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.”
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“On the back of that, I am grateful to the Minister that she is bringing forward something soon, but she will be aware that hostels are sometimes the only option. I am keen to know what action she will take to make sure that hostels are brought up to standard to suit those with mental health issues and women and men who are having to flee a home as a result of domestic violence.”
“— deaths expected in the coming years, it is critical that we address these barriers and gaps in care as a matter of urgency. I commend colleagues for bringing this issue to the House, and I am proud to support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mr Deputy Speaker, I had other remarks, but I will conclude by saying this: it is clear that some people with dementia in Northern Ireland, as well as their carers and loved ones, are missing out on the high-quality care and support that they need throughout the disease trajectory, including at the end of life. With so many more dementia —”
“Finally, I wish to address the matter of support for dementia carers. Caring for someone with dementia is a demanding experience. Carers will largely be responsible for tasks such as, to name but a few, providing personal care to their loved one, administering medication, collecting prescriptions, preparing meals, maintaining the home and coordinating care among a wide range of health and social care professionals and providers. In many cases, this role is 24/7, round the clock and can leave carers feeling burned out, especially as many dementia carers are spouses and are likely to be in the older-age category and living with their own health complaints. Training and information to help them perform their caring role and access to respite is therefore vital.”
“It is, therefore, in the best interests of many people with dementia that emergency trips to hospital are avoided or minimised where possible, especially when they are approaching the end of their life. It is estimated that, in 2015, there were over 2,560 emergency admissions to hospital in Northern Ireland of people with dementia in the last year of their life. While some of those admissions will undoubtedly have been necessary, it is reasonable to assume that a significant number could have been avoided with greater support in the community. Action to address the issue and build greater resources and care capacity in community settings should be pursued as a matter of urgency across health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland.”
“Many care homes provide excellent care for residents with dementia — Palmerston in my constituency is a shining example — but that is not universal. It is vital that improving knowledge and competency in palliative care and supporting people with terminal conditions like dementia is prioritised as part of the social care reform agenda. <BR /> <BR />I turn to the context of hospitals. People with dementia will often live with comorbidities and complex needs. While emergency admissions to hospital are sometimes necessary, the symptoms of dementia make hospital a uniquely ill-suited care setting. The busy A&E environment and disruption resulting from emergency admission can exacerbate confusion and cause serious distress to the individual and their loved ones.”
“I wish to focus primarily on the end of life. <BR /> <BR />It is estimated that around 70% of people in care homes have dementia or severe memory problems. Care homes have been and will continue to be the setting in which a large number of people with dementia spend the end of their life. It is, therefore, critical that care home staff have the experience, skills and training required to deliver high-quality palliative care. Unfortunately, while some homes do their best, that is not always the case. High staff turnover, inadequate staffing levels and lack of access to training due to time pressures and funding issues all make it difficult to equip care home staff with the skills that they need to provide complex care to dying residents.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am advised that over 14,700 people are on the dementia register in Northern Ireland, although the true number of people living with the condition here is estimated to be closer to over 20,000. The occurrence of cases is expected to grow significantly in the years ahead due to our ageing population, as we have discussed. Dementia accounted for 13% of deaths in Northern Ireland in 2018, and it is important to note that that number was 11% higher than in 2016. We can and should expect the trends to continue in tandem with the growing prevalence of the condition locally. <BR /> <BR />Evidence suggests that there are issues and barriers that prevent some people with dementia and their loved ones from accessing the appropriate, high-quality care and support that they need, including at the end of life.”
“Before I move to my remarks, I declare that I am the proposed chairman of the all-party group on terminal illness, which is awaiting the approval of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, and previously sponsored the Walk for a World without Dementia event in this estate. Prior to touching on the substance of the issue, I commend the Alzheimer's Society, Marie Curie and the East Belfast Community Development Agency, which have worked extremely hard, with others, to make east Belfast dementia-friendly and to teach us what it is like and what, in practice, can be done to assist those with the condition. It is because of work like that that I lament the loss of the RADAR centre, which was such a fabulous facility for practical demonstration.”
“— I urge him to take this action as a matter of urgency.”
“We are all somewhere on the line between good and bad mental health. Some of us in the Chamber will have had personal experience of struggling and just not doing so well. For those who have not, the mantra must be, "There but for the grace of God go I". How dreadful it must be to reach crisis point and feel that you just have no options. <BR /> <BR />MATT has proved to work well. I suspect that the Minister has little to lose and much to gain by the expansion of the project across Northern Ireland. Accordingly —”
“I was grateful to hear the First Minister speak yesterday during Question Time of the scoping exercise to understand the full extent of the mental ill health problem in Northern Ireland. I do not envy anyone that task, and, quite honestly, I am nervous about the result. However, fear is no reason for inaction, and movement on the issue is desperately needed and long overdue. That is the long term. Belfast — east Belfast in particular — in recent weeks has seen a number of people reach the end of their tether. Their crisis had become absolute, their coping mechanisms exhausted, with the most tragic of consequences. Today, I implore our Health Minister to consider a short-term, urgent intervention in Belfast to prevent more lives being needlessly lost to suicide and before ideation takes hold.”
“Those who represent Belfast will also know that City Hall was lit up on two consecutive evenings to raise awareness of the issue. Thanks should go to the Lord Mayor, Frank McCoubrey, for obliging that request. I also commend and thank those who give so selflessly to come voluntarily to the aid of those who find themselves in crisis. That is far from easy work, but they can do only so much. <BR /> <BR />For the long-term approach to the matter, it was a welcome development to have seen the much-awaited Protect Life 2 strategy published and superb news to hear about Professor Siobhán O'Neill, with whom I have worked at East Belfast Survivors of Suicide, being appointed as our Mental Health Champion.”
“That is no place for police officers to spend their shifts when there is so much more going on outside that they must also address. There has to be a better way, and MATT may well be that better way. I have been delighted to see its implementation. From personal experience, I know that it is a terrible and frightening thing to come upon someone deep in crisis. One wrong word could have immense consequences. The partnership approach will not only address numerous problems but, most importantly, is a preferable way for a vulnerable person to be given the immediate treatment and support that they need from professionals equipped to deal with such a scenario. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware that last Thursday was World Suicide Prevention Day.”
“The police return the person to hospital, and, at the first opportunity, due to desperation and despair, they run away again. The circle, which ultimately helps no one, continues, as does crime. To be clear, it is absolutely not that the police or the board begrudge such time or resources but rather that the police find themselves in circumstances of last resort, filling a gap in provision that is not really theirs to fill. No one else wants to take responsibility. That is not good enough. <BR /> <BR />There is an infamous photograph showing a room that looks like a break room in a police station after a significant event. Many officers are standing, some are seated, some are sipping hot drinks. All are waiting, apparently to resume their tasks at the finish of their break. It is no break room in a station; it is a hospital corridor.”
“Before I make my remarks, I declare that I am a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board and am on the advisory committee of the East Belfast Survivors of Suicide group. <BR /> <BR />I am immensely grateful to my DUP colleagues for tabling this timely motion. For all manner of reasons, a significant section of people in Northern Ireland have poor mental health, and, without doubt, the restrictions arising from COVID-19 have exacerbated an already bad situation. Those who serve on the Policing Board are all too aware of the time that officers spend dealing with people in mental health crisis. Numerous officers spend many shifts in A&E, either guarding a vulnerable person who presents a danger to themselves or others or searching for a vulnerable person who has left hospital grounds. Several hours can often be spent on such a search.”
“I am glad that the Minister is well aware of the troubles in Belfast city centre as a result of the dramatic reduction in footfall. On that basis, I ask her — I appreciate that it is not necessarily her remit — to outline to the best of her knowledge what percentage of full-time civil servants is still working from home? Does she agree that we have to learn to cope with COVID and that it is time for the Civil Service to lead by example and return to offices?”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. Given that the Roman Catholic Church is as wealthy as some countries, have the bishops given any indication of a notional figure that they will contribute and a timescale for payment? Also, are Ministers willing to be directly involved in ensuring that the Church and other smaller orders make appropriate reparation?”
“The Speaker replied to the Committee, indicating that the Commission had been prioritising the vacancy in the ombudsman's office and had agreed on the urgency to appoint a new ombudsman, given the time limit on the powers of the acting ombudsman. <BR /> <BR />I think that I win the prize for the number of ombudsman mentions in one paragraph. <BR /> <BR />The Committee also noted that the Commission would be proceeding with a recruitment competition to facilitate the appointment of an ombudsman, the result of which is today's motion and nomination. I expect that, like me, the other members of the Audit Committee will be pleased to see the vacancy in the office addressed and look forward to engaging with the new ombudsman as the Committee continues to progress its work with NIPSO.”
“At that time, members noted that the nomination and, in turn, the formal appointment of the acting ombudsman would be for a period extending no longer than the first anniversary of the vacancy of ombudsman arising — that is, up to 15 July 2020 — or until the appointment of a successor ombudsman. <BR /> <BR />Members were keen that that risk was addressed and the post of ombudsman filled before the deadline expired, and, consequently, the Committee agreed to write to the Assembly Commission to request a timetable for the recruitment and appointment of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman.”
“I rise as the Deputy Chairperson of the Audit Committee. As Members will be aware, the Audit Committee plays an important role in scrutinising and agreeing the budgets and Estimates of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman, as well as those of the Northern Ireland Audit Office and, more recently, those in relation to the Assembly Commission. <BR /> <BR />Although the appointment of the ombudsman is a responsibility for the Assembly Commission to manage, the Audit Committee has an important relationship with the ombudsman. At its meeting on Thursday 13 February 2020, the Audit Committee received a briefing from the Office of the Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman. One of the issues raised at that meeting was the vacancy within the ombudsman's office and the impact of that vacancy on the work of NIPSO as a whole.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Is he aware that a person's grade-3 member of staff will take 19 years to reach the top of their pay scale?”
“Does the Member agree that we are also in a situation where not only are the terms and conditions infinitely better in the Northern Ireland Civil Service but they are infinitely better for Assembly staff? Party staff and our local MLA staff have the worst terms and conditions of everybody who works in this sector.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he agree that there are two fundamental principles that people never seem to bear in mind, or of which they seldom take account? One is that two full-time equivalents, or 74 working hours per week, puts Members in a situation where they have zero flexibility with staffing and that, in times of staff sickness or leave, that often results in lone working, when members of staff, who are often female, are left in a vulnerable position? Secondly, does the Member agree that it is deeply unfair that a very experienced member of staff who happens to move to work for another Member must automatically go the bottom of their pay scale?”
“In light of the high-profile resignations from the board, what immediate steps will the Minister take to ensure that there is community and public confidence in the work of RQIA at this critical time for safety, support and care for those living and working in our residential care homes?”
“I welcome the statement from the Minister and indeed his strategic vision and commitment to the ongoing improvement of the learning environment for Northern Ireland's children. I draw his attention to where he mentions in his statement £10 million being ring-fenced for capital works for youth centres. I would be grateful if he would expand on the detail. I also draw his attention to the fact that those buildings are dependent on the projects still being in existence in circumstances in which there is a dearth of overall funding, as well as on having the pupils to fill them. I am certain that he is cognisant of the issues, but I would like some reassurance from him that he is giving consideration to them, because he will be aware of the good work that goes on with our young people outside the school curriculum.”
“Is that the message that the House and we as individuals want to send to our disabled community? Is that who we are? Heidi said:”
“Let us be crystal clear about what voting for the motion means. You will be voting to say that Northern Ireland rejects abortion law that directly discriminates against a human being purely on the basis of disability. Only that group of viable humans can be aborted up to term. You will be saying that the Assembly does not agree that it is right that unborn children with Down's syndrome or a cleft palate can be aborted just because they have those conditions. You will be voting to reject the imposition of abortion legislation on Northern Ireland. Abortion law is a devolved matter, and we are responsible for reflecting our society's values in this area, not Great Britain. You will be voting for life. <BR /> <BR />I shall leave you with the words of Heidi Crowter:”
“The charity Disability Rights UK, commenting on Lord Shinkwin's Bill, said:”
“<BR /> <BR />Lord Shinkwin, who is seriously disabled, introduced the Abortion (Disability Equality) Bill in the 2016-17 session of the Westminster Parliament. He said:”
“I think that everyone in the Assembly would agree with that assessment. <BR /> <BR />In truth, the UK Government's explanatory memorandum makes it plain that, rather than being guided by the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) report, which actually suggests far more modest changes to Northern Ireland's abortion laws than those in the regulations, their guiding concern is to make sure that any abortion that a woman can have in England can also be had in Northern Ireland. That is why, for all the talk about 12 weeks, the regulations actually allow abortion up to 24 weeks on effectively the same grounds as apply in England and up until birth in cases of disability. Neither of those provisions is required by CEDAW.”
“Nor has the UK Government acknowledged the views of the Supreme Court, which has considered the issue of whether, under the European Convention, there is a human right to abortion in cases of non-fatal disability. The court, albeit in a non-binding judgement, found that no such right existed; indeed, Lord Kerr stated:”
“Is "seriously disabled" not quite a high threshold? The threshold of "seriously disabled" in regulation 7 has exactly the same meaning as "seriously handicapped" in the Abortion Act 1967. Ironically, the change from "handicapped" to "disabled" simply reflects the fact that the word "handicapped" is now rightly rejected as pejorative by disabled people. That misses the more basic point that, if one wants to update the law to reflect changing attitudes to disability, the more appropriate way of doing that would be to not allow abortion on that basis at all. <BR /> <BR />It is extremely disturbing that the Government have chosen to ignore the views of the UNCRPD in its latest report on the UK, which stated:”
“The Disability Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 further amended the DDA and included a requirement that public authorities promote positive attitudes towards disabled persons. In 2009, the UK as a whole ratified the UNCRPD. Those laws are just laws. They reflect the fact that each and every person, regardless of ability or disability, is of value and worth. Do we wish to negate all that progress? <BR /> <BR />Given the changes in the last 30 years, it is astonishing that the UK Government should give Northern Ireland the 1990 legislation in 2020. There has been no attempt to consider whether the legislation is suitable in a 2020 Northern Ireland context. The only concession to bringing the provision up to date is to change the language from "seriously handicapped" to "seriously disabled".”
“If we do not agree the motion, we signal to every person with a disability that their life is valued differently from that of others. It is wholly wrong for such discriminatory provisions to have been forced on us. <BR /> <BR />In the last 30 years, since 1990, Northern Ireland, like every jurisdiction in the UK, has introduced legal protections for individuals with disabilities. Those laws seek to illustrate that those with disabilities are equal to everyone else. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA) protects the rights of persons with disabilities. The Northern Ireland Act 1998 placed a statutory duty on public authorities to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity for persons with a disability.”
“We know from statistics in England and Wales that abortions on the grounds of cleft palate, cleft lip and club foot, which are all conditions that can be addressed through surgery, are deemed to meet the threshold of "seriously disabled" and do happen. The problem with that, as Heidi and other disabled people point out, is simple: it means clearly saying that viable human beings with non-fatal disabilities and conditions like Down's syndrome are worthy of less protection under the law than viable human beings who are deemed to be able-bodied. In turn, that clearly says that people with Down's syndrome or other disabilities are of less value than people without disabilities. That is completely unacceptable in 2020.”
“The reason why the general upper limit for abortion in Great Britain was set at 24 weeks in 1990 is that 24 weeks was then regarded as the point of viability; that is, the point at which a baby could survive outside the womb. Today, things have advanced, and well over 50% of babies born at 24 weeks survive. The figure becomes much higher as gestation progresses. Notwithstanding that fact, regulation 7(1)(b) of the abortion regulations allows abortion up to birth in circumstances where,”
“When you leave a conversation with Heidi, you leave with your heart full. Heidi Crowter is an extraordinary human being; since February she has been in the news, because she is challenging the law in England and Wales that allows abortion up to birth in cases of disability but not in other circumstances. Heidi describes the law in Great Britain as offensive and hurtful. <BR /> <BR />In 2020, why would we countenance the disability discrimination that the Westminster Parliament was persuaded to vote on thirty years ago, in 1990, before the advent of disability discrimination legislation and before the UK became a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). We cannot and must not separate the regulations from the people to whom they would apply.”
“She works in a children's hair salon, and next month, on Independence Day — 4 July — she will marry her fiancé, James Carter, who also has Down's syndrome and whom Heidi describes as gorgeous. This lady is a joy and brings joy.”
“This is the first debate that we have had in the Assembly since our law on abortion was changed. I am not intending that the debate should be a discussion of how we got here, although, in passing, it must be noted that we have been subjected to constitutional indignities that I could never have imagined a year ago. Neither Wales nor Scotland would ever countenance being subjected to the extraordinary denial of constitutional due process that was meted out to Northern Ireland on this issue. <BR /> <BR />There are occasions in life — not very often, but sometimes — when we get to meet someone who is truly inspirational, someone whose passion and vision change the way in which we see the world. That is the case when you meet Heidi Crowter, the young woman who is named in the motion. Heidi is 24 and has Down's syndrome.”
“I welcome the Minister's statement. I declare my membership of the Northern Ireland Policing Board. Over the past number of years, we have seen a steep decline in the number of taxis that there are to service the community, including a very low number that are equipped for wheelchair users. That is now coupled with a significant increase in drink-driving during the lockdown period. I am grateful for the Minister's movement on medicals and the extension of licences, and I note her answer to the Committee Chair, but what is the state of progress between her, the Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Finance to assist that key sector?”
“We have recently seen in the national media that there have been mentions of "clusters" or "bubbles" of friends and family with whom we can meet up. I note — it is welcome — in step 1 that we will be able to meet up with four to six members of our immediate family. What consideration did the Executive give to wider clusters to include friends and how did we reach that number?”
“I am grateful for the statement. We are witnessing the United States publicly wrestling with the balance between health and the economy: the loss of life versus the loss of livelihood. Both are devastating to families, so what reassurance can the First Minister and deputy First Minister give the business community that we have found the right balance?”
“Is he in a position, at this stage, to outline how that scheme will differ from this one and potential differences in the criteria?”
“I am grateful to the Minister for the announcement and the strong signal that it is of his commitment to the educational environment of our children. As you would expect, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I am particularly delighted to hear the announcement for Strandtown Primary School and Ashfield Boys' High School, which are richly deserving of the programme and have worked extremely hard to get it. Strandtown school is unique in Northern Ireland, and Ashfield Boys' is always oversubscribed and is an extremely popular school in my constituency. The announcement will make an enormous difference to those schools and their pupils. <BR /> <BR />I note that the Minister mentioned a forthcoming announcement about major works.”
“The difficulty is that the national Government appear to be playing it down and are firing out test balloons as to what they might do, and that is unhelpful. An element of the media seems to be going for hype and sensationalism, as the Minister has referred to. Therefore, it is very difficult for the public to know what the factual position is and exactly how to prepare. What can the Minister do to improve clarity for the public in this situation, where they are trying to find out what the actual factual position is and not degenerate into hysteria?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer, although I am still not clear as to whether his Department has given consideration to mitigation measures. If it has done so, I would be grateful if he would outline what those mitigation measures are and indicate whether he is willing to meet representatives from the sector to address the problem directly.”
“<BR /> <BR />Other colleagues have referred — there is no point in repeating it — to the benefits to the economy, local businesses, housing and safety, especially with regard to health and getting children to set down their gadgets and be outside in the fresh air with their parents, enjoying their young lives and their energy while they still have it. A lot of us wish we still did. The only thing I would say to the Minister is this: perhaps, it is time for Cinderella to become a princess.”
“I remember a couple of years ago — on my birthday, actually — going down because a number of organisations such as Sustrans, the Department, Belfast City Council and Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council had made significant investment, as Robin mentioned, installing the connectivity for lights — albeit that there are no lights there — widening the path and resurfacing. Then we have Lisburn's investment at the Billy Neill centre, which Chris Lyttle referred to. There has been ongoing work, and there is no question about the potential. There is so much potential for connectivity at the Comber greenway, and the difference that lights would make to use and safety would be immense.”
“The folks from Connswater have travelled around the world, extolling the benefits of their greenway, and they have received numerous awards for the successes that they have achieved, not the least of which is flood alleviation. The Connswater greenway has enormous use and is of spectacular value to East Belfast and beyond. The thing with the Comber greenway is that it always feels as though it is the bridesmaid to the Connswater bride. <BR /> <BR />That is not to say that there has not been investment: there has. There has been significant improvement in the past number of years.”