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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“I ask the Finance Minister to work with the Minister for Communities to bring forward the Housing (Amendment) Bill to reclassify housing associations urgently, as this will ensure that enough new homes can be built and that co-ownership remains an option and operational. If the Department for Communities is to enable access to decent, affordable, sustainable homes and housing support services, we need the legislation to enable this to happen as soon as possible. <BR /> <BR />Some of the resource money being given back by Communities relates to programmes that have not been taken up as well as they could have been; for example, the rates rebate programme. That money is available to help people pay their rates, but, because few people knew about it, they were not able to avail themselves of the support.”
“Substantial, eye-watering amounts were surrendered by the Department for Communities: £38·8 million of DEL resource and £36·4 million of DEL capital. I am sure that, like me, the public will be shocked by the amount that it gave back, especially at a time when many people struggle to make ends meet. As we are all aware, the Department for Communities is the place that is supposed to provide a fair system of financial help to those in need. <BR /> <BR />Much of the money that is being returned — £36·2 million — is from financial transactions capital. The Department cannot spend this money because of the classification of housing associations. This matter needs to be addressed as quickly as the welfare mitigations.”
“<BR /> <BR />If the Civil Service had not been enabled to continue to deliver services, I expect that Prime Minister Johnson's Secretary of State would now be in control. Goodness knows what delights they could have imposed on us. Thank you to our civil servants, especially those whose names and faces are now known to the public. Our Civil Service normally remains in the background. However, due to the impasse, and whether it was intended or not, some civil servants were thrust into the spotlight. <BR /> <BR />Going back to the spring Estimates and the Vote on Account, as the Alliance spokesperson for Communities, I thank the Minister for sharing the details thus far, but I also raise significant concerns.”
“It is not next year's Budget. It is just a glimpse of what we need to roll forward. <BR /> <BR />We are discussing this year's money because the Budget for this financial year was set when the Assembly was not sitting. No MLAs had an opportunity to scrutinise this year's Budget or in-year monitoring rounds. As a result, we are being asked to Vote on Account so that Departments do not run out of money. <BR /> <BR />I add my thanks to those expressed by other Members to the Civil Service, which carried Northern Ireland through the missing Assembly years. Thankfully, they kept the lights on and the wheels turning while there was an absence of responsibility. I thank the two largest parties for getting us back, but it took far too long.”
“Today's debate should be a non-event. We are debating something that should be a matter of process. However, as this refers to a Budget set by the Secretary of State, and given the fact that no Committees have thus far been able to scrutinise it or in-year monitoring rounds, we are, understandably, taking the opportunity to discuss our financial situation. <BR /> <BR />We are discussing the resolution that confirms this year's detailed spending for each Department. We are also discussing the Vote on Account for 2020-21. We all know that this will allow existing services to continue in the early months of the new financial year, as the introduction in the paperwork that we received states:”
“Will the Minister confirm whether his Department has done any scoping exercise on yellow school buses to see whether they can be used by youth organisations, given the fact that youth organisations also fall under his remit? I am very aware that the yellow buses sit doing nothing most weekends, all summer and during other holiday periods. Very little use is made of them. Your Department is in charge of youth services as well, so I am interested to know what scoping exercise has been done to make those vehicles available, with or without driver, to youth organisations.”
“The removal of mineral permissions, as we know, was never really introduced in Northern Ireland, and we wait for the Minister for Infrastructure to bring that forward. Many of us have quarries in our areas that are, to be honest, extremely concerning. Can the Minister confirm that we have people going out across the world, selling the benefits of mining in Northern Ireland without considering the impact on our local communities? Is the Minister in any way surprised that, whenever these mines open, communities are extremely angry and do not understand why this is being sold on the world stage? Perhaps the Minister can clarify what communication she will have with communities to explain why we are selling Northern Ireland in that way when they are so opposed to it?”
“I will follow that up by asking the Minister whether he has had any clarification at all about where the border will be in the Irish Sea.”
“Minister, I appreciate that this is a big issue for your Department and especially for the Housing Executive. Will you provide any of the actions that you have considered to date on how to future-proof the Housing Executive? Perhaps you could provide them in writing. What plans do you have to make sure that the Housing Executive is stable, out of debt and fit for purpose to deliver the much-needed housing across Northern Ireland?”
“I will not talk about the Portaferry Gala but instead go to question 4.”
“All I ask of the Minister is this: I know that you have a lot of pressures, especially with your budget, but, when you are considering this coming in, let people know, so that those who are stuck in that situation — those who are 35 or 36, who maybe have done one round and are thinking about going through for their second or have not yet had their first round — know whether to remortgage their house or wait.”
“I appreciate that there are a lot of priorities. Some people will say, "What's this fertility thing? Cancer is more important" or, "Heart problems are more important" or, "Looking after people is more important". It should not be like that. When part of your body does not work and is letting you down and when society expects you to have a family and we have a system that can help us through that, we should offer it to people in Northern Ireland, especially given the fact that their sisters or friends in Scotland can have the same thing.”
“<BR /> <BR />As you can imagine, having gone through the process and having been a bereavement counsellor for a number of years, I have spoken to quite a number of women. Many people who are going through the process have said to me, "Am I out? Is this not going to happen for me? I didn't get any embryos", or, when they did the frozen transfer, that was it — it was all over and done with. Many people are asking, "Can we find out as soon as possible, Minister, when this will take place?". Amendment No 1 alludes to that and the time pressure from the age of 35. <BR /> <BR />I say this to the Minister: the technical, medical solution is available for those of us who have fertility problems. It is something that we will all go for, but, before somebody remortgages their house, they want to find out how quickly it might come forward.”
“We need to be honest with our young people and say that fertility and that aspect of life does not always go smoothly. There are many people who find out that they have secondary infertility following a miscarriage, when the process after miscarriage has left them infertile. It is something that we should consider taking forward with our Minister of Education to ensure that people are told exactly what can and cannot happen when it comes to fertility. I am grateful that that amendment is there, because, if somebody had told me in my teenage years what the future would hold, I probably would not have believed them, but, at least, I would have been prepared and known where to go to seek support.”
“When you say to somebody, "No, we will take away the opportunity for you to ever have your own child", it is better for them to hear that from a doctor than from a bank manager. The three rounds are important. Not everybody will take the three rounds, because, once you get pregnant, that will be it, and, hopefully, you have a healthy pregnancy and your baby or babies at the end of it. However, there are others who would like to continue their family. For some of us who have fertility issues, the three rounds are important. <BR /> <BR />We have to be realistic, and I appreciate that the Minister will have competing priorities. Some of the investment may have to come from Education, and amendment No 2 mentions "fertility education".”
“<BR /> <BR />To anyone who is wondering, "Why three rounds of IVF?", I say that, often, people will find, when they go through IVF, that it takes time to get the right drug mix in place in order for IVF to work. When you go through IVF, there may well be a case that there is a failure to obtain any embryos. There are fresh and frozen embryos. I did not have any fresh transfers done, because I had developed, as many do, ovarian hyperstimulation. That means that you end up full of fluid and, normally, in hospital for a week or more. It is not an easy process to go through. <BR /> <BR />The three rounds are important because the medication may take time to settle down, and the first time is not always the first one that works — anybody it does work for, congratulations to them.”
“IVF is very personal to me. I have not hidden the fact that I have been through the process myself. I can only pay tribute to the patience, kindness and professionalism of the Regional Fertility Centre, which looked after me for nine years. <BR /> <BR />IVF is painful, it is emotional and it is devastating. I, unfortunately, was not able to have a child as a result of IVF. All I can say is that it is not something I regret doing. I thank Fairness in Fertility. Jemma Dolan mentioned the event that they held in the Long Gallery, and that brought back a lot of memories for me. I also thank the Fertility Network, which has worked extremely hard to get this brought forward for people in Northern Ireland.”
“I declare an interest, having worked in community transport for 16 years before coming to the House in 2016. I am very grateful for the Minister's words. I worked for so many years, lobbying the Committee, to try to get those words into the Department. She mentioned it being sustainable. As many in the House will know, one of the things that has happened with community transport is the ongoing threat to its existence because of the lack of clarity on operating licences. Will the Minister commit to sorting out the issue of the section 10B permit, or replicate the GB system by bringing in section 19 or section 22 community bus services? Without that clarification, community transport is dying on the vine.”
“I am aware that there are representatives of trans persons on that review panel. However, the criteria to pick those people were never published. As we come out of New Decade, New Approach, and in light of civic engagement and public consultation, other organisations such as TransgenderNI may be involved in that review. Will the Minister meet TransgenderNI?”
“It will be very quick. Thank you very much for your patience, Mr Speaker. <BR /> <BR />There is an increasing body of evidence against academic selection. Can the Minister of Education cite any specific independent research in favour of the suitability of academic selection?”
“When I contacted officials in the Minister's Department while this place was not sitting, they stated that they did not have enough resources to adequately protect and take preventative action against owners of historic sites like Kircubbin harbour in my constituency to prevent them being destroyed through lack of upkeep. What action will the Minister take to resource her Department so that it can take legal action to require private owners to fulfil their responsibility to look after such sites?”
“The First Minister mentioned the trade sector, but the service sector also imports and exports. What consideration has she given to and what discussion has she had about the service sector under Brexit?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. This morning, while we have been in the Chamber, the Minister for Communities made a statement to the press about welfare mitigations. We were all told that the ministerial statement should have been available by 11.30 am. I have checked again and, as of this time, it is not available. I believe that the Minister has not followed Standing Order 18, under which there should have been an oral statement to the House. I do not believe that a Minister should announce it to the press before announcing it to Members.”
“We all agreed that we did not agree with the withdrawal agreement, and now it is time to set out our stall to make sure that, for life here to continue, we protect our businesses and our citizens. Brexit may have happened to us, but we will not let it hinder us.”
“We may be dictated to over our heads. <BR /> <BR />Boris Johnson appears to be diametrically opposed to what is happening in Northern Ireland and listening to Northern Ireland's needs. So, in this place, we must come together in damage limitation mode to ensure that Northern Ireland is protected, it is Northern Ireland first, and it is Northern Ireland that takes the lead in some of those discussions. Our voice has to be heard. <BR /> <BR />I am disappointed that we did leave. Friday night in my house was extremely quiet. It was a night of reflection and a night of what was lost, but all is not completely lost. We have come together in the Assembly and have a purpose.”
“I opposed Brexit. I did not think that it would be good for Northern Ireland, and I remain convinced that that is the case. However, now we have to rebuild and fill those gaps. There are uncertainties, and today our Prime Minister made a speech that may bring further challenges for Northern Ireland and, indeed, costs to this place. <BR /> <BR />We need the softest Brexit possible. Checks down the Irish Sea seem to be inevitable. We need to consider how we are going to deal with those and how we can encourage the rest of the UK not to leave us at sea, peripheralised and left on our own. We have heard from several businesses about how they will be able continue, including from hauliers who are trying to get products across either a sea or a border on the island. We need to think about what is happening. There are uncertain parameters today.”
“Finally, it is important that the shape of the future relationship covers not just goods but services and the movement of people. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, there is a gap between the rhetoric, declarations and promises of the UK Ministers and reality. Therefore, Alliance confirms its support for the motion. We do not agree to the Assembly's giving its consent.”
“First, we should not tolerate a trade-off between some sort of interface on the island of Ireland or having the interface down the Irish Sea. Secondly, the focus of current debate is largely on the interface between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. However, the Great Britain to Northern Ireland interface is just as important and, indeed, more complicated. Its nature largely depends on the nature of the free trade agreement. Indications here, so far, are not good, but even a more benign free trade agreement is not the same as a customs union and a single market. Thirdly, there is an ambiguity on Northern Ireland's future trade relationships. Rather than having what could have originally been a foot in both camps, we could now end up being marginal in both the UK and EU arrangements.”
“Moreover, there are many unresolved issues for Northern Ireland. The cross-party group's joint amendment, which was not permitted, sought to capture and address many of those issues. Positively, we have seen some progress via UK commitments to Northern Ireland's being represented on the Joint Committee and the specialised Committee when it is being discussed and to legislate to guarantee unfettered access from Northern Ireland to Great Britain. However, it is unclear how both of these commitments will be met in practice. The UK Government need to go further and give commitments on the specific points in the amendment. We hope to bring that forward at some other stage. <BR /> <BR />It is worth making some points in the wider context.”
“This will have implications for any Irish Sea interface. Thirdly, the Bill has a significant impact on devolved powers and competencies. This is the main thrust of the motion from the First Minister and deputy First Minister. Fourthly, and related to that, there is set to be extensive use of the so-called Henry VIII powers and other deleted powers granted to UK Ministers to shape outcomes without accountability and scrutiny. <BR /> <BR />The passing of the motion by the Assembly is set to be constitutionally significant. We have been asked by the UK Government to pass a legislative consent motion as is required under the Sewel convention. The Assembly is set to say no. The Scottish Parliament has already said no. We have heard that the Welsh Assembly is to debate it tomorrow. However, the UK Government are set to proceed regardless.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Theresa May deal provided a more credible soft landing. By contrast, the Johnson deal is much more challenging. Northern Ireland does need a special deal to address our particular circumstances. We should not fear Northern Ireland being different; the core challenge is how that difference is managed. <BR /> <BR />The withdrawal Bill itself raises a number of problems. First, there is uncertainty that a trade deal with the EU or a wider future relationship can be reached within the next 11 months. At best, this might be a mere fig leaf. It creates a significant risk of a no-deal outcome for the UK, with particular implications for us here in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Secondly, the nature of that future relationship is unclear. The Chancellor has stressed recently that the UK will not actively align with the EU.”
“Alliance continues to be a pro-European party. We believe that Northern Ireland should be part of the EU and that there is no such thing as a good or sensible Brexit. Northern Ireland will be worse off under all Brexit scenarios. That said, we accept that Brexit is now inevitable in less than two weeks' time. We now need to focus on taking the rough edges off the Brexit deal and standing up and protecting Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />Our society works only on the basis of sharing and interdependence, yet all forms of Brexit entail some degree of friction, boundaries or borders. That risks creating a perception of winners and losers. Our economy is integrated for sales and supply chains on a North/South and east-west basis, and it is wrong to see either avenue being compromised.”
“Today, unfortunately, just because of the timescales, we will be voting against the motion.”
“Today, it feels as though we are caught between a rock and a hard place. Although we were part of a cross-party group that wanted an amendment to go forward, we find that the timescales are so tight that we are not allowed. This motion is absolutely correct. We should have been afforded the time to put forward our amendments. However, that is not the case, and, as others have indicated — Mr O'Dowd, for example — the timescales are against us, set not in this place but in another place. <BR /> <BR />Unfortunately, and with a very heavy heart, we cannot agree with Mr Allister today. We want to go forward with the Executive Office's motion. I thank you, Mr Speaker, for writing to the Executive Office. The Assembly needs to be able to scrutinise and amend appropriately, and I thank you for taking that forward.”
“How many schools that have already applied and have been awarded money — probably under the permanent secretary — are yet to receive funding? Will he, at some stage, publish the funding that each school receives?”
“I will try to be brief. I thank the Minister very much for telling the public that we actually have money that can be spent on our schools that are in crisis. I welcome him, of course, back into his ministry. I am delighted that a number of schools in our constituency, such as Killinchy and Glastry, are included. Much-needed work needs to be done there. <BR /> <BR />The Minister talks about the immediate impact, and I know it could take a bit of time for this to happen, but we need to think also towards the long-term delivery of investment. All this needs to be fed into the root-and-branch review of education that we have agreed on in the new deal document. How will the Minister ensure that that is fed through?”
“The Alliance Party has opposed this role each time that it has come up, for the reasons that have already been spelt out. It is an honorary title. Our opposition is no reflection on any of the three Deputy Speakers. We just feel that, in this day and age, it is not right to elevate someone above the other Deputy Speakers when that is not the case. There is no money attached to the position. There is no privilege or prestige to it other than a title. Therefore, the Alliance Party will be opposing any nominations.”
“We choose the Audit Committee and appoint Andrew Muir as vice Chair.”
“Mr Speaker, for the final vice chair, the Department for Communities, the Alliance Party's nomination is myself, Kellie Armstrong.”
“We choose the Department of Education and Mr Chris Lyttle to be Chair of that Committee.”
“For those and many other reasons, I and all my wider Alliance Party colleagues — my colleagues here in the Chamber and one who is not, Stewart Dickson, who, unfortunately, is recovering from major surgery in his fight against cancer and cannot be here today — believe that Naomi Long is the right person to take on the responsibility for such a sensitive and trusted issue as policing and justice and can be trusted to act in the best interests of the whole community. <BR /> <BR />I ask the Assembly to support an inclusive Executive and give their support to Naomi Long by voting for her to be our Justice Minister. I am pleased to nominate Naomi Long for the post.”
“Naomi is committed to serving everyone without fear or favour and irrespective of religion, class, colour, nationality, gender, sexual orientation or disability. Naomi is committed to making politics work in Northern Ireland for all our people and will work constructively, as she said earlier, with all our partners in government and across the Assembly to ensure that a fair and transparent service is delivered for everyone.”
“Thank you. I will try not to speak for too long, Mr Speaker. <BR /> <BR />I have been privileged to work with Naomi Long for a considerable time in the Alliance Party. Over the years, I have got to know Naomi as the person and the politician. Therefore, I am confident in nominating her for this role. She will make an effective Justice Minister and bring a considerable wealth of experience and strength to the Executive. <BR /> <BR />As part of the 'New Decade, New Approach' agreement, there are many opportunities to be delivered and challenges to be resolved. Having an inclusive, five-party Executive will provide a collective commitment to delivering much-needed leadership and productive government.”
“I nominate my party leader, Naomi Long, for the position of Justice Minister.”
“I thank the Minister for his answers so far; I really mean that. As a fellow MLA for the Strangford constituency, he will understand that our concern regarding broadband is that although suppliers may say that there is very good coverage, the speeds are quite pathetic in some areas. What measurements have been taken by the Department to discover where those difficulties are? We need to ensure that there is access to schools, where science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects have been limited. Businesses, rural businesses in particular, are finding that speeds are making it difficult —”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that it is disappointing that we have come to this stage in the Assembly? Obviously, we are where we are, and the Minister is still in post until 2 March. Does he agree that this review needs to be done as soon as possible to give those family members and victims confidence that the review will actually go forward?”
“Absolutely nothing, as I can see from my tenants, because their complaints have been going on for, not four years, not five years but maybe ten years. It is very disappointing to find it back in front of this House with an almost empty Chamber today. <BR /> <BR />I do support the motion. I acknowledge the difficulties facing the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and I call on it to formulate a plan of action to address the issues so this Assembly can get to work on making it a reality. I hope that, after the election, we will actually have someone who will take it forward.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I thank the Member for bringing this up. My very next point is about this. Fresh Start had £500 million set aside for integrated education, shared education and shared housing. How much of that money has been spent on shared housing? Our people do need these new homes with better insulation, better heating options and which are more energy efficient. How much was spent? Of course, the Minister does not believe that shared housing is important. <BR /> <BR />I support the motion before the House today, and I thank Mr Easton for bringing it forward. It is unfortunate that it comes on a day when the Chamber is empty, because I am sure every single politician in this Building worth their salt actually has Housing Executive tenants who are complaining.”
“That is what we tend to forget: the people who live in these homes are customers. It is perceived that they have no choice and they will simply put up with mould, draughty homes, disgusting condensation and children living in bedrooms that you would not put animals in. The attitudes shown to some of my customers leave them sitting in my office in tears and leave them wondering whether they are going to heat the house or eat. Many of the people we hear about who are forced to choose whether to eat or heat live in the Housing Executive homes that we are talking about today. <BR /> <BR />Perhaps today the Minister could be very clear on what plans he has actually taken forward to make sure that the Housing Executive maintenance has enough money and actually have a good enough plan to stop this happening across our countryside?”
“How much money do the people living in Housing Executive homes with cavity wall insulation problems pay per month to try to heat their homes? It is definitely not £5. <BR /> <BR />Housing Executive stock has homes that are substandard. There is mould and poor insulation. As many have said here, I have been in homes, across my constituency, where wee white insulation balls blow through the wall vents into the homes. They are not insulating the homes, they are being chased around floors with brushes and vacuum cleaners and being hoovered up out of the way. <BR /> <BR />Maintenance is not good enough. I completely appreciate that the Housing Executive maintenance teams are under terrible pressures, but that does not forgive the attitude of poor customer service.”