Daniel McCrossan
West Tyrone · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Member for giving way. She has raised some points of interest. Aside from the Bill at hand, the Department of Finance currently collects rates from property owners across Northern Ireland. I have found that there can be difficulties with that when properties have been lying vacant for a significant period.”
“That applies in particular to those who have been land-banking over a period of time — that happens everywhere, unfortunately — with the hope that the big cash cow will be coming and, ultimately, they will be relieved of their responsibility to maintain, look after and enhance the landscape in a town or village by spending the necessary f…”
“As is often the case when we speak in the House, it may be that some ratepayers or members of the public will take it as a given that the Bill will be the silver bullet that will resolve the dilapidation issues in towns. Depending on which area you are in, the scale is very different.”
“We need to be creative in how we can put the Bill to task. <BR /> <BR />Certainly, as I have said, it is good policy. I have no question that the Bill is well intended.”
“<BR /> <BR />Addressing dilapidation is not simply a matter for local government in isolation. The responsibility lies with the Executive as a whole. The Executive have had their eyes closed to this matter for too long, and many of our buildings have deteriorated significantly across council areas over a long period.”
“That encourages private investment, and there is natural enhancement from those investors. However, in areas that lag behind because of economic decline, underinvestment and general deprivation, many towns and cities can quickly become the poor cousin.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,822 lines we hold for Daniel McCrossan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 29 of 37.
“There is a job of work, because, as always, social media has the naysayers who are asking how a vaccine has been developed so quickly. It has been a global effort to save human life, and we need to be very clear that that has been the case. For the next number of weeks, we need to urge people to take the vaccine and to encourage their families, friends and community to do so. The leadership of that message needs to come consistently, clearly and strongly from the House.”
“The Christmas period, when, naturally, we come together with family and friends, is the most dangerous and critical time. If we are taking this seriously, we need to take every necessary step to ensure that we stick to the advice. <BR /> <BR />Over the past week, I have raised the importance of getting the vaccine out to the most vulnerable. I echo the words of colleagues across the House in ensuring that that happens. I also welcome that there are five stages to the roll-out, with the first focusing on our dedicated healthcare staff, care home residents and those over the age of 80. It is my understanding that the plan will advance to those over 65, then to those under 65, then to those over 50, and then widened out to the general population.”
“It is important to acknowledge that they have led the fight against the virus and provided support to every person in our society. It has touched our heart in some way for the past nine or 10 months. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and I am very relieved to see it. The vaccine is welcome. The memory of the damage that the virus has caused will live with each of us for the rest of our life, particularly those on the front line who have held the hands of the dying, and those who have lost loved ones. <BR /> <BR />The vaccine is welcome news. Society can breathe a sigh of relief at last, but not just yet. We still have the Christmas period to get through. The slightest bit of complacency could put a life at risk. The House needs to be clear that the most dangerous period that we have faced in the last year is upon us.”
“I also support the motion. It has been a very painful and difficult year for our society, the world, families, business and those who have lost loved ones. We have heard that in excess of 1,000 people have now lost their life to the virus here in Northern Ireland. The virus has shattered dreams, ripped the hearts from families, devastated our economy, taken people's livelihood and turned our entire world upside down, but, at the heart of the virus, there has always been our heroes in our health service. Those people have stood on the front line and have not only provided the necessary care for people who were in desperate need but have had to communicate with families who were in great pain and drive themselves beyond their own limits — emotionally, mentally and physically.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, this is a devastating blow for our economy, for our constituencies and for the employees and businesses that are affected in the rippling consequences of the closures. The challenges facing business today are unprecedented with Brexit, COVID-19 and the rise in online sales. How can the high street survive unless we in the House change how traditional town centres and high streets operate?”
“I thank the Minister for that answer and welcome the increase in sentencing and in the disqualification period. I also thank the Minister for meeting Peter Dolan, the father of Enda Dolan, who continues to campaign hard for all those families who have lost a loved one to a dangerous driver or a driver who has been behind the wheel whilst intoxicated. <BR /> <BR />Given the sentencing to date and how painful it has been for those families, does the Minister agree that the sentences handed down in previous cases have failed many families who believe that sentences were too lenient?”
“Minister, the public consultation that was led by Judge Desmond Marrinan reports having received over 1,000 submissions. Notably, 80% of those were described as "online submissions". Does the Minister agree with me that any legislation deriving from the review must take serious account of the growing level of hate crime that is evident online?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers so far. First, it is important to acknowledge the important role that health centres play, right across our respective constituencies and particularly in rural constituencies such as mine and Mr McAleer's. Are there any projected costs for the necessary works at the health practice in Carrickmore?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for the answer to the question. It is a very positive step forward, and it is very reassuring that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully, 2021 will be a much better year for our society than the one that we have all endured this year. <BR /> <BR />Can the Minister outline whether councils will have a particular role in administering the vaccine to ensure that its roll-out is done swiftly and quickly? Does the Minister foresee that the army will be required in order to get the vaccine out?”
“I can tell you, Minister, that I have been helping people throughout this pandemic and that opened my eyes this week. I have never had a phone call like it. <BR /> <BR />In Frank's honour and memory, it is important to put on record just how important our healthcare staff are and to offer the condolence of the House to his family — his wife, Jude, daughter, Anita, and two sons, Matthew and Darren. I urge the Assembly to work, as strongly together as we can, to protect human life. Nobody wants these regulations; nobody wants businesses closed; but nobody wants to lose a father, a mother, a daughter, a son or a grandparent. That is what is most important. They are irreplaceable. Thank you.”
“This is the third death in just over a week. Ms Anderson, rightly, mentioned the Ward family who lost their mother and father. Nothing halts complacency like a sudden and painful death, and that family have suffered incredibly. That is why these regulations, which clarify measures that are in place, are so important and essential. We all tend to forget that our actions and our complacency can have dire consequences for another person or their life. Society needs to hear these stories about the journeys that families are on and the coldness of the process and the journey. When a person is taken, quite ill, into the care of the hospital, the family may not see that person again. That is a very harsh and very painful reality. They were not allowed a wake and no wider family or friends can attend the funeral.”
“He admitted that he could not beat the virus. He was a man who was very fit, healthy and able. He was energetic, loved life and loved his family. He asked that people take this seriously and said that it could end a life very quickly. In Frank's case, it was just over one week. <BR /> <BR />I put on record my sincerest appreciation of the healthcare staff who have to comfort people in their final hours and who ensure that they are at peace and not alone, which is very difficult indeed. Minister, I thank you, because I know the difficult job that you have and the burden that is on you to try to help and support people throughout this pandemic. <BR /> <BR />The message is simple: wear masks, wash hands and keep your distance. I was a personal friend of Frank, and he was very much loved in the community of Strabane.”
“In the early hours of Saturday morning, the nurses in that hospital held Frank's hand and sung to him to comfort and calm him in the final minutes of his life. It came as a great comfort, Minister, to Frank's family to know that those nurses went the extra mile to support their father and husband in the final hours of his life. <BR /> <BR />Frank called me last Tuesday when I was on my way to the Assembly, knowing that his battle with the virus was coming to an end. He had this to say:”
“Minister, first I wish to put on record my sincere appreciation and thanks to you and your private office for your helpful intervention last week in relation to a constituent of mine. It came as a great comfort and support to Frank Tracey and his family. It is with much regret that I say that Frank lost his battle with this virus in the early hours of Saturday morning, leaving behind his lovely wife, Jude, his daughter, Anita, and his two sons, Matthew and Darren. I can safely say, Minister, before discussing these regulations, that the journey that I have been through with the Tracey family in the past 10 days has brought this virus home hard. I heard a wife on the other end of a phone cry and plead. A daughter and two sons knew, as their father's condition worsened in Altnagelvin Hospital, that they would never see him again.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. The Member has hit on a key point. As has been rightly pointed out, a lot of us have been inundated with questions from businesses every day. Does the Member agree that a helpline should be established for MLAs to get the information quickly and in one place? Does the Member also agree that communication is not rocket science? Communication should be very clear. This is a relatively small region of six counties, 11 council areas and 18 constituencies, and communication should be very manageable and doable very quickly.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Will the Member agree with me that there needs to be a strong, unified message coming from the Assembly and the Executive on the importance of these restrictions? Behind every single number is the death of a loved one. Family members — wives, husbands, children, grandchildren, brothers and sisters — have been left heartbroken by this virus. They could not see their loved ones from the time that they entered hospital until they were carried out.”
“That is why we are "tripping over" things: to ensure that they get the necessary financial intervention.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. The Member will appreciate that this is not about anyone tripping over anything. This is about ensuring that those who are most in need receive financial intervention in a timely way to ensure that they can make the best decisions in the interests of the public and of their own businesses.”
“I thank the Minister for his answers so far. Minister, most students, teachers and parents are in agreement that the fairest option facing you and our young people is to cancel GCSE examinations this year. In view of the importance, as you clearly stated, of the portability of qualifications and in light of Scotland and Wales unilaterally deciding to change their qualifications, is the Minister mindful not to recognise the Scottish and Welsh qualification in that regard?”
“Thank you, Minister, for the answer to that question. The significant rate of successful appeal shows the need for appeals to be heard as soon as possible, and certainly within a reasonable amount of time, yet there is a backlog of over 4,000 people waiting for their appeals to be heard — a problem that has predated the pandemic, Minister. How many appeals does the Minister expect will be heard by the end of the year?”
“Given the spread of the virus and the need to take every possible step to prevent its spread now, in the mouth of Christmas, what conversations has the Minister had with the Minister of Education on the early closure of schools to ensure that we can enter the Christmas period as safely as possible and to ensure that teachers have a period of isolation prior to meeting with their loved ones, if possible?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Just briefly, I ask the Minister and Members of the House to join me in offering our condolences to the family of Bredge and Owen Ward, the husband and wife who died 12 hours apart last Wednesday as a result of the virus. It is completely devastating and a painful loss for the family and the entire community. <BR /> <BR />In relation to the restrictions in place, there is huge concern among the teaching profession and parents about schools remaining open.”
“I thank the Minister for her much-welcomed statement. It will come as a relief to many, as will her reassurances that she will look at the threshold, which we in the SDLP welcome. There are people out there saying that, when they come into contact with someone and get the alert, they cannot afford to isolate. That is a very difficult place for many to be in. Any support from this Assembly will alleviate that pressure. <BR /> <BR />The Minister spoke of parity. According to her, this scheme is more generous than elsewhere, but it is much more difficult to access, according to reports. What was the Barnett consequential derived from the introduction in Westminster of the self-isolation grant? Has all that money gone into this scheme?”
“Minister, given COVID, what contingency services are in place for winter services going forward?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. It refers to greater cross-border work on increasing water quality. In that regard, such collaboration will be absolutely essential in investigating and mitigating the environmental damage caused by the peat landslide that the Minister referred to at Meenbog, which has caused contamination of the Mourne Beg river and the local waterways. <BR /> <BR />I visited yesterday with councillor Steven Edwards, and there is clear anxiety amongst my constituents in Killeter, Aghyaran, Castlederg and Ardstraw. Will the Minister outline what action his Department has taken to reassure the public in that area that his Department is doing everything possible to mitigate contamination of those waterways? Does he know the root cause of the slippage problem?”
“Thank you, Minister. You also mentioned that the vaccine is forthcoming. It is a game changer, particularly for the restrictions that affect every aspect of our society. You mentioned that the roll-out will happen by age, but there are many in our community, from a variance of age groups, who have underlying health conditions, some very serious. Can the Minister give any assurance to the House that his Department will prioritise those with underlying heath conditions to ensure that they get access to the vaccine as quickly and swiftly as possible on its release, hopefully this year?”
“Does the Minister accept that other countries have much more stringent test and trace processing? Will he update the House on improvements to the test and trace system and on when they will be delivered?”
“For some time now, there has been a long, lingering crisis in SEN. Many children and families struggle, and that has been worsened by the pandemic. Does the Minister feel that his Department is doing enough to support those families, particularly in the absence of schools, which have proven to be vital to those children and their development over recent years? Does he feel that it is satisfactory that SEN schools were not included in the Engage programme for vital funding, which has angered many parents?”
“North/South in light of Brexit. Should that not have been completed sooner, Minister? How advanced are those explorations? Can you give a date or a time? Furthermore, is there an issue with the ETI in relation to the Irish-medium sector?”
“Minister, thank you for visiting Arvalee school in Omagh, which is in my constituency. It is a fantastic school, and I am sure that your visit was very much welcomed. <BR /> <BR />I commend you — both Ministers, in fact — for your commitment to collaborate and cooperate on the range of matters outlined in the statement. I am alarmed, however, to note that those conversations are at such an early stage, given that we are so far on in the transition period, which is due to end in January. You said that procedures are:”
“It is clear that the DUP were supporting Trump to use him as a vehicle to get the outcome that they as Brexiteers so desire. <BR /> <BR />I am very happy and hopeful for the future with a president and vice president of the calibre, standard and discipline of Biden and Harris. I congratulate both and look forward to them visiting the island of Ireland, North and South.”
“He has put it on record on many occasions that, if elected president, he will do everything that he can to protect the Good Friday Agreement and to prevent, as Colum Eastwood said,”
“It will be a interesting few months ahead to see how this all works out, but one thing is clear: it is the right time for the leadership of Kamala Harris and Joe Biden. Joe Biden sends out a powerful message: "Never give up". He has stood for election as president three times and, on the third occasion, has managed to succeed. All of us were glued to our screens the past number of days. I know that I certainly was. I found it fascinating to see how the vote evolved across the states. America is a deeply divided country, but I believe that President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris will do all that they can to unite it. They will send out that powerful message. <BR /> <BR />It also heartened me very much to hear President-elect Biden cite the words of Seamus Heaney.”
“I echo the words of Members across the House in congratulating President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. This is a great moment of hope in dark times. Across the world, we have seen how Trump's influence has caused considerable issues, particularly for the Irish-American relationships that exist. He was a reckless leader in a challenging time. <BR /> <BR />In listening to contributions in the House, I find interesting the remarks by Sinn Féin and the DUP. It was the one campaign that I have seen them united on, when you consider that President Trump attended Sinn Féin fundraising dinners in America and you see the pictures of DUP MPs holding Trump's flag. They are on the one page on that issue. <BR /> <BR />I am delighted to see Trump vacate the presidency.”
“What financial commitments has the Minister sought from the British Government to maintain the current level of support for farmers after the transition period?”
“I welcome John Stewart back to the House after his period of illness. I put on record my appreciation for the funding that has been given to businesses at this critical time, which is important to keep them above water. <BR /> <BR />I am concerned, however. The Minister mentioned that the Department will try to get that money back. If businesses should not have received money, the Department will ask them to return the money. Does the Department have any enforcement powers to ensure that that money is returned? What are those powers?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for her answer. Can she clarify whether she agrees with the position of the First Minister that businesses should reopen, if safe to do so, in two weeks' time, after the restrictions lift?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he agree that the expectation that principals and school leaders should carry out track and trace in schools is unfair and adds to what is already a very difficult situation for them?”
“We mentioned young people. We are talking about children, and we should remember their age. They have gone through a very difficult period this year with their learning, and we need to support them. If consideration is given to removing the test this year, Minister, please ensure that a fair process is put in place so that children from disadvantaged backgrounds have the same access to opportunities as those from more affluent areas, which is clearly the issue.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is the SDLP's view, now that schools have returned after the half-term break, that the disruption to education that the virus has posed will only worsen, given the onset of the winter weather conditions that are conducive to its spread. Things may get worse over the Christmas period, which could result in disruption to schools in January. <BR /> <BR />The lockdown has had the same impact across the student population. Reports show us, for example, that those from a disadvantaged background, as outlined by Ms Mullan, will be disproportionately impacted as a result of the pandemic. It has also affected what is expected from them as children and young people.”
“Postponing transfer results until January is a small consolation to many of those pupils and does not afford them enough time to deal with the huge deficit in learning opportunities that were lost during the pandemic. <BR /> <BR />To compound that, since schools reopened for the current academic year, there has been massive disruption to the current primary 7 cohort, with over half of our schools being affected by over 2,000 COVID-19 cases. That has had a significant impact on pupils' personal health or that of their families and on their mental health in having to deal with family illness or even death in some circumstances. Expecting pupils who have had to suffer in such ways to sit through a test that will, in most aspects, determine their very own futures is absolutely reprehensible.”
“I wish to cover a number of those items in my contribution. <BR /> <BR />The biggest concern surrounds the interruption to education in primary 7 and children in primary 6 having their education significantly disrupted by the restrictions that were brought in to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic — for example, those children could not have properly completed the whole curriculum in English and maths during that period. What is more is that the blended learning that children were encouraged to engage in during lockdown has been recognised to be a much less effective way of learning when compared with face-to-face teaching — obviously.”
“In addition to those issues, we believe that the concerns of parents and teachers about the current use of transfer tests needs to be addressed, especially in the context of the pandemic. In that regard, I welcome the survey conducted by the Education Committee, and I thank the Committee and Assembly staff who were involved. The Education Committee set out to gauge the opinions of parents, teachers and other stakeholders in an online survey that ran between 7 July and 7 September. As was mentioned by my Committee colleagues, 8,528 responses were received. That work was bolstered by a young persons' survey, which resulted in 754 completed surveys. The findings of the survey highlight the fact that there is significant concern among teachers and parents about transfer tests proceeding in January 2021.”
“I hope that the Minister will do everything in his power to provide the necessary support to our teachers in the school environment, who have found the opening of schools after the first wave to be a very stressful situation. I am sure that that has been notified to him. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP believes at its core that academic selection is grossly unfair and in major need of an overhaul. Given the inaction or unwillingness of the House to tackle the issue, we are left with unregulated transfer tests that are not in the best interests of all our children across Northern Ireland. The way in which the situation is being dealt with is almost a hokey-cokey approach.”
“As SDLP education spokesperson, I welcome the opportunity to participate in this important debate. At the outset, I know and acknowledge that this is and has been for some time a controversial and divisive subject of debate. However, it is imperative that pupils, parents and schools have clarity for the future, especially given the impact that the current pandemic is having on education as a whole. <BR /> <BR />I put on record my appreciation for the many teachers and school staff who have gone back into classrooms in schools across Northern Ireland today. They are working in intolerable conditions and are in uncharted waters. In that regard, I wish all our staff and pupils a safe return to our schools.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I noted that he mentioned young people. We are talking about children and a pandemic. Does the Member believe that it is fair on those children to be put into that situation, given all the great challenges that our society and young people have faced this year?”
“Minister, you rightly mentioned the Engage programme, which has provided a vital intervention for schools. Will the Minister explain how two schools in the same town — one with 750 pupils and one with 250 pupils — received the same sum of money? The allocation equates to £100 a child for the school with 250 children and to £36 a child for the school with 750 children, even though the school with fewer pupils has fewer children on free school meals.”
“Minister, what is the total number of teachers who have tested positive across schools in Northern Ireland? How many teachers have self-isolated since the schools reopened?”
“We should also ensure that we match the support that is available elsewhere, even the £500 isolation fund that is available in England. That should be available here to support our people and ensure that they can make informed and correct decisions to protect them and their families at this time. <BR /> <BR />It would be remiss of me not to mention the A5. I have mentioned it at every possible hurdle when we have been speaking about finances in Northern Ireland, and I would like to see it fully delivered. The SDLP has the Ministry, and I have every confidence in our Minister, but I hope that the Finance Minister will allocate the funds necessary to deliver that project. It will transform the lives of the people in my constituency and throughout the north-west.”
“It is important that the Assembly works collectively to ensure that no person is left behind and that whatever financial interventions are available are sought and delivered to them. <BR /> <BR />We are in very difficult times. We face a tsunami of challenges in the Assembly and in society. People are finding it extremely tough. They have to make decisions about how to protect the health of their family and, at the same time, how to feed them. It is a very complicated and difficult situation for us all, but it is very important that the Minister consider making as many interventions as possible, with the help of the British Government in Westminster, to ensure that we support businesses as much as possible.”