Joanne Bunting
East Belfast · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Their input was instrumental in shaping the Bill that the Assembly will shortly be invited to pass. <BR /> <BR />For those affected by the mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and related pathways and practices, the process has taken too long, but we can be pleased that we got there, for the victims' sakes.”
“It is still cruel, disheartening and difficult to fully comprehend. I hope that the experiences of the many women who were affected by those institutions and practices will serve as a challenge to us all.”
“We thank all who participated in the Victims and Survivors Consultation Forum. We know that that has not always been an easy space, but we hope that, today, they can reflect on all their efforts with pride.”
“<BR /> <BR />To victims and survivors considering whether to engage with the redress service, I send an unequivocal message: the scheme exists because your experiences matter, and you need not face the process alone.”
“<BR /> <BR />Of course, the experience did not end with the institution itself; rather, for the victims and survivors — those women and children — the period has been a thread of pain that has woven its way through their entire lives.”
“It is not an exaggeration to say that today is a momentous day. It is an honour and a privilege for me to move the Final Stage of this important legislation on behalf of the First Minister and the deputy first Minister, junior Minister Reilly and, indeed, the Executive.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,152 lines we hold for Joanne Bunting, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 19 of 24.
“I am aware that, a couple of weeks ago, in response to Mrs Kelly, the Justice Minister said that some of the delay was in DOJ. On that basis, will the Minister outline the impact of the delay on progressing the issue? What can be done to address the impasse between the two Departments?”
“I am grateful to the Minister for that answer. It is a serious issue that is of concern to many in Northern Ireland. As the Minister outlined, the problem is that, if somebody is given a sentence of not being allowed to keep an animal but there is no means of implementing or enforcing that sentence, it becomes immaterial.”
“I am grateful to the Minister for that answer. I look forward to seeing what comes out of the consultation and how they proceed. <BR /> <BR />I will continue on the subject of sustainable transport. Pre pandemic, the park-and-ride at Dundonald was regularly at capacity. Post pandemic, that will continue to be an issue. Will the Minister outline what plans she has to address that, please?”
“The current position is that, if you are on the register, your next of kin can still say no. With deemed consent, that remains the case. People need to understand the distinctions and differences if, ultimately, the position does not change at the point at which a decision needs to be made. <BR /> <BR />Those are my thoughts, and I trust that the House will bear it in mind, when the time comes, that that is where some of us are coming from.”
“Thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. I got the point, and I am glad that you brought the Member to order. I do not want the debate to degenerate into that conversation. I do not think that the principle that I adopt on either of those issues is inconsistent. For me, life is always precious, which is why I am on the register. Life is precious from whenever it begins, and that is the subject of debate. <BR /> <BR />I want to be clear to the House and have it on the record that, for those of us who struggle with this issue — that is what is happening — this is not about opposing the conversation or organ donation; it is about whether the state has rights over our bodies. Ultimately, some of us need to understand better or be convinced of the merits.”
“I will give way first to Mr Frew and then to Mr Carroll.”
“— in having those concerns, I support donation. I want it to be clear that, as we go forward in the debate and to the next stages, which are inevitable, those who express concern are not doing so from a position of not supporting the register, a campaign and all those things. It is important that we do not lose sight of that. The views that are held are held strongly and genuinely. They are to do with freedoms and liberties in society and the power of the state. Those are not small things.”
“It is important that it is on the record that deemed consent is not an easy position for people to come to. It is a big step for any country. It is not a decision to be taken lightly or ultimately without giving consideration to our thoughtfulness on the issue versus our emotions on it. I have concerns about what it means and where it goes, but —”
“<BR /> <BR />It is important to reiterate that the concerns of those of us who have them are not based around that. We are all coming to this with an open heart and the best of intentions with a view to increasing the numbers. I am grateful to Members for the respectful debate. I trust Members will understand that, for some of us, it is not easy. It is not about obstruction. For many of us, the power of the state and the right the state has over our bodies is not a small thing. Rightly, people have sacrificed much over the past 18 months for the sake of others. I have no doubt that many people who have concerns in that regard will still sacrifice much for the safety of others, will still be on the register and will still want to see the number of people willing to donate increase. That is not what this is about.”
“I hope I can retain my composure. This is not an easy subject. It is highly emotive and sensitive. As Members have said, it boils down to life and death for people. It is heartbreaking to hear the personal stories and to have them brought to your attention. For an awful lot of people, this is a head-and-heart call. It is really tough. My starting point is that I carry a card. I am on the register, but, like Paul, I am cautious. There are many things about the matter around which we in the House can entirely unite. One of them is this: we want as many people as possible on the donor register. We want a huge awareness campaign that brings the issue to people's attention and allows for a conversation about what happens around death, dying and donation.”
“Mr Speaker, I offer you and the House my apologies. I was waiting on a lift, and chose the wrong one. I sincerely apologise to you and the House.”
“Now, we, as an Assembly, need to ensure that the legislation and policy processes are in place to assist them in that invaluable work. I trust that the Minister will take on board some of those thoughts, as will the Committee, and I look forward to seeing what comes at the next stage.”
“The fact that we are the only other legislature in the UK to be considering, at the same time as Westminster, legislation within which victim support is in scope means that the Assembly has a unique leadership opportunity to model a different and better way. I very much hope that we will come together on a cross-party basis to provide leadership in 2021, just as we did in 2014-15. <BR /> <BR />We have an opportunity to make Northern Ireland a place that values the lives of survivors of modern slavery. Through the APG, I have had the opportunity to meet with NGOs and hear about their work and that of the charities that are working hard to bring meaningful changes to the lives of victims of modern slavery in Northern Ireland.”
“I believe that the lack of statutory support for confirmed victims is something that we should address through amendments to the Bill. Moreover, in rising to that challenge, there is a special opportunity for Northern Ireland to assume leadership on the issue, as it did in 2015, securing Royal Assent significantly earlier than the equivalent English, Welsh and Scottish legislation. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware that the Westminster Government's Nationality and Borders Bill, while placing the current non-statutory support provisions for confirmed victims on a statutory basis, actually makes the service slightly less accessible than it is now.”
“Secondly, in a context where rather than being absorbed with worry about where their next meal will come from or whether they will have a roof over their head next week, confirmed victims in receipt of support have space to think about helping the police and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) in court. <BR /> <BR />Without the evidence of confirmed victims in court, it is very difficult to secure convictions of traffickers and our low rate of conviction of traffickers will continue. That is of huge importance, not just from the perspective of securing justice for victims but, in some ways, more importantly, from the perspective of reducing trafficking, which we will never manage to do as long as traffickers continue to judge that the small risk of being caught is greatly outweighed by the attraction of making huge profits.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Modern Slavery (Victim Support) Bill in Westminster, which is supported by a coalition of 27 leading charities, including Anti-Slavery International, the Human Trafficking Foundation, Christian Action, Research and Education (CARE) and Lord Morrow, of course, proposes legislation to provide all confirmed victims of modern slavery with statutory support for 12 months, should they wish to avail themselves of it, to help them recover. <BR /> <BR />That has two practical benefits for the victim and the taxpayer. First, it means that victims are given time to recover so that they rebuild their resilience, without which they are extremely vulnerable to re-trafficking.”
“We then say that those people have been used as slaves, probably in this country. Secondly, the presenting task is now not to establish whether they are victims of modern slavery but to help them to recover. Somewhat extraordinarily, however, and as I pointed out to the House in the debate that I secured 11 months ago to mark Anti-Slavery Day, our legislation does not make any statutory provision for the support and recovery of confirmed victims of modern slavery.”
“<BR /> <BR />For me, however, what is most significant about the modern slavery provisions of the Bill is how clause 16 highlights something of an elephant in the room. The 2015 Act, as proposed to be amended by the Bill, would still address only statutory support for victims during the period when they are in the national referral mechanism: that is to say, during the period when we think that they are likely to be victims of modern slavery but before victims receive a conclusive grounds decision that they are victims. It will come as no surprise to the Minister that I raise that. <BR /> <BR />The moment of the conclusive grounds decision is key for two reasons. First, it is the point at which we say that a person is definitely a victim of modern slavery and so our obligation to them radically increases.”
“<BR /> <BR />As the chair of the APG on modern slavery, I warmly welcome clause 16, which extends the statutory support and assistance provided to potential victims of human trafficking under section 18 of the Human Trafficking and Exploitation Act to potential victims of servitude or forced labour where there is no element of trafficking. That rightly places the support that has been provided to those victims since 2016 as a matter of policy onto a statutory basis. <BR /> <BR />On clause 17, I also agree with Mr Storey's comments and support his suggestion of yearly progress reports. That would ensure that we are aware of the progress that is being made during, as well as between, the three-year periods, and I was glad to see the Minister nodding when Mr Weir also referenced that.”
“Sadly, in some ways, we have not moved very far from that. I remind the House of the horrific incident in May 2019, when 39 Vietnamese migrants were found dead in a lorry trailer in Essex, the driver of which was from Northern Ireland. That is what human trafficking and slavery look like today: people crammed into containers without air, food or basic sanitisation. It was reported that those people died an "excruciatingly painful death" having suffocated in the container en route. Tragically, they got into that container under the illusion that they were going to a better life. The youngest person was 15 — a mere child.”
“An existence, not a life. It is horrifying. We have an obligation and a duty to ensure that survivors of modern slavery receive the support that they need to rebuild their lives. As an Assembly, we need to ensure that we do everything possible to prevent those heinous crimes from happening. <BR /> <BR />As Mr Storey pointed out, getting clarity about the true scale of modern slavery is incredibly difficult. Sadly, the fact that 128 potential victims agreed to be referred into the national referral mechanism in 2020 accounts neither for those victims who have not been identified nor those who have been identified but chose not to go into the NRM. <BR /> <BR />When we think about slavery, it may conjure up images from the 1700s, with people being chained up and transported in slave ships.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for the opportunity to speak on the Bill. I want to speak to the human trafficking provisions, and, in doing so, I declare an interest as chair of the all-party group (APG) on modern slavery. <BR /> <BR />It is an uncomfortable truth that modern slavery is happening in Northern Ireland today, and, sadly, it is not an issue that can be relegated to the history books. For some, it is their reality, and I find that troubling to such an extent that I just cannot sit back and do nothing. I know that there are others in the House, the Minister included, who feel similarly. Imagine if it were your son or daughter who was taken from you and found themselves in those circumstances. Used and abused. Treated as a thing, not a person. Perhaps drugged and forced to do someone else's bidding. A slave for labour or sex.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will finish by saying that I am grateful, because we in East Belfast are blessed with senior managers and area managers who do their utmost. They are pragmatic, adopt a common-sense approach and, most importantly, care about their tenants and work with elected reps to find solutions within their designated authority. However, they can do only so much, and that is why we call for ministerial intervention. For the sake of our constituents, I trust that she will intervene. I call on colleagues to support the motion.”
“In one home, mould is growing on every piece of furniture that the tenant has, and the inside of the front door is pure black from top to bottom. The ceilings are covered, there is visible mould on the curtains and cushions, and even the pillows are damp to the touch. He has to wash his wooden bed frame every other day to get rid of the green algae. As is so often the case, a public liability claim (PLC) does not cover him because the Housing Executive does not accept responsibility. Tullycarnet is in that state because of perpetual delays in decision-making and everything being weighed against nugatory expenditure. In the meantime, what of the tenants who have to live there because the waiting lists are so long that it will be years before they get out? There are other examples in Braniel and Cregagh.”
“Day in and day out, we hear how individuals are expected to live, with many having to decide whether they should heat or eat. That is not any kind of choice. <BR /> <BR />The Minister will be familiar with the Kings Road flats in Tullycarnet, given the number of times I have raised them with her and continue to raise them with the Executive. From the correspondence that I have sent and the images enclosed with that, she will have seen how Housing Executive tenants are expected to live in horrendous conditions in the "flats from hell". There are numerous problems with the buildings, including enormous amounts of damp and mould that cover tenants' flats, furniture and belongings. No property should be left to reach that point.”
“is measured and monitored, and I am not clear on what actions follow that. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate that the Minister has already agreed that the housing system, as it stands, is failing and must be reformed. She outlined her commitment to revitalise it, but that will take time. Many tenants do not have time. The detriment to their health and well-being is too great, and the processes take too long. <BR /> <BR />By way of an example to illustrate the practical outworking of the problem, I turn my focus to my constituency of East Belfast. The bulk of my casework is on housing. My office is contacted daily by constituents seeking support for individuals, families and those with disabilities who continue to struggle with their housing situation.”
“In some areas of my constituency, those standards are not being met. I am not clear how the first standard of:”
“<BR /> <BR />Given that the Housing Executive is the biggest landlord in the country, there is no excuse. Given that its home Department is essentially the regulator of landlords and thus the keeper of standards, we must get beyond the familiar "Do as we say and not as we do" approach. It should set an example to other landlords. <BR /> <BR />According to the Department for Communities, the statutory minimum fitness standards for housing are that a home is:”
“<BR /> <BR />Of course, there are many reasons for such damp conditions leading to mould, including old and problematic windows, some of which will not shut once they are opened, and hence tenants are eager to not lose heat; old and expensive heating systems that force people to choose between heat and food; a lack of loft and cavity wall insulation; a lack of vents on windows that have been newly installed as part of schemes; delayed decision-making, which I will come to later; and poor inspections, which blame it all on not opening windows and putting clothes on radiators but completely ignore the fact that it is never black and white and that they are failing to get to the heart of the matter. The bottom line is that it is a combination of all of those factors, most of which are beyond the tenants' control.”
“Couple that with the fact that there were COVID-induced breathing problems and that the COVID messaging for many months was to stay at home, work from home and not visit other people's homes, and you have circumstances where damp and mould have not just a physical health impact but an impact on the emotional and mental well-being of tenants.”
“I am grateful to my colleagues on the Communities Committee for tabling the motion and thus allowing us to voice a significant problem for our constituents across Northern Ireland. As we have heard from Members today, damp and mould in Housing Executive properties is a common theme across all constituencies and among those we represent, some of whom have reached the end of their tether. <BR /> <BR />People's homes are, in theory, a sanctuary and a place of respite, solace and recovery from everything else outside. Yet, for some, the condition of their home means that it is the last place that they want to be, to go or to spend time.”
“What conversations has the Executive Office had with DOJ and DFC on the continuation of the Women Involved in Community Transformation programme beyond the extension period to ensure that there is continuity and that women who are making progress are not just abandoned and left unable to complete courses or to maximise their potential fully?”
“Today, we are grateful because Gordon is at home with the Lord, resting between his shoulders.”
“Colleagues across the House have been in similar positions and know the sorrow that they bring. We thank you and are grateful for your expressions of sympathy and condolence. <BR /> <BR />We are a group that is in grief and mourning. More importantly, a family for whom we care deeply is in grief and mourning. Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with Gillian, Andrew, Stephen and Amy. We pray that the God of all comfort will draw near to them at this time of grief. <BR /> <BR />I will leave you with Deuteronomy 33:12:”
“Mr Poots was called today to speak on behalf of our party. Mr Givan spoke on behalf of our country. Mr Weir spoke as a long-time constituency colleague. Mr Buckley spoke as a close personal friend. I rise on behalf of our Assembly group. We are immensely sad today. Gordon was not only an esteemed colleague; he was a gentleman and a beloved friend, ever with a kind word and a hearty chuckle. We will remember with fondness his loud whisper in the Chamber. We each have a story about our friendship with Gordon, about his impact on our lives, his kindness, his generosity, his integrity, his thoughtfulness and his sense of fun. He will be sorely missed. <BR /> <BR />Gordon's legacy will live on. His record of service, his commitment and his diligence were impeccable. They are qualities to which we all aspire.”
“I reiterate my congratulations to my colleague Paul and express my heartfelt thanks to his predecessor Diane for her work to date. <BR /> <BR />It is welcome news that the liquidation of Stobart Air will have no impact on Belfast City Airport staff and that the Department will seek to provide support to its employees. The Minister has indicated what he hopes for, but will he outline what discussions he will have about the possibility of those employees being taken on by other airlines and whether he will work towards that end?”
“The Minister will be aware that local football clubs have waited some 10 years to see the benefits of the programme. Given that sport plays a huge role in the general well-being of our whole society, does he agree that it is time to make vital capital investment in sport and, in so doing, benefit the construction sector?”
“I thank the Minister for his short and sweet answer. What are his plans to strengthen the laws on cruelty and animal welfare? Is there a time frame for the progression of such an animal cruelty register?”
“<BR /> <BR />This is not about whether there has been bias in favour of the paramilitaries on one side over those on the other side; this is about whether there was different treatment for the IRA compared with every other citizen in Northern Ireland who knew the regulations, understood them and abided by them. We are all supposed to be equal under the law and equally subject to it, so why should a paramilitary funeral be treated differently and be different? Those questions remain to be answered.”
“I declare my membership of the Policing Board. <BR /> <BR />There will be time to go over the report; doubtless, this will not be the last conversation about it. It is extremely disappointing. The police may have been found to have been consistent throughout the pandemic with regard to their evidence gathering and follow-up, but, in light of everything that we have witnessed, it is clear that they were inconsistent in the run-up to the funeral and in their approach and engagement in advance. That is a courtesy that was not afforded to others who knew that the funerals of their loved ones could not and should not be an event involving thousands of people who were invited to attend.”
“<BR /> <BR />When considering the issue, we need to walk in the shoes of those who are in this situation, and we need to make it better for them. We are in a position, here and now, to make a change for the benefit of every citizen. Is that not why we are here? I urge colleagues to support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />It was superb to see the joint response from so many charities and hospices across Northern Ireland to the Executive's public consultation on the draft programme. I am grateful to all those — there are too many to name — that do so much work in this area, both in policy and in practice. In particular, I am grateful to Marie Curie in my constituency, which worked with me on the motion. Others will mention those in their constituency. I also praise the 10,200-plus people who took the time to sign the Marie Curie petition calling for greater end-of-life and bereavement support to be included in the PFG. Again, I will leave the detail of their comments to others to include in their remarks.”
“That additional outcome could be supported by key priorities that are relevant to palliative and end-of-life care issues, as identified by expert stakeholders in the sector. Along with pre-existing relevant indicators, there are further indicators that could help monitor progress on the outcome, such as the number of people on the regional palliative care register and the percentage of the population that is given the opportunity to discuss advanced care planning. I will leave it for others to go into the details and merits of those when it comes to statistics, but we should be enabling such conversations to happen long before people are in a highly charged emotional state, having received a devastating diagnosis. In so doing, we would also move towards removing the stigma surrounding death and dying.”
“All of that is compounded by knowing of the indignity with which your loved one's remains will be treated should COVID be cited on the death certificate. <BR /> <BR />Statutory and community and voluntary sector (CVS) bereavement support services were struggling to cope with demand before COVID-19, and it is very likely that the situation has only worsened as a result of COVID-19. The effect of the pandemic on bereaved people will be felt for a long time to come and will require a strategic response from government, working in partnership with key stakeholders. The inclusion of an additional outcome in the PFG framework that is focused on death, dying and bereavement is a must.”
“It is an area about which I feel particularly strongly. Some years ago, I spent three nights and three days with my dad at my gran's bedside in her nursing home as she was dying. I am so grateful for the time that I got to share with them both at that time, because my dad died not long afterwards. I cannot imagine my dad or me having to do that alone: being the only person allowed in, bearing all the responsibility alone, for as long as it takes, and being afraid to leave for a cup of tea, a bite to eat or a shower, in case you are not there when the time comes. I am an only child, and so was my dad, but you could add into that mix having to choose who will be that one person and who will have to be excluded from the funeral.”
“That represents a huge increase in the number of people who require bereavement support, but many of those who have been impacted by the death of a loved one during that period will be living with complex grief reactions that have arisen from the circumstances of the restrictions. For example, one of the consequences of social distancing and visiting restrictions in care settings such as hospitals and nursing homes is that some people did not have the opportunity to say goodbye to their dying loved ones. The ability to say goodbye is associated with better outcomes on measures of depression and complicated grief among bereaved people. The Department of Health's draft mental health strategy acknowledges:”
“<BR /> <BR />It is imperative, then, that the end-of-life challenge in Northern Ireland is recognised and prioritised in the PFG. We need policy levers to ensure that palliative care, which is shown to result in better quality of life, better symptom management and lower rates of mental ill health, is available to everyone who needs it and that the other financial, practical, emotional and spiritual issues that affect people who are at the end of life, as well as their loved ones, are addressed and met. <BR /> <BR />That would be important under any circumstances, but it is especially so in the context of the recent pandemic. Since the end of March 2020, nearly 170,000 people in Northern Ireland have been impacted by a bereavement.”
“Despite a commitment to invest in palliative care service improvement in the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) agreement, there is no mention of palliative or end-of-life care in the PFG. Northern Ireland is already falling behind its neighbours in that area. Scotland's strategic framework on palliative care has been in place since 2015. The Welsh Government have had a palliative and end-of-life care delivery plan in place since 2017. A new five-year palliative care strategy is being developed in England. The Irish Programme for Government, which was published in 2020, contains seven clear commitments on end-of-life care, including the development of a new palliative care policy and greater research on the impact of bereavement.”
“Disability-free life expectancy is worse still at 58 years of age. Those trends have had a significant impact on the end-of-life sector. For example, since 2011, the number of people on the local palliative care register has doubled, while deaths from cancer have increased by 10%, chronic lower respiratory diseases by 17% and dementia by a staggering 65%. Looking ahead, the population of over-85s is expected to grow by more than 100% by 2043, with an associated rise in palliative care demand of over 30% by 2040 — in around 20 years' time. We are far from ready. <BR /> <BR />Those issues have not been appropriately recognised at the strategic policy level in Northern Ireland. No regional palliative or end-of-life care strategy is in place, with the last strategy, Living Matters, Dying Matters, now six years out of date.”
“<BR /> <BR />Unquestionably, the PFG, including the outcomes framework, should recognise and include issues around death, dying and bereavement, and the importance of a good end-of-life experience for people in Northern Ireland. For over a year, we have taken drastic measures to protect life from a virus. We will now have to deal with the aftermath. Those issues have been brought into sharp focus. Embedding them at the strategic policy level is needed now more than ever and is the next natural step. <BR /> <BR />The local population is ageing rapidly. That trend has been accompanied by growing numbers of people living with multiple chronic and incurable illnesses and complex needs. If we look at the stats, we see that the average healthy life expectancy in Northern Ireland is just 60 years of age.”