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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“Do we need more autism clinicians? A Member mentioned training. We need more training, because the people who are doing the job got into it because they wanted to help people. They want to cure people; they want to make them better. We need to give them the training to do that. We also need to increase the number of clinicians. Does that mean giving the Health Minister more money? What is the cost for all of us of late diagnoses? What does that cost society? What does it cost our education system? What has been achieved from the progress report? What has the autism strategy done? The commercial sector has, in fact, improved things a lot more than we have as politicians.”
“I am not here to talk about failing people with autism; I am here to talk about failing all of us, particularly our health workers. They face enormous waiting lists, and those waiting lists are getting bigger and bigger, because the better we are at diagnosing and recognising autism, the more people are being added to those lists. <BR /> <BR />How do we make improvements? As Mr Gildernew said, some health trusts are doing this better than others, so let us look at what they do differently. Autism NI and the National Autistic Society (NAS) have pointed out that there is a significant difference between rural and urban people and how diagnoses happen. Why is that? Why are rural people not able to get as many diagnoses? Is it because rural people do not get autism? We know that that is not the case. We need to think about that.”
“I might not take my full five minutes. Everyone here acknowledges that we need to do better for people with autism. We need to do better for all people with disabilities. <BR /> <BR />In 2016, I had the privilege of sitting in the Public Gallery when my former colleague and predecessor, Kieran McCarthy, presented a petition signed by over 8,000 people asking for more investment to deal with diagnoses and waiting lists. The then Health Minister, Simon Hamilton, allocated £2 million per year, and I am delighted that that funding has continued. <BR /> <BR />What has happened since then? How can we help you, Minister? Is there a need for a clear cross-cutting theme in the next Programme for Government to support all those with the various types of learning disabilities?”
“I declare an interest, because I pay sponsorship money into Ards Football Club for its programmes. Minister, I am disappointed by your answers so far, but I understand the predicament that we are in. Ards Football Club has not had a home for quite some time. You said that the subregional stadia programme money might not actually be money that Ards could apply for, because it has no home at the moment. Have there been any discussions with the Strategic Investment Board about capital expenditure that clubs would be able to apply for?”
“Minister, I know that you are committed to the advice sector. In 2016, a Deloitte report confirmed that a new funding model was needed for the Belfast citywide tribunal service. What actions have you taken to move those recommendations forward, ensure that there is not a postcode lottery across Northern Ireland and ensure that those recommendations will be aligned across all council areas?”
“It can help the health staff and volunteers on whom we so depend during end of life. <BR /> <BR />On behalf of all who are going through their end-of-life journey and in memory of all who have died and their loved ones, I ask that we include indicators on death, dying and bereavement in the Programme for Government. It is privilege to support the motion.”
“We know how important it is to support our loved ones at their end of life and to help those of us who are left behind to be allowed to remember and grieve. I believe that we owe it to ourselves to learn about death at a much earlier age. That is not to scare any young person but to introduce death as a fact of life. Being prepared goes a long way in helping to cope with one of the most difficult times in a person's life. Why does our national curriculum not include the subject of death? Surely we could include a module on death and dying in a subject such as the personal development section of the learning for life and work area. I know that helping people to speak about death, about life and about coping with life during the time before, at and after death can help a family to grieve.”
“I had the privilege of being alongside midwives as we discussed how to break to a mother the bad news that she was about to be told. Those people break that news, they console, and then they go about their daily work. They are amazing. I pay tribute to each and every one of them. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the information provided by Marie Curie, which suggests that we add to the Programme for Government indicators to confirm the number of people on the palliative care register and the percentage of the population that is given the opportunity to discuss advance care planning. As we all know, data is the key that unlocks funding, and it is data that enables resources to be invested in key issues and priorities. <BR /> <BR />For those of us who have been through bereavement, I am very sorry. It is horrendous.”
“With an ageing population, the doubling of the number of people on the palliative care register and the impact of COVID on the ability to say goodbye, we need to address the issue as a matter of urgency. It is one of the key components of our mental health concerns across Northern Ireland. I know that support services are struggling to cope with demand. They struggled before COVID, but they are struggling even more now. Those support services are the other volunteers and organisations and charities that I know are helping families through a very demanding time. The need for sustainably funded bereavement support necessitates a strategic response from government. <BR /> <BR />As Ms Bradley said, we can only thank all those healthcare workers who break the news that a loved one is dying.”
“Death impacts every family and every individual, and it is a fact of life. In my past career, I have been a volunteer bereavement counsellor. It is a fact that the better we die, the better the quality of life for the person who is dying and for the people who are left behind. Death is a subject that people find it hard to talk about. Even amongst families, they find it difficult to discuss. It is the one aspect of life that impacts us all, and it is the aspect least addressed in our Programme for Government. Today, I hope that we will redress that issue and that it will finally come forward for consideration. <BR /> <BR />We need a regional palliative care or end-of-life strategy. As we know, and as Ms Bunting said, Living Matters, Dying Matters is six years out of date.”
“I support the motion, of course, and thank all those who brought it to the House. Later, my colleague Paula Bradshaw will make a winding-up speech on behalf of the parties that co-signed the motion. <BR /> <BR />As Benjamin Franklin said:”
“Minister, I appreciate what you have just said. However, if grammar streams are so important to the success of children, why have you refused grammar streams in integrated schools?”
“We should be reviewing our education system to ensure that the curriculum is able to bring children out of our school system and enable them to stay here and work in jobs that will make them money and keep them here. We need to work towards our children's future and not protect adults who have an interest in a particular school and grammar stream, an integrated school, a Catholic school, or whatever it is. We need to think about the children. Children are being harmed by the test. It is time we stopped it.”
“I say that they do not need to do it because enough grammar schools have chosen not to use that private test, which is managed by a private company, outside of our Minister of Education's control, to test our children. Those grammar schools are able to do that, and they have not closed, so I ask all Members to think again. <BR /> <BR />We have already agreed on the independent review of education. What happens if that independent review says that there will be no different sectors? Grammar schools are gone and integrated education is gone; it is all one. It is time for us to stop putting money into the pockets of the private sector, off the backs of our children. We need all children to be offered the best education possible. I do not make any apologies for that. <BR /> <BR />We have a skills shortage in Northern Ireland.”
“Fourteen is the age at which children pick their GCSEs, so that is a better time to decide whether their future is going to be down an academic path or a more practical path. It is about giving all children the opportunity. <BR /> <BR />I did the 11-plus, back in the bad old days. I am sorry to burst people's bubbles, but it has changed, completely and fundamentally. It is nothing like what it was in those days. Children are sitting five or more tests, and parents have paid for tutors. People in my area have to pay £10 for the boat, plus all of the mileage, there and back, to go to the post-primary school that is holding the test. It is an expensive test that we are forcing 10- and 11-year-olds to do when they do not need to do it.”
“I will talk fast, Mr Speaker, and will not take any interventions, especially not from those on this side of the House who have been giggling. Like my colleague Chris Lyttle, I support the motion and the amendment. <BR /> <BR />I am just a mummy and have come to the House as a mummy. I did not put my child through the 11-plus or the post-transfer test, as she was going to an all-ability integrated school where it was not needed. That is what we should be thinking about. <BR /> <BR />I heard Members saying that the Alliance Party is attacking grammar schools. We are not. Just do a different transfer test or something that does not test children at the age of 10 or 11. Over the past number of years, the Alliance Party has put in its manifestos that the age of 14 would be a better time to test, but that has been completely ignored by many.”
“Does the Member agree that a motion was accepted by every single person? The House did not divide on the independent review of education. That does not protect any sectors. We have already done this.”
“I have written to the Department on the issue, and, on several occasions, I have met officials about the 20 mph limit. I thank the Minister for that. I am probably the only Member who drives past Grey Abbey Primary School every day, several times a day. <BR /> <BR />Could the criteria be reviewed? While Grey Abbey Primary School is on a 30 mph zone of the A20, articulated lorries pass within two feet of the school wall. It is an extremely dangerous, blind corner where children run across the road with the lollipop person to avoid being run over by the many milk lorries and tankers. I ask the Minister to consider, in respect of the second tranche, that Grey Abbey could never have been included in the initial tranche because it is in a 30 mph zone. In fact, it is one of the most dangerously located schools in Northern Ireland.”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I do not mean to question your ruling on this. However, as a member of the Alliance Party, under d'Hondt, I would have been entitled to speak as the second Member speaking for the Alliance Party. I was not brought into the debate today. I ask that you take that decision back to the Speaker's Office to review.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. In the run-up to Earth Day, I am keen to ensure that, where we are talking about reducing carbon emissions, the Government are actually seen to do that. There are many car parking spaces at Civil Service and public buildings across Belfast. As new building regulations come forward, is consideration being given to whether people who put up new buildings will have to consider public transport access to them? Can it be a cross-government and cross-departmental commitment that all new buildings that follow the building regulations will have reduced car parking spaces in order to build upon public transport services?”
“I thank you and your Department for the help that you have given my office to assist businesses. <BR /> <BR />In mid-March, there was an announcement about top-up payments, but they are yet to be paid. When will businesses receive them? Additionally, where can businesses get an update on when their payment will be made?”
“The Minister mentioned hubs. How many people will the Connect2 hubs hold?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that it has been heartbreaking to hear, over the last week or so, from people who have been so traumatised by the amendment? It has traumatised a vast part of the community, which did not expect this to happen.”
“I am not frightened to say that it was a women's football match: those women hugged each other and loved each other, and we love them back. Roll on, 2022.”
“I will not take too long. It was mentioned that those on the women's football team are stars. I could not help but notice the smiles on each of their faces, and I am sure that, as we listened to the interviews afterwards, each one of us could do nothing but join them in those smiles. This Northern Ireland team is amazing. <BR /> <BR />It is a 17-year journey. The manager, Kenny Shiels, and the captain have invested a huge amount of time and, over the years, as others have said — I am not going to mention all the team members' names — these women have come to this level. As Deputy Chair of the Committee for Communities, and also as a member of the Women's Caucus, I have written to wish the team the best of luck. We wanted to welcome them to the sisterhood of women who are achieving.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. I support the Minister's commitment to social housing. Will she assure the House that she is committed to shared housing? We have recently seen disgraceful actions in Carrickfergus. Will she dedicate herself to providing shared housing where people from all cultures and backgrounds can live together and to ensuring that we stop enabling housing zones that exclude people based on religion, culture or race?”
“I thank the Member for giving way, and for pointing out that there are issues. What I would say is that we have mechanisms in place and I would prefer that we used those mechanisms. We all agree here on supporting the police and following the rule of law, and part of that law is our mechanisms. If the mechanisms are not right, then the Policing Board and others have the opportunity to amend them, but the mechanisms must be key, not the media.”
“Mr Middleton said that we could improve choices; as politicians, we can improve choices by not using contentious language. That contentious language gives criminals the excuse that they need to harm our community. They are harming it. I am aware that, while we are here, there is a protest happening outside City Hall by bus drivers who are terrified to go to work because one of their colleagues was petrol bombed. <BR /> <BR />We need to support our community — our whole community — together, and I welcome the opportunity to sit down with every Member. As for what Mr Nesbitt said, outside this room, I can sit over a cup of tea with any of you and take forward something proactive. It is our time to move all this away from the Troubles, not back into them.”
“I thank Mr Storey, and I thank you, Mr Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I do not consider Northern Ireland to have two communities. I am part of one community; issues for anybody are issues for all of us. I absolutely agree with Mr Storey, but can we knock on the head this craic about two-tier policing? I appreciate that he has concerns about the police force, but it is the same police force of which 55 members have been hurt. That number will probably increase. Those are people who are trying to protect us. Those are people who helped to get that health worker and her car out so that she could go about her business. At the time of a health pandemic, we need our health workers and our police. <BR /> <BR />There are young people out there.”
“Not just at the moment. <BR /> <BR />I want to rebuild trust. I want to bring forward political solutions. We know that political solutions can work. They worked in the past. I do not want my child to sit and watch news of petrol bombs being thrown at people. That is attempted murder. It is time that we stopped this carry-on. I am aware that, thankfully, the parties are meeting the Chief Constable and that the Policing Board has been meeting the police. These are the actions that the public need to hear about from us. The public also need to hear us use language not to heighten tensions and cause more problems and give people cover for criminal activities but to bring our community together.”
“Today, all parties need — not "have to" but need — to condemn the violence. We need to reaffirm our support for the police and the rule of law. We do not need to add to the pressures on the police at this time by undermining their leadership. This is an opportunity for parties to work together. When the recall petition came forward, a lot of people said to me, "Sure, this is a talking shop. It means nothing. There will be no action out of it." Can we leave today with action? It has been talked about by Mr Clarke. I welcome the opportunity to sit down and find out exactly what the issues are. There are lots of issues out there. We all know that. It is time that we in this place take on leadership and bring it forward.”
“I will not take up too much time. Folks, I grew up during the Troubles. I just want to take Members back to the reality of what has happened over the past few days. Last night, I watched two women on video. One stood at the side of the road clapping while a group of people wearing masks and dark clothes ran down the road. The other was a health worker who was trying to get her car out before the burning bus blocked her in. Why have we come to this situation? Why do we have two people who live and work in the same area having such different attitudes? It comes back to our failure to deliver a shared society. That has been mentioned previously. We have had T:BUC, shared housing and such stuff. Why has it not worked? It has not worked because, I believe, this place has not committed to it.”
“Let me be honest: I, my family and our whole community are sick of lockdowns, but we stay in lockdown to protect our loved ones, the community and the health service.”
“We are very close to Easter, another time when families want to be together. An apology would go a long way to help encourage those who are struggling to stick to the rules over Easter to know that they are doing the right thing by staying at home and not getting together. The message that this Government need to share is that we are still in lockdown and that regulations matter because they save lives. If leadership fails, the consequence will be another spike in numbers after Easter. We all know what that means: more lockdown.”
“That horrible guilt-ridden feeling of not being able to honour our loved ones lingers on. I know. That feeling has been reawakened with the PPS announcement. It has not gone away.”
“As outlined in the motion, Ministers O'Neill and Murphy and others attended an event that was not in the spirit or intention of the regulations. Will they resign? No. Will this pull down the Assembly again in the middle of a pandemic and during an economic crisis? It better not. I think that I speak for the majority of people outside the House when I say that we need to get back to work and stop undermining the very hard work that our community is completing and what we are all trying to achieve. <BR /> <BR />I say to both named Ministers that instead of talking about being sorry, be sorry and understand the pain caused to my aunt, my family and the many families who are angry at all of us and at themselves as they ask, "Why did we stick to the rules? Why did we not just have a wake and go to the funeral?".”
“I want it to say sorry for holding an event that went against the spirit and intention of the COVID regulations that you demanded that we follow. I do not know at this point whether you regret the event, and, if it were to happen again, would you do it again? PPS decision or not, this country needs to be able to trust political leaders. <BR /> <BR />Following RHI, there was a huge hill to climb to undo the damage done by the DUP on that matter. Instead of leading by example, Sinn Féin compounded the public's lack of trust in all of us. I have heard attempts to shift the blame on to the police, the Public Prosecution Service, the Justice Minister and even the Health Minister for how the regulations were written. Those are all a distraction. Let us get back to the core issue.”
“Not just at the moment. <BR /> <BR />I put it to the House that the impact of that event possibly led to the spread of the virus and more COVID deaths as people disregarded the advice to stay at home. <BR /> <BR />It is not enough to apologise for the hurt that others feel. On behalf of the Alliance Party, I want a public apology from Sinn Féin for its actions and for the event. As Mary Lou McDonald has confirmed, the event was meticulously planned. It was wrong. It went against the spirit of the regulations, and they, and we, all know it. <BR /> <BR />To reiterate, I do not want the Sinn Féin leadership to say that it is sorry that I and others have been hurt by its actions. I want an apology for its actions.”
“By holding its own version of a state funeral, it decided that nothing, even a health pandemic, would stand in the way of a public show of republican strength for a former senior member of the IRA. <BR /> <BR />That event has been accepted by Minister O'Neill as having undermined our COVID health message.”
“I am from one of the families who lost a loved one and was not allowed to attend a funeral. My aunt was one of the many people who saw her husband go into hospital only for him never to come out, to never have a wake, to have a closed casket and to have only a few people by her side as he was laid to rest. I come from a large family, and we are extremely close. We wanted to be there for her, to pay our respects to him and to grieve as we would normally have done, but we could not. We stuck to the rules. We did not find a loophole. <BR /> <BR />My intention today is not to upset a grieving family. Sinn Féin brought that family into the spotlight through its own actions.”
“If anyone had said a year ago that we would be here on April Fool's Day discussing how, after announcing to the public that they should stay at home in lockdown, a party of the recently formed Executive would then ignore that message and, instead, choose to congregate in a group of up to 2,000 people, with the result that our pandemic public health message was undermined, people would have said, "No way. That is not possible". So much for New Decade, New Approach. <BR /> <BR />Here we are discussing the actions of Sinn Féin, which knew that its actions were not in the spirit of the regulations, but chose to flout the guidance because the republican family needed it. No matter the technicalities of law that led the PPS to its decision, Sinn Féin played fast and loose with the rules that it asked the rest of us to follow.”
“Alliance absolutely supports the strategy mentioned today. As the amendment confirms, it is for the whole Executive to take responsibility for taking forward a strategy and ensuring that resourcing is available.”
“The Department of Education has agreed to take the lead on the working group, and I look forward to it taking forward that work to ensure that issues such as consent, rape myths and use of social media are covered in the school curriculum.”
“<BR /> <BR />As we know and others mentioned, the Gillen report recommended that relationships and sexuality education in schools be progressed under the Education (Curriculum Minimum Content) Order (Northern Ireland) 2007.”
“The Minister continues the work on modern slavery and trafficking and will publish her annual modern slavery strategy. The review of hate crime, as presented by Judge Marrinan, was published on 1 December. The Minister and her officials are considering the 34 recommendations, and a response is expected. On top of that, the Protection from Stalking Bill was introduced. The Minister and her officials are taking forward Sir John Gillen's recommendations through the implementation plan that will present a programme of transformation across the criminal justice system. Changes that many welcome include trauma-informed training for police, the Public Prosecution Service, legal professionals and other justice partners.”
“The domestic violence and abuse scheme enables police and their partners to manage risk better through the sharing of relevant information about a person's history of domestic abuse. The behavioural change programme aims to ensure the safety of women and children and prevent further abusive behaviour. The programme will develop an effective partnership with the five trusts across Northern Ireland. The Minister introduced domestic homicide reviews in December 2020 to enable learning from cases of homicide resulting from domestic violence. The consultation on enhancing legal protections for victims of domestic abuse closed last month. The consultation, as many know, sought views on creating new domestic abuse protection notices and protection orders.”
“That would send out a clear signal to all that acts of violence against women and girls, or anybody, are wrong and that we are committed to preventing anyone from ever being a victim again. <BR /> <BR />I mentioned the Minister of Justice, a woman who takes her fair share of abuse, I have to say, inside and outside the Chamber. I would like to thank Pam Cameron for recognising the work of the Minister. These are tough times. <BR /> <BR />Many in the House have spoken in debates about and been involved in scrutinising the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act, which received Royal Assent on 1 March. The Minister is also bringing forward investment for advocacy support services, which will support victims of domestic and sexual abuse as they go through the criminal justice system.”
“We all understand that, in creating a violence against women and girls strategy, we must take a gendered approach. As mentioned by others, men are, by far, the abusers, and they must therefore be part of the strategy. It cannot be hidden away as a women's issue. We have the chance to change, to improve and to encourage healthy relationships for everyone across society, but it will take a joined-up, targeted and funded approach to eradicate the scourge of violence. <BR /> <BR />I know that the Minister of Justice brought a paper to the Executive today. I do not what the paper's contents are, but I hope that it has been or will be discussed. Violence against women and girls is a pertinent and live issue. It is not going away. I sincerely hope that the Executive take positive action and take forward whatever is set out in the paper.”
“<BR /> <BR />By the time that an attacker reaches the criminal justice system, they have already acted violently against their victim. We need to stop women and girls, or anyone, becoming a victim in the first place. That has to start right at the beginning by ensuring that there is appropriate support through pregnancy and effective help through a child's early years and school years, and that, through the curriculum, everyone is taught to recognise what a positive relationship is and what to do if someone treats them badly, is abusive or is physically violent. We should seek to prevent people from becoming victims. <BR /> <BR />In the House, Members have, over a number of debates, confirmed the need to recognise that, while far too many women bear the brunt of violence, it is an issue not solely for women and girls but for all people.”
“On behalf of the Alliance Party, I welcome the motion and confirm that we will support the Green Party amendment. <BR /> <BR />In the last week, Northern Ireland has heard more sad news: another two women have died following an act of violence. If only that could be the last time that we hear such devastating news. Sadly, as we in the Chamber know, it will not be. When the next news report comes, we will shake our heads and express sympathy, knowing that that will not be the last time either. Violence against women and girls will continue until society as a whole says, "Enough". I support the amendment, because I believe that it is time that the whole Executive acted as a single unit to eradicate misogyny, sexism and violence against women.”