Richie McPhillips
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Social Democratic and Labour Party · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />The authorities failed many, many victims and individuals across a number of institutions, but, most worryingly, the inquiry found that those institutions were seemingly more concerned about their own reputation and protecting the perpetrators than about looking out for the best interests of some of the most vulnerable childr…”
“As a member of the Committee for the Executive Office, I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this evening's important debate, which was brought to the Assembly by non-Executive parties and concerns the publication of the historical institutional abuse inquiry report.”
“Paula Bradshaw expressed her disappointment at the collapse of the Executive, which, as I pointed out, means that there will be a future delay and a big disappointment that no redress programme has been put in place. Mr Stalford pointed out that there was never any disagreement on the Committee for the Executive Office.”
“These individuals and their families have suffered long enough, and it is issues of abuse that really put things into perspective as to where the Assembly is today and who it is that we serve.”
“It is important, however, that we in this very Chamber also remember people who do not always get the headlines: women such as Pat Hume and the late Gertrude Mallon also played a pivotal role in the agreement. <BR /> <BR />It is true that the North has come a long way since 1998.”
“<BR /> <BR />In the midst of the current political uncertainty and the fall of these institutions, we have hanging over all of us the growing shadow of Brexit, which will disproportionately hit the North of Ireland. Wales has a plan, and Scotland has a plan, but this Executive have been found wanting once again.”
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“What assurances can the Minister give those families and the many others around Lisnaskea and Newtownbutler and in townlands like Inishroosk, Kilmore Quay, Derrylin, Derrylea and Newtownbutler that his Department will have prevention measures in place sooner rather than later? In 2016, families should not have to endure such problems in everyday life. <BR /> <BR />To conclude my remarks on this section, I think it is important that the Assembly invests properly in road maintenance, as it impacts on the everyday life of the people who elect us, none more than the people of Fermanagh. A ring-fenced allocation will allow for more strategic planning and a more managed approach, which will hopefully see our roads brought to an excellent standard.”
“No, I have too much to say, Mr Lynch. I do not have time at this point. <BR /> <BR />Improvements were also promised for Derrylin Road, Lisnaskea, Smith's Strand, Lisnaskea and Inishmore Road, Lisbellaw. We are now almost nine months on, and I have yet to see any improvement in those roads for the people who are dependent on them and use them daily. Many families in and around the Boho area were marooned last winter for weeks on end and had to make detours of up to 20 miles to get children to school. <BR /> <BR />As I said, flooding is a major concern in Fermanagh and has cut off roads, which are the lifeline to many of these rural communities.”
“If we look across the whole western division, which includes Fermanagh and goes right up to Derry and mid-Ulster, we see that the road maintenance budget has depreciated from £35 million in 2011-12 to £18 million in the last financial year. That severely impacts not only the current state of the roads but any road improvement initiatives. <BR /> <BR />Every single week, I receive complaints from constituents about cars hitting potholes and other road defects from places like Belcoo, Garrison, Derrygonnelly, Lisnaskea, Rosslea and Newtownbutler. We have to ask ourselves this: why have the Fermanagh roads got into such a terrible state? In January this year, following extensive flooding in the area, £600,000 was promised for road improvement schemes in Wattlebridge, Newtownbutler —”
“The people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone are heavily reliant on their personal transport for getting to work and for accessing health and hospital services, education facilities, banks and post offices. Access to those services can be a big challenge, and it is vital that these communities, many of which are rural, have a properly maintained road infrastructure. <BR /> <BR />The reality is that the people in Fermanagh are sick and tired of the state of our roads and the road network. They simply do not believe that they get a fair slice of the cake from Stormont and that Fermanagh, especially rural areas, gets the attention and funding it truly deserves.”
“It has been estimated that it would take in the region of £137 million to £141 million a year to maintain the current state of our roads network. Last year, we all felt the brunt of this as a budget cut of £22 million resulted in grass verges not being cut, street lamps not being repaired and cutbacks to essential road repair programmes. That has all had a devastating impact across the North. It does not inspire much confidence, and that is why the SDLP brought the motion to the House. <BR /> <BR />When you look across my constituency, you see that public transport is not at a level that is required. We have no railway service, and buses do not serve many of our rural communities — at least not on a consistent enough basis.”
“Before dealing specifically with Fermanagh and South Tyrone, I acknowledge that the road maintenance budget deficit sits at around £1 billion. That is astronomical. That £1 billion would bring our roads only up to the requisite standard; it is not what it would cost to have excellent roads. <BR /> <BR />In the past month, we have learned that the Department for Infrastructure's budget going forward will be cut by 9%. I can only imagine that rural constituencies such as mine will be the first to fall foul of the budgetary decrease. I call on the Minister — I am glad to see he is here to respond to the debate — to outline the nature of the cuts and how they will impact on the road maintenance budget, especially in the west. <BR /> <BR />As my colleague Mr Mullan highlighted, the road maintenance budget has faced years of underfunding.”
“I thank each and every Member who has contributed to the debate. As the SDLP MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone, I welcome the opportunity to discuss the state of roads and the roads network in my constituency and across the North, which has been the subject of decades of neglect with little service improvement.”
“I thank the Minister for the answer. As we approach another winter, many residents and road users have been raising concerns with me on a daily basis about the condition of the roads and the state that they will be in in a few months' time. What assurances can the Minister give that planned work will be completed in a timely manner?”
“A key commitments of the draft Programme for Government framework is to tackle regional imbalance in job creation and investment. Coming from Fermanagh and South Tyrone, I could rightly say that I feel that our constituency has suffered greatly over the years. Some 12 months ago next month, 800 Teleperformance jobs were announced for Enniskillen; to date, I have no knowledge of any job creation in that respect. Will the Minister give us an update on the position with those 800 Teleperformance jobs?”
“I thank the First Minister for her statement. Coming from the border constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, I know that there are genuine concerns that there will be a hard border following the vote to leave the European Union, which will negatively impact trade, investment and travel arrangements. In light of that, David Davis, the Minister responsible for negotiating the exit from the EU, has said that they do not have a solution for the border. How confident is the First Minister that there will not be a hard border, considering the ambiguity that currently exists in Westminster?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for his statement and for providing an update on the latest meeting and the implications of the vote to leave the European Union that were centre stage at the discussion. Can he outline what discussions there have been on setting up an all-Ireland forum to consider the implications of Brexit, and does he agree that no single party in the Chamber has the power to veto the establishment of such a forum?”
“I am glad that the Minister is here today, and I look forward to her response on these very important issues. The families need answers, and she is in the position to provide them.”
“<BR /> <BR />The trust has also stated that it will work with the families affected and will bring them on board, but I have to report that I had a visit to my office in Lisnaskea from one of the parents, and she advised me last week that no contact has been made to date to take them on board. Is this yet another empty promise? The SDLP also met Trevor Millar recently, who assured us that plans will be put in place to address all the very serious concerns. We wrote to Mr Millar and, on that day, we marked his card. We have written to him in the last few days looking for an update on what progress has been made. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I give a commitment to the families that we will continue to seek monthly updates on what is happening.”
“Like many other Members, I fully support their calls for a proper independent inquiry. <BR /> <BR />It has become clear that many of the families affected have struggled and fought for years for proper funding, only to be told by the trust, the Department, and the Health and Social Care Board that there is nothing irregular in how resources are allocated to learning disability services. It is a sort of buck-passing exercise and about blaming someone rather than taking responsibility and being held to account for their actions. If this funding shortfall has existed for some 20 years, it is nothing short of a travesty, and the question has to be asked: how has that impacted on other services? Patients and families want answers, and they deserve answers now.”
“It is great to get the opportunity to contribute to today's debate, and I thank Mr Ross Hussey for tabling it. Members have covered much of the ground, and I just want to make a few points. In May, I had one of the first opportunities to meet families in Enniskillen, and I heard at first hand of the great difficulties that they face. These families are struggling through no fault of their own. The chronic underspend has left many of them trying to cope in a carer role with no hope of assistance, and that comes at great financial cost and great cost to family life, health and well-being. <BR /> <BR />I reiterate my full support for the families. Many of them are from across my constituency, and I fully support them in their campaign for a proper service to be put back in place immediately and to have this historical underspend dealt with.”
“We look forward to the Committee's forward work programme and the issue of using the petition of concern process to block motions of censure. That totally undermines the independence and effectiveness of the system of protecting the standards and privileges of the House. We have seen it used in the past, especially by the biggest party in the House, and I am sure that we will see it again. It is a blatant abuse of the petition of concern mechanism, and I hope that the issue will be addressed during the mandate. <BR /> <BR />I would like to commend the work of the Committee staff in the creation of these amendments and for all the support that they have given to the Committee and its members. Finally, I concur with Mr Beattie's sentiments about how Members act in the House.”
“When a complaint is lodged against a Member, there is proper investigation by the commissioner. There is due process and a determination made on whether to censure, following consideration of the evidence. However, no such mechanism exists for Ministers, which may serve only to undermine the institution. That issue needs to be addressed in the future.”
“It provides a robust definition of what a lobby organisation is. It provides that Members, in dealing with lobbyists, must adhere to the code of conduct guide and declare any interest that arises out of meetings with lobbyists. The guide, as amended, now clearly states that Members must not receive any payment, benefit or gift from lobbyists. Those are progressive steps in ensuring that Members adhere to high standards when acting outside the Chamber, and the amendments to the rules go some way towards addressing concerns raised in the last mandate. <BR /> <BR />The SDLP supports the motion and the amendments. However, we still believe that there is considerable work to be undertaken to ensure that there is a robust mechanism to hold to account Ministers who may be operating ultra vires to the rules or the Pledge of Office.”
“In the last mandate, the Chamber and the Committee made massive strides towards providing clarity in creating a set of rules and standards. The code now contains 11 aspirational principles of conduct and 21 enforceable rules, supplemented by a guide to explain how to comply with the code. We now have greater clarity, with more robust definitions. <BR /> <BR />The proposed aim of today's amendments is to tighten the gaps in the code of conduct rules. It is anticipated that the amendments will remove the risk of confusion or misinterpretation of the rules by Members. I do not intend to give an exhaustive analysis of all the amendments to the rules as most of them are technical. However, I will highlight one key area. The amendments provide further guidance on dealing with lobbyists, as set out in appendix 1 of the rules.”
“I welcome the opportunity to take part in the debate on the motion, which seeks to affirm the Assembly's support for the Members' code of conduct and proposes amendments to rules 4 and 5 of the code. As a member of the Committee on Standards and Privileges, I support today's motion. <BR /> <BR />I will make some general comments on the code of conduct before specifically addressing the amendments. The SDLP believes that the House and its Members should always strive to operate within an established level of conduct that befits elected representatives. A code of conduct should not be a loose guide defining how Members should conduct their business in public life but should be a mechanism for adherence to an established set of principles.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Can the Minister also confirm whether, as part of the proposals of reform for non-domestic rates, he will impose rates on charity shops?”
“<BR /> <BR />The people in my constituency are concerned about the gradual erosion of services; therefore, it is important that the issues raised are given appropriate consideration by the new Executive. The Budget before us today does not offer that support. It is a one-year Budget that will not restore economic balance or fairness between the west and the rest of the North.”
“Health and social care services have also been dwindling, with seemingly more people being transferred from the South West Acute Hospital than are treated in it at this point in time. Fifteen-minute care packages have become the norm for the elderly and vulnerable, and, as we have learned recently, there has been a significant underspend in learning disability services, leaving many parents and families without the necessary help and support they need. Day-care centres, which are a necessary resource for rural communities, are being closed, leaving some of the most vulnerable and elderly people in isolated places like Rosslea and Garrison without that service. This is morally not right. A community that cannot look after its old and needy is failing them.”
“In fact, the changes to superannuation arrangements in the last mandate are adding further pressure to school budgets, with many schools in my constituency in financial difficulties and having to let staff go in order to balance the books. One member of a board of governors called me just last week to say that they were having to let one full-time teacher and two ancillary staff go because of the imposition of the superannuation scheme. This is a serious issue at present. How is this beneficial for our children and their futures? <BR /> <BR />In Fermanagh and South Tyrone, the past 10 years have ushered in the closure of schools, post offices, rural banks and businesses.”
“It is important to remember that today's Budget and future multi-year Budgets are predicated on EU funding streams, and, with no viable funding alternative in place, a complete removal from the EU will have dramatic implications for future funding allocations. <BR /> <BR />The Education budget for 2016-17 comprises £1·9 billion, but there are cuts to student support, libraries, museums and public services across the North. The west will ultimately feel the brunt of those cuts. I met principals from schools across my constituency recently who have genuine concerns about their school budgets. This means fewer teachers, bigger class sizes and limited support for students with special educational needs.”
“Last year, we witnessed a crisis in the farming sector, with many farmers teetering on the brink of existence. Farmers have been facing an income crisis and that has not yet been resolved. The new Minister needs to use all budgetary resources available to her to ensure the implementation of the rural development programme, including the farm business investment and agri-environment schemes, to ensure better access to finance for the farming industry and the payment of emergency assistance schemes for farmers affected by last year's flooding. <BR /> <BR />A potential exit from the European Union is adding further difficulties to the farming community as it faces possible uncertainty over CAP payments and cross-border trade.”
“I ask this question straight away: what is that going to do? One can only believe that a lot less will be done in the coming year. I can only imagine that rural constituencies such as mine will also be one of the first to fall foul of a budgetary decrease. I want to comment on our rural road infrastructure in Fermanagh and South Tyrone and the terrible state of the roads around Lisnaskea and Newtownbutler. We have been promised repairs after the flooding, and the much-needed Enniskillen bypass has yet to see the light of day despite ministerial announcements in the last year. I hope that these are not to be empty promises of proper investment and improvement, especially in the west. The theme of empty promises is not alien to the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. <BR /> <BR />This Budget has many problems as well as Infrastructure.”
“In 2016, people in Belfast can boast about having download speeds of 200 megabytes, but there is no provision for those sorts of speeds in places like Fermanagh. We have seen broadband services in the likes of Lisnaskea and Enniskillen fall far below the standard required, and businesses and people there have not seen broadband improvement in years. In 2016, that is simply unacceptable. I have come to understand that the former Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment had been spending significant amounts of money to rectify the problem, but that has not reached Fermanagh and South Tyrone in any tangible way yet. <BR /> <BR />There is no doubt that the Infrastructure budget faces serious challenges. The average spend on our roads over the previous mandate was roughly £70 million. What is it this year? Twenty million pounds.”
“In this Budget, I do not see any attempt to redirect much-needed funding and investment back to the west. My constituency, and Fermanagh especially, does not even get the crumbs from the table. We are the poor relations, in my opinion, of the Six Counties. <BR /> <BR />However, it is not just job opportunities that are lacking in the west. One of the big disappointments in many rural areas across the North is the vexed question of no or poor broadband services. A failure to improve broadband services has severely impeded existing small and medium-sized enterprises from developing and has discouraged start-ups and enterprising activity. Many people are trying to run small businesses in places right across our constituency, from Belleek and Garrison at one end to Aughnacloy and Clogher, but the standard of broadband is extremely poor.”
“I have no immediate SDLP predecessor; however, I wish to mention Mr Tommy Gallagher, who served the constituency with distinction for 13 years, and thank him for all that he did for the constituency. <BR /> <BR />The 2016-17 Budget, as outlined to the House earlier this year, is unique, as it is a one-year Budget put together in the aftermath of the Stormont House Agreement. This Budget promises many things, but one of the major issues that it fails to deal with is investment and job creation in the west. Up to 2014, only 3·9% of Invest NI's funding went to my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. That is despite the fact that the unemployment rate is sitting at 5% and almost a third of people are reliant on some sort of benefits.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. First of all, I begin by extending my best wishes to the Minister in his new role. I welcome the opportunity to make my maiden speech to the Assembly, and I do so as an MLA for Fermanagh and South Tyrone and as a member of the Committee for the Executive Office. <BR /> <BR />Before I turn to the 2016-17 Budget, I take this opportunity to thank the people from across the community in Fermanagh and South Tyrone who have given me the opportunity to represent them in the Chamber and in the Assembly. As I said on the day of my election, I do not care where anybody goes to church on a Sunday; I am here to represent everyone for the benefit of all the community.”
“Thank you Minister for the answers thus far, and I wish you well in your new post. <BR /> <BR />Traditionally, most investment in research and development has gone on in the greater Belfast area. Can the Minister outline how he plans to increase investment west of the Bann, especially in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone?”
“I thank the Minister and offer him my best wishes. You have probably answered my question, but, for clarity, can you give us an assessment of the impact of the budget cuts on libraries, particularly for users with disabilities, older people and the socially isolated?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers so far, and I wish him well in his new ministry. In my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone, there is a great need to upgrade school infrastructure to ensure that it is fit for the 21st century. In light of that, can the Minister provide us with an update on the progress being made on the redevelopment of Mount Lourdes Grammar School and Erne Integrated College, both in Enniskillen?”