Sinéad Bradley
South Down · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />Periods have had many different names and have come, as Emma correctly pointed out, in many different colours. Mostly, they were talked about in hushed tones, but that is no more.”
“I, too, support the Bill, and I thank Pat Catney, my friend and colleague, for introducing it. <BR /> <BR />As a Member who sat on the Justice Committee, I am all too aware of some of the harrowing circumstances that young women face every day.”
“Pat's charm allowed everybody to embrace what he is trying to achieve today. I genuinely mean this: the people of Lagan Valley served the House proud when they put Pat Catney here. It is having people like Pat, with a good heart and good intentions, in a place where change can happen that results in days like today.”
“I am privileged to support the motion on behalf of the SDLP. Like other Members of the House, I have heard at first hand about the horrendous and heinous acts that led to the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Act.”
“I thank Members across the Chamber for their kind words. <BR /> <BR />I suppose that all of us like to consider ourselves to be fair. I include myself in that.”
“I thank my party leader, Colum Eastwood, for hearing my calls, understanding the importance of the Narrow Water bridge and making sure that it was included in the New Decade, New Approach agreement.”
The complete record
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“I appreciate the Minister's taking the opportunity to set the record straight about the fact that nationalists encourage people to join the PSNI and have done so consistently for 20 years. Does the Minister believe that reckless, inaccurate questioning is divisive? As we embrace a recruitment process in which we try to build a police service that truly reflects our entire society, the type of questioning that we have heard in the House today is unhelpful and does not reflect society”
“Minister, you have given back to me what I put to you in the question. Ultimately, I am trying to ask: have you established a mechanism for paying that money? My SDLP colleagues have been calling for that for months, and I am yet to hear what actual mechanism will be put in place to make payments to those recipients. Has that happened or has it not?”
“I welcome the announcement of the victims of crime commissioner, albeit on a designate basis. Does the Minister anticipate that, beyond the victims issue, the commissioner designate or the commissioner will look at issues around witnesses?”
“It has been suggested that the evidence gathered on isolation during the 2020-21 academic year and the beginning of this year did not capture any significant data on the delta variant, yet that information and evidence has been used as a basis for the new definition of close contact. What message does the Minister send to the staff and parents who have expressed concerns to me that, while in the school environment, they feel more exposed than the general public to the possibility of catching COVID-19?”
“I thank the Minister for being here today to discuss the issue. Is the Department working proactively in any way to engage with families who may have loved ones who were denied access to an assessment? I ask that not only because it is right to engage with them but because there may be potential court cases if such things are not settled amicably.”
“I welcome the First Minister to his first Question Time. I thank him for his answer so far. Do the priorities have an inbuilt system that monitors growth and anticipated outcomes to allow revision and additional support at any time for those that need it? Is there a system for Ministers to feed into the Executive and bid for that support as and when they need it?”
“of anonymity. <BR /> <BR />The Bill finally gets to the point of delivering on some of the heavy and important work of the Gillen review, so I welcome the fact that four Gillen recommendations are woven into the Bill. <BR /> <BR />I will not go into much more detail now, but, again, in expectation that this stage of the Bill will be agreed today, I look forward to working with Committee members in a robust way to scrutinise the details of the Bill and to make sure that it aligns with operational reality. If it does not, it could be a good academic piece of work that does not bring real effect to and change on the ground. I thank the Minister for bringing forward this stage of the Bill today, and I look forward to working with the Committee.”
“There is a detailed breakdown of who could make such an application, but I would ask questions about what happens in cases where there is a conflict between eligible applicants. Whilst the applicants are clearly stated, it does not particularly say that there is any sort of hierarchy. There may be conflicting agendas. However, it is important to note that proposed new section 3A(6) says that the court must be satisfied that an application is:”
“However, proposed new article 71A(3) talks about the motivation of the person who is operating equipment. It talks about their "obtaining sexual gratification" or "humiliating, alarming or distressing B". Whilst I agree with those descriptors, which accurately pin down what we are trying to achieve, we feel we need to stress-test them to some degree to find out what exactly the evidential proof would be to say that that was the motivation of the person operating the equipment. We will, no doubt, have a chance to work through details like that in the Committee Stage and the clause-by-clause scrutiny. <BR /> <BR />The other issue, if I may refer to it, is the important one of anonymity and the proposal on the privacy of a victim after death.”
“The Bill is quite broad in what it attempts to do, but every element is critical. <BR /> <BR />Without going into any of the detail at this stage, I place it on record that the SDLP very much supports the principles of the Bil, but, at the outset, we want to flag up some concerns we have about operational reality. That is exactly what the legislative process is: it is about scrutinising and hearing from those who are engaged on the ground in the delivery of any legislation to make sure it is fit for purpose. As an example of that, I cite the introduction, which we very much welcome, of the offences of upskirting and downblousing. Quite rightly, the Bill defines what exactly those are, and the descriptors are quite good and appear to be fulsome.”
“As the SDLP member of the Justice Committee, I support the passing of this stage of the Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill. In anticipation of the Bill's passage through the House, I look forward to fully scrutinising and adding value to it. <BR /> <BR />I, too, put on record my thanks to the outgoing Deputy Chairperson, Linda Dillon, with whom I and other members worked very well in an environment that was conducive to that good work. Whilst we may have differed on certain things, we did so in a respectful way, and I wish Linda well in her new position. I also thank the Chair of the Committee for accurately summarising the Committee's position on the Bill at this time and facilitating an early meeting with officials from the Department to start to get into the detail of the Bill.”
“Minister, you say that you believe that the intent was met. I am somewhat confused. Are you still of the opinion that the intent of the scheme was to underwrite profits? If so, do you have no intention of looking at options to recoup that money and, perhaps, to distribute it to those who are more in need?”
“Does the Minister refuse to recognise that the protocol is the key economic driver for the agri-food sector in Northern Ireland?”
“Thank you, Minister. I note how swift and short on detail your answer was. <BR /> <BR />Dr Johnson was quoted in the 'Irish Farmers Journal' as saying:”
“I thank the Minister for her response. She rightly noted some of the concerns raised. One of those is the risk associated with the approach to an integrated admissions process. She talked to that and said that she would set up a scheme that takes into account the associated risks. I want to know who will be responsible for developing that model. Who will sit around the table in an effort to mitigate those risks?”
“Whilst I appreciate that it is not in itself a solution, has the Minister considered the development of a guidance document so that those in out-of-school settings can engage in best practice in helping the children in their care?”
“I appreciate the Member's giving way and that he has framed language in a very positive context. I recently learned a very quirky word in the English language: "smellfungus". It is a person who can find only the negative in everything and refuses to see the beauty and richness in language. I put that on the record, because there may be a few amongst us.”
“— "on the condition that". The motion in front of you reflects the deal that was made. Please honour it.”
“I thank the Member for the intervention, and I agree entirely. <BR /> <BR />I put to Members that we all know how difficult it can be to reach a deal. We all know that, but at what point is a deal a deal? At what point is it OK to hang labels, tags or limitations on a deal that has been made? The one thing that the House has to come behind is recognising that, when a deal is made, we all honour it. It is not OK to add conditions, to unpick it or to say that we will go forward with that deal —”
“That is an inevitable outcome, so it is a circular argument. It is worth making that point because bringing language to the fore and not fearing or politicising it is what a normal society would do. <BR /> <BR />I am conscious that my time is running out, and there are quite a few other points that I would like to raise. The really important point, and the principle that I want to drive home —.”
“It was noted that, whilst the Standing Orders were not required to be changed to allow a Member to speak in their language of choice, there would be a requirement to unravel the piece that would allow Members to speak entirely in that language while not disadvantaging any other Member in the Chamber. <BR /> <BR />We listened to the information that had been gathered from similar translation services in other Houses, be it the Houses of the Oireachtas or the Welsh Parliament. It was refreshing to see that other Houses have simply embraced language and see it in all its richness. Many will put the charge of, "Who speaks that language?", but, unfortunately, when you live in a society where language is suppressed or politicised and not valued or recognised for the beauty that it holds, fewer people will speak it.”
“However, it must be stated, and the point cannot be made clearly enough, that this part of New Decade, New Approach is absolutely clear, and there was no confusion on the Procedures Committee about what the task in front of us was. <BR /> <BR />The Committee's starting point was to look at the current procedure and at the rulings that were made. It was quickly established that it was by convention that Members could speak in the language of their choice, but, of course, the right is not there for them to speak entirely in that language. That right is limited by the fact that Members have to surrender time for translation at the end of their contribution.”
“We identified quite a few items that were within our scope, and one of those, rightly, was simultaneous translation. The agreement on that in New Decade, New Approach is, it has to be said, probably the one with the greatest clarity. There is little room for ambiguity. When you read the motion, you see that it is very exact in what it states. It requires that Standing Orders be amended. It is as simple and as black and white as that. That cannot be said for many parts of the agreement, where you could come into the Chamber and have different interpretations or views of what might have been said or agreed. The big question in many of those agreements is around where the funding is coming from.”
“The Procedures Committee was not and is not a place to renegotiate or to discuss how those negotiations went or how the agreement came about. We were tasked merely with putting into operation the agreement that had been made.”
“As part of that work, we had to scan and scope — I thank the officials for doing that — to identify what in the 'New Decade, New Approach' document was within the gift of the Procedures Committee and what warranted being on our agenda for discussion.”
“I thank the Chair of the Committee on Procedures for placing on record a detailed explanation of the events as they unravelled and the deliberations of the Committee. <BR /> <BR />I will refer to some of the comments that have been made about New Decade, New Approach and the commitment to delivering on all its aspects. I have worked well with Committees across the House, including the Procedures Committee, and, if it were within the gift of the Procedures Committee to deliver on all of NDNA, it would not be for want of trying, but, sadly, it is not and we are very limited. That is where we started. After three years of there being no Executive and no Procedures Committee, one of the first tasks with which we were charged was to look not only over legacy reports but at what had brought us back to the table: New Decade, New Approach.”
“The SDLP very much support the precautionary approach in extending the temporary provisions. We note that, as, hopefully, society comes out and things begin to normalise, there will be evidence in the Chamber of Members being able to go about their business in what appears to be a more normal way. However, at this time, it is right to take a precautionary approach and keep provisions in place. That also gives us time to recognise that some of those provisions do no harm to other objectives that the House wants to meet, such as trying to find a work-life balance with family given the antisocial hours that are involved. Those are not off the table either.”
“I thank the Minister for her reply. The Minister is aware that the Narrow Water bridge project is a critical economic stimulus for the south Down region, particularly in a post-COVID environment. Will the project be discussed at the North/South Ministerial Council meeting? Has the Minister any concerns, as I have, that any delay in the appointment of the First Minister and deputy First Minister might hinder projects such as this?”
“I take the Minister's point. <BR /> <BR />The Minister will be aware that an all-party group (APG) has been set up on loneliness and preventing loneliness. There has been widespread support across all parties for that APG. Will the Minister go on record and concur with me that this place needs a loneliness strategy that will bring us in line with all other regions?”
“Any person who, for whatever reason, may have been subject to these at the outset because there was a perception, and can prove that they have legitimate access to these means, will then have very clear regard to these proposals and how they can defend themselves. It is important that that proportionate piece is built in. <BR /> <BR />However, I have no hesitation in saying that this is about disrupting those who try to benefit from and live off the proceeds of crime. Therefore, the SDLP, like any law-abiding citizens, will have no hesitation in welcoming these codes.”
“On behalf of the SDLP, I, too, welcome the revised codes and the new code, albeit, through no fault of the Minister, they are late. They standardise the approach that we will take going forward in disrupting and seizing any proceeds of crime. I will not reiterate what has been said, but it is worth noting at this stage that the purpose of the statutory rule as presented includes taking a proportionate, consistent approach in a focused manner. It is worth noting that doing that is also in the interests of the person who may be subject to those powers, because it brings a standardised proportionality to the discussion.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Minister, I note that you referred to the information-sharing agreement being developed under the auspices of the EU exit working stream. How developed or operational is that data sharing? I would like an update on that. It is critical to the justice family across these islands. <BR /> <BR />Did any conversation allude to the fact that such precious data is now, unfortunately, subject on occasion to cyberattack? Has consideration been given to the safeguarding of that important data?”
“I thank the Minister for that. Minister, do you anticipate, within that effectiveness review, the charge that was brought to the Education Committee: that there is a risk to children and young people because the General Teaching Council can vet teachers but not remove them from the register? Will that be within the remit of the review, and do you agree with that assertion that was made at the Committee?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Does the Minister anticipate that, in a post-pandemic world, the effects of isolation may bear out only when children who have been isolated are back in school for a normal period of schooling? Does he anticipate that there will be an urgent need to set up a counselling service for those children and to have it ready for their return to school, as opposed to trying to respond on an individual basis?”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. We know that much of the truth and many of the answers lie in documents and data held by other parties. What preliminary actions have the First Minister and deputy First Minister taken to secure that data and to secure land, which, unfortunately, may also be a requirement?”
“I will indeed. We have to make sure that all policies, including the ones that the motion asks for, are developed in a way that protects those lands. Any policy must be fully resourced. We should go forward on the basis of that resourcing, which will have a direct effect on protecting the biodiversity that we inherited.”
“We want to build a tourism strategy that will attract people to the area. We must do that in a really sensitive way, appreciating that we have to make sure —.”
“That landscape has evolved since the last ice age, so it is in our interests to ensure that we do everything in our power not only to sustain and protect it but to make sure that our life habits work in unison with it. It is unique, but it is a fragile type of landscape that requires our support. I, like many others, genuinely welcome the fact that many people have reconnected with outdoor spaces as a result of COVID. However, there is no denying that, as going to those spaces becomes more routine, we must all educate ourselves better on how we support and protect the very environments that we are enjoying. <BR /> <BR />South Down is, in my view, the jewel in the crown of Northern Ireland's outdoor offering. It is no surprise to me that not only people from south Down want to enjoy our beautiful natural environment.”
“Young Charlie expressed to his mum his desire to do something to try to help the firefighters who were up there representing and helping all of us. In a very short time, he managed to raise, I believe, £1,900, which was used to bring snacks and water to the firefighters. As the flames rose to mighty heights on Slieve Donard and elsewhere in the Mournes, so, too, did that community spirit, and, to my mind, Charlie Thomson epitomised that. I thank Charlie and all the community representatives who played similar roles in assisting those who were helping us. <BR /> <BR />Peatlands, and fens and bogs in particular, create ecosystems with a unique quality. We need to understand their history.”
“The firefighters, alongside their public service partners, have to be thanked. <BR /> <BR />We must also take a moment to thank the local community, which played its part in supporting those teams. I am sure that many Members will be aware of him, but I can think of one person who epitomises that public spirit, and that is young Charlie Thomson, aged 12. I understand that his dad is a lifeboat volunteer, so he comes from good stock and understands the roles played by volunteers and all those who work for our emergency services.”
“There was without doubt a sense that it was a major incident, and, as information rolled out across the community, it became abundantly clear that it was a major incident; in fact, I will quote the assistant chief fire and rescue officer, Aidan Jennings, who said about the fire that it was:”
“As a representative from the SDLP and particularly as a South Down representative, I am honoured to put my name to the motion. At the outset, I, like other Members, put on record my thanks to the brave firefighters who stepped up in the recent wildfires in the Mournes and played their part in bringing that fire under control. The report stated that there were in excess of 100 firefighters and partner agencies from across the island involved in tackling the fires and bringing them under control. We owe all those individuals a huge debt of gratitude for the tremendous work that they did. It has to be said that that work was quite perilous at times.”
“I appreciate the Member giving way, as I have not had an opportunity to speak on this very important Bill. There appears to be a perception that we are voting on the final Bill. Will the Member join me in putting on record that this is the Second Stage of a Bill to put in place a framework that will feed into action plans? <BR /> <BR />I encourage the farmers who have been in contact with my office and the Member's office to engage in that process. The farmers in South Down, like farmers everywhere, are in the most privileged position to effect change and to ensure that farming is sustainable in the long term.”
“I appreciate the Minister's giving way. I accept what he is saying. There is a huge challenge for us all as public representatives to take a responsible approach. However, does he accept that the conversation will start only when a base level of service is available to all? We are talking about the restoration of emergency care as part of the debate. Without that reassurance, there is understandable nervousness about what the future of the hospital will look like. May I remind the Minister that we would like to walk away with some reassurance in that regard?”
“Will people travel to access specialist care in Downe Hospital or Daisy Hill Hospital? I cannot speak of one without speaking of the other because I know how critical both hospitals are to the people across South Down. <BR /> <BR />I thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, for extending the time allowed to speak, which has been helpful. I commend the motion. I put it on record that the reintroduction of services in both hospitals is critical. Its importance should not be underestimated. It is also critical that the constituency of South Down is understood. Nobody in South Down should be treated as a second-class citizen.”
“Understandably, people take great pride in supporting them, which, no doubt, is why campaigns that are years old have maintained that support across the community. <BR /> <BR />Minister, I talked about perception and the vacuum that can be created. The people of South Down need to hear two things. They need to hear an unambiguous statement from you that the emergency element and the general hospital care at Downe Hospital will be resumed without delay. Secondly, the staff need to hear from you today and the public need to know what the ambition is for Downe Hospital, in addition to the resumption of those services. People travel across Northern Ireland for specialisms here, there and everywhere. What exactly is the specialism and ambition for Downe Hospital?”
“<BR /> <BR />While I accept the argument that we cannot have every specialism in every hospital and that, even if we could, it might not be the best use of resource — that is a valid argument — it must never take away from the need for every person in Northern Ireland to have access to emergency service and general hospital provision. Nobody in south Down should be second-rate when it comes to that access. Therefore, when the Minister is injecting the realism about specialisms and doctors, I ask him to also inject the realism of the geographical nature of the constituency of South Down and recognise that those people are already travelling to be in the two hospitals that have served us well down the years.”
“<BR /> <BR />When the Minister considers that people will have to travel to services, I urge him to consider a person who lives in Kilkeel. They will have travelled for the best part of one hour before they get to the Downe or to Daisy Hill. The travelling has happened, and that is for those who have the privilege of access to private transport. Try to make that journey by public transport — by bus. The roads that those people are being asked to travel, sometimes in distress, are far from suitable for anybody to travel in an emergency. We also know that our Ambulance Service can pick up only so many of the people who are called to hospital.”
“As Members know, with access to social media comes an information flow that, sometimes, is inaccurate. That is not helpful. That said, there is a legitimate concern that should and must be heard. If there are inaccuracies, this is a good time to call them out, iron them out and offer reassurances. <BR /> <BR />I have listened to the Minister on the issue, and I have listened to many across the health service. I accept that it is not logistically possible to have every specialism in every hospital. That could not be delivered, and I do not think that anybody is asking or calling for that. We ask for the retention and resumption of services in the Downe Hospital, an estate and building that, by any measure, is underutilised. In the National Health Service's offering, the estate of the Downe Hospital is second to none, as are its staff.”
“<BR /> <BR />At the outset, I thank all the staff at the Downe Hospital and Daisy Hill, who have endeavoured to maintain some safe services throughout the pandemic, as have many of their colleagues across the health service. That must be noted, particularly during these challenging times. <BR /> <BR />It seems that the whispers and rumours about the demise of services at the Downe Hospital started just a few years after the ribbon was cut at its beautiful new building. That was in the lead-in to Bengoa, and the publication of Bengoa gave oxygen to that conversation. The narrative has always been about what will be taken away from the site and what will be taken from the Downe Hospital. It is the absence of any real access to information on the plans for the hospital that has given rise to the speculation. That vacuum will be filled.”