Gerry Carroll
West Belfast · People Before Profit Alliance · Northern Ireland
“Yesterday morning, as others did, I stood alongside our resident doctors as they commenced a 24-hour period of industrial action. We often praise our healthcare workers in the House and more generally, saying things such as that they are invaluable and that we wish them well.”
“If we have learnt anything from the political events of the past week, it is that powerful people — powerful men, in particular — and institutions should always be held to maximum account when it comes to abuse, neglect and victims, and that victims and survivors should be believed and supported on every occasion.”
“Agency spend has, again, gone through the roof and is sky-high; locum spend has gone up and continues to go up — it has gone up by in the region of £0·5 billion over the past few years; and, almost every single year out of the past five to 10 years, hundreds of millions of pounds of public money have been pumped into the for-profit privat…”
“With bills increasing month-on-month and year-on-year, that is true, and those workers need a proper settlement that meets their needs and the ever-increasing cost of living. One striking doctor put it to me starkly yesterday. They said that they left Scotland and took a more senior position in the health sector in Belfast.”
“I commend Stephen and his colleagues in the Bill Office and the Executive Office officials, who worked closely with me to try to support, amend or help along my amendments — whatever way you want to look at it. I also want to commend the Member for Fermanagh and South Tyrone who spoke out during the last few stages.”
“I commend people for speaking out on the issue, especially Sharon Burke. I think that she might be in the Gallery. She has been emailing Members on that issue.”
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“If Civil Service workers take similar action, I am sure that the money will be found as well. <BR /> <BR />That is, of course, not to mention the complete inaction on the minimum wage, despite the promises in the NDNA agreement to increase it. I know that the new Economy Minister is here, and he will set out his plan shortly, but we urgently need to see an increase to the minimum wage to eradicate low pay and to uplift those workers. Otherwise, promises about learning from COVID are just hot air, if I can use today's phrase. What does it say about our society if we allow billionaires to grow and increase their wealth during the pandemic but ignore and insult those who provided services, kept people alive and protected them during the pandemic? To me and many, many others, that is a diagnosis of a truly sick society.”
“Other unions that have demands for pay increases need to see their demands met as well. I pay tribute to them and to the work of their members, particularly over the last year. This Budget also does not allocate any extra money for Civil Service workers who, despite working hard through a pandemic, are being offered or, rather, forced to accept a 1% pay offer from the Minister. I know that those workers are challenging that poor imposition, and they have my full support. They should look at what the Hovis workers did. They were told that they had to accept a pay cut. They refused to accept it and organised against it. They saw it as a slap in the face, rightly struck, took action against it, and, in the end, won a significantly improved pay offer. The Hovis workers have paved the way and shown that the money can be found.”
“No truer words were ever spoken. Unfortunately, the Budget does not meet those demands.”
“There is no new money to cover an increase in pay for our brave and valiant healthcare workers for the tremendous work that they did during COVID. Let us not forget that, while we and the public were clapping, our NHS staff were stuck in intensive care units for 12-, 13- or 14-hour shifts and were exhausted and crying as they went back to their families. I pay tribute to all of them; they have worked through hell and high water over the last year. <BR /> <BR />I thank the many health workers in my constituency. I am sure that other Members got the notification from UNISON members who contacted me to highlight and call for a pay uplift of at least £2,000, which they fully and absolutely deserve. I will briefly quote from an email to me and other Members:”
“I do not hear it, and I certainly do not see it. That is something that not only this socialist MLA but even the IMF — that well-known radical socialist organisation — is calling for. The Executive cannot bring themselves to break out of the stranglehold of neoliberal politics and philosophies that leave the wealthy untouched. It is really shameful stuff, given the year that we have been through. <BR /> <BR />The UK Government said that we are all in it together, but we never were and we are definitely not in it together now, judging by what has happened to workers because of this and previous Budgets. Although extra money has been made available to cover historical and NDNA pay arrangements, workers had to stand out in the freezing cold on picket lines and fight for it.”
“Why do they not do so? The UK has a record number of billionaires, including 24 new billionaires in the past year. <BR /> <BR />It is not good enough just to complain about the big bad Tories. We know how rotten they are, but what are the Finance Minister and his Executive colleagues doing to put up a wall of resistance to the Tories and defy them rather than do their bidding? Where are the Finance Minister's efforts to use his resources to build grassroots opposition to the Tories' meagre budgets and allocations? In truth, that is the only way in which change has ever happened in this place. LGBT and women's rights, as limited as they are, have come about only through relentless activism and struggle from the grassroots. Where is the plan here to join the Welsh and Scottish Finance Ministers to press urgently for a COVID wealth tax?”
“<BR /> <BR />In yesterday's debate, and today, regarding the ever mounting and unacceptable situation of our health service and its waiting lists, we have effectively been presented with two options: either we continue as normal or we implement the Bengoa report and gut our health service. What about this radical idea: why not invest properly in our health service? Why not end the conversations about there not being any magic money trees or never-ending pots of money or begging bowls? <BR /> <BR />COVID showed that Governments can intervene, even if belatedly, not to support everybody but to provide some protection for people's health and finances. If they could intervene then, why not now? The wealthy have amassed fortunes during the pandemic, and the Executive should lead the calls for them to be taxed to the hilt.”
“Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, you will be glad to know that every one of my comments will relate to the Budget as well. I am sure that you will keep me right if, somehow, they do not or are not perceived to do so. <BR /> <BR />I spoke yesterday about how difficult it was to understand why certain Departments' requests for resources this year were significantly less than for the previous year. I did not get an answer from the Minister, except to say that he could not provide the answer. The budgetary process is being rushed through without an explanation as to why certain decisions are made. Last night, we were presented with a document of block figures, again with no rhyme nor reason as to why decisions are made.”
“I agree that the stats are very concerning. Does he agree that the strategy of simply throwing money at the private or independent sector to address waiting lists is unsustainable, more costly in the long run and, ultimately, unfair to the people who clapped for the NHS during the pandemic?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Does he agree that it is immoral for the Executive and Departments to take contracts or services from states with terrible human rights records and breaches? Will he work to end that practice by changing legislation? Is that area included in the social value method that he talked about?”
“— challenges faced by workers going forward. For that reason and many more, I will oppose the motion.”
“I will do. The truth is that we are being asked to endorse Estimates that will allow for a standstill Budget, as the Minister says. In real terms, that means a Budget that reduces public services and does not meet the —”
“That is a despicable state of affairs in a so-called modern society.”
“Why is that the case, given the scale of the crisis in our health service? The provision sought for 2021-22 is 6·2% lower for Health than the final net provision for 2020-21. With all our waiting lists and our mental health crisis, why is that the case? Why are the Minister and the Department not shouting more loudly than they are for extra resources and support and making more bids etc? When it comes to dealing with the waiting list crisis, the Committee learned that most, if not all, of the extra money allocated over this year will go directly to the so-called independent sector, which is really the private sector. Some people on waiting lists may not care who treats them, but that approach directly funds the two-tier health service, which says, "If you can afford to pay, you will be seen and treated".”
“You may ask what that means, but, to me, that suggests that the Department is continuing to allow the practice of fossil fuel licences and petroleum licences to go ahead. At a time when we have a massive environmental crisis, we need to keep fossil fuels in the ground. <BR /> <BR />When you move on to Health, there is some additional money, which the Chair referred to, but it is not recurring and, ultimately, is nowhere near enough to meet the huge challenges faced by staff and patients now and going forward. From my reading of the quite hefty Estimates document, there appears to be a reduction in what the Estimates and provisions were last year in the following sections: hospital, paramedic and ambulance, dental services, health support services, and fire and rescue services.”
“We face massive challenges of deprivation, wealth inequality and health inequality. Surely now should be the time to throw conventional economic wisdom out the window and adopt a fundamentally different approach that looks at putting money and wealth into the hands of working people and people on welfare etc. Also, under the Estimates section for the Department for the Economy, it mentions:”
“There is also a reduction in resource provision for the Commissioner for Children and Young People at a time when young people's rights and the need to support them is stronger than ever. I question that as well. At the same time, agency services have increased under these Estimates and the Budget. We need to reduce spending on agency firms and to stop funding an unfair system for workers and taxpayers; instead, we need to redirect that money into beefing up the public sector and providing secure long-term jobs with proper terms and conditions. <BR /> <BR />In the section under the Department for the Economy, there is some very worrying news indeed. There is a significant reduction in provision this year compared with last year's Budget. Why? The resources sought for 2021-22 are 36·9% lower than the final net provision for 2020-21.”
“At first guess, you may think that that is due to COVID and reduced demand or necessity, but, when you dig deeper, you see that there is a huge reduction in grants to the Housing Executive. Why? No reasoning or explanation as to why that is the case is given in the Estimates document or the accompanying documents. I ask this question: is this a reduction in order to speed up the privatisation of the landlord function, which the Communities Minister previously indicated that she wanted? I hope not, but I honestly do not know. <BR /> <BR />We also know that the resources allocated to the community and voluntary sector and the arts have decreased. We need to invest more, not less, in those sectors.”
“Saying that the Estimates and budgetary process are simple, straightforward and easy to navigate is telling porkies. That is not just my view or my party's view but a view that is widely held. The Chair of the Finance Committee stated his dissatisfaction with the process, which I share, especially as he described its "opaqueness" and its "confusing" nature. That said, the Estimates process will, obviously, form the basis of the Budget for this year. When you trawl through it, many questions arise. As Members have said, the process is far from clear or straightforward, and I absolutely concur with those comments. For example, there is a gap of around £300 million in the DFC net resources this year compared with last year.”
“This is a welcome and important decision, but it is something that people should not have to face.”
“We also have to condemn the role played by the entire Executive throughout the scandal. Ministers rushed through legislation at the last minute in order to allow for the prosecution of people who attended the protests. Afterwards, Ministers had the gall to defend those actions, which were later described as "discriminatory", "disproportionate" and in breach of human rights. The Justice Minister described the actions as "proportionate", and, since the decision not to prosecute, which I absolutely welcome, as do many others, there has been radio silence from the Justice Minister. That speaks volumes. <BR /> <BR />The whole Executive need to issue an apology urgently for how people were treated that day. The fines need to be dropped. Black lives mattered then, and they matter now.”
“I recognise the role of the stewards and activists who made it a safe and socially distanced protest, as was recognised by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) and many others who observed the protest. I recognise the role played by the North West Migrants Forum, United Against Racism and the many organisations that stood up, that day and since, against the disgraceful decision to consider prosecuting 14 suspects from the day.”
“The only reason that the prosecutions of those who attended the 6 June Black Lives Matters protests have been dropped is that people refused to accept the double standard that was at play. Activists and members of the BAME community refused to accept that there should be one rule for them and another for others who wanted to protest or gather in large numbers. They refused to accept that people could not protest in a safe and socially distanced manner at a time when police violence in the United States had reached new, brutal levels with the killing of George Floyd last year. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to and recognise the role of those who gathered on that day to stand up against racism and police violence.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, for selecting this matter for discussion today. The former slave and abolitionist who spent time in this city, Frederick Douglass, said:”
“I thank the Minister and the panel for their work. The Minister mentioned socio-economic disadvantage and poverty almost in passing. There is no doubt that it is the main determinant in education, as it is in life, and the main cause of underachievement. Does the Minister agree that, unless the Executive set out and implement a policy to eradicate poverty, we will be coming back to the issue of educational underachievement year after year?”
“For that reason and many more, I intend to vote against it today.”
“<BR /> <BR />That is not to say that the Minister gives journalists an easy job. The figures for the Budget are so general and broad-sweeping that it is next to impossible to detail exactly where the money will go. Where is the scrutiny? Where is the accountability, as others said today? We were barely given a chance to scrutinise it effectively or properly in our Committees. How on earth is any member of the press or public to ascertain from that where the money is going? <BR /> <BR />The failure of the Budget to protect young people, sick people and the environment is a gross abdication of duty. It is an attack on the working class, and we need, ultimately, an economic strategy that is based on redistributing wealth and providing for those in need. The Budget from the Sinn Féin Minister is the antithesis of that.”
“That is a colossal waste of public money, brought about by the same parties that were also responsible for the likes of the renewable heat incentive (RHI); the same parties that lobbied Westminster for a decade to let them lower corporation tax for the wealthiest; and the same parties that struggled to spend a lot of money — it was hundreds of millions — on COVID support. <BR /> <BR />The same parties will roll their Ministers out to tell us that their hands are tied and that they cannot find the money for public services in the Budget. We have some outstanding journalists here, but, to put it frankly, the Executive get off lightly with how little they are held to account for what goes on in this Building and for the lasting impact that has on communities. I am sure that the big parties are very glad of that today.”
“Twenty-four hours after the Minister's party signs up to the politics of a green new deal, he lays down a threat to public transport, footways and street lighting, and he cannot even provide for a proper winter gritting service. That is a very worrying sign that working-class people will pay for the crisis once again. <BR /> <BR />The legacy of previous Stormont Budgets and decisions is well illustrated by the fact that we will pay out tens of millions of pounds in interest on private finance initiatives (PFIs) over the next year.”
“We are told that Translink may need to consider "service reductions" and:”
“Where is the £6·5 million for the extra nursing and midwifery student places that were designed to alleviate pressure? We heard from the Health Minister at the Health Committee, last week or the week before, about the lack of investment in mental health services. Where is the increase in provision for counselling? Where is the money that was set aside to rebuild cancer, oncology and haematology services and for improvements in palliative care and many other issues? Where is the increased provision for those in need of IVF treatment, to name just a few of the issues? <BR /> <BR />The Department for Infrastructure faces the same fate. With inflationary increases, the Budget represents a real-terms reduction. The document is littered with none too subtle threats of future cutbacks.”
“If there is a strike for NIPSA workers, I will certainly support them. <BR /> <BR />The lack of allocation for health pay is a further disgrace. A year on from giving the commitment to increase the minimum wage, the Executive have done nothing. That is offensive to many working people, who deserve better. The Budget shows clearly that they are not a priority for the Executive. The Minister tries to make much of the Health budget increase of 5·7% in resource spending on last year, but health costs are estimated to have risen by roughly 6·5%, which is a reduction in real terms in the middle of a health pandemic, no less. <BR /> <BR />Where is the £75 million set aside for transformation that was previously promised? Where is the money to review adult care via 'Power to People'?”
“It is particularly insulting that one of the most effective organisations in this city and one that my constituency office uses, the Belfast citywide tribunal service, which assists people with the brutal welfare reform system, was not allocated sufficient funding to keep its doors open over the next year and beyond by the Communities Minister as part of the Budget. The workers in that service do not know whether they have a job from year-to-year. That is not where the threat to workers and jobs ends. <BR /> <BR />Public-sector pay is devolved, yet the best that the Minister can offer civil servants is 1%. That is a slap in the face for those workers. My solidarity and full support go to those in NIPSA who are balloting on action against that meagre pay cut. The Hovis workers show what can be done to fight against pay cuts and freezes.”
“It harks back instead to an era of politics plagued by neoliberalism and underfunding. There has been no attempt at all to expand and properly fund the health service, community services or transport services, to name a few. All those areas were in crisis long before the Budget, but there is no attempt to bail them out financially. The Budget imposes effective reductions in funding for welfare support, homeless and mental health services and a real-terms cut for public transport.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Minister has presented this as a standstill Budget. Indeed, this is the very year when the Budget should break away from the neoliberalism of the past, address increasing needs and adjust for rising costs.”
“This Budget utterly fails to meet the transformational change that we so desperately need in the wake of a global health pandemic, as we sit on the brink of climate catastrophe and as economic crisis and widespread social need grow. I have made my views on this Budget clear. Indeed, many in this Chamber have also recognised today its failure to deal with waiting lists, poverty and many more issues, yet the Minister is asking us to approve it and to accept the continuation of the damaging conditions that our communities have faced for far too long. I will certainly not be supporting the Budget today, and I wonder whether Members from Executive parties who have rightly condemned Minister Murphy's Budget will stand by their words and refuse to endorse it. Will they join me in pushing to reject these huge shortcomings? We will wait and see.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Is he also concerned about the discrepancy in the likes of cycling infrastructure? Places in my West Belfast constituency and North Belfast have much less cycling infrastructure than, say, South or East Belfast. We need to do a lot more to put in infrastructure in those areas.”
“If that is not important to some people in the House, look at the young demonstrators on our streets and recognise why it is important for them and many, many others.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have an opportunity here not just to green our economy a bit but to make a monumental shift that would better in one fell swoop the lives of so many workers and those who are most vulnerable to the climate crisis. That will require a challenge to the normal order here and globally. I do not know whether Mr Muir and the other Members who tabled the motion would go as far as to agree with what I am suggesting here, but things such as workers' control, proper democracy in planning and production, and a break with the status quo are what is required. <BR /> <BR />I urge those in the Chamber and those watching to check out articles and publications by eco-socialists, whose ideas could rescue our future and the future of generations to come.”
“I will speak briefly about workers' rights. Any move to a so-called green economy must be accompanied by the implementation of a proper living wage, the recognition of trade unions across new sectors, and the banning of precarious working conditions and zero-hours contracts. Quickly, I want to pay tribute to the Hovis food production workers, who have fought an incredible fight and had an improved pay offer from management today. I also want to mention the workers in the meat production plants, who have had to face unsafe working conditions and exposure to COVID-19 clusters. Those are the same workers who are underpaid and underappreciated, and the issues are not unconnected.”
“There can be no place for such reluctance in the fight for climate justice, and it is a fight for justice.”
“It means acknowledging that we have a problem with production and agriculture and doing what needs to be done to ensure that sustainability does not leave ordinary farmers behind but instead gives them the skills and assistance needed to produce sustainably, based on the needs of our communities rather than on the profit that it provides. <BR /> <BR />There is a disappointing reluctance from the Executive to take action in that arena and to talk about how we can incentivise ordinary farmers and improve their lot while reducing our methane outputs. That reluctance spreads to their failure to recognise the damage done by underfunding public transport. There is also a reluctance to break with the fossil fuel industry or stand up to those who want to have their way with our local environment.”
“Bottom wages, poor working conditions, pollution of the air, water reserves and the earth — just to name a few — destruction of habitats and even homes — all that has been driven by the insatiable need for more profits to be concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. <BR /> <BR />That context should underscore everything that we do when we plan for a more sustainable future. Tinkering around the edges of the system will not work. Taking half measures that green our appearance but do not drastically reduce our emissions will not cut it. We need to see tangible, transformative change in society that challenges the root cause of the crisis: capitalism. That means being a global leader in banning fossil fuel exploration. It means standing up to the multinationals that want access to local reserves by saying — pardon the pun — "Not on our turf".”
“<BR /> <BR />The very wealthy who can afford to adapt to newer climates will do so without so much as an afterthought for those who cannot. They will continue to create profit, no matter the cost to our planet. Indeed, it is the wealthiest multinational corporations and their profit motive that are responsible for the greatest emissions and the greatest damage to our planet and the pillaging of our natural resources. The world's richest 1% have caused double the amount of CO2 emissions than the poorest 50% from 1990 until 2015. That is not according to me; it is according to Oxfam. They have not only squandered our global carbon budget and brought us to the brink of climate catastrophe but made worse the lives of working-class people and the very poor across the world.”
“I support the call today for a green new deal and for economic and social justice as we rapidly decarbonise our economy. I thank the Members who tabled the motion. <BR /> <BR />I believe that, to achieve a sustainable and eco-friendly society, we need a just transition away from the causes of the climate crisis, and that must extend far beyond our borders. Those in countries that are at the greatest risk from the climate crisis are also at the greatest risk of being left behind. The COVID pandemic is a perfect example of how the capitalist system blocks those at the bottom of society from accessing the support necessary to survive and live. That is as true of vaccine patents and the profit-driven production of medical aid as it of adapting to and mitigating the effects of the climate crisis.”
“On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I was not in my place for Question Time. Business moved far more quickly than I anticipated. I place on record my apologies to you and to the House that I was not in my place.”
“There are questions around farmland, air-quality impact, disturbance of drinking water and many other issues. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate that the Minister for Infrastructure may not be able to comment on this, but how absurd would it be if every single party in the House, bar one Member, were opposed to the application but it could still go ahead? That puts a focus on the massive problems and lack of democracy in our planning system. I hope that that is not the situation and that the Minister will deny the application planning permission. It is opposed not only by parties here but by thousands of people right across her constituency and across the North more generally.”
“The ratepayers will have to pay billions of pounds for it for over 30 years. Many people do not even know that Arc21 exists or what it even means. If there are billions for the incinerator, where is the money for green jobs, for home insulation, for reforestation etc? It is, indeed, a waste of money. <BR /> <BR />Mr Clarke mentioned the Mullaghglass site in my constituency, which is causing massive issues for residents. There are complaints about the odour and nuisance and that it is possibly causing health issues. I repeat that Mr Clarke's Minister should act quickly to shut it down. The site for the Hightown Arc21 incinerator, if it is built on, will be right next to residential properties — it is 1 kilometre away — and will likely have issues similar to those that we are seeing at Mullaghglass.”
“Feeding the incinerator and producing waste to keep it functioning will be the order of the day, never mind the fact that, in order to address waste, as Clare Bailey mentioned, we need to tackle the source of the problem, which is production. We need to tackle the economic and political system under which we live, which is addicted to plastic and profit. That is how to stop it being shipped across to America or being burnt. I suspect that Mr Clarke probably does not agree with that approach. <BR /> <BR />Other people have already touched on the question of the technological mix of the incinerator. It was developed over 15 years ago and is not being built anywhere else in the UK. Parity of esteem, anybody? There are, of course, questions around finance and public money, as Members raised.”
“The issue did not have a direct impact on my constituents, but it did have immediate implications for neighbouring constituencies. As far as I understand it, however, the company has expanded its needs case to include all of the North, so it will directly affect my constituents now, although it is worthwhile and important to be here regardless of that. <BR /> <BR />It seems to me and to many others that, at a time when recycling, as Members said, is thankfully on the up, it would be not only unwise but potentially environmentally destructive, leading to more emissions, to give the incinerator the go-ahead.”