Maolíosa McHugh
West Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“At present, they are largely dependent on borrowing through the Department's capital arrangements, which can limit their flexibility and their capacity to compete with ports elsewhere across these islands. The Bill represents an opportunity to address those issues.”
“Importantly, there will continue to be accountability and oversight through board structures, including representation from locally elected council members, as is already the case at Belfast harbour. That public connection and democratic input is an important safeguard, and one that should provide reassurance.”
“Tá céimeanna beaga ann is féidir linn uilig a ghlacadh lenár sláinte a fheabhsú: scrúdú sláinte a chur in áirithe leis an dochtúir; bheith ag labhairt go hoscailte faoin mheabhairshláinte; páirt a ghlacadh i mbothán na bhfear nó i ngrúpa siúlóide; nó bheith páirteach in aclaíocht eile. Cuireann siad uilig feabhas ar an tsláinte.”
“I welcome the introduction of the Harbours Bill, and I commend Minister Liz Kimmins for introducing legislation that seeks to modernise the framework within which ports operate. <BR /> <BR />Our ports are critical pieces of economic infrastructure.”
“Tháinig deireadh le Seachtain Shláinte na bhFear ag deireadh na seachtaine seo a chuaigh thart, ar Lá na nAithreacha. Is cuí gur le linn Sheachtain Shláinte na bhFear a thit Lá na nAithreacha, nó is minic a shíleann na fir nach bhfuil an dara rogha acu ach saighdiúireacht a dhéanamh.”
“They support employment, facilitate trade, enhance connectivity and contribute significantly to our local and regional economies. My party therefore welcomes the introduction of the Harbours Bill and looks forward to engaging constructively as it is progressed through the Assembly to ensure that it delivers for our ports, our economy and…”
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“They will complement that city deal investment with investment on the Donegal side of the border, particularly in education at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology, and in our education establishments in Derry. One can therefore see just how vital that is in every respect for all the people of the region. <BR /> <BR />We must ask ourselves the question that has been suggested by other Members: if it is so obvious and clear, why has it taken so long? There has been one obstacle after another. This is not the time for finger-pointing at Ministers or whoever was in charge at a particular time. I know, as do all Members, that, irrespective of whose name is on the door, the Minister will be confronted with exactly the same problems that are instigated in particular by people who are able to use the legal system.”
“<BR /> <BR />For the north-west to be attractive, it all very much depends on connectivity, not just through broadband or by air or sea but by road in particular. The people of the north-west deserve that type of service. They deserve to have a road that will open up opportunity for all: for businesses and for people to come and live, build their home and rear their family there. Our message got through, because we now have the city deal that provides for the north-west region. Not only do we have the city deal for the Derry City and Strabane District Council area but we have the Dublin Government now recognising the potential of the north-west in every respect.”
“Minister, as we all know, the A5 is an arterial link to the north-west. It links Dublin, Belfast and Derry in particular. It goes right through the county of Tyrone and services the people of Fermanagh and Donegal. If one includes Donegal, the population of the north-west is almost 500,000. We are talking about a road that could create opportunities for businesses to locate in the north-west. I had the pleasure, which I enjoyed thoroughly, of representing the north-west region, along with representatives from Donegal County Council, when we went to America to argue the case for investment in the north-west. I also went to China and presented the same argument. We also argued for the north-west in London, at the heart of government in Westminster.”
“Minister, if we are to become a zero-carbon society, we need to improve existing buildings as well as new structures. Is any work ongoing to retrofit existing buildings?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas. I thank the Minister for his statement. As he stated, resource money has been fully allocated. Is he confident that it will be fully spent by all Departments?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a fhreagra. I thank the Minister for his answer. The programme and its extension are to be welcomed. I would like to see it extended geographically to include areas that I represent, such as Strabane. Will the Minister give us an assurance that none of the Communities in Transition funding will be provided to organised crime gangs?”
“Thank you for your answer, Minister. You know that I have requested that you look at the provision in Middletown in Armagh and in Carryduff of sensory care-type facilities for young people and adults who have those types of difficulties and problems. I am amazed to learn that the point has not been made to the trust in my area. I have had parents in tears. They find it so difficult to cope with those who are suffering and would very much like to avail themselves of that type of provision. Minister, I therefore ask you to consider locating such a service in the Strabane area to service that part of West Tyrone, as it would Fermanagh.”
“I thank the Minister for already having adequately answered my supplementary question.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle, agus ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghlacadh fosta leis an Aire as a ráiteas. Thank you, Minister, for your statement. I commend the Minister for the expediency that he has shown in bringing forward proposals. Constant demand was out there for all Departments to bring forward proposals, and the Minister assured us that, at the end of the day, if they did come forward, he would be in a position to respond. <BR /> <BR />Minister, has a time frame been established for when people can apply for the £50,000 grant, given that it is not paid automatically? Secondly, in the event of that time frame being established, how do you hope to communicate that to the public in order to ensure that the funds go to those who deserve them?”
“My question is in a similar vein. If anything, the pandemic has highlighted the importance of digital connectivity, and, in many respects, developments have probably happened more quickly as a result of it. It is good that the Council is focusing on that issue. Does the Minister agree that there is a heightened risk of creating a digital divide that would exacerbate inequalities, not only in connectivity, which the Minister mentioned, but in socio-economic groupings?”
“Will you consider providing an additional scheme for rural dwellers as defined by the Rural Needs Act in order to provide them with devices and/or an improvement in broadband?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Aire. Minister, thank you for your answer. Like others, I welcome you to the elevated post of Minister of Agriculture. I also wish Mr Poots a speedy recovery. <BR /> <BR />Minister, on Friday of the week past, I was contacted by a third-level student from a rural area. As a result of very poor broadband connectivity, that person had spent nine hours attempting to upload an assignment. An A-level student and a GCSE student are in the same household. All three are attempting to use a facility that is totally and absolutely inadequate to meet their needs in relation to education and so on.”
“Thank you, Minister. You will know, as we all do, how vital the development of the A5 is, not only for the safety of those who travel on it but for the economic and social development of the north-west region itself. Given that funds are now available, when are we likely to see boots on the ground or spades in the road and this work commencing?”
“Minister, you alluded to this in two previous answers, but we all know that equality of opportunity is uppermost when it comes to applications for further and higher education. What conversations have taken place — particularly with Dublin, given that it has alternative procedures in place for the leaving cert, but also with Scotland, England and Wales — to ensure that not only will students travelling to the North of Ireland have equality of opportunity but that students from the North of Ireland going to the Republic or the other jurisdictions will have that equality of opportunity?”
“Given that Invest NI is this region's business grants agency, why does it fall on LPS, which is a rate collection agency, to distribute business grants?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as a ráiteas. I thank the Minister for his statement today. His response to the Chair of the Finance Committee has answered the question that I was going to ask, which was about the scale of funding that could be associated with dormant assets.”
“Thank you for your answer. It would appear that, during the latest lockdown, a significant number of staff continued to work on-site, particularly on the fourth floor. Why was that?”
“<BR /> <BR />I welcome the opportunity to support the motion, because it is at a time like that that those people desperately need to be able to access funding to, for example, cover the cost of a wake and funeral and to maybe purchase a grave and a headstone in memory of the person who died. It is so easy for that figure of £10,000 to be surpassed, and it is only appropriate to have legislation to accommodate that.”
“That would immediately bring them over that limit of £10,000. I am not one bit surprised that the credit union movement was the only organisation that replied to the consultation, given that this provision is in the interest of all its members. Very often, its members are people who do not have large savings, but those are still their life savings. In the event of their death, particularly if it is untimely, that is all the more reason why those resources should be available to their family without them having to go to the extent of looking for a grant of probate.”
“I speak in support of the motion as someone who has experience, as mentioned by the Chair of the Finance Committee, of credit unions. I was a founder member of Mourne Derg Credit Union in Castlederg in the 1970s, when four of us came together to set up a credit union in order to address the needs of our local people. It not only facilitated them to receive low-interest loans but it encouraged them to be thrifty and to take responsibility for their own affairs. <BR /> <BR />That is what credit unions represent in so many ways. People could, over time, build up savings in excess of £5,000. You might wonder why I mention that figure. It is a feature of credit unions that, in the event of a death of a member who is under 65 years of age, their shares are doubled and forwarded to their next of kin.”
“Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire as a ráiteas. I thank the Minister for his statement. This is a good opportunity for change. I will be more specific. In order to ensure that social value is incorporated into procurement contracts, will the board consider a minimum score for social value alongside price and quality?”
“I thank the joint First Minister for her answer. My question is probably very appropriate, as my mother is in a care home and was only recently diagnosed with COVID-19. Can she confirm whether decisions on Christmas arrangements have been made for care homes and for students?”
“It is even more important that a Minister can appoint a new spad to take over, within a short space of time, the considerable workload left behind by a previous adviser. If that is not apparent, some people, it seems, have not learned from the RHI inquiry. Given that the Bill is about undermining the functioning of government, Sinn Féin will oppose all clauses of this cynical and counterproductive Bill.”
“It stands to reason that elected political representatives have political advisers, as all five parties in the Executive have. We all understand that well. These changes are about fundamentally changing the role of spads and picking apart the institutions. Applying the normal Civil Service process to spads ignores the reality of the role. Again, that brings into play the whole idea of legislation and the fact that people could be subject to criminal charges and the like. We have seen from the RHI scandal and in the case of DUP Ministers and spads what happens when the relationship breaks down between spads and their Ministers. It is important that Ministers and spads can, if necessary, go their separate ways.”
“Unless that culture changes, a code of conduct or legislation will not impact one way or the other. Legislation in itself or even a code of conduct, if it came to that, would be a bit like putting a block in the way of a river going to the sea: the river will go over it, under it or around it, but it will get to the sea. Unless, in the first instance, that culture changes, it is a complete and absolute waste of time. We can approach this through a code of conduct rather than through the proposed legislation. Taking a legislative route, as proposed, is completely disproportionate. Mr Allister is well aware of that because many who gave evidence to the Committee were at pains to point out the same fact. <BR /> <BR />Special advisers are political appointments and justifiably so.”
“That is despite the fact that those codes were strengthened after much consideration during the negotiations that preceded the New Decade, New Approach deal, which addressed the relationships between Ministers and their spads. Instead, Mr Allister has sought to further his anti-power-sharing agenda by tabling inappropriate legislation that, rather than building on the findings of the RHI inquiry, would undermine them. Remember: the RHI inquiry did not recommend legislation. <BR /> <BR />Listening to some Members today, you would think that, with regard to the RHI inquiry, the people who were at fault were members of my party; in fact, central to all of that was a culture within the party on the opposite side of the House, a culture that allowed spads to operate in the fashion that they did.”
“In fact, I intend to move on, because, very often, when the disrespect was shown to me, it was behind my back. At times, I could hear it like a bull roaring for its turnips. Every time you opened your mouth you could hear some of them coming at you. <BR /> <BR />This section of the Bill is less about reform and more about fundamentally undermining the role of the Ministers' special advisers. However, we should not be surprised by that, given that the author of the Bill and most of the tabled amendments has consistently set himself against the peace process, the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions. That the code of conduct for special advisers was revised and published in January and the ministerial code of conduct was revised in March means little to Mr Allister.”
“I will not give way, because, if I do, I could be here until tomorrow, and I do not have that kind of time.”
“I have not always experienced respect in that Committee, even to the extent that I had to address it to the Chair of the Committee. That was not only about me as a participant on the Committee but about other people who came to give evidence. That is because, very often, they can be shown total and absolute disrespect. <BR /> <BR />This section of the Bill that we are here to address at this point —.”
“In fact, we were so active that I can clearly remember the representatives from the Human Rights Commission saying that the objectives on spads as a result of the RHI inquiry could be met in every respect through a code of conduct every bit as easily as they could through legislation. They were the very people who stated that at the time, and they were concerned about legislation and the way that it could end up criminalising and putting spads and parties in a straitjacket. That has to be noted at the outset. <BR /> <BR />I was listening to the previous speaker, and I note his emphasis on respect. As a member of the Committee that dealt with many of the issues in the Bill, he should listen to his statement and act in accordance with what he says.”
“At the outset of the debate, I listened to the proposer, and he was patronising or congratulating all the other members of the Finance Committee who, he feels, are there supporting him. He created the impression that we, as Sinn Féin members on that Committee, were silent or were doing absolutely nothing, but the truth is to the contrary. We participated fully in that Committee in every respect, not just when his Bill was going through but when listening to the people who came to the Committee to give evidence. Quite a number of people were there giving evidence, and we, as I said, participated fully in every respect. <BR /> <BR />Fundamentally, we disagree with the premise of the Bill. However, in every other respect, we were there as active participants.”
“Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an Aire fosta as a ráiteas. Unlike the Member who spoke previously, I welcome the support measures that you have announced, and many other Members will welcome them. I appreciate the time constraints that you will have been subject to when drawing up the proposals and so on. Apart from the extension of rate relief and the £5 million that will be allocated to tourism and hospitality schemes, should travel agents in particular expect any further funding in the future?”
“Quite possibly, you may have answered my supplementary question in your response. I intended to ask you when a business case would be submitted for this money by the Department of Justice. I would not say that it seems clear; I am a wee bit confused as to who might be submitting the business case.”
“Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leis an Aire fosta as a ráiteas. I thank the Minister for his statement. As someone who lives ar imeall na teorann — on the edge of the border — I am only too well aware of the significance of the SEUPB and the many projects that have been delivered in our area. I am concerned for the future. What are the implications of Brexit for the current programmes?”
“I note the Minister's commitment to cooperation on environmental matters. I am sure he is aware of the recent news of a major bog slippage in the Tyrone/Donegal border at the Meenbog wind farm. That has impacted on the Mourne Beg river — a major tributary to the Derg river, which is a renowned salmon watercourse. What work will the Minister do to ensure that we have the cooperation of the authorities on both sides of the border to minimise the impact of that bog slippage on fauna, flora and the fish stocks of the Mourne Beg river?”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Minister, I am sure that you will agree that many of those who enter the criminal justice system already suffer from complex health needs, including mental ill health and addiction. The Department of Justice has a key role to play in improving the situation for those people. Therefore, is the Minister satisfied that positive changes in that area are progressing quickly enough in order to make provision for the most needy?”
“Does the deputy First Minister agree that addressing holiday hunger must be at the core of any future COVID recovery plan?”
“It means, "In one another's shadow, we all survive". That is as true today as it was when it was first stated as a seanfhocal. We live in one another's shadow, and we truly depend on one another. We are in this together, and we hope that our Budget will embrace all our people and, in particular, all those in need.”
“Finally, I would like to reiterate the comments of my colleague, Colm Gildernew, this morning when he highlighted areas of social deprivation that required continuing and additional support, as they are the areas with the highest levels of contagion of the virus. While I accept that there are lies, damned lies and statistics, I suggest that therein — social deprivation — is a much more reasonable explanation for higher rates of infection than that offered by others. On that basis, resources should be applied to those areas, not only to attack the virus but to ensure that deprivation is addressed. <BR /> <BR />In Irish, we have a seanfhocal, which is a proverb. A proverb reflects the wisdom of a race or people. There is a seanfhocal that, I am sure, people in here have heard of, and it was mentioned on television last night:”
“Given the statements on the news last night, it seems that there is movement, slowly but surely, in the direction of a deal. It would be better for all our citizens that a deal is reached before they get to the stage of a crash-out, which is of benefit to absolutely no one.”
“<BR /> <BR />Yesterday, I noted that the virus knows no borders or boundaries. I note that, today, the Ibec-CBI NI Joint Business Council released a statement on the growing importance of collaboration, North and South, not only to combat the virus but to address the collective challenges in our economies; collaboration in relation to connectivity, the environment and investment, especially in the face of Brexit, should there be a deal or not.”
“That is a term that we often use, but yet and all they still seem to be there and, from March through to today, they do not seem to have been provided for adequately. I think of a free local newspaper in my area that operates from a private dwelling and whose workers are self-employed. That business depends on advertising, which is now greatly reduced as a result of businesses closing down, for its revenue and is unable to avail itself of any current grant. It is units like that that provide a community service and deserve our support. I am sure that there are many similar types of unit that are in the same situation. I hope that those responsible for designing the schemes that do not meet the needs of such businesses will make an effort to ensure that they are brought under the umbrella of support.”
“It is at a time like this that one can identify the benefit of the ability to control our own Budget. We should have the power to borrow or, indeed, the power to raise our own taxes. As a legislature, we should take control of our own finances. In many ways, we would be much better placed to handle many of the problems and difficulties that we face if we were in a position to do that. <BR /> <BR />Many other Members have noted their areas of concern, maybe ones that they have raised at different times, and I would like to diverge for a second into one area of concern that I have. This is an opportune time, with this new Budget, to seriously address those who have fallen through the net.”
“Whenever one thinks about Budgets, one immediately tends to think of measures that ask us to tighten the belts. Whilst this Bill is not in the same context as other Budget Bills, it is worth reminding ourselves that this is not the time for austerity. I highlighted yesterday the need for funding to be delivered to industry, to education, to meet the needs of our more deprived citizens and, in particular, to our health service. Alarmingly, it was announced today that our health service is almost at saturation point, with 1,700 staff off because of COVID. <BR /> <BR />In the past, our services have suffered from austerity measures, as the Minister stated himself. Those measures were implemented by successive Tory Governments after broken promises from the same Tory Governments.”
“<BR /> <BR />Finally, I commend the Minister for bringing forward the Budget (No. 3) Bill, which will help to provide some certainty to so many people in these uncertain times. I commend him for showing leadership and for being able to respond quickly to the needs of all.”
“It knows no borders, so it is imperative that an all-island approach be developed to meet the current crisis. Today, a two-week firebreak has been announced in Wales. The Republic is likely to move to level 4, and possibly to level 5, which would bring it more into line with our current restrictions. It has been acknowledged that a county-by-county strategy does not work. Contrary to what the Minister of Agriculture may think, the rising trend on this island is consistent with rising trends in Britain, in the rest of Europe and throughout the world, with a few notable exceptions. The spread cannot be categorised by whether a council area is nationalist or unionist. The pandemic will be with us into the future. It will require the very best from us all, at all levels, to minimise its detrimental effect on our health and our economy.”
“Commitments that they made under NDNA, which are needed even more now, in every respect, to support the region have, unfortunately, like so many other commitments, been broken, to date at least. They have not delivered on them. <BR /> <BR />In looking at commitments in each Department, I notice that every one has ensured that it has the resources that it needs to deal with the cost of Brexit: costs that we could do without at this time. Added to that is the additional stress of a no-deal Brexit and how it will impact severely on industry, which is clearly calling out for certainty. That illustrates the magnitude of the problems that we face. <BR /> <BR />As it is with the economy, it is with the pandemic on this island. The pandemic affects us all.”
“That situation has intensified since the COVID outbreak, with businesses and employees finding themselves under pressure. Young people, at this stage in their life, must feel bewildered by what is happening. It is important to reassure them that they have a future and that every opportunity will be exploited to provide the best possible education to enhance their future prospects. <BR /> <BR />In the past, I have spoken in support of a retention of the furlough scheme, which is due to finish at the end of October, and about how it is incumbent on the British Government to provide resource to industry when that scheme comes to an end. That is not the only resource that we demand of the British Government.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is not by accident that Health, the Economy, Communities and Education are the Departments that are the main beneficiaries of the Budget. In the midst of the pandemic, it is of the utmost importance that those Departments be provided with resources to meet the increasing demand for their services. It is not only an investment in the here and now to fight the pandemic itself but an investment in the future. It is important that business and industry be supported to ensure that we still have an economy at the end of the crisis and to ensure that services can be delivered to those who are most in need. <BR /> <BR />Comments were made earlier about one-year and four-year Budgets. Many of the people who are most in need live on a weekly budget and may not know where their next shilling is coming from.”
“I am pleased to support the accelerated passage of this Bill, which was supported unanimously by the Finance Committee when representatives from the Department presented themselves to the Committee, answered all questions and gave clarifications on matters that arose. The Bill gives power to the Executive to direct £4·75 billion of resource to where it is most needed. <BR /> <BR />As the Chairman of the Finance Committee said earlier, flexibility is required: the same flexibility that was exemplified by the Minister recently when, on his own initiative, he supported businesses in the north-west that were impacted on by restrictions that were placed on the area two weeks ago. Those same supports have been extended to the rest of the country and increased.”