Michaela Boyle
West Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister. On that first note, on behalf of my party, I, too, send sincere sympathies to the family of Austin Hunter. <BR /> <BR />Minister, you will be aware that a total of 738 women and 520 children were accommodated in refuges in 2015-16 and thousands more accessed community support.”
“<BR /> <BR />The proposal to establish a graduate entry medical school in the north-west is, as has been said, at a very early stage, but we need to build on existing support for the school to be built west of the Bann.”
“As mentioned earlier, we need more allied health professionals to work alongside our GPs, as not everyone going into a GP practice needs to see a GP. They need a physiotherapist, nurse, chiropodist or podiatrist. All of these people in primary care play an important role in reducing the pressures on GPs.”
“There is a revised induction and refresher scheme for GPs not currently practising in the North of Ireland to return to practising here. I welcome that approach, which goes some way to addressing the gaps here. I am keen to hear from the Minister on how it is progressing.”
“That, he said, was an "extraordinary assertion", because the demand for GPs is rising as people live longer. We have a successful health service, but success creates more demand, and we feel that more in the Western Trust than in any other trust area. We need to bring forward incentives for GPs and others to live and work here.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. First, I take the opportunity to congratulate all those involved in the new £50 million radiotherapy centre in the Western Trust as it opens its doors to the public for the first phase of admissions.”
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“— which is a Programme for Government commitment, and Sinn Féin is determined to see it delivered. The expansion of Magee is a central plank for regional economic regeneration —”
“<BR /> <BR />The expansion of Magee is a crucial part of the One Plan —”
“The Minister also signalled the potential for a significant increase in student numbers in the new Assembly mandate, which begins next year. In order to achieve that, we need to consolidate the political will, which the subgroup initiative has helped to generate. That is the best way to ensure that Magee is prioritised by all Executive Ministers. <BR /> <BR />Many young people from my area of Strabane and the north-west have to travel to Belfast and elsewhere due to many courses not being available locally in Magee. Indeed, the expansion of Magee would benefit the north-west, as we could retain many of our young people locally. It would save on travel expenses and other finances that they have to spend if they have to travel elsewhere, and it would almost certainly attract more students to the area.”
“The establishment of the subgroup on the north-west will drive the process of change that will deliver the political authority needed in the Magee campaign. As my party colleague from Foyle said earlier, it is no accident that Mr McGuinness invited the further education Minister on to the subgroup, and I believe that the acceptance by the Minister to be part of that group demonstrates that he is at least willing to pursue the case for expansion. <BR /> <BR />He has already indicated his intention to bid within months for the £11 million required to construct the new teaching block at Magee this year. That bid will certainly be supported by my Sinn Féin colleagues on the Executive, as it would present a major investment and physical expansion at Magee.”
“That is why Martin McGuinness initiated an Executive subgroup on regional economic disparities, which is driving a unified ministerial approach to issues such as the expansion of Magee, the A5 road project, transport infrastructure and so on. I would like to make the point that my party colleague Mr Barry McElduff is in Dublin today meeting the Taoiseach Enda Kenny on a number of issues, one of which is the A5.”
“In turn, that will be complemented by the North West Regional College's ambitions to provide accreditation for its pupils in the STEM subjects to allow them to step up to degree courses at Magee. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin has made a commitment to do everything within its power to improve the lives of all our citizens and to redress the impact that generations of neglect have had on places like Strabane, Derry and the north-west as a whole. That is why Sinn Féin is leading the way on issues like decentralisation, with the Agriculture Minister, Michelle O'Neill, relocating an entire Department right into the heart of the north-west.”
“I have no doubt that the business plan put forward to the Minister is robust and that, when he makes his decision, he will have the Sinn Féin Ministers' support for any subsequent bid. <BR /> <BR />We are now in a new era and situation, with the deputy First Minister determined to deliver on the Magee project. We have the new expanded Derry City and Strabane District Council, with increased powers coming on stream from April. The political landscape will then be reconfigured. All that allows for a new focus. Magee, as you know, a Cheann Comhairle, is a cross-border campus, and it plays a major part in the north-west education gateway initiative through its ability to attract students. The new Derry City and Strabane District Council's integrated economic strategy will also have a clear focus on the Magee expansion, as I said.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I also welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate. Like my colleagues, I am fully in support of the expansion of Magee. There is no doubt that the future economic development of the new Derry City and Strabane District Council is connected with the expansion of the Magee campus, so it is essential that we work together to see that expansion delivered. Sinn Féin has made it clear that it will support any bid that is brought to the Executive for Magee expansion funding. I welcome that the Minister is scrutinising the business plan for the expansion of the Magee campus. I also welcome the fact that, if it meets the expenditure appraisal and evaluation criteria, he will bid for funds for it in the next comprehensive spending review.”
“It is important that the Northern Executive and the people of the North receive the full return on their investment through increased income tax, National Insurance or corporation tax revenue. Members, I urge you to support our proposals to move our economy forward.”
“Increased investment in research and development, along with tailored support for entrepreneurship, could lead to an increase in innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, which are important to creating high-skilled jobs, reversing the brain drain and boosting the economy.”
“Collectively, we need to demand similar provisions for our local economy from the British Government. Imagine the benefits to our local Budget if we eradicated low pay through the provision of the living wage. Not only would we lift the 173,000 workers earning below the living wage out of the struggle of in-work poverty but we would generate £88 million in direct taxes and reduce benefit and tax credit payments, which would be returned to the British Exchequer. If that finance was repatriated locally, it would substantially boost our local budgets. It would, for example, pay for more than 3,500 nurses or teachers, or we could use the finance to pay for universal childcare and open up the labour market fully to parents. <BR /> <BR />Universities offer another illustration.”
“<BR /> <BR />We want a diverse economy with a balanced portfolio of industry sectors, with much more emphasis on product innovation, a much larger medium-sized industry sector with a more diverse ownership profile, including more extensive public and community ownership and cooperatives, and in which a more mutual and coordinated approach to economic development is taken. <BR /> <BR />At present, we make decisions that improve the local economy through, for example, job creation. The receipts go to the British Exchequer and do not enter our local Budget, yet it is our actions and local decisions that lead to the increase in the receipts. Through the Smith commission, Scotland will stand to benefit from policy decisions taken in Scotland. Why should we be any different?”
“That means working collectively to exploit every avenue that we have to build a progressive, strong revenue base that does not harm but strengthens our people, our competitiveness, our economic security and, indeed, our economic growth. <BR /> <BR />We want to build a society in which income and wealth inequality are low and social cohesion is high, pay is higher, poverty is very low and the local tax take is higher and enables strong public services without endemic debt and deficit; and a strong welfare state in which public services are extensive, well funded and generally universally available and in which finance is seen as a means to sustain industry and provide financial security for individuals, not as a speculative means of profit maximisation.”
“That is why we need to ensure that we prioritise infrastructure investment by ensuring that, in the context of fiscal accountability, we consider the best ways to ensure that we can benefit from the European Investment Bank, can find new, innovative ways to invest in social housing and can find sustainable measures to increase our local revenue base by exploring the potential for new levies, which would have a positive impact on society. <BR /> <BR />It must be said that, at a time when the Westminster Government have cut our resources by £1·5 billion, it is essential that we focus on delivering better outcomes from the resources that we have. We must move beyond bookkeeping to drive economic growth.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. There is no doubt that securing economic recovery, prosperity and equality is at the heart of our approach to the Budget and the provision of public services. Economic recovery is self-evidently critical to our success and is the route to improving the lives of our people. What we want is economic success through well-paid jobs for our people. Capital investment, improving access to finance and restoring business and consumer confidence are all central to attracting new businesses to the North and, indeed, the island, and supporting the business that we already have here, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.”
“Go raibh maith agat. Will the Minister consider exploring new ways of providing stress management and stress-reducing initiatives? Will he take them forward in his Department?”
“We know that no one is more passionate about our economic future than the people who live and work here. No one else cares as much, and so it should be our people who take the decisions that will shape the lives of this and future generations. It is simple. We have every reason to secure economic power from Westminster; in fact, we have more than 1·8 million reasons. Let us deliver economic power and prosperity to our people. I support the Bill.”
“Two out of every 10 people in the North now live in poverty, and, without sounding full of doom and gloom, that is the reality. We have the biggest cuts imposed on us from Westminster. Britain is the most unequal society in Europe. Nowhere is that felt more keenly than here. We are locked into a system that exploits our people and wastes our resources. We face a future of ever-increasing social inequality. <BR /> <BR />Economic power means powers to create more and better jobs, better-paid jobs and more jobs for women and the power to attract more world-class companies to invest in Ireland, North and South. Taking power from Westminster is rational, reasonable and, indeed, responsible. It is about the best way forward for our people and the best way to build the fair, prosperous and democratic economy that we here strive for.”
“<BR /> <BR />We cannot afford to let Westminster continue to stifle our growth and squander the real opportunities for our people. We have vast potential for renewable energy, a successful food and drink sector and a thriving life sciences industry. We have some of the best universities in the world here and have produced some of the greatest entrepreneurs. We can be confident about our economic prospects, but it is our prospects under Westminster that cause us concern. <BR /> <BR />I have spoken about the talent and the resources in the North, but, for decades, Westminster Governments squeezed the living standards of our people, crushing talent and opportunity. As a result, we face an ever-widening gap between rich and poor.”
“We can, together, secure the full financial powers to tackle inequality and promote competitiveness to allow businesses here to thrive. We can collectively stop hiding behind overestimations of the fiscal deficit and can together stop hiding behind the word "subvention", for austerity and raids on the block grant are no gift to the people of the North. We can stop hiding behind the net fiscal balance report under the pretence that it presents us with official statistics when we know that it is not recognised by the Office for National Statistics. We can, together, accept that the methods and data used in that report are not the same as those used in Scotland. We know that no Finance Minister in Scotland would stand over an estimate of VAT based on a survey of 147 households or 24 households per county.”
“Collectively, we should demand economic power from Westminster to build a prosperous North and a prosperous island, a fair society where hard work is rewarded and vulnerable people are protected. I believe that the majority of us want this. The argument that we are too wee and too poor to take economic power from Westminster is an insult to us. It is an insult to the intelligence, creativity and skill of every person living here in the North. Of course, those who make that argument do not really believe it. How can they, when it is just patent nonsense? They know that economic confidence is the key to economic power. Our task here is to build that confidence in our ability to deliver economic prosperity and jobs.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Second Stage of the Budget Bill. <BR /> <BR />If we are to build a better, more democratic, just, fair and prosperous economy for our children, economic power is not optional; it is essential. The alternative is increased austerity, income inequality and poverty. The general election in Britain will not deliver an alternative for our people. There may be a change of rosette colours, but policies will remain the same. We can make the change. We can take economic power to build an economy of fairness, prosperity and democracy — the three pillars of any decent society. <BR /> <BR />Westminster governance is not delivering for our people. It means wage cuts for the low-paid and tax cuts for millionaires.”
“It was done in an arbitrary way because there was a lack of evidence in her case from her GP to Atos. While Atos does not make the decision, it is certainly meant to look at all the information before it. In a fair decision-making system, it is important that information from health professionals and GPs is shared and goes down the line. Dealing with the effects of illness and getting your benefits cut at the same time is very traumatic for anyone.”
“This is simply duplication of the role of the Committee for Social Development. Perhaps, this desire by the SDLP for another Committee to be set up is an indictment of that party's representation on that very Committee. Indeed, does the party not have faith in its own deputy leader, who sits on the Committee? <BR /> <BR />I want to speak about sharing information, which is key and we need to look at it; that is why we are here today to debate it. In 2012, the Minister's predecessor dealt personally with a lady in my constituency, Mrs Burns, who was a cancer patient at the time. She had an ESA appeal. Atos Healthcare called her for a medical assessment. She was deemed fit for work while she was suffering from cancer and going through treatment.”
“Amendment No 47, which is brought forward by the Minister, is a welcome step in allowing oversight of how welfare changes are impacting here. <BR /> <BR />Despite the petition of concern to amendment No 49, I ask the Minister to consider broadening the scope of any report. I am sure that he will acknowledge that the proposer of the amendment did not have the same opportunity that was afforded to the main parties in the Assembly to bring forward proposals through the party leaders' implementation group. <BR /> <BR />The same of course cannot be said of the SDLP and its amendments. I am at a particular loss with regard to amendment No 55, which seeks to set up another Committee to monitor the implementation of welfare provision here. I have just listened to Mr Attwood on that.”
“Go raibh maith agat. This group of amendments, whilst small in number, deals with the important issues of ensuring that we are doing things right as we move forward with the roll-out of welfare changes here. I thank the Minister for his acceptance of amendment No 34, which proposes a pilot scheme testing the roll-out of personal independence payments. I am sure that the Minister will have looked on this amendment with some irony, given that its proposers from the UUP had signed up to a four-party agreement that did not contain this proposal. Indeed, that party stood in the last Westminster election in partnership with the Tories, who are responsible for this attack on the most vulnerable and are the reason why we are here today seeking to mitigate such as an attack.”
“Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Minister for his answer. Can he outline how councillors are being trained and skilled to specifically address issues of flexibility that may or will affect rural councillors and will apply to rural councils when adjudicating on applications from non-farming dwellers?”
“Our focus must be on building and rebuilding our public health service, eradicating housing waiting lists and creating meaningful jobs with decent terms and conditions. There is no greater obstacle to progressive change than austerity. Sinn Féin believes that the North must have secure economic power from Westminster to steer a different course from Tory-driven ideology, to leave behind austerity policies and to actively work to revive the island's recovery and economy.”
“Collectively, we can achieve by making progressive policy changes, mapping a way forward and taking power back from Westminster.”
“We will stand firm against the cost of living squeeze in our commitment to protect front-line services and to a living wage. We will stand firm in our commitment to building a better business climate. <BR /> <BR />Politics, North and South, is undergoing the biggest shake-up since partition. In the interests of all our citizens, we must seize the historic opportunity that exists now for change. We need to grow our way to recovery. Any recovery must be a recovery for all, not merely those at the top. To develop a prosperous society, we must sustain decent public services that are accessible to all, including rural Ireland. To protect vulnerable citizens, we need a good, strong economy. There now exists an unprecedented opportunity to transform the political landscape on the island, North and South.”
“For example, by removing constraints imposed on us, we could increase our investment in infrastructure. Every £100 million in capital investment supports thousands of local jobs. Westminster's austerity policies are harming our people, economy and public services and they have put them under intense pressure. We are not, as the Tories say, all in this together. It is the most vulnerable and disadvantaged — those who need the most support — who are hit the hardest. We, in Sinn Féin, stood firm, and we can be proud that we have protected our most vulnerable and disadvantaged people from Westminster's attack on the welfare state. We will stand in opposition to the brutal spending cuts and assault on pay and conditions, which is harming families, particularly the most vulnerable.”
“We can take control of our welfare budget and policy, which is a powerful tool to support jobs and reduce inequality. With the powers over our economy, we can ensure that we use that wealth to boost the economy, create jobs and support public spending whilst reducing the deficit through faster economic growth and increased revenues, not spending cuts. <BR /> <BR />Westminster promises only continued poverty and austerity, but, locally, we can seize the opportunity to do things differently. In an overall commitment to fiscal responsibility, we could collectively provide a credible and sustainable alternative to the current British Government's fiscal plan and place a greater focus on supporting growth and tackling inequality. We can prioritise our choices in many ways.”
“British control of our economy has ensured that it is our people who have the lowest household income in comparison with Britain and the highest rates of unemployment and emigration. Currently, emigration is at its highest since the 1950s. Our people deserve better. <BR /> <BR />We are caught in an austerity trap, and our people are caught in a poverty trap. Gone are the days when poverty was about scarcity; today, poverty is a direct result of economic policy and inequality. In our case, it is poverty driven by decisions made in Westminster. As I have said in the House before, the good news is that there is a way out of the austerity trap, the cuts agenda and the obscenity of child poverty and food banks. We can, together, secure the full financial powers to tackle inequality, promote competitiveness and allow businesses to thrive.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I apologise in advance of speaking to the House today; I am in the process of losing my voice. Some Members might be glad to hear that. <BR /> <BR />By agreeing the Supply, Estimates and Vote on Account, we are focused on building a just, fair and equal economy for people of the North and the island. Like all of you, I am committed to building a society and economy of opportunity, prosperity and fairness. We are at an economic crossroads, and it is time to choose what we want our future to be; whether we want to remain wedded to the Westminster austerity experiment or whether we want to carve out our own economic future, building our strength as an island economy.”
“Go raibh maith agat. I ask the Minister to provide an update on the deliberations regarding what OFMDFM functions can be dispersed to other Departments.”
“— and ensure that it is given adequate resources to do its very important job.”
“On behalf of the Public Accounts Committee, I call on the Finance Minister to reconsider his proposed 2015-16 budget allocation to the Audit Office —”
“Achieving the required reduction of 6% in 2015-16 would inevitably lead to a reduction in staff numbers due to the make-up of the Audit Office budget. That, in turn, would lead to a reduction in services. A reduction in services would almost exclusively affect the value-for money audits that feed the work of the PAC. A reduction in value-for-money reports would restrict the number of inquiries that the PAC could undertake, and that would be detrimental to the public interest and, indeed, the public purse. The proposed budget cuts to the Audit Office would seriously weaken the Assembly's public spending watchdog, the PAC, precisely when it needs to be at its strongest in identifying areas of misspending and excess.”
“I ask all of us to work collectively to exploit every avenue to build a progressive and strong local revenue base, one that does not harm but strengthens our people, our competitiveness, our economic security and our economic growth. Westminster promises us only continued poverty. Locally, we can seize the opportunity to do things differently. <BR /> <BR />Finally, on behalf of the Public Accounts Committee, I want to address the provision in the final Budget for the Audit Office, the work of which is critical to the operation of the PAC. Last week, I and others were briefed by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the impact that the proposed Budget cuts would have on the Audit Office. A rather bleak picture was painted.”
“Our approach to reform is about ensuring that we are able to protect public services in the North on which our people depend and in which they have confidence. Sinn Féin is committed to ensuring that Ireland, North and South, is prosperous, just, fair and equal. We are working for an Ireland in which all people are protected and not exploited. We believe that those who can pay should contribute to our local economy. We believe that Ireland, North and South, should aspire to a strong business sector that pays the high wages that will yield the taxes needed to fulfil the economic and social ambitions of all our people. <BR /> <BR />I pose a challenge to the House.”
“Sinn Féin was successful in negotiating £500 million over 10 years for our education budget to be spent on shared and integrated education capital projects as part of the Stormont House Agreement. Sinn Féin is proud that health and education will account for 65% of resource expenditure in the North next year. In the final Budget, the Department for Employment and Learning also receives a total of £33·2 million in additional funding. <BR /> <BR />Against the backdrop of Tory-driven austerity, we in Sinn Féin will continue to work to ensure that those on the lowest incomes get a living wage. We will provide security to public sector workers through our policy of no compulsory redundancies.”
“We are investing in health, job creation, education and skills development. As my party colleague said in his maiden speech, there is a £204 million increase in spending for the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety that reflects our determination to protect front-line services in the health sector and means a final Budget outcome for health that is some 3·4% higher than last year. <BR /> <BR />Education has received an extra £64·6 million. This additional money will go a long way in helping to protect front-line services, such as the jobs of teaching and non-teaching staff, and ensuring that important provisions for our youth and early years continue.”
“The relentless raiding of the block grant by Westminster is stifling our capacity for economic growth. For every £100 million cut by the Tories, we lose £3·41 million from our local Budget. We are caught in an austerity trap, and our people here are caught in a poverty trap. Gone are the days when poverty was about scarcity; today, poverty exists as a direct result of economic decisions and economic inequality driven by Westminster. Austerity has become the price of the union with Britain. There is no doubt that, collectively, we have to make some difficult decisions in order to live within our Budget, which has been cut by well over £1 billon since 2011. <BR /> <BR />In spite of all of this, our Budget underpins economic growth and paves the way for us to take control of corporation tax.”
“We have secured safeguards for people here who are moving from DLA and for lone parents, and we have protected local people from the bedroom tax. We must do all that we can to protect our people and our economy.”
“We have prioritised anti-poverty measures and a supplementary payment fund to provide protections, specifically to families with children and people with disabilities.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Our achievements in agreeing both this Budget and the Stormont House Agreement should not be underestimated. The unjust, unequal, austerity-driven agenda of the Tory Administration has decimated our local budgets, and it continues to do so. <BR /> <BR />Britain is waging an unrelenting war on our welfare state, and we in Sinn Féin have stood firm on our objectives to protect the vulnerable and the disabled in our society. We have ensured that vulnerable people, disadvantaged people and people with disabilities are protected and not exploited. We have secured a package over six years of almost £565 million to protect against the potential loss of benefits to individuals and families.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. Minister, just today, I contacted NI Water about getting a static water tank for Scraghy, but I was told that, owing to resources, it could not happen today. I am disappointed about that. <BR /> <BR />If and when the issue is resolved, Minister, will you undertake to look in particular at weekend rosters for NI Water west of the Bann? I am hearing from the employees that, long before this dispute, there was always an issue west of the Bann with resources and weekend rosters.”
“— our citizens and by building sustainable employment opportunities right across the North and the island as a whole.”
“The DARD Direct office will bring together veterinary services and administrative staff, and it will be a welcome boost to Strabane. However, we cannot repair and build our economy and public services without maximising the return for all —”
“<BR /> <BR />When we met business leaders in the north-west chambers of commerce, we were told that the A5 was perhaps the biggest inhibiting factor to investment in Strabane, Derry and the wider north-west of Ireland. When that project was being worked up, the economic assessment reckoned that it could be worth as much as £1 billion to the local economy through investment, job creation and its construction. That is notwithstanding the fact that it will make our roads safer. <BR /> <BR />Back in 2013, I wrote to all Assembly Ministers asking them, in the context of the Programme for Government's commitment, to address the regional imbalance. I commend the fact that Minister Michelle O'Neill got back to me to announce her intention to create the DARD Direct office in Strabane. I understand that it should be operational by 2016.”