Clare Bailey
South Belfast · Green Party · Northern Ireland
“It is a great relief to finally be able to move my Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Bill at Final Stage. When I was first elected, I pledged to the people of South Belfast that I would work hard on equality issues, for human rights-compliant legislation and, particularly, for women. Today is the last sitting day of the mandate.”
“Yet, despite "Stay at home" messaging and regulations to prevent public gatherings, the concerted campaign of harassment and intimidation against women and staff continued unabated, and all authorities — the Health Department, the Department of Justice, the PSNI — claimed that they could do nothing to stop it.”
“The efficacy of the Bill is achieved without being unnecessarily heavy-handed or putting significant additional pressures on any criminal justice system. I hope that we can move on from those debates. <BR /> <BR />This is absolutely a landmark moment for the Assembly. I have seen many Bills passed today that I am incredibly proud of.”
“I thank the Member for that. It is worth noting that, comparatively, this Bill takes a light touch in respect of offences being committed, because the punishment for breaching safe access zones around the world, in almost all cases where they are operational, can result in imprisonment and wildly higher fines than what is being proposed i…”
“I am also aware that the Minister, who, Mr Butler, is your party colleague, has also confirmed that he will produce a policy paper setting out how his Department intends to implement the requirements for safe access zones, including guidance to operators of health and social care premises.”
“None of that is what I have experienced with abortion services. <BR /> <BR />I went out to consultation on the Bill in 2017, just as the Executive was collapsing yet again, and the three-year hiatus meant that I could not progress the Bill any further.”
The complete record
Every one of 1,016 lines we hold for Clare Bailey, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 4 of 21.
“It does, however, have a key oversight role, and oversight of Northern Ireland's environmental performance can only be a good thing. <BR /> <BR />We are pleased to see the forest risk commodities provision come into effect in Northern Ireland. That amendment will make it illegal for UK businesses to use products such as soya if they have been produced in a way that is responsible for deforestation. That gives legal protection against the worst-case scenarios of the claims that we have heard the Minister make about what will happen as a result of a Northern Ireland net zero target, for example. With that provision, fears of Brazilian beef flooding the Northern Ireland market overnight should be seen as unfounded. <BR /> <BR />I hope that the provision also requires us to reimagine our food systems here.”
“I welcome the Minister's tabling the motion, because it allows us to speak to the commencement and saving provision order. With some reservations, the Green Party welcomes the Northern Ireland provisions of the UK Environment Act coming into operation. We welcome in particular the oversight of the Office for Environmental Protection, as, since Brexit, Northern Ireland has been left without the oversight of the European Commission. It remains to be seen how the OEP will function in Northern Ireland and how effective it will be. <BR /> <BR />Ultimately, the OEP does not replace all the functions that the European Commission previously held, and the main issue, of course, is that it does not have the power to levy fines.”
“Will the Minister give an indication as to the response to that consultation and the ministerial decision that he would like to take, if he cannot get it at Executive level?”
“Since July 2020, we have been hearing that it is coming soon. We are 18 months on, and weeks away from the end of the mandate. Where is it? Where is the water strategy, the air pollution strategy and the waste strategy? When are we going to see those?”
“Of course, any funding announcement for environmental improvement has to be welcomed, given the absolute dire state that we are in. There is £2·9 million for community groups and councils, and that goes along with the £8 million a year from green growth for environmental restoration, which has to cover forestry and peatlands. It is tinkering around the edges of environmentalism and climate action, which we do need to be seeing. It was interesting to note in the statement that the environmental challenge competition is expecting not-for-profit organisations "to deliver strategic environmental projects", when the Minister has not yet produced many strategic plans. Our peatlands, for example, are the carbon sinks of the future, and we know that ammonia is killing the carbon sinks, so where is the ammonia strategy?”
“Little did I know on Saturday evening, when I was having that conversation, the news that would come through on Sunday morning. The Assembly, and Northern Ireland politics, will miss him, and I will miss him.”
“<BR /> <BR />It was only on Saturday evening that I had a conversation with someone who asked me, "Here, what's Stalford really like?". I replied, as I always do when I am asked that question, by saying that he had a wit that was razor-sharp and would cut you in two, and, very often, he did. Much has been said of his humour, and it is all true. All that I would add to that is that his humour was always articulated with astute intelligence and sharp observation, and when his wit cut, it was never with malice. That is how he stood out, and that is how I will always remember him.”
“In 2017, I remember that Christopher and I were the last two standing at what I think was the longest election count that we have ever had in Northern Ireland. It was the very early hours after a very long count, but he would not go home until his election had been announced, until he had taken his place on the stage and until he had been able to thank everyone who had given him the privilege of their vote and supported him in securing that seat in 2017. <BR /> <BR />Christopher was never afraid to ask for advice or to just sit down and have a casual conversation, talk off the cuff and be very human. He knew exactly how to build relationships, and I thank him for everything that he did in his work with me at a constituency level with the communities in which he was so embedded.”
“I remember that count very well; I think that it was one of the longest counts that we have ever had. I was returned to the fourth seat, closely followed by Christopher, who was returned to the fifth seat. I remember his joy at being elected as an MLA and his emotion on that day, knowing that he had been given that endorsement and mandate from the people of the constituency that he was born and bred in and loved so much. <BR /> <BR />We had a snap election in 2017, and the number of MLAs in each constituency was reduced, and I remember his panic during that election count, because, in addition to all the good stories that we are hearing about him, he was a fiercely focused man. He knew what he wanted, and he desperately wanted to get there and remain there.”
“I, too, associate myself with a lot of the comments that have been made by Members about Christopher's professionalism, capability and absolute natural talent for the role that he performed and the public service that he gave. On behalf of the Green Party, I especially extend my deepest condolences to Christopher's wife, Laura, his four children and his mummy, all of whom he adored and loved in equal measure, and, of course, to his party colleagues for the loss that they are all having to go through. <BR /> <BR />I was totally shocked yesterday when I learned of Christopher's death. Like so many, I am still truly struggling to come to terms with it. I did not know Christopher for decades, but I knew him for quite a long time, particularly since both of us were first elected as MLAs for South Belfast in 2016.”
“It has been said that everybody deserves justice. It is a sad day when we still have to step up in the Chamber and declare that we support law and order and when, in looking at and addressing such reports, we have to caveat them with political point-scoring. <BR /> <BR />Lives were lost. People died. Other lives were damaged. Families were broken. A community was terrorised. When we know that wrong was done, we have to make it right. It is time that we put people first and that we do everything that we can to end the suffering of so many victims. Let us put people first, and, if everyone deserves justice, let us do all that we can to make sure that they can access that justice. Let the ombudsman do her work, and let all our thoughts be with those families today. We have made some great strides forward, but we are not there yet.”
“I also thank the Climate Coalition Northern Ireland, which kick-started the campaign for a Northern Ireland climate Act. Stormont has only got to this point thanks to the tireless work of those grassroots campaigners and activists. I thank every constituent, individual and organisation who has contributed to shaping the Bill so far. The voice of the people has been heard; the will of the House has been recorded; and I hope that the Minister will respect democracy, because it is time for a climate change Act for Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank Members for what has been a long few days of debate and voting, with a few more hours to go. There has been an immense amount of cross-party working, and it has been heartening to see politicians from all sides work together to ensure that we have the strong, ambitious and robust climate legislation that we need and deserve. We also need to credit the activists and campaigners whose support and energy have been crucial in getting us to this stage. I give particular credit to the farmers who have stuck their heads above the parapet to show public support for a strong net zero Bill in the face of such adversity. I thank all the children and young people who take part in the "Fridays for Future" strikes and who have the vision and determination to demand more of us on climate breakdown.”
“Not long ago, climate change denial was rife throughout the Chamber. I and many others never thought that we would see the day when we would have such consensus across the political spectrum that action on climate change was urgent and necessary. I certainly never thought that I would see the day when MLAs voted to enshrine a net zero target in law. <BR /> <BR />It is worth looking at how far we have come, where we want to go and at the future opportunities that we want to be part of. Northern Ireland will continue to move forward, whether some like it or not. Progress is inevitable. We will have a net zero climate change Act for Northern Ireland in whatever form it takes, because people want it and the climate emergency demands it.”
“As the power of polluting corporations rises, we see relentless attacks on workers' rights and democracy across the globe. Jobs created in the green economy must address that while simultaneously addressing climate change. A just transition will see jobs created in new industries that provide decent pay, decent protections and decent working conditions. Trade unions, communities and NGOs will work with them, resulting in co-design and job creation that will raise the quality of life for those who will work in the emerging sectors. <BR /> <BR />As the debate at Consideration Stage nears an end, we are getting a little closer to achieving a climate Act for Northern Ireland, and we are doing it democratically with consent insofar as consent can be garnered under the system by which we are governed. We have made great strides.”
“If only we had politicians who were brave enough to do the same; if only consecutive Tory Governments had not sold off our state-owned utilities because they prioritised short-term profits over long-term stability. A key part of a just transition is the democratic transformation of our economy. Business as usual has ended, and we need to prepare for that, not walk away from Ministries when the going gets tough. Now, more than ever, we need to take the power and capital out of the hands of the few who profit and return it to the many who need it. That is what a just transition is about.”
“I thank the Minister for that timely intervention, given that we are talking about energy. The UK's energy price cap is set to rise by 54% this year, for example. Meanwhile, the French Government have introduced measures to limit bill increases to 4% this year. I look forward to working with you in the future in order to make sure that we follow new systems and make decisions that protect our people and put them at the forefront.”
“<BR /> <BR />Upon the Bill's passage, the business-as-usual model of profiteering and overconsumption will have to end, not only because of the damage that it does to our planet and our environment but because of the risk that it poses to our citizens, people and communities. It is not right that so many people struggle to heat their homes and feed their families while others profit from that. At the end of this month, gas prices alone are set to rise again — by a third this time — after similar increases were set in December and October. Meanwhile, last Thursday, Shell, a global fossil fuel, gas and petroleum giant, announced that its profits have increased fourteenfold, so much so that it plans to hand $8·5 billion back to its shareholders.”
“Even with the Minister's target, all of those sectors would have to reach net zero. Do you really think that we should not put in protections? <BR /> <BR />If the Minister and others really think that 82% constitutes a just transition, even with the tunnel vision on agriculture, I advise that they read the CCC's report again. If you look at that report, you will see that its vision for agriculture is one where huge, efficient farms meet our food needs and small- to medium-sized farms no longer exist. That does not sound very fair and just to me, and it does not look like it represents our agriculture sector in Northern Ireland.”
“No, thanks. <BR /> <BR />I need to address claims that the protections being discussed today are no good, that had we set a different target last week we would not need them and that the 82% is, in and of itself, a just transition. We do not get to decide what a just transition is, because it is led by people, in collaboration with communities, and people overwhelmingly want strong climate action. Maybe that is what the struggle is here. <BR /> <BR />Some parties seem to have forgotten that agriculture is only one of many sectors that will have to make the transition. When an economic assessment says that the sector cannot go that 18% further because of the economic modelling, it is the economic model that we need to look at. All sectors contain workers who stand to be impacted by decarbonisation.”
“Read Hansard then. <BR /> <BR />I will repeat, for the Minister's benefit, what I actually said about reduction numbers:”
“<BR /> <BR />The CCC is calling for the UK Government's low-carbon investment funding to increase from around £10 billion in 2020 to around £50 billion by 2030, and then to stay at that level. It is setting a net zero target that will help us unlock that investment. To those in the House who are worried that climate investment will come out of health spending from the block grant, it is fair to say that, no, that is not the case.”
“It is not all about public money: public and private money will be needed right across the board. For example, if we apply something as simple as the "polluter pays principle" when we know that a quarter of UK farmers live in poverty while agri-food corporations such as Moy Park published turnovers of £1 billion last year, how can we say that that is fair? How can we say that that is just? How can we say that we cannot do better? The recommended UK Government investment to tackle climate breakdown is somewhere in the region of £50 billion a year in the CCC's report, and that contains a mixture of public and private money. How much of that will come to Northern Ireland? If we ever get a working Executive again, they will need to pressurise Westminster for fair funding.”
“My goodness. From listening to the Minister rhyme off the list of support and then call for Northern Ireland to do better, one would nearly think that it is the whole world against the DUP. I thank Mr Beggs for raising the issue of extending any funds in a just transition fund for agriculture to farmers in an effort to reduce all greenhouse gases, not just carbon, and I see no reason why that cannot be made possible. I need to remind Members that the CCC's model for Northern Ireland was that of an economic supply chain model, not a scientific one, which is why it has stated repeatedly that there is no technical reason that we cannot get to net zero. <BR /> <BR />From where will the money come? In Scotland, its fund is set at £51 million over the next three years. If we have the political will, we can create solutions as well.”
“I invite them to work with us at Further Consideration Stage, if need be, to strengthen the provisions even more.”
“It is a necessary measure to ensure that our farmers are supported and protected so that they can survive and thrive well into the future knowing that they are valued, whether they are hill farmers or in the lowlands, whether or not they are on smallholdings, or whether they farm livestock or crops. They all have a part to play, and we need to support them to enable them to do what they do best. <BR /> <BR />The amendment was led by the AERA Committee during its scrutiny of the cross-party Bill, and I hope that the cross-party support for it remains. I am heartened to see so much support for a just transition in these amendments and that there is significant overlap between Members' amendments. I encourage Members to support our just transition fund as the one that covers most bases.”
“<BR /> <BR />In recent days, many farmers have reached out to me to express their full support for the Green Party's proposal for a net zero target. Unfortunately, a common theme in that correspondence has been that they are afraid to speak out publicly. What does it say about our culture of political discourse here that some farmers feel unable to contribute to such an important debate? Whilst other actions and rhetoric have silenced some farmers, we have listened to them, and that is why we have proposed the just transition fund for agriculture. <BR /> <BR />Our amendment No 44 seeks to create a just transition fund for agriculture.”
“I thank the Member for that. No is the quick answer to that one. Over the past few months, I have been in touch with many representatives of the agriculture sector and heard a wide variety of views. In the past week especially, I have heard from farmers who have been told that the net zero vote will result in overnight reductions in herd numbers of up to 80%. It is untrue, of course, but that has not stopped the misinformation from getting out there. It is not going to happen. <BR /> <BR />The Minister claims to represent farmers, when, in reality, what he is doing is forcing the uncertainty of Brexit on them. Now he tries to blame the consequences of that on the chaos of climate targets that are supported by a majority in the House. Climate chaos will wreak destruction on the Northern Ireland agri-sector, and we all know it.”
“They can be paid to carry out carbon audits on their farms. The fund is not a wolf in sheep's clothing. It is practical support to ensure that the burden does not fall on farmers' shoulders. If the Bill is enacted, farmers should not be forced to jump through hoops over and over again after being turned down by the Department, as is the case with environmental improvement schemes, for example. That is yet another reason that independent oversight of the Bill will be critical.”
“I was interested to see that the Minister did not guarantee any such support for farmers in any of the amendments that he tabled, preferring instead to trundle on with the business as usual plan, with some environmental additives — the very business model that has led them to be in the dire place where they stand now. I would welcome his support for a fund, and I hope that he can support the amendment. <BR /> <BR />The Minister has spoken throughout Consideration Stage about farmers being paid not to farm. I caution him against continuing that campaign of misinformation and fear. Farmers can be paid for nature-friendly farming, for agroecology, for rewilding and for taking part in environmental schemes, research, innovation and so much more. They can be paid to invest in new machinery.”
“For that reason, we would have no issue with supporting the Sinn Féin amendment on a just transition fund for farmers, should our amendment fall. In Scotland, a similar model is aimed at supporting investment in measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on farms. The scheme can be accessed by any business in receipt of the basic payment, and, although the Department will ultimately be responsible for designing the scheme, I fully expect the same criteria to apply to the fund here. <BR /> <BR />I hope that the amendment alleviates the concerns of some farmers, given the misinformation that they have received that says that they may not be supported to continue to farm well into the future.”
“I will turn to amendment No 44, which establishes a just transition fund for agriculture. That would fund a scheme to provide financial assistance and advice to the agriculture sector to deliver its contribution to the overall target. The amendment is not intended to be overly prescriptive in order to allow DAERA maximum flexibility in designing the scheme. <BR /> <BR />The fund does not extend to the entire agri-food sector, however, because the extra challenges in decarbonising agri-food stem from emissions from livestock at farm level, while food processing should have no more difficulty with decarbonising than manufacturing in any other sector. The fund therefore needs to be for on-farm support. Workers in food processing plants will be protected by the just transition principles in the same way as workers in other sectors are.”
“Citizens feel excluded and, all too often, powerless, and that needs to change. I, for one, will do all that I can to make it happen.”
“Climate action has the potential to transform our societies for the better, but it has to be done right. All too often, this institution gets that wrong, and the very systems that we have designed, in which we operate, leave people behind.”
“A just transition should improve our social and ecological well-being, while advancing social justice goals. Linked to that is something fundamental to how we enact the legislation. It cannot be something that is done to people; it must be done with people. The changes that will happen over the next few decades will be monumental, and, if we do not bring people along with us, we fail. <BR /> <BR />It is imperative that we, as leaders, do everything in our power to make sure that people are put at the heart of decision-making from here on. There is a mountain of work to be done on public participation in the process. People need to understand why we are doing what needs to be done and why the changes must be made, and they need to be involved in designing, co-developing and implementing solutions.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are commonalities in the group 4 amendments, and they all translate into creating cohesive working to build the best possible just transition framework into the Bill. I am glad that our amendment No 41 on the just transition principles has already passed, through previous amendments voted on last Wednesday. Given that, I will make my comments brief and will focus on the just transition fund for agriculture. <BR /> <BR />To set the context for the debate, it is useful to point briefly to the politics around a just transition. In essence, they are universally accepted as being that the rapid transformational shift to a post-carbon economy must improve and not inflict hardship on the lives of working people and communities.”
“In the process of creating our own overdue, obviously, and urgently needed climate legislation, just transition as a concept was relatively unknown or engaged with. I doubt that many in the House would have even thought it possible to embed it in legislation. I am proud that the Green Party has pushed this to the fore via the cross-party private Member's Bill (PMB), and credit should be given to civic society, which has been clear in its demand for the transition to be a fair one that benefits society as a whole, actively seeking to leave no one behind. It is testament to that demand and continued outreach and engagement that we now see amendments from so many co-sponsor parties to the PMB.”
“By taking the action again, the Minister must have thought that the first time was so good that he needed to do it twice. Minister, what good was achieved the first time that you made the move?”
“I thank the Bill Office for its continuous work with me on amendments. Members, we are at a crossroads today. It is time that we set a new direction for Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have concerns that many here do not appreciate the scale and urgency of the crisis that we are facing. I have heard Members say that they supported having net zero even earlier than 2050 until they spoke to businesses and industry, despite the fact that our current way of doing business and our current industries are exactly what are causing the crisis. I have heard Members say that we need an approach that balances jobs and the planet, but there will be no jobs when we reach extinction. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I acknowledge sincerely the efforts of the departmental Bill team for their engagement with the AERA Committee. I also thank the AERA Committee team for its efforts and the RaISe researchers for all their hard work on the Bill and the first Climate Change Bill.”
“Inaction, on the other hand, could lead to a reduction in global GDP of 10% by 2050 and 25% by the end of the century. <BR /> <BR />I am, however, glad to hear that there is consensus on the fact that we need to do something about climate change. Regardless of what target is passed here today, I have, and I will continue to have, little faith in the ability of this institution and the five-party Executive model to deliver what is needed. We will need independent oversight if we are to have any hope of holding our feet to the fire and getting the job done. That discussion will follow in the debate on another group of amendments, but it shows how far we have come that climate denial has lost its footing in Stormont. It has, in many instances, however, been replaced by climate delay.”
“It was really nice to hear the Minister practise his sums for us this evening when he was doing some carbon credit purchase scenarios. No one anywhere is trying to fool themselves that achieving net zero in Northern Ireland will not involve significant investment and change. There are huge economic opportunities, but we talk very little about those. Let us talk about unlocking green investment. Let us talk about the investment in green jobs. We need to move away from the single-sided narrative that this is all about cost and no return. <BR /> <BR />Climate action can bring future investment. Climate inaction will not. We must also consider the cost of that inaction. Damages that are avoided by climate action must be compared with the cost of meeting targets. The cost of action has been estimated at about 1% to 2% of GDP.”
“Let us recognise that the total number of farms in Northern Ireland has fallen from 32,118 to 24,817 since 1997. Maybe, just maybe, it is not climate action that is the threat to farmers; maybe it is the model of business as usual and the pursuit of intensification that are the real threats. <BR /> <BR />I have listened to the debate and commentary around the costs and to many arguments about the cost of achieving net zero. It is useful to highlight that the Department had to write to the AERA Committee, during its scrutiny of the Bill, to clarify that the Department's cost estimates were gross overestimations in its projections of the cost to deliver net zero by 2050. The Climate Change Committee also distanced itself from those figures.”
“We need to recognise that not all farmers are against net zero and not all farmers see climate targets as anti-farmer.”
“We need, however, to look at Northern Ireland farming and its economic, social and environmental sustainability. We need new policies for farmers that encourage young people to take up farming and ensure a profitable, sustainable industry for them in the decades ahead. <BR /> <BR />I have listened to farmers tell me how food processors and retailers have become so powerful across these islands and, indeed, across Europe and the world. I hear them when they tell me that there is no longer a free market for food in the EU and the UK and that it is a corporate-controlled free market. I pay attention when I read about a third-generation dairy farmer who started farming in 1965 with 40 cows and could make a living. Now that he has 160 cows, he works seven days a week to keep on top of his business and stay afloat.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also want to highlight the evidence that we do not necessarily have to reduce volume or profits to reduce emissions. Options include breeding and pasture-based systems. We would like the CCC to explore such options for agriculture, rather than assuming that it cannot be done under restrictive intensification models. Farmers, however, are stuck in the high-input, high-cost, high-volume output model, and yet they receive, more often than not, less profit or are unable to break even. <BR /> <BR />We need to understand that farm profitability is linked to partnership with nature and to pay farmers accordingly. The Green Party's amendment in the next group, which is to create a just transition fund for agriculture, will ensure that farmers do not bear the brunt of our green transition.”
“KPMG has not been able to explain where it got its figures from but has told us that it left out public subsidies because it could not guesstimate what they would be in the future. The report does not highlight the impact of climate change and extreme weather on agri-productivity or food production or the job losses that will result from that; nor does it factor in the green jobs that will be created from climate change adaptation and mitigation. <BR /> <BR />We have all heard about the devastating impacts that Brexit will have on agri-food exports. We have talked about the New Zealand and Australian trade deals that are set to displace most of NI's current GB market. Net zero enables farmers to access EU markets, and we need to grab those opportunities now.”
“I thank the Member for that. If I had had, say, £40,000 in my back pocket, I could have commissioned KPMG to do one for me, but I did not. Business models are being worked on for the other climate Bill, as has been mentioned many times. That, however, is not the one that we are debating or voting on today. <BR /> <BR />If you were to calculate farm incomes now without including subsidies, you might also find that the impact on farm incomes was equally devastating. The core assumption used by the model states that there will be dramatic cuts in herd numbers by 2045: up to an 86% reduction in beef, dairy and sheep herds by that date. The figures, however, are not based on the private Member's Bill or on the CCC scenarios.”
“Subsidies and grants, however, were not included in calculating each farm's income. That automatically skews the figures, especially given the high dependency on subsidies here. In Northern Ireland, 86% of most farm incomes comes from public subsidies, so the figures in the report are simply misleading.”
“Of course, we all know that methane behaves differently; it is a short-lived greenhouse gas, although it is far more potent than CO2 due to its heat-trapping ability. No matter what measurement you use, reduction in methane emissions is essential. Unlike with other GHGs, reducing methane and doing it quickly will lead to much-needed cooling effects. It is one of our most powerful levers for slowing global warming. It is for that reason that the Green Party is wary of amendment No 32. We just cannot support the splitting of targets contained in other amendments. <BR /> <BR />Many Members have cited the KPMG report. We looked at it and found it flawed in its methodology and in scenario planning. They cannot explain where they got their figures from. The report used farm-level financial information to develop models.”