Kieran McCarthy
Strangford · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“I am pleased to support the Final Stage and to pass on my thanks and congratulations to all those involved in getting us to where we are this evening. It is simple and straightforward legislation, but it offers those in social work additional recognition of their professional standards, and gives greater reassurance to the public.”
“Specialist training and raising public awareness will be essential. There is a much wider issue of ensuring that the Bill itself will be properly resourced. That is perhaps an issue for another day, and, at this stage, our priority must be to get the legislation onto the statute book.”
“It will also cover people who are vulnerable, as well as those, including people in the criminal justice system, who lack capacity. <BR /> <BR />The new legislation will require that, if a person has capacity, they can then make their own decision about their treatment and that all possible support in making that decision will be provided…”
“That includes our Committee staff, our Assembly Research and Information Service and everyone who contributed to making our Health Committee positive and getting us to where we are this evening.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also thank Alastair Ross for his work in steering the Ad Hoc Committee, which I must say was very heavy work for some of us, but we got through it. I thank Alastair for being there to direct and guide us. Of course, he has already paid tribute to the Clerks who serviced our Committee.”
“We thank Professor McClelland for his dedication and hard work in carrying on where Professor Bamford unfortunately left off. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to everyone — as has already been said in the Chamber, there were many — who worked hard and together to see this improvement for everyone with a mental health condition or a learning dis…”
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“I thank the Member for giving way. I just cannot sit down tonight. I have to ask something. You mentioned the cycling. Is the Member up for another cycle along the Wild Atlantic Way, as we had when I was on the Regional Development Committee? Remember, you and I went ahead; the rest fell behind. They could not keep up with us. Would you be up for another one?”
“I want to see maybe a cup of tea or coffee or something. <BR /> <BR />Go raibh maith agat and slán go fóill. Ta tae yez aw an sae lang the noo. Thank you, everybody, very much, and a sincere goodbye.”
“I want you to stop and bring me up to date with what is happening in this place. Everyone is very welcome, and perhaps they can have a cup of tea or a cup of coffee overlooking Strangford lough. You may remember that, this morning, I waved the bus pass. I am going to use that bus pass, along with my wife, hopefully. Beware, everybody, because I am going to visit Castlederg, Kilrea — wherever you come from and wherever you come from.”
“— do stop and pay me a visit, but do not all come at once, for God's sake.”
“Cash was provided by our Executive and, indeed, Mark Durkan. As you enter my village of Kircubbin to get to Portaferry —”
“<BR /> <BR />Finally, I offer a genuine invitation to any Member when they visit the revamped Exploris aquarium in Portaferry.”
“That includes our Committee staff, our Assembly Research and Information Service and everyone who contributed to making our Health Committee positive and getting us to where we are this evening. <BR /> <BR />I want to thank Maeve's predecessor as Chair of the Health Committee, Sue Ramsey, who, Members will remember, was very competent in the job and who, through ill health, was not able to carry on. I thank you both very much for your work on that Committee. <BR /> <BR />I thank Simon Hamilton as Minister for responding positively to my petition not so long ago on the needs of youngsters and adults with autism. Simon Hamilton came up with £2 million to put to that much-needed cause. Unfortunately, too many parents have kids nowadays with autism, but they were grateful for that assistance from Mr Hamilton.”
“Thank you, Jo-Anne, for your compliments. Even today, Kircubbin was on the agenda at the ARD Committee. <BR /> <BR />Much work lies ahead in implementing the legislation and delivering on its components. I look forward to seeing that work completed from outside and the wider public health and societal benefits that it will bring. <BR /> <BR />As this is my very last contribution to the Northern Ireland Assembly in the Chamber, I want to thank our Chair of the Health Committee, Maeve McLaughlin, who chaired our Committee very well, kept us on the right road and was liberal in her attitude towards what one could say. Thank you very much, Maeve, for your help along the way. Indeed, I thank every other MLA on the Committee for their help and cooperation, particularly in Committee deliberations.”
“Like every Member who has spoken, I want to see the end of that, so that we put our children at no risk whatever. <BR /> <BR />I feel a lot of sympathy for my colleague Jo-Anne Dobson, who, despite valiant efforts on the organ donation issue, was not successful in getting her Bill through. However, I am sure that there will be another day. I had the pleasure of meeting her son Mark this afternoon in the Hall. He is a walking example of what organ donation can do. I hope, Jo-Anne, that, in the future, you will have more success.”
“Right, Mr Deputy Speaker, this is it. This is the last. What is contained in this is the last opportunity, so listen carefully. I cannot believe, after 18 years in this Assembly, that this is it, but I will go for it anyway. This has been the busiest day of my life in the Assembly. I have been up and down like a yo-yo. You will be glad to see the back of me. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Final Stage of the Bill. The Bill has evolved significantly over past weeks in several beneficial ways. We would, perhaps, have benefited more from structured consideration of the amendments that emerged through the Committee. Nonetheless, we have a positive result. In particular, I welcome the move towards banning smoking in vehicles with children.”
“Exactly. I was going to remind the Member that she will probably remember me best for "Any other business". It was usually at the end of a busy agenda that I had planned in my head to raise something that had cropped up during the week. You were always very generous in allowing me to raise any other business. Thankfully, action was taken to remedy the problems as far as possible. I thank you for that. Thanks, Mr Speaker.”
“It is fully appreciated. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, this legislation recognises their critical and growing role and their existing professional standards. Through this type of regulation, they will be on a better, more level playing field when compared with their peers in other professions. The Alliance Party is happy to support the Final Stage of the Health and Personal Social Services (Amendment) Bill.”
“I am pleased to support the Final Stage and to pass on my thanks and congratulations to all those involved in getting us to where we are this evening. It is simple and straightforward legislation, but it offers those in social work additional recognition of their professional standards, and gives greater reassurance to the public. I want to put on record my personal thanks to the carers who come into my home. They do a fantastic job. <BR /> <BR />It is, of course, right that we continue to praise the critical role that social workers play in supporting so many of our people, especially the most vulnerable, in a whole range of settings across our society. We should also recognise that social workers are being asked to take more and more varied roles and responsibilities, and, again, my experience is that they do so very willingly.”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I thank everyone for their contribution to getting this historic legislation passed this evening.”
“It was not you. I did not let him away with it; he did not drag his feet, and nor did Simon Hamilton or Jim Wells. We are where we are today, and thank God for it. <BR /> <BR />It is unfortunate that the other Deputy Speaker has moved away. I will say a few words of thanks to him for his hard work over the years and for the length of time that I have known him. I wish him well in his retirement; I wish him good health. We are both going to a less stressful and more peaceful way of life. Like John, I am a Morris Minor enthusiast. John's car and mine are both in the garage at the moment. We will wait for the summertime, when they will both come out and no doubt will have pride of place as we go along. That gives us plenty to think about on our retirement.”
“I remember one occasion when — it was not the present Health Minister — another Health Minister almost blamed the Justice Minister for dragging his feet.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also thank Alastair Ross for his work in steering the Ad Hoc Committee, which I must say was very heavy work for some of us, but we got through it. I thank Alastair for being there to direct and guide us. Of course, he has already paid tribute to the Clerks who serviced our Committee. I also want to thank Alastair for his kind comments on my retirement. We will maybe meet somewhere along the line. If you are ever in Kircubbin, drop in and we will have a chat and see how things are going. <BR /> <BR />I also want to thank the Health Minister. Is he there? He is. He has the head down. I hope that he is listening to everything that I am saying. I want to thank him for his work in getting us to where we are today. There was a period when we thought that we were not going to make it.”
“If, in the future, I am not happy with health provision, whilst I will not be here, I know all the chief executives of the trusts, I know all the important people in the Department and I have all their contact numbers. Believe you me, I will be prepared to contact them if Health has not delivered when required. I imagine that Members would expect me or anyone else to do the same. <BR /> <BR />Finally, I thank our Health Committee, its staff and our Ad Hoc Committee staff and members for working diligently and very hard to get this historic legislation passed before the end of the mandate. I thank Maeve McLaughlin, the Chair of our Committee. She has not said anything yet, but probably will before we leave. I thank her for her guidance and direction in being the Chair of the Health Committee.”
“<BR /> <BR />Mental well-being has an impact across the social, health and economic spheres, including education, employment, social inclusion, physical health, recovery from mental and physical illness, self-harm and suicide risk, participation in public life and the criminal justice system. In welcoming the Final Stage of the Bill, we should close by recognising the wider challenges and the shared responsibilities across government and wider society to address those issues. <BR /> <BR />I leave the Assembly with a note of caution. Whoever is listening and whoever the new Health Minister may be, I regard health as the number one priority.”
“<BR /> <BR />While there has been some rebalancing of mental health expenditure from acute inpatient services towards the delivery of services in the community, mental health services are still underfunded in comparison to services for physical illness and considerably underfunded by comparison to UK mental health services, and particular challenges lie in areas such as child and adolescent services and those for older people. We must not permit this aspect of our health service to remain the Cinderella service in relation to the funding of our health service.”
“Specialist training and raising public awareness will be essential. There is a much wider issue of ensuring that the Bill itself will be properly resourced. That is perhaps an issue for another day, and, at this stage, our priority must be to get the legislation onto the statute book. Nevertheless, that funding requirement remains for the Executive. They also have to consider how to address the wider mental health challenge for government and society. As we know, mental health conditions affect a considerable number of people in our society, with around one in four people facing such issues at some stage in their lives and around one in five being affected at any one time. Not least given the legacy of the Troubles, mental health conditions are more prevalent in Northern Ireland than in any of our neighbouring jurisdictions.”
“We thank Professor McClelland for his dedication and hard work in carrying on where Professor Bamford unfortunately left off. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to everyone — as has already been said in the Chamber, there were many — who worked hard and together to see this improvement for everyone with a mental health condition or a learning disability. Arguably, no other piece of legislation has ever come to the Assembly with as much preparation and engagement with the experts, service users and, indeed, other key stakeholders. At one stage, it seemed that we in Northern Ireland would also revert to having two separate Bills, but I am delighted that we are adopting the much more innovative and potentially transformative approach instead. <BR /> <BR />The implementation of the Bill is now critical.”
“In October 2002, the Department of Health initiated a major wide-ranging and independent review of the law, policy and provision affecting those people in Northern Ireland with mental health needs or a learning disability. Nowadays that review is referred to as the Bamford Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to the vision of Professor Bamford, who sadly passed away before his work was completed. His role as chair was taken over by his colleague Professor Roy McClelland. Professor McClelland subsequently chaired the board of experts appointed by the Health Minister to champion the Department's response to the Bamford proposals, and he is a member of the project board overseeing the development of the new mental capacity legislation.”
“A single vote will provide safeguards for all people who lack capacity at any point in their lives whether from a physical or mental health condition. That means there would no longer be any discrimination in legislation for those who lose capacity for reasons to do with a mental health difficulty. In saying that, we must be conscious that discrimination and stigma against those with mental health conditions are still problems. There is an ongoing challenge across government and wider society to address that anomaly. <BR /> <BR />This very important work involved very many people, as has been said. The work commenced at the start of this century with the vision of Professor David Bamford and his colleagues.”
“It will also cover people who are vulnerable, as well as those, including people in the criminal justice system, who lack capacity. <BR /> <BR />The new legislation will require that, if a person has capacity, they can then make their own decision about their treatment and that all possible support in making that decision will be provided. Northern Ireland will be the first region in the world to achieve such legislation, and we should be greatly proud of that achievement. It is hoped that other countries around the world will follow our lead. <BR /> <BR />If a person lacks capacity and has not put in place alternative decision-making arrangements, important safeguards should be in place for that person before the state can intervene. Decisions can then be made regarding a person's health, welfare and financial issues.”
“The Bamford review recommended that a single Bill should cover mental health and mental capacity issues. The Bill has brought into one piece of legislation the usual provisions of mental health law and mental capacity law. This is the first time that that fusion approach has been considered anywhere in the world. <BR /> <BR />People in Northern Ireland, whether they have mental health difficulties and/or physical health problems, will now have equal rights in making decisions about their treatments. We now have a single piece of legislation for people who have a physical health problem and who lose capacity; people with a mental health problem who lose capacity; and people with physical and mental health problems who lose capacity.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I commend everyone involved in getting the Mental Capacity Bill to its Final Stage. As has been said, this is an immense achievement for the Northern Ireland Assembly and, indeed, the two Departments involved — Health and Justice. Indeed, I would say that this is an historic joint Bill. I welcome the very strong and important collaboration between the Department of Health and the Department of Justice in bringing forward the legislation. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is a key component of the implementation of the Bamford Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability. The legislation will provide a single statutory framework for decision-making and care for physical and mental health conditions. The integrated approach is particularly welcome and significant.”
“Thank you for giving way. Whilst the Member makes an important point, he will recall that, when the late Professor Bamford's review was launched in the Stormont Hotel by the late Paul Goggins, the figure mentioned was £600 million. We must remember that we knew that there would be a cost to embarking on this important legislation, and we will just have to find the money from somewhere.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that had my apartments Bill of 2011 gone through the Assembly, we would have been further on in relation to what we are talking about and what the Minister has brought to the Assembly this evening?”
“I thank the Member for her response and, particularly, the provision of the changing places facility in the Building. I can say from personal experience that is vital when it comes to personal hygiene etc. Does the Commission advertise or alert people to that provision being here, because it could mean the difference between people coming or not coming?”
“What guarantee does the Minister offer that the latest proposal will not be yet another drain on very scarce resources?”
“First of all, the Minister might want to retract her statement trying to blame our colleague for the reduction of language services in the university. As I understand it, it was a decision made by the university, not by the Minister. <BR /> <BR />In her statement, the Minister said that the idea of an Ulster-Scots academy was first mooted in 1990. I can recall, about that time, when there was property either rented or purchased in Newtownards. It lay idle for a long time — God knows how long — because there was no support for such an activity.”
“Go raibh míle maith agat and slán go fóill. Ta tae yez aw; sae lang the noo. Thanks very much, and goodbye.”
“<BR /> <BR />I wish you, Mr Speaker, and all our colleagues good luck for a bright future and a healthy retirement. For my final few words, I appeal to our First Minister and deputy First Minister and their new Executive to keep Northern Ireland stepping forward faster and to create a better future in peace and prosperity for everyone, particularly senior citizens. I have never raised my voice in the House until now, when I will say this loud and clear: hands off our bus passes. Hands off our bus passes.”
“Martin McGuinness made his way to my room on the third floor and spent 20 minutes with me offering sympathy on behalf of himself and his party. That is something I will never forget. That is what human nature is all about. <BR /> <BR />I wish everyone here every success for the future. Leaving the Assembly, I would like my legacy to be advancing mental health and learning disability, which can no longer be the Cinderella of the health service, and advancing apartment owners' protection and the preservation of our precious townland names. As I leave the Assembly this evening for the very last time, I hope to be replaced by a bright, young and enthusiastic lady called Kellie Armstrong, who has the welfare of Northern Ireland at heart.”
“First came the Good Friday Agreement, then came the M-Day — the miracle day — on 8 May 2007, when the late Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness walked down the steps in the Great Hall to tell the world that hostilities were over and they were going to work together for the good of all the people in Northern Ireland. We truly have come a long way, and thank God for it. What a pity so many people had to suffer. We must never, ever forget all our victims. <BR /> <BR />I thank all 107 Assembly colleagues for their help, friendship and cooperation over the past 18 years. I will never forget the outpouring of sympathy, almost three years ago next month, when my family was plunged into unimaginable grief. You all helped to get us through that dreadful period. I thank Martin McGuinness.”
“I thank my voters in Strangford, my loyal staff in Ards, the volunteers and the many groups I have worked with during the past 30 years as a public servant. I thank everyone in this Building for their help, courtesy and comradeship over the years. That goes right from the security outside the gates to those inside the Building, from the cleaners to the chief executive of this place. I say, "Thank you". We are all ordinary people simply doing a job, and everyone has been extremely helpful. <BR /> <BR />I am very proud to have served as a member of the Alliance Party in the Assembly. Alliance has played a pivotal role for years in establishing a power-sharing Administration, respect and diversity in Northern Ireland.”
“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to a great many people for giving me the chance to represent them in the Assembly for the past 18 years. First, I want to thank God for giving me the health and the strength to perform my work and my duties on behalf of the community. I want to thank my wife and my family. I want to thank the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland and my good colleagues on each side of me and in front of me and to thank David Ford and Stephen Farry, as Ministers, for their work in the Assembly.”
“I thank the Minister for his response and congratulate him on implementing so many of the reforms. Can I ask, now that the end of phase 1 has been implemented, if the Minister can advise the Assembly what we can expect from phase 2, as we go forward?”
“On your investment trips abroad, how many potential investors have said to you, Minister, that they would like to see Northern Ireland outside the European Union?”
“I am very grateful to the Minister for giving way. Would the Minister agree with me that the incident that occurred in Northern Ireland last week where a pussycat was set on fire was a horrendous act and that those responsible, if and when they are caught, deserve to face the full rigour of the law so that that will be a deterrent and ensure that this never ever happens again?”
“I am very grateful to the Member for giving way. Does she agree that the ever-increasing number of pollution incidents would be better monitored and, indeed, policed by an independent environmental agency, rather than by what we have at the moment?”
“I very much welcome the statement the Minister made this morning. However, does he agree with me that the news coming over the media this morning does not concur with what he just said? It was about a reduction by two hours in school for the special education people. To me, that seems to contradict what you have been saying about shared education.”
“I encourage them to continue their work. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I congratulate the Minister for having brought the Bill to the Assembly. I wish it every success. I hope that all those privileged to live, work and play in the countryside will see the benefits and enjoy a better quality of life as a result of the Bill and, indeed, the work of the Assembly.”
“However, it is my experience that people living in the countryside usually contribute to a local church, parish, club and so on and make their own social activities. In some cases, social isolation can affect people and have many negative effects. It is hoped that the Rural Needs Bill will help and encourage rural dwellers to get involved in all local activities, thereby preventing isolation. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Committee Chair and all members of the Agriculture Committee and, indeed, the staff who supported us. I pay tribute to all the organisations that do sterling work. I will not mention them by name, as Declan mentioned most of them. I am always afraid to name them in case I leave out some important organisation, but they all do sterling work in visiting isolated rural families and homes and giving them much-needed support.”
“Thanks for the intervention. I absolutely agree, it is imperative that, if the Rural Needs Bill is to mean anything, it has to be seen to be working to the advantage of people in rural areas. <BR /> <BR />Although rural dwellers, while protecting and enhancing the rural environment, enjoy a good quality of life, with that comes many disadvantages, not least the need for a car or reasonable public transport, which brings with it extra costs and a drain on the family budget, and greater distance from the hub of a village or town.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Final Stage of the Rural Needs Bill. It came about as a result of the rural White Paper and action plan, with a commitment to strive for a fair and inclusive rural society where all rural dwellers enjoy the same quality of life as people residing in urban settings. The objectives of the Rural Needs Bill are to require the effective implementation of rural proofing across central and local government, and other public authorities as may be specified; to establish the role of the Department in providing guidance and advice on rural proofing; and to require cooperation and sharing of best practice between all public authorities covered by the Rural Needs Bill.”
“I simply want to thank the Minister for bringing these very important amendments to the Assembly. Like the Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee, I thank and, indeed, congratulate both Departments and their staff for working so diligently and together to get us to the Further Consideration Stage of the very important Mental Capacity Bill. The Alliance Party is content to support all the amendments and looks forward to its completion and the Final Stage next week.”
“I thank the First Minister for her responses so far. Does she believe that it is acceptable to essentially park dealing with the past and victims until after the Assembly elections on 5 May? Can she tell us how long victims will have to wait?”
“I support the amendments before us this afternoon. I will say a few words in relation to my disappointment that Jo-Anne Dobson's Bill was not successful, despite the enormous amount of work that was put into it. She ought to be congratulated for that work and for her determination. I put on record my thanks to all those who contributed to that process and who came to the Committee. I thank all the Committee staff for their work and support during that period. <BR /> <BR />The Alliance Party is content to support the amendments and every effort in the future to increase the availability of organs to save lives throughout Northern Ireland.”