Paula Bradshaw
South Belfast · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“They were places where those who were vulnerable were concealed, young mothers were stripped of their babies and children were stripped of their identities. Let us be resolute in our remembrance of what happened behind the doors of those institutions.”
“At all stages, the Committee has set out its clear support for the legislation's overarching aims and principles, which are to establish a statutory public inquiry into the systemic failings associated with mother-and-baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses between 1922 and 1995 and to create a statutory redress scheme for t…”
“Again, I refuse to call them "mother-and-baby homes", for we now know that there was nothing homely about them. What the Bill can and must do is offer a tangible declaration that the state accepts its responsibility.”
“As Chairperson of the Committee for the Executive Office, I welcome the opportunity to speak at the Final Stage of the Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill.”
“Key points were also made in relation to redress: the need to ensure that the Executive Office introduces clear guidelines for the scheme as soon as practicable; the need for the Executive Office to widely communicate and promote the scheme to all victims and survivors, including those who live overseas; and the need for the Executive Off…”
“The First Minister and deputy First Minister tabled a number of amendments that gave effect to the Committee's intent across a number of clauses. In several instances, the Committee chose to withdraw its amendments in favour of the Ministers' wording, where that better reflected the broader book of the law.”
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“The duplication and segregation of the likes of health services, housing and schools mean that those services cost a fortune to maintain. That is a fortune that the Executive can ill afford, the spending of which robs those services of desperately needed funding and investment. That also stops us from creating the high-quality, integrated and inclusive public services for which our constituents have been crying out for so long. <BR /> <BR />Whether it is growing the economy, creating safer communities, improving public services, tackling poverty or supporting the vulnerable, none of the PFG goals will become a reality without "Peace" and peacebuilding being at the heart of the Executive's agenda. Alliance will continue to make the case for that vital mission in the time ahead, and I hope that other parties will support us in our effort.”
“To begin with, the draft PFG includes ambitious proposals for growing a globally competitive economy in Northern Ireland, but we know that civil unrest, paramilitarism and political upheaval are major barriers to economic growth. Time and again, research has shown that political stability is a driver of foreign direct investment and the shared prosperity and job creation that come with it. We will never build the thriving economy that we want in an environment that is defined by stop-start government and political chaos. <BR /> <BR />Elsewhere, the draft PFG, rightly, targets the long-overdue transformation of Northern Ireland's public services, but we have to acknowledge that that is not possible without tackling the cost of the division that remains so deeply embedded across our society.”
“Without embedding reconciliation, diversity, equality and inclusion in everything that we do, we cannot achieve so many of the priorities and ambitions that are set out in the document.”
“As we mark the beginning of Good Relations Week 2024, I make the case for including a mission on "Peace" and peacebuilding in the Executive's Programme for Government (PFG). Like many in the Chamber, I welcomed last week's launch of the draft Programme for Government for consultation. My party's Ministers have been working hard around the Executive table to progress the PFG. Alliance wanted to see "Peace" and peacebuilding as a separate mission in the PFG from the outset. We proceeded on the basis that it would be included as a cross-cutting theme, with the option of a dedicated mission on "Peace" forming a specific part of the public consultation. I hope that Members will agree that the case for its inclusion could not be clearer.”
“Are you implying that there are no costs of division, and, if costs could be identified, we should not be tackling them? Is that what you are saying?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I just double-checked the wording of our motion, which states:”
“Thank you, Minister, for outlining what will be in the sentencing Bill. I am sure that a lot of different sections of society will be delighted to see the different aspects included in it. Can you please outline when the Bill will be introduced?”
“Thank you, deputy First Minister. The renewable heat incentive (RHI) inquiry closed its offices in June 2020, yet, fundamentally, four years on, we still see a lot of outstanding work to implement its recommendations. When will the public be able to have confidence that the recommendations on the code of conduct for Ministers and special advisers will be fully implemented?”
“I thank the First Minister and deputy First Minister for meeting Connie Egan and me this morning to touch briefly on this. I will pick up on the title of the report: "Doing What Matters Most". The deputy First Minister mentioned the consultation process. I am sure that a lot of stakeholders and voluntary sector groups will scour the document for mention of their area. How will you manage expectations for the consultation process? How will you ensure that people do not feel that their issues do not matter?”
“We are saying today that if you attack one member of our community, regardless of their creed or colour, you attack all members of our community, and it is on that basis that we will start rebuilding.”
“I pay particular tribute to the Belfast Islamic Centre, the Northern Ireland Muslim Family Association and the many other ethnic minority groups operating in South Belfast for their tireless efforts in the past week to support the people who have been impacted on by the attacks. <BR /> <BR />At least three PSNI officers have been injured in the line of duty in the past week. We must never normalise that, and I give thanks for their service, especially the front-line officers who have been on duty in South Belfast in the past week. <BR /> <BR />This is a moment for cohesion in the Chamber and for us to speak with a common voice. We all recognise that there is a lot of work to get on with, particularly to reassure every member of our community that they are valued and that their interests will be protected and promoted on an equal basis.”
“However, TEO's official position remains that the revised draft strategy and associated thematic delivery plans will be brought before the Executive "in due course". I would like to hear a firm date for that from the First Minister today. <BR /> <BR />As I said in my opening remarks, we now need to see a period of rebuilding. As we see that begin, we must reflect on the vital work of a sector that has for far too long been undervalued. When destruction of this nature arises, we see community groups and voluntary organisations being prominent with their response. They offer immediate assistance with the clean-ups, offer support and advice for those impacted on and continue to act as a consistent voice against racism and division.”
“I would like the First Minister to outline what work is taking place in her Department in order to ensure that there is a seamless transition between the current strategy and the next. I would also like to hear a commitment that such a strategy will be developed with the community and voluntary sector and that it will be far-reaching and adequately funded for maximum impact. <BR /> <BR />I will turn to the refugee integration strategy. It is almost 20 years since OFMDFM first committed to it. The current iteration was consulted on in late 2021 and early 2022 and was meant to run from 2022 to 2027. However, due to the political impasse, it has been significantly delayed. It was the understanding of the Committee for the Executive Office that it should have been signed off in May 2024.”
“Given that its purpose is to provide the best possible legal protections against racism and to move towards a more equal society, and given that it would include provisions for advancing long-awaited ethnic equality monitoring, I would like to hear from the First Minister whether there is any way that it could be brought forward sooner as per the motion. <BR /> <BR />I will turn to the racial equality strategy, which is needed in order to address issues that, sadly, remain current and evermore urgent, such as tackling race hate crimes and racist bullying in our schools and ensuring fair employment. The current version was drafted a decade ago, and that makes it rather outdated, given how much things have changed in that time — many, sadly, for the worse.”
“I support Steve Aiken's point about adding anti-Semitism, because hate is hate. <BR /> <BR />I will quickly get to the substantive parts of the motion. In the racial equality strategy 2015-2025, there was a commitment to review the race relations order, which is now 27 years old and entirely out of date. The consultation on the draft order concluded in June 2023, which was 14 months ago, yet the official line from the Executive Office is that the report on the responses and feedback is under review and that it aims to bring forward updated race relations legislation in 2025-26.”
“I support today's motion in order to tell those people from ethnic minority communities who now live in Northern Ireland that they are valued, that this is their home as much as anyone else's and that we will endorse and support the rebuilding that now has to be done. Let me be clear: that rebuilding goes well beyond the clear-up of destroyed properties and even beyond the restoration of vital businesses. It requires action from political leaders and the rebuilding of trust. <BR /> <BR />There are people who have chosen to make Northern Ireland their home and to contribute to this society who now feel hurt, fearful and isolated. They need reassurance, and we are here today to provide them with that support, regardless of their religion, ethnicity or community background.”
“<BR /> <BR />Next year, the Committee looks forward to a Budget's being decided well in advance, fully consulted on, with the necessary equality impact assessment. The Committee looks forward to receiving detailed spending plans well in advance to be able to fully scrutinise the Department's expenditure. Finally, the Committee looks forward to having the time and space to assist and advise the Department on the challenges of allocating money to its diverse but important areas of work, as it is required to do.”
“While we welcome the June monitoring round's allocation of £0·5 million for central good relations, I have already been contacted by groups asking when they will receive firm letters of offer. <BR /> <BR />People who live in the north-west or south-east need to know that the investment in strategic sites is sufficiently and appropriately spent. How can the public be sure that the money is being spent wisely if the Committee does not have the information in detail and in a timely manner? How can the Committee receive the information in detail and in a timely manner if the Department is uncertain as to how much it has to spend? How can the Department know the extent of its finances for the coming year in the absence of certainty in Budgets and monitoring rounds?”
“That requires detailed advance planning on the part of the Department and time for the Committee to receive the necessary financial information, subject that information to scrutiny and discuss departmental expenditure in an open and public way. <BR /> <BR />Public consultation on and parliamentary scrutiny of budgets are essential components of a democratic society. Victims and survivors of mother-and-baby institutions need to know that the resources are there to consult on and initiate legislation to establish a public inquiry into what happened to them and to provide them with the personalised support and redress that they deserve. People who are working towards peace and reconciliation in communities need to know when and how they will be paid to undertake the challenging work that they are engaged in.”
“The Executive Office is an unusual Department in that it has a relatively small budget but a diverse portfolio of expenditure. That ranges from highly sensitive areas, such as victims and survivors of the conflict, of historical institutional child abuse and of mother-and-baby institutions, to items such as strategic investment and maintenance of the Executive's three overseas offices. The diversity of the Department's responsibilities requires enhanced scrutiny to keep track of the different strands of the work that is undertaken by the Executive Office and to ensure that public money is spent wisely and well.”
“I will pick up on the point about evidence. Will you please outline your opinion on the extent to which that evidence will inform negotiations with the Treasury on a permanent fiscal framework for Northern Ireland?”
“The Department made its June monitoring bids, and we are grateful that the Finance Minister was able to make her announcement this afternoon. <BR /> <BR />It is important that we get the money right. We need to ensure that the groups on the ground that deliver across the service areas for the Executive Office have resources and stability. We look forward to undertaking further scrutiny of the Department's finances in the coming months.”
“The forecast funding for victims' payments, historical institutional abuse costs and the truth recovery programme has increased by over £30 million since the previous Budget. Truth recovery costs could also increase by a further £3·1 million once legislation is passed to establish an inquiry and redress arrangements. The Committee is eager to look into the detail of that when the Bill to establish an inquiry proceeds to Committee Stage. <BR /> <BR />The Department has indicated that managing those pressures means that it will have to go into 2024-25 with an overcommitment, which it currently plans to manage to zero during the year. The current Estimate, however, in the absence of June monitoring — sorry, this speech was written before the announcement — represents an overspend in excess of £4 million.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Department has indicated that it was anticipating having to make the same savings as in its 2023-24 budget: 10% across the board. Those savings have to be made out of the £81 million of baseline funds that are available, which, as in the last financial year, is likely to be a considerable challenge. Those required savings are in addition to new areas of expenditure for the Department, such as the establishment of an Irish language commissioner, a commissioner for Ulster-Scots and the Ulster-British tradition and the Office of Identity and Cultural Expression. In addition, the establishment of a central delivery unit for government, the provision of free period products and the progression of the ending violence against women and girls strategy will all have to be paid for.”
“I speak on behalf of the Committee. The Main Estimates indicate that the Department has been allocated a budget of around £186 million of resource DEL. Of that, £105 million is earmarked, so there is a very small amount of baseline funds to play with. In addition, the Department will receive £18 million for capital projects, such as Ebrington, Urban Villages and the Maze/Long Kesh Development Corporation. The Committee looks forward to visiting Ebrington later this year to discuss the site in further detail and to look at how investment is being used to good effect. The Committee has been particularly interested in regional balance in that regard, so our intended visit to the north-west will be an opportunity to look at how money is being invested in that area.”
“Thank you, Minister, for your response. I am sure that you have engaged with junior doctors on many occasions since taking up post and that they have a long list of issues that they want to see resolved, not least their pay. Will you outline how you have engaged with them since coming into post?”
“Thank you for your statement, Minister. When officials from the Executive Office came before the Committee for the Executive Office, I raised concern about the quality of the information that we, as a scrutiny Committee, were given about the monitoring bids that went to your Department. Whilst I very much welcome the extra money for Communities in Transition and the good relations fund, I would like a wee bit more information on how the information that your Department receives about allocations across Departments will be made more robust, going forward.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I note that part of it was about the discussion on the scale of the climate and biodiversity crisis and the opportunities for the health sector. I am particularly interested in the decarbonisation of our healthcare sector. What firm action will be taken?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your statement. There is certainly plenty in it that my party will hopefully support when it responds to the consultation. <BR /> <BR />Does the flexible working right from the first day of employment cover working from home?”
“Today is an important milestone for the birth mothers, adult adoptees and their families, who have campaigned for many years for truth, justice and accountability. Given that there is a long road ahead, will the First Minister establish a role for an interim advocate to provide individualised support to those seeking to contribute to the inquiry and/or seek redress?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. I am pleased to hear that you will be meeting Michael Stewart shortly. It was a wonderful appointment, and I think that he will do a great job. <BR /> <BR />As a representative of South Belfast, I see such an overlap between a thriving night-time economy and a really satisfied student population. Obviously, they are both under your remit, and I encourage you to embrace that new appointment and see what you can do for the benefit of Belfast city and beyond.”
“Thank you, junior Minister. The Committee recently had a presentation on the report of the Commission on Flags, Identity, Culture and Tradition (FICT). The Committee is very keen to see how that work could be dovetailed with the work of the new office. What discussions are taking place in that space in the Department?”
“We wanted to raise those points, and I ask you to explain why you are not coming to account for the late and poor communication that the Committee has been getting from your departmental officials every week.”
“First Minister, when you were at the Committee with the deputy First Minister, you agreed that you would come back before the summer recess. We expected, in our forward work programme, that you would come to the Committee this Wednesday. No explanation was given for why you were not coming. We really wanted to see you both at the Committee, because we have been so let down —.”
“As the ombudsman is appointed by the First Minister and deputy First Minister, can you please outline what discussions have taken place between the Department of Justice and the Executive Office on the issue?”
“Minister, will you please outline what funding has been provided through the marine litter capital grants scheme to tackle the issue?”
“Thank you, Minister. You have touched on it a bit, but could you indicate, please, how quickly those affected will know that their convictions have been overturned?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Will she please outline what the effect of increasing the minimum age will be?”
“To that end, this morning, here in Stormont, we had a visit from members of the Young Syrian Voices group, hosted by Barnardo’s, which has played a key role in the vulnerable person resettlement scheme over the past decade since a brutal civil war broke out in Syria. That work includes befriending, tips on resettlement and meeting up with others who have suffered displacement. It is a reminder that we all need to support people who come here to make it their home. This is our planet, so we need to make it a more welcoming, secure and sustainable place for all.”
“We need to be able to build a home in Northern Ireland in which we can deliver economic opportunity and better public services for those already here and extend the hand of friendship to those who have been displaced from the most terrifying of circumstances. Most directly, in the Assembly, we need to see the implementation of a new refugee integration strategy that highlights the need for intercultural exchange and tackling misinformation. That would need to be delivered alongside enhanced race relations work, including the need to end the attacks on innocent people and businesses, the like of which we saw, sadly, in my constituency last week.”
“Contrary to what we read on certain social media platforms, most people recognise the global issues and want to help. However, at a time of zero economic growth and with public services pushed to the limit, it is perhaps understandable that people will be more inclined to want to ignore the refugee crisis and focus on issues closer to home. This year, the theme of Refugee Week recognises that it is about our home, emphasising that we should not think of it as an either/or. If we feel that our public services are under so much pressure that they cannot handle a few thousand more people, the answer is that we need to relieve the pressure on our public services through reform and investment. <BR /> <BR />Our home is, ultimately, global. In the end, we all share the same resources, the same climate and the same broad challenges.”
“I wish to make a statement at the start of Refugee Week. Unfortunately, the number of people being displaced around the world has grown rapidly during this decade; in particular, the return of the Taliban to control in Afghanistan, the brutalities of war in and around Syria and, of course, Russia's appalling, illegal invasion of Ukraine have led to vast numbers of people having to flee and seek refuge. Seeking refuge is nobody's choice; it is forced on growing numbers of families around the world. Sadly, we can expect to see more of it, notably from sub-Saharan Africa, not least as natural resources become even scarcer due to a combination of war and climate change. <BR /> <BR />Clearly, this presents challenges in countries receiving refugees too.”
“— to give greater purpose to this set of Bills.”
“I recognise the difficulty that the calling of the UK election has caused, as noted by the deputy First Minister yesterday during Question Time, but we will need to see a Programme for Government urgently afterwards —”
“My own view, which is well rehearsed, is that the Bill's contents should have been included the package of language and identity legislation passed in 2022, arising, at least in part, from the negotiations between parties after the institutions collapsed in 2017. <BR /> <BR />In Infrastructure, we welcome the water, flooding and sustainable drainage Bill, with the seven elements now contained in it, including expanded hosepipe bans. We will check the details as the Bill progresses, as it is important to avoid any unintended consequences. Two elements have been omitted from the Bill, on powers of entry and compensation to landowners for alleviating flood risk. <BR /> <BR />The legislative programme is a good start, but, of course, it needs to be accompanied by a Programme for Government.”
“Thank you. I agree with the Member. It would be a wasted opportunity if we did not get as many Bills out to consultation as possible over the summer. I thank the Member for her comment. <BR /> <BR />In Communities, we saw regulations yesterday on the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill and the child support enforcement Bill. They align with the rest of the UK and should lead to notable efficiencies of clear benefit to the population as a whole, so, of course, we support them. Personally, I warmly welcome the inclusion in the statement of a sign language Bill, although I hoped that it would have already been introduced during the mandate.”
“We feel, however, that it falls short of extending the regulator's powers to cover oil, which my Alliance Party colleagues and I regard as a wasted opportunity. It is also concerning that we do not yet appear to have had Executive agreement on an RHI scheme Bill, despite its appearance in the statement. <BR /> <BR />In Finance, we support the Fiscal Council Bill to put the Fiscal Council on a statutory footing, but we would like its remit to include a specific requirement on assessing the costs of division. We recognise that this is a busy legislative period for the Department, with various Budget Bills and other legislation, such as on no-fault divorces, planned for later in the mandate.”
“In Economy and Finance, we have the financial assistance Bill, on which the Department for the Economy is consulting but which, I understand, will probably transfer to the Department of Finance. The Bill seeks to clarify the Department's powers to provide financial assistance in the interests of the economy, to form companies, to exempt or remit certain fees relevant to Tourism NI, and to make other amendments, including to departmental accounting. We welcome those steps while reserving our position on the final Bill, depending on the detail that will follow the consultation. <BR /> <BR />In Economy, the Utility Regulator decarbonisation powers Bill will be the subject of an Alliance motion later today, so little more needs to be said here.”
“We trust that the new Minister can address those concerns as a priority as a step in restoring families’ confidence. It is important legislation, and we want to make sure that it works. We also recognise the need to update our public health legislation but will reserve our position until we see what is in the Bill. I acknowledge, however, that the Health Minister provided some clarity on that at Question Time yesterday.”
“Given the timescale, it is essential that that Bill be brought forward before the summer, and I trust that the First Minister and deputy First Minister will be able to confirm later in the debate whether that will be the case. <BR /> <BR />In Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs we have two important Bills: the dilapidation Bill, which aims to confer functions on councils to tackle dilapidated buildings and sites, and the agriculture Bill on the continuation of EU legacy funding. Those are important modernisation bills that are most obviously of significance to rural communities. <BR /> <BR />In Health, we have concerns about the adult protection Bill, even though we fully accept its intent. We do not believe that mandatory CCTV is legally competent, and we fear delays in the subsequent regulations.”