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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“The website will offer advice on money and debt, food and energy costs, benefits and grants, and housing, including what help may be available for people who are in rent or mortgage arrears. It will offer support for people with disabilities, carers, older persons and those with pet expenses and provide details of local advice centres across Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The reason that the group has stepped up is that the Trussell Trust reported in February 2024 — this is looking back at the financial year that we have just come through — that 55% of people receiving universal credit in Northern Ireland ran out of food in January 2024 and could not afford more. Some 14,000 people claiming universal credit in Northern Ireland have needed to use a food bank in the past month.”
“<BR /> <BR />In response, an emerging group of 14 organisations called Cost of Living 24 that includes Inspire Wellbeing, Housing Rights, South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP), Advice NI, Carers NI and the Healthy Living Centre Alliance will launch an online, updated cost-of-living response based on the Inspire Wellbeing website that was launched during COVID. Cost of Living 24, on the Community Wellbeing NI website, will be aimed at people accessing support for the first time, which is a trend that we see across our food banks in Northern Ireland. It is not just people on benefits but people who are working who can no longer afford to heat their home and eat.”
“This is the perfect opportunity to discuss the impacts of the 2023-24 Budget, as so many who have spoken before me today have done. As communities spokesperson for the Alliance Party, I get to see how difficult the lack of a progressive Budget is for the people who live in Northern Ireland. The Department for Communities recently reissued its 'Northern Ireland Poverty and Income Inequality Report, 2022/23'. It confirms that we have more children and more working-age adults living in absolute poverty. I expect that, when the updated report is issued for 2023-24, the numbers of people living in poverty will increase again, and that is shameful.”
“Minister, this is another long one for you today. Thank you very much for sticking with us; there are a lot of us contributing today. We are here to vote on the spring Supplementary Estimates, and I appreciate that it is a technical matter that completes the financial year that has just gone past. We should also look forward to when we will consider the Vote on Account that enables the Executive to spend money to keep this place afloat until such time as a Budget for 2024-25 is created.”
“Related to that, Minister, will you consider including within the statutory remit of the Fiscal Council an assessment of the cost of division in Northern Ireland and the effect that that has on public services, following yesterday's successful motion?”
“Thank you very much, Minister. To be honest, I am with you on this one. I do not think that every developer should be able to connect and that is it. However, when it comes to, as Mr Nesbitt talked about, the development in our constituency, the developer did not find out until the end, and then the costs were being passed on to the owners. <BR /> <BR />The other thing that has me concerned, having spoken to Northern Ireland Water, is that there was potential, where developers had paid a bond for a connection to waste water treatment works, for Northern Ireland Water to hand back those bonds, which would mean that the houses would not be built.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I agree with him: I do not want to see increased charges being put on any household. However, households in my constituency cannot access discretionary support because we are spending the budget on Northern Ireland Water and not on people who are in poverty. That causes an issue. The balancing act that we have to do in our Executive causes that type of difficulty, so we need to consider ways to balance that better.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Your story about your grandmother brings me back to our code of conduct. As MLAs, we are supposed to promote good relations. The motion gives us an opportunity to show the public that, as an Assembly, we are coming together in a way that is conducive to promoting good relations by tackling prejudice, promoting understanding and respect and encouraging participation.”
“Any time that I have contacted the local division, staff have been extraordinarily quick to come out and help, so fair play to them. As with the rest of your Department, Minister, I am sure that a few more pounds would help us, the A20 and your teams.”
“Parts of that footpath, as you come up to it from Newtownards and just beyond as you head out towards Portaferry, are down to no more than a 12-inch rule. It is tiny. It is not fit for purpose. <BR /> <BR />I sit on the Ards peninsula coastal erosion group. We have banged on about coastal erosion for a long time. Minister, a hard decision may have to be taken on this in the future: do we keep the A20, or do we move it? Moving it would be very expensive. We need to look at our measures in conjunction with the local community and Mount Stewart, who talk about managing coastal retreat and the coastal work. I would very much appreciate hearing anything that you have to say about coastal erosion and how we can handle it. <BR /> <BR />I very much thank your team.”
“There have been crashes involving buses going off the road or, sadly, domiciliary care workers in the early hours of the morning. At Mount Stewart, a stonemason had to be employed to replace the stones in part of a wall because it is hit that often. <BR /> <BR />We could do with some road safety signs on the road. I hope that those would not cost too much money, but reflective signs on some of the worst corners would not go amiss. I would also support any action that you, Minister, could take against private landowners who have allowed trees or plants to grow out over our footpaths. We could then take back those footpaths. The legal size of a footpath does not exist along part of the A20. Michelle McIlveen talked about Teal Rocks.”
“There are potholes that have been filled and refilled time and again. There is a lack of lights at junctions. I have asked the Department about that before. I appreciate that, as Michelle said, we can really keep up with the policy, but we are talking here about road safety. I have asked the Department whether there is any possibility that we could light up some of the junctions of the 60 mph section of the A20. I wish that everybody on the A20 did 60 mph, but I have to say that quite a few do a lot more than that. Lights would be an improvement. As Michelle mentioned, moving the speed limit further beyond Teal Rocks would certainly help that part of the A20. <BR /> <BR />I would love to know why there cannot be crash barriers at key points when we know that there have been umpteen dozen crashes at them.”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. I may take you at your word on that. <BR /> <BR />I have to say, Minister, that, if you drive the whole way along that road — the local vernacular may confuse you, but your officials should be able to keep you right — you will see that there is not a part of the straight on Grey Abbey that has not been cut up by a utility company and put back quite badly. The straight from Grey Abbey to Kircubbin is awful. I am probably the one person in the House who is on it twice or three times a day. It pulls you so hard into the centre of the road that it is hard to keep a car on track because of the utility cuts on it.”
“<BR /> <BR />A road does not kill anyone. It can sit all day: if nobody is on it, nobody will get hurt. However, as soon as you have drivers on it and the conditions that we have on the A20, all of a sudden you get a dangerous situation. <BR /> <BR />I agree with some of the things that Michelle asserted need to be done. There are certain things, Minister, I ask you to consider. We have only three minutes in these debates, so I will not take too long.”
“I thank Michelle McIlveen MLA, a fellow Strangford representative, for securing the Adjournment debate. <BR /> <BR />Minister, I am a bus woman. As you may know — some of your Department definitely know — I worked in infrastructure for 16 years before I came to the House. Apart from a Euro 6 engine, a road surface is the thing that really gets my geek on: I can tell you about road surfaces that will keep the noise down. <BR /> <BR />I agree completely with Michelle McIlveen: the Portaferry road — the A20 — is a dangerous road. It snakes around Strangford lough and, as it does, is not very forgiving. If a driver makes a mistake, boy do they make a mistake. They will end up either in the lough or up against one of the walls. Mount Stewart and Grey Abbey House are two of the places that have significant lengths of wall along them.”
“It might also help older people, like those in my constituency, who find driving long distances extremely difficult. When such people see that they need to travel from, for example, Newtownards to Enniskillen, they will decide that they are not going to go to the MOT test and will sit at home without a car.”
“We all should remember that, in the House, not all women are treated equally. Because of the way our system is built, the votes of some, like me, are not counted in the same way as the votes of others. If we are to be true to the spirit of International Women's Day, let us bring forward reform so that everyone is treated equally in the House. <BR /> <BR />Let us seize the opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to building a world where every woman is valued, respected and given the opportunity to thrive. Together, let us break down the barriers, challenge stereotypes and pave the way for brighter and more equitable future for all.”
“That is unacceptable in a society that prides itself on fairness and equality. We must take decisive action to address the root cause of poverty, including inadequate wages, a lack of affordable housing and limited access to essential services. Why is the anti-poverty strategy not being prioritised? The draft is awaiting publication. Adopting an anti-poverty strategy as something that underpins the next Programme for Government will help to lift so many women out of poverty. <BR /> <BR />International Women's Day serves as a call to action for all of us to redouble our efforts to advance gender equality and empower women from all walks of life. By supporting initiatives like childcare and addressing the pressing issue of poverty that affects women in our communities, we can create a more just and inclusive society for future generations.”
“Thank you, Deputy Speaker. <BR /> <BR />As I was saying, let us not forget carers, 60% of whom are older women like me. All carers should be respected and recognition should be given to them, like it is for mothers and fathers, to provide them with help and support. The Carers NI report entitled 'Careers or Care' confirmed that one in three women with an unpaid caring responsibility has had to give up work. How is that equality? <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, we cannot ignore the stark reality of the poverty that affects women in Northern Ireland. Statistics due to be released by the Northern Ireland Audit Office (NIAO) are expected to confirm that a significant number of women are living in poverty and are struggling to make ends meet and provide for their families.”
“Sixty per cent of carers are older women like me. I am a carer. All carers should be respected.”
“Emma Sheerin MLA has highlighted the debates that we have had in the Assembly since it finally started up again, and it has been wonderful to see women's health, violence against women and girls and childcare being discussed. <BR /> <BR />The Alliance manifesto outlined concrete commitments to address the systemic challenges facing women in Northern Ireland, and one crucial aspect is the childcare piece that others have brought up. Accessible and affordable childcare is not just a woman's issue; it is an economic imperative and a fundamental pillar of gender equality. The importance of investing in high-quality childcare services is that it ensures that every child has access to the care and education that they deserve and empowers women to fully participate in the workforce. However, let us not forget carers.”
“International Women's Day is a global celebration of the remarkable achievements of women across the world. I thank the Speaker for an inspiring event on Thursday evening, when we heard from civic female leaders about their roles in the judiciary, universities, the arts and sport. It was a very inspiring event. International Women's Day serves as a poignant reminder of the progress that we have made towards gender equality, but it also sheds light on the significant work that remains ahead of us. <BR /> <BR />The people elected us to the Assembly, and it is our duty to advocate policies and initiatives that break down barriers, challenge stereotypes and foster environments where all women are valued and respected.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answers so far. Minister, you mentioned that the Department for Communities is responsible for the anti-poverty strategy. We have not yet seen a draft of that strategy. Will you write to the Minister for Communities to ensure that the work that you are doing on food poverty will be included in it?”
“Unfortunately for the Opposition, I believe that the motion will be voted down. I will not vote against it, because any discussion is better than no discussion at all. I hope that other Members will count the clock down. It is time to change this place, and the time is now.”
“I am standing here again saying what I said earlier: my vote will not count the same. It makes a mockery of this whole place. <BR /> <BR />As I said, I will not stand against the motion today, but I have to say that, of the seven people who are talked about in the motion — the seven representatives on the Committee — four will vote against anything to do with reform of the institutions. They have done that today and will continue to do so. We could take the matter out of the House and go to a citizens' assembly. I am happy to consider that, because the people outside the House actually get this an awful lot more than the people in the House do. Collapse without any reforms is unforgivable. In the debate on public-sector pay, we heard that it is hurting the very people who elect us to the House. It is time for reform to go forward.”
“However, let us be very clear: even if the AERC comes out with a recommendation to move towards reform, as has already come out and was clarified at last week's Committee on Procedures, it will still be for the UK Government to bring forward those reforms in law. Any changes to the Northern Ireland Act cannot be taken forward by this House. Then, of course, once that happens, it will be for the Committee on Procedures to make any changes to Standing Orders. Therefore, there are a lot of things to go through before we get this. As the leader of the Opposition said, time is tight on this one, and we have a lot to get through before we even get to the stage of changing Standing Orders. <BR /> <BR />I point out to the House that any changes to Standing Orders will require a cross-community vote, and guess what, folks?”
“I will not stand in anyone's way of them discussing the necessary reforms, as it will allow parties the opportunity to catch up on what Alliance has been talking about for, to be honest, a couple of decades. Although I will not block the motion, I have to ask why we keep on needing to have Committees. <BR /> <BR />I sat on the AERC in the previous mandate. We went through an investigation, but, because of the make-up of that Committee, we did not come to any recommendations. It was drawn out and dragged on so that nothing came out of it. I hope that the current AERC might go back over the wealth of experience that was brought into some of those reports and come out with some recommendations.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and welcome the fact that he is looking at the issue. What is his Department doing, and how will he be able to prevent any inconsistencies across trusts when it comes to accessing ADHD services and medications?”
“Given that the deputy First Minister is thinking about changes in the possible locations of the international offices, how will human rights be promoted in those areas? As a liberal democracy, we need to promote that issue too.”
“Does the Member accept that the feelings of the people who elected me — I was the first person to be elected to this House at the last election — have been papered over by the DUP? You stayed out of government and you do not accept my votes in this House. How can you marry up what you are saying to the actual facts?”
“I would love it if the motion had built into it that, if it passed, the Speaker could write to the co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement — the UK and Irish Governments — confirming that it is the will of the House that the designations system and the definition of cross-community voting be updated so that I am not left out of it again. <BR /> <BR />We must move forward to ensure an inclusive, fair and sustainable government —”
“We want to update, not wipe out, the 1998 Act, so that, if a party that is eligible to nominate a First Minister does not want to do so, the entitlement can be passed to the next-largest party. A party would be able to refuse the nomination without triggering a veto on Executive formation. That is consistent with the current position on the allocation of the other Executive Ministers under d'Hondt. <BR /> <BR />We in the Alliance Party are committed to stable and sustainable power-sharing that respects liberal, democratic principles and enables the development of a shared future, but, as stated by Professor Paul Dixon in his written submission to the AERC:”
“Minority ethnic groups have increased in size, and the number of people living here who were born outside the UK and Ireland is up to around one in 15, which is the highest ever recorded. The number of those who are forced to identify as other — there are those of us who prefer to be called United Community — has increased between the 2011 census and the 2021 census. There is no justification for the continuation of the designations system. <BR /> <BR />Alliance also wants to see change in how the First Minister and deputy First Minister are nominated. We want to update how we nominate the First Minister and deputy First Minister in order to ensure the stability and sustainability of our institutions.”
“<BR /> <BR />Alliance wants to see the removal of designations and to change cross-community voting, because the current system embeds division and creates instability. Why should my vote count differently from that of the rest of you in this Building? Why is my vote not the same as a nationalist or a unionist's vote? Why, in 2024, is my vote still different? Replacing parallel consent with weighted majority voting is an important change to reduce the significance and role of designations. It is in the Good Friday Agreement. Society has changed — it is more diverse and inclusive — but that is not reflected or respected in this House. You are only equal if you are nationalist or unionist. That is unfair, and the time to change is now. <BR /> <BR />In the 2021 census, we can see that the population is more diverse.”
“In fact, I brought it up again at the first Committee for Procedures meeting, and it was confirmed that the legal changes that will be needed to make the reforms will have to be made by the co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement: the UK Government and the Irish Government. <BR />If we are serious about these institutions, we need to act now to ensure that this does not happen again. We need to deliver for the people of Northern Ireland and step up for future generations to ensure that our hard-fought-for political peace process continues to enable Northern Ireland to reach its full potential. The Good Friday Agreement is a foundation of peace and progress. Our political structures should and will also be involved in that.”
“The Assembly and Executive Review Committee (AERC) in the previous mandate prioritised reforming designations and the appointment of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. Sadly, there was no real appetite among other parties to take action to remove the power to use their veto. Even after the Alliance motion was passed by the House, with no party voting against the motion, nothing was done to take forward the change needed to create sustainable government. The AERC collected all the information, but nothing was actioned because kicking the can down the road meant that the veto could remain. <BR /> <BR />We could have mitigated the risk of a single party pulling down the Assembly. We could have delivered change that would have protected the democratic institutions.”
“We can do so by having sustainable government that cannot be collapsed by any party.”
“On 19 October 2021, I stood in this place to lead a debate on a motion on reform. Everyone in the House voted for it. There was no Division, as the House agreed the motion. I stood then, after a period of collapse brought about by Sinn Féin, and I stand here now, talking about reform, after a period of collapse brought about by the DUP. Last time, I talked about a demoralised workforce, about the harm being caused to our services in Northern Ireland, about the harm being caused to carers — an issue that is very close to my heart — and about poverty. The same things are present today. Nothing has changed in the past number of years. We continue to fail the people of Northern Ireland because of the Assembly's persistent collapse. <BR /> <BR />How can we change that?”
“<BR /> <BR />The RNLI's 200th anniversary is not just a celebration of the past but a call to action for the future. Let us in the House reaffirm our commitment to supporting the RNLI, whether that is through donations, volunteering or simply spreading awareness of its invaluable work. Together, we can ensure that the next 200 years are marked by even greater achievements in maritime safety and rescue. Let us salute the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on this momentous occasion and honour its legacy of courage, compassion and service humanity. May it continue to be the guardian of the sea for generations to come.”
“<BR /> <BR />As we celebrate this historic occasion, let us not forget the sacrifices made by the brave men and women of the RNLI nor the support of the communities that stand with them. Only yesterday, Portaferry RNLI was called out to a casualty, a boat that had broken free and was drifting inland from Kearney, at the edge of the Ards peninsula. The volunteers give up their time, often walking away from family events, dinners and their sleep in order to help others. Together with the coastguard, they form an unbreakable chain of solidarity, ensuring that no call for help goes unanswered. Amidst the celebrations, however, let us recognise the challenges that lie ahead. Climate change, technological advancements and evolving patterns of maritime activity demand that we remain vigilant and adaptable.”
“In Northern Ireland, particularly in my constituency of Strangford, which has the longest coastline, the RNLI's presence is deeply felt, with stations dotting the coastline, ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. They are all volunteers. From Kilkeel to Donaghadee, from Newcastle to Portaferry, the stations stand as pillars of safety, guarding our shores with vigilance and dedication. <BR /> <BR />The RNLI's legacy is measured not just in years or numbers but in the countless lives saved, the families reunited and the communities strengthened. Its commitment to training, innovation and collaboration has made our waters safer for all who venture out to sea.”
“In making my Member's statement, I follow on from what Ms Forsythe said by congratulating the RNLI. Today, we stand on the cusp of history, celebrating a monumental milestone in maritime safety and rescue. Today is the 200th anniversary of the RNLI. It has provided two centuries of unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea. <BR /> <BR />Founded in 1824 by William Hillary, the RNLI has been a beacon of hope for countless souls in distress, embodying the spirit of courage, selflessness and resilience. For two centuries, its volunteers have braved the tempests, risking their lives to rescue those who are in peril on the sea.”
“I am delighted that the Member has brought up the pressures that would be added to our fishing fleet. I use the example of Iceland, where improving the environmental outputs of vehicles has resulted in its fishing fleet being able to land heavier catches. There is a benefit to being more environmental in the fishing industry.”
“Sadly, the Minister's job will be made ever more difficult due to the outworkings of Brexit, limited access to funds and Northern Ireland's Budget situation. I will not speak for much longer. Following the motion, what positive words can the Minister provide to the House and to our local fishing industry on how he will be able to help the industry in the time ahead?”
“I note with more than a passing interest the progressive actions being taken in Iceland, where the Minister of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries is incentivising investment in new and modified boats that run on electricity. Tests on an all-electric longline handling system are providing very interesting and positive findings. I ask the Minister to take the opportunity to outline some of the solutions that he aims to bring forward in order to assist our fishing industry and my constituents, working out of Portavogie, to move forward with their environmental targets.”
“<BR /> <BR />I listened to the proposer of the motion, my fellow Strangford MLA Michelle McIlveen, discuss the need for capital investment in order to bring in larger vehicles. Like the Minister, many in the fishing industry and all Members, I want to see improvements to the fishing fleet also meet environmental targets.”
“That investment provides a huge opportunity for Portavogie and will potentially enable the delivery of work that will complement fishing, such as realigning and securing the existing crane rails along the length of the existing slipway, which would ensure the smooth running of a boat cradle that can slip large vessels of up to 400 tons in weight. What complementary options do we have? At a meeting in Portavogie with a prospective offshore wind farm group, its representatives explained that there was potential for the local fishing fleet to transport wind turbine blades and other equipment to their proposed site. Having that additional weight of crane to lift equipment makes such a difference to the harbour's potential.”
“I take the opportunity to thank the Minister for prioritising the fishing industry in his first few weeks as Minister. I greatly appreciate the fact that he met members of the Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority (NIFHA) and local fishermen during his recent visit to Portavogie harbour, as well as his meeting the Northern Ireland Fishermen's Federation (NIFF). <BR /> <BR />During his visit to Portavogie, the Minister congratulated NIFHA on securing an offer from the UK Seafood Fund of 75% of the £3·6 million cost of an upgrade to the current slipway facilities at Portavogie, confirming that DAERA has already provided financial assistance towards the development costs associated with the UK Seafood Fund application by providing the 25% match funding that is required to complete the investment by 31 March 2025.”
“Probably unlike a lot of Members in the House — maybe I am in the wrong place to say that — I live 3 miles from Portavogie harbour. When I was growing up, my summers were spent in Isobel Piper's prawn factory, peeling prawns. The fishing industry is local to my heart and local to the Ards peninsula. To be honest, apart from tourism, fishing is the key industry on the peninsula. We have lost a lot of construction workers, who have disappeared off around the world, but our fishing industry remains, and the boats come back in every day. If it were not for our fishing industry, we would not have the New Quays, Bestie's cafe or many of the other businesses in Portavogie. <BR /> <BR />As the previous Member to speak said, 1,500 jobs come out of the fishing industry. Many of them are in my constituency of Strangford.”
“I thank the Member for his comments. They are very passionate, and I agree with his passion. As he said, we are failing those children. If we keep throwing the same money and more money at a system that is not delivering, we have to ask this question: is what we are spending our money on us spending it well?”