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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“Not just at the moment. In the chief inspector's report for 2014-16, she states in relation to rural schools in paragraph 33:”
“In some cases, the future of rural schools is called into question because the numbers attending are so low that the school is simply no longer viable. The number of teaching staff is affected and children no longer have access to an education system that will enhance their skills, talents and abilities. It is not good enough to state that a rural school must be protected. The motion calls simply for the protection of the school estate and does not mention the very heart of the issue: what is going to be better for rural children?”
“Not just at the moment. As the chief inspector has said:”
“I believe in the sustainability of rural communities. During Question Time, I have questioned various Ministers to ask what they are doing to ensure that rural proofing applies to policies. However, I cannot support the ongoing provision of a school in a rural area if it is not meeting the educational needs of our children. The official Opposition motion calls for the retention of schools in rural areas but does not mention the educational opportunities for children. I want the best for our children and that is not achieved by sitting in a largely empty room, in an underfunded declining education system, struggling to survive in order to keep buildings open.”
“On behalf of the Alliance Party, I confirm that we are unable to support the original motion because it calls for the protection of the schools estate; it is about buildings rather than what is best for our rural children. I live in a rural community; as a child, I attended a rural school; I have a child who attended a rural primary school and who is now at a rural post-primary school. As a rural dweller and an MLA who serves the largely rural constituency of Strangford, I have fought, and continue to fight, for services to be located in rural areas.”
“Given that the Executive have not progressed any form of equality legislation since 2007, how can we be confident of progress during this term?”
“Thank you very much for your clarity. It is good to see the Minister here and to hear his update. What criteria will be used to prioritise other road-building schemes over the York Street interchange? Can you clarify just where it is in the priorities? You said in your statement that York Street was a priority but there is no money for it, and others are proceeding.”
“What rural-proofing criteria will the Minister use when making the decision to close — if he is going to close — any of the social security offices, given the fact that, if the Ballynahinch office in my constituency closes, face-to-face meetings in other areas will not be possible, because transport is so limited?”
“— to see how we can improve services and make sure that funding is fully available.”
“Middletown should absolutely be funded to its full ability, but Middletown, Autism NI, the National Autistic Society, parents and young people themselves should all be talked to about the development of the next cross-departmental autism strategy —”
“My colleague mentioned teacher-training records. I have written to the Minister, and, in the responses that have come back, he has confirmed that the Education Authority or schools will hold training records. On behalf of parents, I ask this: can we please have something better? Can we have a more structured approach to make sure that teachers are afforded the time and the ability to go to appropriate training, perhaps provided by Middletown? Can the Minister look at the cross-departmental autism strategy? The strategy has been extended to 2017, so now is the time to start thinking about the next time.”
“I think that Middletown should be invested in to provide training, not just for teachers and the school estate, but for the Education Authority and for departmental officials because an understanding wholly and completely of the effects that change can have on children with autism would be very welcome by parents so that people could understand exactly the impact that it can have.”
“In September, for instance, in my constituency, the Education Authority's transport department had to do a very quick change in transport provision on day one because a taxi firm pulled out. It happened to be that the school and the pupils who were affected by that change were children with autism from Killard special needs school. That change was handled very quickly. There was transport in place so that the children got home, but the change caused such a detrimental effect to the children that one child could not go back to school for a week and the others had meltdowns when they went home.”
“However, I do say that each child is an individual, and, in some cases, residential care is important. For some girls in particular who are not diagnosed until much later, perhaps residential care may suit them. It is not for everyone, and it is not the full solution, but, if we do away with residential services completely, what will we do for those young people who require it? I am bit more cautious than others because I live with autism and I understand, in the family environment, exactly the difficulties that can happen. <BR /> <BR />I also believe that Middletown should be fully funded to support everybody who is involved in the educational environment. I say that because of my experience.”
“There are many people whose children end up having a diagnosis and then wait an extraordinary amount of time for support systems to be put in place in schools. <BR /> <BR />That is why I support the Middletown approach for the whole-school ASD-competent environment. Middletown can go into schools. It can develop the full school system to ensure that, as others have said, the school environment is more appropriate for children with ASD. We have teachers trained, the parents are given support and the children themselves are given support. The whole school network, whether that is classroom assistants, caretakers or cleaners, is involved in it. This is a more sustainable approach to helping children with ASD in Northern Ireland than residential care.”
“I say that because we are still waiting to see the support and help for students when they get their diagnosis from Health and go back into the education system. <BR /> <BR />When I spoke to parents who confirmed that they had access to Middletown services, they could not be more glowing in their praise of Middletown. They were very clear that the help that they received as parents, that their children received and that teachers received in their training was fantastic and second to none. That has been borne out by the many reports that have been provided to us in relation to the motion. Some parents did say to me, "What is Middletown? What is this?". They were not aware of it. Indeed, there were some teachers who did not know the referral process. When I say that I mark the report card as "Could do better", that is what I mean.”
“I declare an interest because I live with autism. Before I came to speak today, I went back to the people who I have been working with for the past year to ask them about their opinion on this. In February this year, my predecessor, Kieran McCarthy, submitted my petition that was signed by over 8,500 people calling for better autism support and services from Health and Education. Health, as we know, said at that stage that there would be an extra £2 million a year and that there would be further recruitment of staff to bring down waiting times. That is happening, and we are very grateful for that. We know that the Education Minister went out to see Middletown. Thank you very much for that. With regard to schools, the report card reads, "Could do better".”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The Minister for Infrastructure has issued a written statement, the content of which is embargoed until after 12.00 noon tomorrow. There will, however, be questions to the Minister for Infrastructure at Question Time today. That means that Members are unable to scrutinise the Minister on something of regional significance and public importance, contrary to Standing Order 18(2). On several occasions, the Alliance Party has attempted to get the Minister to give a formal statement on the matter and has today tabled a question for urgent oral answer to your office for consideration. I ask you to confirm what action you will take to defend the right of the Assembly to scrutinise the work of Ministers, particularly on matters of such public importance.”
“However, the Assembly must acknowledge that the measures could provide too much scope and fail those whom they are hoping to protect — the very opposite of what the regulations set out to do.”
“<BR /> <BR />Despite the positives, it is essential that we note that decisions and changes coming from Westminster at the minute are rash and being taken in haste. That was most notably demonstrated by the recent Concentrix debacle, which had a tremendous impact on many single parents. My office, and my colleagues' offices, received a huge number of calls, ranging from anger about decisions to downright bizarre situations. Accordingly, we must be mindful not to offer too much flexibility, which would impact on the payments being received and could harm those whom we are aiming to protect. <BR /> <BR />My party colleagues and I support the regulations.”
“How many of us here have encountered frustrated parents on both sides of the argument? We have encountered those who have struggled to engage with absent parents to commence payments and parents who have been pursued relentlessly to make payments. The Alliance Party welcomes today's measures, given that 60% of lone parents are in debt, economically disadvantaged, struggling with childcare payments or navigating a benefits system that is under constant revision by the current Tory Government. <BR /> <BR />A different approach to making sure that non-resident parents are paying their fair share is welcome and to be encouraged. As I said, 60% are facing debt and hardship, and that is having a negative effect on them and their children. Today's move has the potential to encourage better adherence to committing to payments.”
“The regulations emerged from Westminster earlier this year, and provide an opportunity for non-resident parents who have not been paying child maintenance to do so. That is a vital first step hopefully to create a more robust system that ensures that financial obligations to parents and children are met.”
“As has already been noted, these regulations will make modifications and amendments to permit the Department to waive collection and enforcement fees on the 2012 child maintenance scheme. This is an important area to tackle, given the difficulties that can currently exist in ensuring that many of the 92,000 single parents in Northern Ireland receive money from non-resident parents.”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. As she mentioned, the German Government are facing increasing pressure from the EU and could be forced to recognise their responsibility to help survivors. As the First Minister said, she will hear an update, but, as the issue has been going on for a number of years, is she able to give any assurances that, regardless of the decision, she will do what she can to ensure that thalidomide victims in Northern Ireland are sufficiently compensated?”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. What impact has the withholding by the UK Government of their contribution to funding for the action plan in the report had on delivering the recommendation?”
“A responsible Government must, therefore, consider putting in place deterrents to prevent people from taking risks and putting others' lives in danger. None of us likes parking fines, but, if the fine is high enough, it makes drivers think twice about parking dangerously or badly. Let us have a review of free parking, and let us ask local businesses what they think. Let us also consider the wider issue of sustainable transport and how we will reduce emissions. Let us consider how we can prevent our towns and villages being clogged up with on-street parking and plan our parking better.”
“<BR /> <BR />A review can also take into consideration all the businesses that are being negatively impacted on by parking arrangements. Local rural shop owners have come to me to say that all-day free car parking hurts their businesses. In the village of Kircubbin, for example, shop owners are losing business because some commuters leave cars on the street while they take the bus to work. Other shop employees leave their cars parked all day and block access to local shops. In some villages, they want to see the introduction of limited free parking in conjunction with residents' passes to ensure that residents do not face the issues faced in the controlled parking zone areas. <BR /> <BR />Parking is an emotive subject. Bad parking causes difficulty for other road users, particularly pedestrians.”
“Thank you. I agree, but in 2012, when the fines of £90 were introduced, it fell dramatically. Residents' parking schemes need to be brought forward, and I will come to that. <BR /> <BR />Thirty minutes' free car parking in areas sounds good until you consider that the time specified will not help mums or dads to get their pram out of the car, get their child unplugged from the car seat, go to do whatever they need to do and be back and do the reverse of that within 30 minutes. The amendment calls for a review of on-street parking times; indeed, by having a review, the Department can consider whether there are any negative impacts, such as the one I just outlined, for people with dependants. Section 75 comes into play here, folks.”
“Not at the moment. <BR /> <BR />With respect to a period of free on-street parking, I cannot support the 30 minutes specified in the motion. As a driver, I love free on-street car parking. In the villages and towns in my constituency of Strangford, there is free parking all day. In all those towns, you are permitted free parking up to a fixed time, and that time is set on the basis of local factors. In parts of Newtownards, you are allowed to park up to 60 minutes, but in other parts it is all-day free parking. <BR /> <BR />There are three controlled parking zones in Northern Ireland: Belfast, Lisburn and Newry. That is where this takes effect.”
“Bad parking takes up two spaces, preventing others from being able to park on-street. Bad parking blocks a bus lane, creating havoc for all road users at rush hour. Bad parking is the driver who decides to park in a clearly marked disability bay or on yellow lines. Bad parking is the fault of a driver who does not care who takes a risk. Bad parking happens when people are not deterred. <BR /> <BR />The mandatory fine is there to deter bad parking because of the negative impact it has on many people whom I have worked with over years. I encourage those looking to reduce parking fines to speak with the Inclusive Mobility and Transport Advisory Committee (IMTAC) and review their annual Baywatch reports, which highlight bad parking across Northern Ireland. With respect to a period of —”
“Not at this point. <BR /> <BR />I said "with reservation" because the amendment suggests the Minister should investigate a reduction in mandatory car parking fines. I agree that the Minister should review car parking fines. However, this should not be an investigation just to reduce fines but should consider if the level of fine is enough to be an effective deterrent. <BR /> <BR />Why is it important that we deter people from parking badly? Bad parking forces mums to push a pram into the middle of the road. Bad parking forces people with visual impairments to go onto the road. Anybody who wants to find out more about this can contact Guide Dogs, who can show you just how difficult it can be. Bad parking prevents people who use wheelchairs from being able to use public footpaths.”
“The reason I cannot support the motion is the populist request to reduce parking fines. Let me be clear: I do not like parking fines. No one likes parking fines, but, if you park correctly, you do not get a fine. If you park badly, you will get a fine. That fine needs to be enough of a deterrent to stop people parking badly in the first place. The current fine level is enough to make a driver think twice about parking where or when they should not. I do not agree that the fine should be reduced, as that would reduce the deterrent. <BR /> <BR />As I said, Alliance will support the amendment with reservation.”
“Thank you, Principal Deputy Speaker. As Alliance spokesperson for infrastructure, I confirm that we will not support the motion. With reservation, we will support the amendment. <BR /> <BR />Before joining the Assembly, I had the privilege of working in the field of transport for almost 16 years. For the last nine of those, I worked in partnership with organisations to improve access to services for older people and people with disabilities. During that time, the issue of on-street car parking featured regularly in our considerations. <BR /> <BR />On-street car parking can create havoc for citizens. Being able to find an appropriate car parking space can be a problem, but, for many with disabilities and for families with young children, it is bad parking that causes most concern and danger.”
“Thank you very much, Minister, for your statement. Recommendation 7 refers to the creation of a transformation board. Will the Minister confirm that — outwith what happened with Transforming Your Care, where there was no implementation plan — the implementation plan that is mentioned in part 5 on the actions will be followed and monitored regularly with published outcomes?”
“Just following on from what the Minister has discussed, this week is Parenting NI week, and it is discussing online digital safety, especially for teenagers. Can the Minister confirm what correspondence she has had with the cybercrime unit about the changes in legislation that are needed to combat the increasingly difficult challenges from this sort of crime? How will that be communicated to parents to ensure that they can support teenagers to stay safe online?”
“Her name was Geraldine McGrattan and she was my mum. <BR /> <BR />I know first-hand the impact that cancer has on the person and on their family. Cancer can kill, but waiting for a diagnosis or being on a waiting list is torturous and unacceptable. The Minister confirmed that it is unacceptable: she knows that. If we are to receive swift, safe and sustainable healthcare to ensure patient safety and patient treatment, I urge the Minister to ensure that the expected cancer services framework includes a mechanism to systematically reduce waiting times and stringently monitor lists to ensure they do not increase to the levels we have today, where one fifth of our population are on waiting lists. We are all affected by cancer.”
“She was losing a lot of weight — not pounds but stones — without dieting. <BR /> <BR />Over the following couple of years, her eyesight blurred and her appetite left her. That person was in pain and was scared. She was frustrated and worried about her family and her children. She felt that she was not being listened to, that she was being dismissed and that she was not important; and she was angry. She was in and out of hospital, and her family were worried sick for her. The diagnosis finally came. The consultant called her husband to the side and confirmed that she had cancer. He told her husband that it was so advanced that she had days rather than weeks to live and that he should prepare for her funeral. That was on the Tuesday; she died on the Saturday, the day before her 43rd birthday.”
“It is down, in quite a large part, to the staff who work in our hospitals to protect and care for people who are diagnosed with cancer, and their families, at a time when they are at their most vulnerable. <BR /> <BR />The motion talks about the crisis affecting cancer services, but we should not forget the people, the human beings, affected by cancer, including the almost 400,000 people on waiting lists and those who sometimes fail to receive early diagnosis. I thought I would share a quick story about what it is like to live without early diagnosis. In this case, a woman started to feel unwell around her 40th birthday and was back and forward to her GP on many occasions, a scenario that others have highlighted. The GP checked her and could not find out what was wrong.”
“I have thought very hard about how to respond to the motion today, because it deals with an extremely important and emotive subject. I start by confirming that the Alliance Party supports the motion but with reservations, because, as we have heard, the figures provide a snapshot. I also declare an interest, because I completely and totally hate cancer. I detest the disease in all its forms. Cancer causes pain and suffering and, in many cases, ends lives. I support the fight against cancer and have taken part in Race for Life events here in Stormont and raised funds for research. <BR /> <BR />I am extremely thankful that, in 2015, Cancer Research UK confirmed that more than 50% of people diagnosed will survive their cancer for more than 10 years; an all-time high. More people are surviving, and thank goodness for that.”
“I go back to the issue of the airport. What discussions have there been with Translink and the airport about improving access, particularly to early flights, to enable interconnectivity for business travellers?”
“Fresh Start agreed that half the savings from the error and fraud initiative implemented by the Executive will be reinvested by the Executive instead of the Treasury. To what projects has that money been allocated?”
“Minister, given the apparent involvement of police officers from England and Wales in undercover activities in Northern Ireland directly linked to the activities being investigated by the Pitchford inquiry, will you continue to pursue this with the Home Secretary?”
“Thank you very much, Minister, for your information to date about coastal erosion. When the scoping exercise is being carried out, obviously there will be consideration of a budget going forward. Will rural proofing be brought in, so that the small number of businesses that suffered £1 million worth of damage along the coast can finally be included in some of the payments?”
“Does that collaboration include discussions about the qualification shortfalls, particularly for teachers of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools?”
“I thank the Minister very much for his statement. I noted with gratitude his discussions on special educational needs and especially the Middletown Centre for Autism. In that vein, the statement refers to:”
“I thank the Member for giving way. You talked about people feeling let down. Does the Member agree with me that if, as the Swiss bank UBS predicts, another 50% of banks in the UK close in the next 10 years, the problem will only be exacerbated?”
“— and considers the Move Your Money report.”
“Thank you. Many places are left without an alternative. <BR /> <BR />I ask the Minister to take forward a protocol on banking closures like the one agreed by the BBA in 2015 —”
“While the Post Office tries to find another shop or garage to take on the services, many villages are being left —”
“In my family, my father and my mother-in-law do not use online banking. They do not trust it or want to use it and would not do so. That generation needs to be able to speak to a human being in person. The fear of computer glitches — let us face it: many banking customers in Northern Ireland have faced significant difficulty thanks to computer glitches over recent years — cybercrime and computer hackers means that they have little trust in online banking. What alternative is available for them? <BR /> <BR />Banks have said that the Post Office provides local banking. In my constituency, the Post Office is having its own problems delivering local rural services. A number of local Post Office providers have pulled out, including those in Kircubbin, Carrowdore, Portavogie and many other small villages.”