely. However, as shortages have become clear, there are risks that constraints to the taxi sector could limit the reopening and recovery of the hard-hit tourism and hospitality sector. We have seen changes to hospitality rules on licensing, which will be a further challenge for taxi operators. If people cannot go out with the confidence that they can get home safely, they may simply stay at home.”
“As Members have said, that includes accessing hospital appointments, shopping, school transport and many other activities.”
“I support the motion and the amendment, and I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important issue. <BR /> <BR />The taxi sector provides key services to people across Northern Ireland, as others have said. It is especially flexible in meeting the needs of many individuals in different places and at all hours of the day and night.”
“Thank you, deputy First Minister. Given the Member of Parliament for East Antrim's, quite frankly, offensive and unnecessary remark about our Health Minister yesterday, what work was done in your Council meeting on harmonising restrictions across all the jurisdictions? What actions are you taking to expand the green list for travellers?”
“Thank you, Minister. I declare an interest as chair of the all-party group on social enterprise. I welcome the positive move towards embedding social value in all central government and third-party contracts. It is an important step forward. However, Minister, in the all-party group, we have an objective and goal to see this embedded in legislation. When will there be a timeline for a social value Bill, and ultimately Act, in Northern Ireland?”
“Now is the time to move away from constitutional issues and to determine the better business prospects for the citizens of Northern Ireland. I welcome the statement and agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom.”
“They knew, from 2015, what they were seeking to achieve.”
“Instead of working collaboratively and collectively to deliver the best outcome for Northern Ireland, there are those — sadly, they are represented in the Chamber — who have been determined to highlight the difficulties. They have done little or nothing to acknowledge — indeed, they are in denial — the incredible opportunities for Northern Ireland, given its unique position in the United Kingdom and in the European Union. <BR /> <BR />That has been exacerbated by the legal action that was taken. I do not deny the right of any citizen, political party or grouping of political parties to take legal action to check or verify their perception of the law, but it is clear that their actions very much have the potential to weaken rather than defend the Union relationship of the United Kingdom. They are people who voted for Brexit.”
“It was significant because it was the first indication of a serious engagement between the two parties to recognise the difficulties that Northern Ireland finds itself in as a result of the outworkings of the protocol. <BR /> <BR />It might also be worth noting that we are in this situation because of the failure by some in Northern Ireland to recognise the damage that they were doing by supporting our exit from the EU. More importantly, from the point at which the United Kingdom decided democratically to leave the European Union a great deal of work has been done by certain political parties to put every obstacle in the way of Northern Ireland's relationship with the EU and its relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom.”
“Thank you for the opportunity to speak on an important issue, which failed to make any impact on discussions or in the media across the United Kingdom or particularly in Northern Ireland at the weekend. For the first time, for any serious acknowledgement, the United Kingdom and the European Union reached a significant area of agreement and discussion on the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol in that they agreed to allow for a further extension of the grace period for chilled meats, and some other arrangements.”
“Minister, you referred to the fact that the scheme has been co-designed by the Department, the board and the company providing the service, together with victims and victims' organisations. Have the victims' organisations indicated to you how satisfied they are with how that co-design work has happened? Perhaps that will solve the problem of some in the Chamber wishing to undermine the scheme before it even commences.”
“— by the principal and staff. Will the Minister accompany me on a visit to both schools?”
“I appreciate the large sums of money that her Department has put into improving schools in East Antrim, particularly the schools that she mentioned. However, two schools seem to have been overlooked and are in very difficult situations. Carrickfergus Academy is the result of a merger between Downshire Community School and Carrickfergus College and was sold to the boards of governors, parents and the community as a new build school, yet that seems to be a long way away. Likewise, Larne High School is in a perilous state of repair. It seems to be the school that time forgot, not in the education that is being delivered in the building —”
“I add my congratulations and those of the Alliance Party to all who provided evidence, improved the content and contributed to the Bill. On behalf of the Alliance Party, I support the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill and look forward to it receiving Royal Assent in the coming months.”
“In 2009, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety commissioned a review of the social cost of alcohol misuse in Northern Ireland and estimated that alcohol misuse cost around £680 million per annum, including health and social care costs, fire and rescue and police costs, court and prison costs, and the wider economic cost to our community and society. That estimate was later revised upwards to over £900 million by 2014. <BR /> <BR />The legislation has been a long time coming. It aims to balance the needs of those who sell alcohol with the needs of our public services and the impact on our economy. It is a huge piece of legislation that has taken many departmental, Committee and ministerial hours to get to its Final Stage.”
“That is done largely because of an increase in the affordability of alcohol from supermarkets and off-licences. I do not wish to interfere in their trade or their business, but, nevertheless, it can be argued that more responsible consumption of alcohol will take place in pubs and in places where people sit together consuming alcohol rather than in the home. <BR /> <BR />While the purchase of alcohol is to become cheaper in real terms, the cost of alcohol misuse to the public sector and wider society is increasing.”
“They sell their licence to whoever offers them the most, and why would they not? Those who can afford licences, however, are larger hotels or supermarket chains, and that means that the idea of the pub as the hub is gone. The licence gets relocated to Belfast, a larger town or to an out-of-town supermarket. <BR /> <BR />It is therefore pleasing to note that the legislation includes direction for a future Minister of Health to introduce a minimum price per unit of alcohol. Although some are opposed to setting a minimum price for alcohol, we cannot ignore the need to deal with the issue of alcohol abuse. As the Committee report states, in the United Kingdom as a whole, there has been a long-term trend that shows a move away from drinking in licensed premises and an increase in alcohol purchased from off-licences and consumed at home.”
“I encourage all the sectors, whether pubs, taprooms, hotels or licensed clubs, to work together to maximise the opportunity. <BR /> <BR />I am delighted that the legislation includes a review of the surrender principle. During scrutiny of the Bill, the hospitality sector, the retail sector, local breweries and others raised concerns about the cost of buying a licence being astronomical. The hospitality industry was very keen that we develop the Pub is The Hub model to create a focal point, particularly in rural areas, where the local pub could provide more than just access to alcohol. Perhaps it could operate as a small shop or offer other services. Most licence holders, however, see their licence as their pension: a nest egg for the future and when they retire.”
“I therefore ask the Minister to review the number of days a year on which local taprooms can operate in order to ensure that we can develop that offer to tourists, who will, we all hope, following COVID, be returning to our shores very soon. <BR /> <BR />At Further Consideration Stage, the Assembly agreed to include a review of licensing and registration of clubs legislation. The effectiveness of the taproom licence will be reviewed to establish how effective the legislation has been. That provides an opportunity for the Minister and the Department to review whether any local producers have applied for the taproom licence and whether the restrictions have placed a barrier on the growth of a food-and-drink tourism sector.”
“<BR /> <BR />Many breweries have indicated that the restrictions placed on the taproom licence are somewhat overly restrictive. The loss of being able to use a partner pub for an occasional licence and being able to sell only for consumption on the premises for 12 hours a week may well protect some pubs and hotels, but it does not help develop our food and drink and tourism offer. That is an important consideration in all of this. Taprooms were previously identified as a potential growth market by our Economy Minister, and I know, as a member of the Economy Committee, that we have been particularly conscious of and supportive of that, and particularly of supporting a lot of those small businesses as they develop in rural parts of Northern Ireland.”
“It will allow local producers who apply for an article 52E licence to sell their own product for consumption on their premises up to 104 times a year, from 4.00 pm to 10.00 pm on those days. That means that, if taproom licence holders apply to use their licence two days a week, they can sell their own produce for a maximum of 12 hours a week. Local producers have highlighted the point that 12 hours a week is not enough to provide reasonable employment in a taproom, and I encourage the Minister and the Department to keep that provision under review once the legislation comes into effect. Local producers who hold a taproom licence will also not be permitted to sell their produce under an occasional licence applied for by a partner pub.”
“I well remember the previous times, and the intense lobbying, when we attempted to legislate on that. It received a great deal of support. Perhaps in time and as reviews of the legislation take place, it can improve further. A local producer's licence will allow local artisan craft brewers and distillers to sell their own products in closed containers for consumption off the premises, whether that be at the end of a tour in their brewery or at another venue, such as a farmers' market. Those are important changes, and changes that will enhance not only the small business itself but the tourist take from visitors to Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />A taproom licence is very different and limited.”
“<BR /> <BR />Children will be able to remain with family at an event after 9.00 pm. They will be permitted to be in a social club, provided that they are accompanied by a responsible adult, from May to September and for a limited number of times in the winter months, to attend, for example, a sports awards ceremony, an event in which young people may become involved. Under-18 events such as school formals will run until 1.00 am, provided that no alcohol is available in the venue or the part of the venue where the event is taking place. <BR /> <BR />It will be interesting to see how the next change develops. It will allow cinemas to be recognised as part of the entertainment industry so that they can apply to sell alcohol. <BR /> <BR />The Alliance Party supported the introduction of the local producer's licence and a taproom licence.”
“Thankfully, the bleary-eyed Members leaving the Assembly in the early hours of 9 June had only been talking about alcohol licences and not actually taking alcohol. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware of the changes coming from the Bill, but it is worth putting them on the record. Easter and Sunday hours will be aligned with the trading hours operated in the rest of the year. All pubs and hotels will be able to apply for a late licence up to 104 times per year. Late licences will run for an additional hour to 2.00 am, and drinking-up time will increase from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. That will allow people to disperse over a longer period, which will reduce issues of public disorder for the police and also improve and grow our night-time economy, offering opportunities for those who provide taxis and other means of getting home.”
“However, I share another Member's concern that Committee members should have had the opportunity to get out and about, going around the industry and perhaps even taking the odd sample. Maybe those days are in front of them. I pay tribute to the Committee for the consultations that it undertook. On behalf of my colleague Kellie Armstrong, I thank the Minister and her team for working with the Committee and tabling most of the amendments that were suggested. <BR /> <BR />I believe that the Consideration Stage debate on the Bill holds the record, in this session at least, for the latest sitting of the House, though I remember some other very late nights here. I understand that Members were here until 2.45 am.”
“As the Licensing Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, it relaxed restrictions on the presence of young people in licensed areas, and it put outdoor stadia on the same operational footing as an indoor arena, meaning that they could deliver family entertainment in a controlled environment. Anybody who looks back on that legislation and its operation will see that it has been very successful and has worked very well. <BR /> <BR />In the past months, as Mr Durkan said, Kellie Armstrong worked with the Committee, the Minister and others on a detailed and effective Committee Stage. I thank her for her work. I pay tribute to the Committee for the extensive number of witnesses from whom they heard and evidence sessions that they completed.”
“The Registration of Clubs (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 did the same for the supply of alcoholic drinks in private members' clubs. Over the years, the hospitality industry and its customers have called for updates to the licensing regime. I am delighted that the Bill will be passed by the House and go forward for Royal Assent. <BR /> <BR />As a political party, we have supported, in the Assembly, the modernisation of the licensing system for a number of years. I have supported changes to licensing restrictions over Easter to allow the hospitality industry to have the same hours of operation then as it has the rest of the year. <BR /> <BR />I will remind Members why I have an interest in this matter. In 2016, my colleague Judith Cochrane brought forward her private Member's Bill. I worked on it with her.”
“The Licensing (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 set out the provisions of the general licensing system, including procedures governing the granting of renewal of licences by Magistrates' or County Courts, permitted hours for the sale of alcoholic drinks, conduct of premises, conditions pertaining to the presence of children in licensed premises and enforcement.”
“Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak on the Final Stage of the Bill. As I said in my brief intervention, my colleague Kellie Armstrong should have been here to speak on behalf of my party. Unfortunately, she has a health appointment and is not available, so you get me instead. <BR /> <BR />For me, this is interesting, because it is a full-circle debate. I was present in the Assembly during the many attempts to update and amend liquor licensing laws in the past. It is a pleasure to confirm that the Alliance Party will support the Final Stage of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill. <BR /> <BR />As other Members have said, the legislation will update the regulation and sale of alcoholic drinks in Northern Ireland, which are covered by regulations that date back to 1996.”
“I very much appreciate the Member giving way. I will explain later why it is I and not my party colleague Kellie Armstrong who is speaking on the Bill. <BR /> <BR />While the provisions on taprooms are incredibly welcome and present an opportunity to develop the tourist trade and the businesses of small breweries and microbreweries across Northern Ireland, the legislation is, nevertheless, very limited in what it does for those producers. I hope that the Minister and, indeed, the Member agree that the Bill will need to be reviewed once it comes into operation. Many more opportunities need to be opened up for the wider trade, particularly those that provide a specific offering in tourism and the niche specialities of beers and other drinks.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. It is important, because Northern Ireland has fallen dramatically behind on mental health care. What engagement has the Minister had with the mental health strategy developed by the youth mental health steering committee's Elephant in the Room project and the specific recommendations that it made on mental health and young people?”
“Minister, do you recognise the damage that Brexit is doing, given that there are labour shortages as people are not coming into the United Kingdom, but particularly into Northern Ireland, because entry to the United Kingdom now has a pay tariff connected to it? Traditionally in Northern Ireland, for a variety of reasons, good and bad, pay has quite often been lower than in the rest of the United Kingdom. That is a further barrier to people coming in and supporting the labour market in important jobs, such as caring, catering and a wide range of other jobs that can, and should, be done in Northern Ireland and for which we do not have an indigenous workforce.”
“Thank you. Minister, briefly and following on from Mr Stalford's point about how employers should act, you referred to those who are self-employed. We have heard that, quite often, the temptation is for individuals to continue working rather than cope with the grief. I appreciate that there is no employer to ask for time off or, indeed, any compensation scheme for the self-employed; nevertheless, the Department provides employment advice and guidance. I would hope that, in those guidance notes, there would be reference to organisations, such as Cruse and others, that can provide support services to those who have been bereaved and that that advice would be widely distributed, even among the self-employed.”
“If the Minister or the Committee continued to look down that route, that would be welcome. As we all know, bereavement in these circumstances is often sudden and leaves people without any financial support. Clearly, that would be unfair. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is long overdue. In closing, I look forward to the Committee Stage. I look forward to engaging with stakeholders on how we can improve the legislation as it moves forward. It is particularly welcome, and, indeed, as others have said, I hope that it will be marked as a legacy of the Minister's predecessor.”
“I understand that there is a balance to strike and that certain entitlements generally arise from length of service. The Department states in the explanatory memorandum that it looked at making bereavement pay available from day one. However, HMRC advised that, although technically possible, that could result in a significant one-off cost to the Northern Ireland Budget and could also delay the progress of the Bill. Again, I would be grateful if the Minister could spell out the reasons behind all that. I believe that it will be an area for Committee scrutiny. We should look at some means of covering those who have not reached that threshold. I recall that, at the Committee, an official suggested that discretionary funding schemes through DFC could be looked at.”
“It will, of course, be helpful to give notice, if that can be given, but standardising that will be difficult, and we believe that due consideration should be given to that. I welcome the Department's indication that it will legislate for flexibility so that notice is to be given as soon as practicable for leave to be taken immediately following the death of a child — hopefully, in future, also a miscarriage — and a short one-week notice for leave to be taken later. I also welcome the Department's assertion on the evidence requirements that it wants to make sure that the leave is taken when needed and that it wishes to minimise any impediments. <BR /> <BR />Unlike the entitlement to leave, any entitlement to pay will be linked with the length of employment, requiring at least 26 weeks.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Alliance Party believes that there should be flexibility in the specific period of leave and how it is to be taken, allowing two weeks in total but also allowing for those weeks to be taken discontinuously, which provides balance and flexibility for those who may need to take time away later. That approach has been adopted in the rest of the United Kingdom, and I welcome the indication that the Department intends to follow it. <BR /> <BR />Regulation will also deal with, among other procedures, the evidence and notice that must be given by an employee. I understand that that is a difficult balance to strike, because employers need to be able to plan. However, at the core of all this is a person who has been bereaved and is facing a life-changing and difficult event.”
“It is disappointing that that does not seem to have been specifically acknowledged in the consultation responses, but our party, for one, raised the matter. <BR /> <BR />I do not see why any change in definition is needed, so I do not seek to change the definition of miscarriage. Ultimately, we just want support to be provided to parents facing the loss of a child and to those whose loss is due to a miscarriage, which is an incredibly traumatic experience for parents, giving them time and space to grieve. That appears to me to be the right thing to do. My Alliance Party colleague Kellie Armstrong will work with me to progress some changes at Consideration Stage.”
“For example, a woman taking maternity leave who loses her child during that time will not be affected and will be entitled to take the remainder of that leave. Clearly, that is right. <BR /> <BR />I also believe that we should be looking, as other have said, to extend parental bereavement time off to those who have faced a miscarriage, which is also a traumatic and life-changing event. That has been discussed in the Committee, and the Department has stated that the definition of miscarriage sits with the Department of Health. I am not quite sure what bearing that has on what can be done and, perhaps, that is an area on which the Minister or, indeed, the Committee, in time, will be able to seek clarification.”
“That reflects the fact that every family is different and ensures that support for bereavement is given to those facing the loss of a child with whom they had a parental-like relationship. <BR /> <BR />We are broadly in agreement with the definition being implemented in the rest of the United Kingdom, which allows a primary caregiver to be considered as a bereaved parent. There has been a short time for the operation of the legislation in GB, and that may, indeed, turn out to be a good place for us to be in so that we can monitor how it is working in the real world. It is welcome that parents who experience the loss of a child through stillbirth will be included in the definition. I note that the legislation will not affect parents' loss of a child from 24 weeks who have already accessed a family-related leave entitlement.”
“However, the Committee has been informed that the Minister has agreed — I hope that the new Minister will also agree — to extend that period to 56 weeks. I note that grieving is a particularly complex process, and not everyone is ready to take leave immediately. There may be immediate circumstances for a short period, and, in fact, it may be later that a person finds that they need time and space for bereavement. <BR /> <BR />A key consideration in introducing parental bereavement leave has been the definition of a bereaved parent and extending that beyond the standard definition to include carers who undertake parental duties, as Mr Nesbitt and others mentioned, as the people directly affected by that type of bereavement.”
“However, we have already begun to work in Committee on ensuring clarity on the shape of the final result. The Department has, of course, provided consultation responses on how it will go forward with some of the key issues. First, on the specific issue of bereavement leave, the Bill places a duty on the Department to provide, by regulation, a right for employed parents to take a minimum of two weeks' time off following the death of a child. That will also apply regardless of when the employment commenced; therefore it is clear that there is a day-one right for all parents in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The regulations are also due to establish the specific period of leave that can be taken, and the Bill sets out a period of at least 56 days after a child's death.”
“As Members have said, grieving requires time and space from work and other commitments. As a society, we should ensure that people are afforded that time off and that they are not forced to return to work too soon but can do so at a time of their choosing after the loss of a child. It is only fair to note, however, that there are many employers who take a flexible and compassionate approach — we heard about some of them in the media recently — and are already allowing paid time off for employees, including for parental bereavement leave, and that is to their credit. Ultimately, however, we want to ensure that it is a clear, standardised and statutory right for all workers in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Much of what is in the Bill just sets the framework for the Department to build on.”
“I will not spend time today recounting the reasons why we have previously failed to introduce the legislation. Let us look forward to getting on with dealing with this and other backlogs. Right now, we have a patchwork of entitlements for bereavement. There is an entitlement for unpaid time off for an emergency involving a dependant and, while that is better than nothing, the COVID-19 pandemic has proved that many people simply cannot afford to take any unpaid time off or, if they do, the lost income adds further to pressures at an already hugely difficult time.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act was passed in the rest of the United Kingdom in 2018, and the regulations that were required to give it effect were passed last April, so the House is running considerably behind in promoting and moving forward the Bill.”
“I also support this important legislation and welcome it at this stage. As others have said, the loss of a loved one is a particularly difficult time. I am sure that everyone in the Chamber will have, at some stage, suffered some form of bereavement loss. Balancing work and other commitments with grieving is particularly challenging. The loss of a child by a parent or caregiver is, of course, a profoundly tragic and life-changing event. I welcome the opportunity for the legislation to be introduced to support parents and others at such a difficult time, to help to alleviate some of the money worries and to give vital time and space to make arrangements and to allow people space to grieve.”
“I welcome our new Minister. Like the previous questioner, I will be no less tenacious in my questioning of him than of his predecessor. <BR /> <BR />Minister, what immediate plans do you have to meet your counterpart in the Republic of Ireland, Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, along with Aer Lingus, British Airways and the management of Belfast City Airport, to discuss the situation and to work to repair what has happened in relation to the loss of connectivity, bearing it in mind that the current arrangements will probably be open for only a short window of time until the matter has been resolved? If I may beg a single indulgence in respect of a second question, how are you moving forward to compensate the passengers who were left behind at the weekend?”
“From today on, paramilitary crime gangs and others will have to fear further the knock at the door.”