Kellie Armstrong
Strangford · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in support of the Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Environment Bill. It is timely and important. Miss McIlveen, a fellow MLA for the Strangford constituency, has just spoken.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill reflects the realities of the post-Brexit landscape by aligning protections here with those in other UK jurisdictions and the UK Fisheries Act. That consistency is important for standards, enforcement and international confidence in our products.”
“Last year, I met the Department and we discussed that. The opportunities for seaweed farming in Strangford lough are wonderful, and the opportunities from seaweed that Queen's University has identified are incredible. We are lucky to have those opportunities on our doorstep, as long as there is licensing and it is properly looked after.”
“Moving beyond managing individual fisheries, the Bill recognises the interconnected nature of our rivers, loughs and seas — an approach that is very much in line with Alliance's commitment to evidence-based environmental policy. The inclusion of a national benefit objective is also significant.”
“A while ago, we saw that commercial bottom trawling had all but decimated the horse mussel population in Strangford lough. It has since been changed to a special area of conservation. That limits a lot of activity in the lough, which is not a bad thing considering that horse mussels are coming back.”
“They allow for timely action on lower-level offences without over-burdening the courts while still acting as a meaningful deterrent. If only everybody were acting properly, we would not need to have those deterrents, but we are where we are, and the Bill hopes to improve upon that.”
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“If everything were wonderful and working in our government, children would not have to depend on donated food in order to eat. <BR /> <BR />It is very difficult for me to understand exactly what it is like for someone who is living in such poverty that they have to cut the mould off bread to make their child's sandwiches. I heard that this morning from a parent at the round table that my colleague Sian arranged. Imagine what that is like for the child. Imagine what it is like for a child to see their parent doing that. The child might feel guilty for having a birthday, or at Christmas, because they know that getting a present is going to cost their family money and take away from the family household income.”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I thank everyone who has spoken on the motion today. Alliance proposed the motion because this is one of the key issues affecting society today. If we can create a solution — if we can lift children out of the social disadvantage of poverty — we can change society in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to all the food bank providers across Northern Ireland who help people when they are at their most vulnerable and most in need. Thanks, too, to all the people across Northern Ireland who very kindly donate to those food banks. However, I hate the fact that we have food banks in Northern Ireland. We have people who have to depend on those food banks in order to feed their children. As others have said, 190,000 children are living in poverty. Many of those children are eating food that is donated.”
“To that end, I invite all MLAs to come to the Long Gallery tomorrow afternoon to join Carers NI and to hear from carers from Northern Ireland.”
“That, coupled with a social care system that is on its knees, has increased pressure on unpaid carers. I agree with Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, who said:”
“I congratulate Carers UK on its 60th anniversary. In 1965, Reverend Mary Webster, a carer herself, founded the first carers' organisation, the National Council for the Single Woman and her Dependants, and the carers movement was formed. Later, in 1988, it became Carers UK. In the intervening 60 years, there have been significant changes. Many steps have been taken in policy and legislation, but there remains a gender imbalance in caring along with a lack of understanding of unpaid carers and their value and substantial gaps in service provision and support. <BR /> <BR />The number of unpaid carers in Northern Ireland has grown to over 220,000 — one in eight of our population — over recent decades. That trend is likely to continue as our population ages and people live longer and with more complex illnesses.”
“Apologies, Minister. I know that you are in full flow, but this is something that, as a former member of the Women's Caucus steering group, I think is important. <BR /> <BR />Section 75 outlines equality, but equity is the key. One of the things that gender budgeting can bring about, as you said, is equity. It can ensure that investment is made in places where people most vulnerable and need most help. When they are produced under the Equality Act, should those responsible for section 75 reports also be asked to confirm where that equity has been brought in?”
“I agree with the Member. That is why the proposal in the motion is key. We can talk about change all the time, but we need to take action and not just consider doing so. For instance, if we make the change on gender-responsive budgeting, it will apply to everyone.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I appreciate that the Member was not here in the previous mandate — I absolutely agree with what she is saying — but, as part of International Women's Day on 8 March 2021, the Assembly, endorsing a motion from the Women's Caucus, identified that we need to have a gender-sensitive Parliament. Part of that would be the budgeting process. I absolutely concur with her. We have already decided that: all parties agreed to it.”
“No one can deny that the musical instruments for bands programme has been very successful. Will the Minister confirm whether there is the potential to allow charities, such as Beyond Skin, that work with groups of musicians and make musical instruments available to people such as the Afghan women's solidarity group — a group of women who escaped the Taliban, which barred them from engaging with music — to apply?”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank all who have spoken with one voice today to send a clear message from the House to the Chancellor: stop breaking Northern Ireland. Please support the motion and the amendment.”
“To that end, I ask the Minister of Finance to ensure that she publish all responses from the Chancellor and the Treasury, confirming what support is coming, and, if no additional support is coming, to ensure that all Departments confirm what the additional National Insurance costs will mean to their delivery of public services and the services that are delivered by those in receipt of grants and contracts. I ask all who can to support Sorcha Eastwood MP's amendment in Westminster to extend the exemption to all independent public service delivery agents, such as GPs, dentists, pharmacists and the community and voluntary sector. As Diana Armstrong said, we need to see a change in the HM Treasury definition of "public sector".”
“We, in the Assembly, do not have the capacity to compensate for decisions that are made on reserved taxation matters, as the Minister of Finance highlighted. The Alliance amendment adds a specific requirement for the independent and community and voluntary sectors to be included in the call to the Chancellor to meet the shortfall that was created by her Budget on 30 October, which will cause such difficulty for front-line service deliverers that depend on public funding to deliver vital public services. <BR /> <BR />As my colleague Eóin Tennyson outlined, Northern Ireland will be funding a tax hike by Westminster out of the public purse. We will be robbing Peter to pay Rachel. If support to meet additional costs is not found, we must be honest with the public about the potential reduction to public services.”
“The community and voluntary sector will be one of the hardest hit. Grant or contract income, especially from Health, has been restricted for some time. When the sector has been wrung out, there is nothing left to squeeze. The losers will ultimately be those who need domiciliary care and addiction services; domestic abuse survivors; children with learning disabilities, such as autism; and many of the services that help to keep people out of hospital. There is no point in raising funds for the health service if we will not be able to deliver the front-line services that citizens across Northern Ireland need. <BR /> <BR />Although the Labour Government's approach is aimed at employers, it will have a negative impact on local people.”
“The impact on employers — all employers — could mean that they freeze wages; evaluate and alter long-term strategic planning, including decisions on recruitment; delay business expansion; and reduce the operational delivery of services. None of that would be good news for Northern Ireland.”
“As others have said, SMEs — small to medium-sized enterprises — which make up most of the non-public sector here and provide a significant number of jobs across Northern Ireland, will not be able to pass costs on to customers either, because we are still in a difficult cost-of-living situation. Their customers are the public in which Labour say that they are trying to increase investment in order to provide public services.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I will try my best to be quicker than that. <BR /> <BR />Today, we must all think about why the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, brought these changes forward in her Budget. Certainly, she believes that raising £24 billion to fund public services will add funds to a stretched health service. That makes sense, until you consider the fact that the money being raised is coming from employers, including, as others have confirmed, front-line deliverers of public services: our GPs, dentists, social care providers, pharmacies, education system, Infrastructure, Justice, DAERA, councils and the community and voluntary sector. Those services cannot pass increased costs on to customers.”
“I was about to come to that, Mr Speaker. <BR /> <BR />Minister, the Act states that you have to, "encourage, facilitate and support" integrated education. In your response to a question for written answer from me, you outlined the fact that you do not monitor how many children are turned away from integrated schools in Ards and North Down. How do you fulfil your requirement to encourage, facilitate and support integrated education if you do not even bother to measure and monitor the number of pupils?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to speak on this matter today. I am disappointed, Minister, by your misreading of the Integrated Education Act.”
“Thank you very much, Minister. I know that you share my frustration that councils were not enabled to deal with regeneration. Minister, I am excited by the dilapidation Bill that the Member mentioned. Can you outline what difference the Bill will make to the regeneration of our towns and cities?”
“Tonight, the Alliance Party and those of us who do not designate as nationalist or unionist have had our designation besmirched, called out and disrespected. I would like you to make a ruling on that.”
“Mr Speaker, I draw your attention to Standing Order 65, which states:”
“I thank the Member for giving way. In the previous mandate, I worked closely with his colleague Mr Allister on the Assembly and Executive Review Committee, on which, as other Members will be able to attest, Mr Allister and I were the only members who agreed that getting rid of designations would be progress for this place. Has there been a change to TUV policy?”
“Thank you very much, Mr Brooks, for giving way. I will just pull you up on a point. You talked about "both communities". In the House, there is recognition that there are unionists, nationalists and others. I ask you to consider changing your language to be inclusive in the House.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Has the Member read sections 5(d)(i) and (ii) of strand one of the Good Friday Agreement, where it says that cross-community voting can be either what we have now or a weighted majority? It is not against any laws or rules that we have the opportunity to move to weighted majority voting.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The start of our Standing Orders clearly outlines that every Member in the House is entitled to have a vote, and today every Member in the House is having a vote. Mr Buckley has suggested that unionists and nationalists are not having a vote today. I believe that that is incorrect. Will you confirm the voting mechanism, please?”
“At long last, we have a system that is inclusive.”
“I am delighted that the Member talked about inclusiveness. I am delighted that, for once, my vote will count the same as those of nationalists and unionists in this place.”
“Thank you, Mr Buckley. I am not the leader of the Alliance Party. She is sitting in front of us.”
“What role does the Executive Office have in linking with local government to implement the report of the high street task force?”
“I hope today that people outside the Chamber hear that we are committed, as all parties and all MLAs in this place, to ending homelessness.”
“Thank you, Minister. I was writing like crazy to see whether I could get all that down, because I was busy thinking of a 100 questions to ask you. <BR /> <BR />In summarising and bringing to a close the debate, I thank all who have taken part. I think of the words of the Simon Community, and I am very grateful to the Simon Community, Homeless Connect and other organisations that have allowed me to meet front-line workers and people with lived experience. The Simon Community said in its report:”
“<BR /> <BR />The Minister said that the theme of this Homelessness Awareness Week is a "Time for Change". Thank you, Minister, for making your announcements today. I will reiterate those so that all know that we are in support of this. There is £6·7 million for the Housing Executive to help it to meet its statutory objectives. The uncertainty regarding funding for community organisations will end as their funding is confirmed until the end of the year. In 2025-26, the Housing Executive will have its own specific homelessness prevention budget.”
“Yes, that is absolutely right. Because of the amount of money that the Minister was unable to secure in the Budget for capital build and the ongoing millions that we are spending on temporary accommodation, we are holding back the needed new builds for social homes for people. You are absolutely right. <BR /> <BR />Gerry Carroll said that homelessness is a political choice. In my summation, I want to read something out from the Simon Community that confirms that. He also talked about his Member's Bill. I am looking forward to seeing that, Gerry. Claire Sugden said that homelessness is a profound social failure. You are absolutely right, Claire. You talked about the victims of domestic abuse and said that too many children are being raised in temporary accommodation.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mark Durkan broke my heart, I have to say, when he talked about children asking how Santa will find them and about the ask this year being a place to call home. We all know, as Claire Sugden highlighted, how many families and children are faced with homelessness without that security. We have to do something to improve that.”
“<BR /> <BR />My colleague Peter McReynolds talked about how he was judged as a homeless person and that he had had a slight insight into how people who are homeless are considered on our streets. He talked about the cold and exhaustion, and I think that we can all understand how debilitating it is when you do not have a roof over your head, not getting sleep night after night. <BR /> <BR />Andy Allen is very good on homelessness issues, and I am glad to be on the Committee with him. He talked about homes being the foundation of our lives and said that we need to have a properly funded homelessness strategy. I think that we will be behind the Minister in looking for that as the mandate goes forward.”
“She highlighted the unfortunate amount that we spend on temporary accommodation, which is up to £34·5 million over five years, and she confirmed that ending homelessness is vital in addressing poverty and improving health and educational outcomes. <BR /> <BR />Brian Kingston confirmed that the DUP supports the motion, and he talked about how important it is to have housing in the Programme for Government. He said that it is a cross-departmental issue and talked about learning from a Housing Executive officer how burnt out they are and how Complex Lives has reinvigorated them. Having met a number of front-line workers, I know that that burnout is emotionally draining because they are so committed to helping people who are homeless.”
“I hope that, over this winter, we do not see any more deaths, and that will be thanks to the preventative work that the Minister has talked about providing budget for and thanks to the organisations, some of which may well be in the Gallery today. It is up to them. They actually save lives by bringing people in off the streets, especially when the weather can be so bad over the winter. <BR /> <BR />I thank everyone who spoke during the debate. There is cross-party support, so I am glad that there will not be a Division. Ciara highlighted the fact that people who are homeless are our neighbours and our families.”
“Your work has been disappointingly underfunded — we are now hearing that there is a glimmer of hope — and the pay does not reflect your commitment and dedication. Your work is literally saving lives. <BR /> <BR />Over the past 12 months, 53 citizens from Northern Ireland have died while being homeless. We do not want that to happen again. We do not want to have huge numbers of people dying on our streets. In fact, over the summer, I believe that four or five people died in one week. That is a very difficult thing for us all to live with. In 2023, 188 people died, and 53 people have died in the past 12 months.”
“As a politician, it is very hard to live with, because we all know people who have housing issues, but, when faced with homelessness, it really does have a devastating impact on a person's life. That is why today, at the start of Homelessness Awareness Week, it is so important to have this debate in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />I thank Mark Baillie and all the members of Homeless Connect for their work not just this week but all year round. As the motion states, we recognise the hard work of the organisations and individual members of staff who are working so hard to support people who are homeless and to try to prevent homelessness. They have some of the toughest front-line jobs and provide round-the-clock help and assistance to homeless people. I pay tribute to all those front-line workers.”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. As I rise to conclude the debate, I thank the Minister for his contribution. It contained some very good news that I know others outside the Building will be delighted to hear. I hoped that you were going to say, Minister, that funding for the prevention of homelessness was guaranteed until the end of this mandate and not the end of this year, but we will take that one. <BR /> <BR />I thank Ciara Ferguson MLA, who is the convener of the all-party group on homelessness, for enabling the debate and ensuring that it had cross-party support before we came to the House. It is good for others outside this place to hear that all of us are in agreement about the fact that homelessness is a stark issue.”
“Thank you very much, Minister. I am glad to hear that consultation on the 'good jobs' employment rights Bill includes consideration for paid carers' leave. Will there be any guidance for employers about who a carer is?”
“Minister, you mentioned the decarbonisation of homes. That will go a long way to decarbonising Northern Ireland. What action have you taken with the Minister for Communities to ensure that steps are being taken to move houses away from fossil fuel dependency?”
“Thank you, Minister. What previous reviews have been undertaken of criminal legal aid remuneration levels, and what uplifts were agreed as a result?”
“Minister, congratulations on keeping your voice so far. We can tell that you have a sore throat. I hope that you get better soon. <BR /> <BR />I was delighted to hear your response about no-fault evictions. The Scottish model leaves a lot to be desired. In order to bring forward no-fault evictions, we need Part 2 of the Private Tenancies Act 2022 to come forward. Do you have any timescales for when you will bring that forward?”
“At times when the rest of us may be enjoying a holiday or in our constituency offices, the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee will be here in Parliament Buildings going through its business. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased that, overall, Members have welcomed the new provision, which I commend to the House.”
“We are certainly open to doing that in 12 months' time, once we have had time to look at how the substitute members provision has worked. I cannot go into the issue of proxy voting that was covered by the legal advice, but I can say that it reflects how the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee works, given that it has such legal determinations and votes to take. We will certainly look at the issue of proxy voting in 12 months: it is not to say that it will never be introduced; just to say that we will try the first option first. <BR /> <BR />It is important to support the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee in carrying out its functions and meeting its deadlines. The new Standing Order will assist it in doing that, particularly in periods of recess.”
“I will pick up, briefly, on some of the points that have been brought up today. In answer to the Chair of the Committee: yes, the Committee on Procedures will review the provision in 12 months to ensure that what we have put in place is good enough to allow your Committee to do its work. <BR /> <BR />To be honest, I was expecting there to be a lot more challenges to the motion, but I am glad not to have received those. <BR /> <BR />Legal advice was taken on proxy voting, and we cannot bring that forward. Let us test the substitute member provision first and see whether it works well. If it does, that is great; we will see how that flies. No one from any other Committee has asked for that type of replacement process, but that is not a call for the rest of you to jump on the bandwagon and to look for provision to have substitute members.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. As Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures, I welcome the opportunity to conclude today's debate on the motion to amend Standing Orders to provide for the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee to substitute members. I thank all those who have taken part in today's debate for their contributions, including the Chairperson of the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee, Philip McGuigan, and the Deputy Chairperson, David Brooks. I also thank the Clerks of the Committee on Procedures and those who provided legal advice for their diligent work in developing this new addition to Standing Orders. <BR /> <BR />There was unanimous support in the Committee for bringing forward the Standing Order, and Members' comments have been positive and supportive today.”
“However, I believe that it would be useful to have and that there should be a review of the Committee structures by the Assembly Commission and the independent body to recognise the fact that this is a Standing Committee that sits during recess. It sits many times. There are a lot of legal requirements and statutory duties on that Committee to vote for legal matters. It is time to recognise that there are some Committees of the House that are recognised as Standing Committees, not Statutory Committees, but carry just as much of a burden.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am pleased that we have been able to progress this work and bring forward the new Standing Order, which recognises the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee as a Standing Committee of the Assembly and assists it to fulfil its statutory functions through the provision of substitute Members. <BR /> <BR />I will speak briefly in my capacity as an individual MLA and say that I recognise just how busy the Windsor Framework Democratic Scrutiny Committee is. It is one of the busiest Standing Committees, given how often it meets. It is right that the Committee on Procedures does not review the internal operational workings of that Committee.”