Órlaithí Flynn
West Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />Parliamentary privilege is a complicated issue, but it is a very important one for all Members to understand. It was helpful to get Matthew's intervention on the fact that the repeal changes nothing for Members. It simply takes away the reference to privilege which never fully existed. I thank Matthew for his intervention.”
“My comments will be brief. As Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Procedures, I welcome the opportunity to conclude today's debate on the motion to repeal Standing Order 70 and make a number of consequential amendments.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank the Chairperson and members of the Committee on Standards and Privileges for undertaking a comprehensive review of Standing Order 70 and for bringing the outcomes of that work to the Committee on Procedures, with the recommendation to make the changes to Standing Orders.”
“I thank the Minister for that response. As you outlined, Minister, a key part of creating a more resilient road network is having the workforce to deliver it. We know that British austerity has severely impacted on our workforce in DFI, creating an over-reliance on contractors and driving up the cost of works as a result.”
“I support the motion, and I thank its sponsors. <BR /> <BR />For many people, the journey to becoming a parent is not straightforward. Whilst some conceive without difficulty, others face years of heartbreak, uncertainty and loss.”
“<BR /> <BR />I have learned that people often talk about IVF as though it guarantees a baby. Tragically, the reality is that that is not always the case. This is not the first motion calling for three cycles of IVF that we have debated.”
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“Yes, I completely agree. I spoke on that issue this morning with regards to the Hughes report. I genuinely hope that we can get cross-party consensus for trying to get some of that work over the line for local women who have been injured by mesh. <BR /> <BR />Without having an overall strategy, we lack a joined-up approach across our trusts. Again, we are lagging behind other parts of these islands that already have strategies and action plans in place. We need there to be urgency around that. <BR /> <BR />I come back to Sorcha Eastwood's mention of the mesh implants scandal. I was going to come on to that next. As we know, women make up half of the population and half of our workforce; yet, sadly, we also know that they have been failed miserably over many decades, as multiple scandals have come to light.”
“<BR /> <BR />I take on board what Diane Dodds said. Practically, we need to deliver things and get things done in the interim, because this will be a vast piece of work. The list gives Members a sense of how much we need to do in order to achieve gender equality in our health system. We know that the health system was designed by men, and, sadly, at different times in history, we have repeatedly seen that it has let women down. There have been scandals and a lack of investment in the issues that we have been talking about. Alan Chambers mentioned the lack of knowledge and understanding of some of the issues that a woman will go through in her life that a man will not. We know that women live longer than men —.”
“Some of the topics that we have covered in the APG structure include human rights and pregnancy; childbirth; maternity services; perinatal mental health services; miscarriage; fertility; baby loss; mesh; menopause; breastfeeding; mental health; pelvic health; and abortion. There is an even longer list of issues that we have yet to cover: gynae services and endometriosis, which have already been spoken about; addiction; cervical cancer; breast cancer; and the more specific issues of gender gaps that Linda touched on with respect to the amendment, which include bone health, heart health, autism, self-harm and eating disorders. I have no doubt that I have missed out a lot of things, but that shows how many massive issues we are talking about and need to grapple with in order to show what the strategy will look like.”
“It has been great that we have already seen genuine cross-party consensus on women's health through the all-party group structure, so I hope that there is full support for the motion when the debate finishes today. <BR /> <BR />I know that I may be repeating some of what others have already mentioned, but, to give Members a sense of the all-party group's work, since its establishment, we have covered numerous really important topics. The problem is that each topic that we have covered has been as important as the others, and that will be a challenge when we are putting in place a proper and robust women's health strategy. We need to ensure, and it will be difficult, that we are inclusive and aware of all the issues that impact on a woman's health throughout her lifespan. <BR /> <BR />We are talking about a lot of important topics.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. I welcome you to your new position as Deputy Speaker. I am happy to speak in support of the Alliance motion and the amendment. <BR /> <BR />I will mention some of the work of the all-party group on women's health, which we established three years ago in order for MLAs, organisations and individuals to have the chance to come together and discuss our shared interest in women's health. I give a special mention to Pam Cameron from the DUP, the group's original vice chair. Paula Bradshaw has been brilliant, and she is the current vice chair. Sinéad McLaughlin, Linda Dillon and Robbie Butler also come to the meetings frequently, and I am sorry if I have left anybody out.”
“They have already faced delays in their diagnoses and they have not received timely interventions to remove the mesh implants, which are extremely difficult to remove. They also missed out on an opportunity that was afforded to women in Scotland, who were given a chance to go to the USA to have a world-leading mesh removal expert remove their mesh implants. Women here have not had that option. <BR /> <BR />Again, I want to put urgency on it. If we could consider this locally and the Department of Health could give consideration to the redress payments, that would send a very clear signal to women here that we are conscious of the pain and hurt that they have gone through as a result of a failing on the part of our health system and that we will do all that we can to support them.”
“Mesh Ireland and Sling the Mesh are two local campaign groups that, over the past number of years, have supported countless woman who have been left with injuries and have lost their jobs and, in many cases, their marriages and relationships because of the damage inflicted to their bodies as a result of these devices. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Department of Health's statement that it is considering the findings of the report, and I put it on the record that the issue should be given very urgent attention. Some women have been living with these implants in their bodies, in extremely severe pain, for many years now — I think that the implants started being offered locally in 1998.”
“Cheann Comhairle, this is my first opportunity to address you as the Speaker of the House. I wish you all the very best in your new role. <BR /> <BR />I take this opportunity to highlight a very significant report that was published last Wednesday by the Patient Safety Commissioner in England. The Hughes report recommends that woman who have been injured by pelvic mesh implants receive a payment of £20,000 and that, for some women, that should be followed by further payments relating to their specific cases. I commend Mary McLaughlin — I think that she might be watching the proceedings online — who represents the Mesh Ireland campaign group. Mary travelled to England last week to hear the findings of the report. She is just one of many thousands across the island who have been left terribly injured by these mesh implants.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. The Minister will know that Hannahstown village has an increasing population of young families and elderly residents, and they are desperate to have that footpath and, hopefully, those additional road safety measures. The Minister mentioned the work that is being done to progress the footpath: does she have a recent update on the timescale for delivery? I know that there were complications with officials accessing lands for surveys and stuff, but an update on that would be brilliant.”
“As we all know, protecting children in care is the main aim of our social care services. With that in mind, will the Minister tell the House whether there have been any safeguarding referrals as a result of that extraordinary action?”
“It is fair to say that the response times for ambulances are an emergency in themselves, particularly in our rural areas. I understand the logic of co-responding with the Fire Service, but can the Minister explain why some of the legal and workforce issues were not addressed before that announcement was made?”
“I thank the Minister for the response. It also appears that the labour shortage crisis, which — we will disagree — has been caused by Brexit, is getting worse for the food and drinks industry. Is it a fair assessment that those shortages pose a serious threat to the food and drinks industry, similar to what the Minister warned about from the British Government's various free trade deals?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. It has been reported that around 300 people who received the high street scheme card did not spend all the money on it. I am concerned that some of those people are vulnerable or in care and that, for whatever reason, they have not been able to spend all the money on their cards. Has the Department carried out any analysis of that? Will people in those situations be entitled to the financial remedies?”
“I appreciate that. I thank the Minister for her response. Will she commit to making it a priority? St John the Baptist is my old primary school. It is a great school, with great teaching staff and pupils, but the work that is required on the school building and estate is badly needed. I would therefore appreciate any prioritisation or time that the Minister can give to it.”
“Minister, you have addressed part of the question that I was going to ask. It was about setting out clearly the enormously damaging implications of the DUP collapsing the Executive. You mentioned some examples, but I ask in particular about the proposed additional £255 million that could have been set aside for mental health.”
“I hope that, in the next mandate, we will build upon the foundations that she has laid so far and further progress the fundamental change that she has begun. That will make a massive difference to the lives of people in West Belfast and across the North.”
“One example is the Riverdale area, where vast amounts of housing was bought by a private company. In the ownership of that company, the condition of the houses deteriorated, but, thanks to ongoing lobbying by Sinn Féin, it has been possible to return those homes into public hands. As a result of that move, the tenants of Riverdale will see a £25 million investment that will transform and upgrade their homes to a decent home standard. <BR /> <BR />I take this opportunity to thank the Minister for Communities for her hard work and the dedication that she has shown by way of her focus on housing and her Private Tenancies Bill. The Minister will leave a lasting legacy of improving people's rights.”
“<BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin has been to the fore in delivering social and affordable housing in my constituency of West Belfast. Large projects such as the Glenmona, Blacks Gate and Glen Road developments will see around 1,000 homes being built in the area. That will not only deliver much-needed homes but create new communities and services for the people of West Belfast. <BR /> <BR />In areas such as West Belfast, houses formerly owned by the Housing Executive are increasingly moving to private hands. As a result, many of the houses have fallen into disrepair, and there is no onus on private landlords to improve the conditions for renters.”
“Building more social and affordable homes for workers and families is a priority. I was born and raised in social housing, like many people in our communities and many of my constituents. Everyone should have a safe and secure place to call home. We need to build more social and affordable homes in West Belfast, but we also need to improve and modernise existing homes. <BR /> <BR />Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey, has a plan to build 100,000 social and affordable homes over the next 15 years. That will come alongside the biggest shake-up of housing in decades, which will see the Housing Executive being given the power to start building homes again. That is transformative and will make a huge difference to people's lives.”
“I thank the Minister very much for that detailed answer. Obviously, a footway would bring a lot of health benefits to that local community. They have gone for long enough without one. Minister, you mentioned statutory processes that you need to follow up. Can you give any timeline for when the footway may be delivered?”
“The Bill will provide enhanced certainty and security for many of our workers who are currently locked into unpredictable and, in many cases, unfair contracts. Our workers deserve better, and the Bill will give them that.”
“The lack of sufficient sleep, poor eating habits and relationship problems have also been reported as contributing to the mental health toll of being on a zero-hours contract. <BR /> <BR />We know that, in many cases, the contracts exploit workers, and the only way to tackle that situation is to support the Bill, ban zero-hours contracts and replace them with banded hours. That will enable more people to have access to secure jobs with decent working hours and opportunities for progression. Our efforts to improve the mental health of society must recognise the important relationship between health and work. It must also recognise the thousands of people who are working on zero-hours contracts and recognise that those contracts can be a contributing factor to poor mental health, particularly among our younger workers.”
“<BR /> <BR />For many workers on the contracts, there is a distinct lack of work-life balance, and the Bill could go some way in addressing that. Many workers are faced with the daily uncertainty of not knowing when their work might be or when they should eat, sleep, make childcare arrangements or even simply make plans with their family and friends. Financial insecurity can also mean that workers are unable to refuse work even when it is offered at a time when they should be sleeping. The fear of not getting a subsequent job means that workers feel that they cannot refuse that work, even if they are physically and mentally exhausted, and that, in turn, impacts on their mood and productivity when they are in their place of work. That precarious employment situation clearly affects people's lives.”
“Financial stress or the stress associated with having a zero-hours contract job can increase the risk of poor mental health, which can then increase the number of people moving to out-of-work sickness benefits and lead to an increase in demand for our mental health services. By working together to pass the Bill, the Assembly has the opportunity to promote better jobs with enhanced legal protections, which will hopefully improve rather than damage workers' mental health and well-being. Workers on zero-hours contracts are not paid sick leave and, for fear of losing their job, tend to work even when they are ill. The reality is that the number of people struggling with mental health problems while in work is likely to be much higher, as statistics do not include workers on zero-hours contracts.”
“<BR /> <BR />Arguments have been made that banning zero-hours contracts in totality would negatively impact on many more people than it would help, including those who might be in full-time education and need that flexibility to combine working and studying. The Bill is more about providing people with greater choice. Most Members commented on providing flexibility and certainty to workers. Hopefully, the majority are in favour of that concept, and that is what the Bill tries to do. <BR /> <BR />Research has been emerging that demonstrates how detrimental zero-hours contracts can be to the psychological and mental well-being of workers. Anxiety, stress and depression can be common for workers on those contracts because of the financial and social insecurity that comes along with them.”
“I speak in support of the Bill, which will ban zero-hours contracts and replace them with banded-hours contracts. My remarks are made in the context of the huge mental and physical toll that zero-hours contracts place on many workers in our society. <BR /> <BR />According to the Office for National Statistics, around 11,000 workers were on zero-hours contracts in 2019. The point was made earlier that that figure could be a lot higher. We just do not have an accurate number. We know that the majority of those on zero-hours contracts are young people and women, who are the most likely to be employed through such contracts. The Bill will help to end the uncertainty and insecurity that zero-hours contracts create for workers and families.”
“I was going to ask the same question as Mr Lunn on whether the service would be established as a regional, accessible service for victims, as originally envisaged. I thank the Minister for his positive response. <BR /> <BR />The Minister mentioned the design, training and preparatory work that has been carried out. Will he provide some of that detail in writing after today's Question Time? The news will be positive for the victims.”
“My supplementary question is on the scope of the consultation. The Consumer Council recently did research that found that people in the North have relatively low levels of savings and disposable income, so they may be more at risk from the cost-of-living crisis. Can the Department look at extending the remit of the consultation beyond debt relief orders and consider other measures that might help support people and prevent them falling into debt in the first place?”
“Some 96% said that they would welcome a menopause workplace survey, and 97% said that they would welcome training for union representatives and managers to support women in the workplace who are experiencing menopause. <BR /> <BR />In October 2021, Sinn Féin Minister of Finance, Conor Murphy MLA, indicated that his Department was in the process of developing a menopause policy to support Civil Service staff. His Department has also delivered several awareness sessions on menopause. I commend the Minister for that move, and I hope that others throughout the public and private sectors can follow suit.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are many good reasons to invest in menopause training for our medical professionals and, indeed, to extend that training and knowledge to our wider society. One of those reasons is the significant contribution that women make to our workforce and their impact on our economic well-being. According to the Office for National Statistics in Britain, menopausal women are the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce, with women over the age of 40 being the fastest-growing demographic in the North's workforce. Data from an Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) survey in 2018 shows that 98% of women surveyed did not know whether their workplace had a menopause policy, while 49% said that menopause had been treated as a joke in their workplace.”
“Across the North, there is a chronic lack of provision for NHS menopause services. There is only one dedicated NHS menopause service in Belfast, and, according to the Department's data, there are only two menopause specialists across the entire North. Throughout trust areas outside greater Belfast, women are treated for menopause symptoms by gynaecologists or GPs who quite often have no training in how to treat menopause, and women are not getting the understanding or the treatment that they need. There is clearly a need for more menopause services for women. These services can only be provided when doctors, nurses and other health professionals are given the education and the training that they need to treat and help women who are going through this, often disruptive, period in their lives.”
“Following on from Paula's question, it is good to hear that that issue was raised and discussed at the meeting. Were your plans to hold a full public consultation on minimum unit pricing later this year discussed directly at the North/South Ministerial Council meeting? Were any other issues discussed around the sharing of rehabilitation services across the island?”
“I thank the Member for the answer. I welcome the work in partnership with Dr Éamon Phoenix on the display of artefacts in Parliament Buildings. The Member partially answered this question, but does he agree that any outcome of the work must result in an estate that is reflective of all the people it represents.”
“The Member touched on some of the issues that I was going to ask about. My question is specifically about whether the Commission is taking steps to increase physical accessibility for those who are blind or partially sighted or for members of society who have hearing difficulties. Are any steps being taken to make physical accessibility a bit easier for such visitors to Parliament Buildings?”
“I hope that that will reassure people. We are all getting enquiries from those who have not physically received their card, so, hopefully, that is in process. <BR /> <BR />The rationale behind the scheme was about creating a stimulus for the economy. Can the Department, even at this early stage, provide any estimates as to how much of a stimulus has been created?”
“It is a really horrible common experience that many people in the workplace go through, and they will require time off because of it. Hopefully, they will be able to avail themselves of the legal entitlement and frameworks that will be put in place, which will allow them to receive payment. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Committee Chair and all the Members who have spoken so far in this really important debate. I hope that the Department will work alongside the Committee, and that the Assembly will pass the amendments proposed to the legislation.”
“People can go on to experience symptoms that make their life difficult for a very long time. Sometimes, the trauma of the loss of an unborn baby through miscarriage can cause intrusive thoughts, flashbacks and nightmares. Sometimes, what happens afterwards contributes to someone's going on to have mental health problems. Lots of people experience a combination of those things. If we do not invest in this now, some people will form mental health problems and illnesses down the line because they do not deal with their miscarriage or take the time off that they genuinely need. That has a knock-on effect on their ability to carry out the role that they need to perform in their working environment. <BR /> <BR />To give a sense of how large the problem is: it is estimated that as many as one in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage.”
“If the legislation is passed and the payment can be made, that will deal with some of the stigma and shame in the workplace by enabling people to have that conversation with their employer about not being ready to return to work because of the experience of their miscarriage. It is not acceptable that the current system does not allow for paid time off work following the loss of an unborn baby. That contributes to the shame that some people out there feel. For some people, pregnancy loss can form part of what causes a mental health problem, and, for some people who already have a mental health problem or illness, going through the experience of a miscarriage can make that illness worse. We know that some people may be given a diagnosis such as post-traumatic stress disorder. That is how serious a miscarriage can be to someone's life.”
“<BR /> <BR />Parents who have gone through that tragic, emotional experience and who gave feedback through surveys have been clear about what they want, and it cuts across all Departments: they want empathy, sensitivity and support. Financially, parental bereavement pay would be a great gesture of support from the Assembly and the Minister's Department to those parents. <BR /> <BR />The amendment, if passed, would lift a huge burden from parents who have experienced the feeling of being under pressure to return to work before they are ready. The Alliance Party Member who spoke before me touched on the stigma and shame that still surround miscarriage for a lot of parents.”
“In debating this legislation, however, there is an opportunity for the Department for the Economy to fill some of the gaps in provision for miscarriages. <BR /> <BR />We know that maternity leave entitlements do not apply to mothers who have a miscarriage, but they apply to mothers who have a stillbirth. The legislation provides an opportunity, alongside the amendment, to support those who, in the past, have had little or no support in the workplace. In April, when the Miscarriage Association gave a presentation to MLAs at a meeting of the all-party group on women's health, we heard from it about the lack of specialist support and recognition for parents who experience or have experienced miscarriages.”
“I thank the Minister for his intervention, and I appreciate his viewpoint and the work of the Department in considering the issue. The point that I was going on to make was that, even if, in 2022, the legislation as it stands is in place for parental leave, it still excludes parents who have lost a baby through miscarriage. They will not be included in the legislation. <BR /> <BR />We know that there is a huge gap in support for parents who suffer miscarriage. I make this point to the Minister: when we talk about the gaps in support, we do not say that they are gaps in provision from the Department for the Economy exclusively. I am a member of the Health Committee, and we know that there are gaps in healthcare provision too.”
“The Minister mentioned aiming to get the legislation through by 2022, so that, come 2022, there will be leave and pay for all parents who have been bereaved. My concern, however, is —”
“I will repeat some of the comments that my colleague the Chair of the Economy Committee made earlier. Sinn Féin fully supports the implementation of the provisions of the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Bill, and I will also speak in support of the amendment to extend parental leave to parents who have lost a child to miscarriage before 24 weeks of pregnancy. They deserve to be supported, and they need compassionate leave from work in order to process and come to terms with what, for many, can be an extremely difficult and sad experience. <BR /> <BR />Mr Weir mentioned the wish to get the legislation in place as early as possible, and the Minister also referred to that. Yes, we absolutely do want that, but, as Mr Weir also said, it is about getting it right.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement today and for the clarity that he has provided thus far. I will follow on from Paula's question, although it was specifically around the guidance for people who are shielding. Does the Minister intend to update the advice on the COVID symptoms in accordance with the new variant? The public might be confused or uncertain because they hear that a new variant is spreading. Are there any changes to look out for in the symptoms or what to expect?”
“Given the pressures that the system is under, particularly in relation to cancer healthcare, which is, obviously, time-critical for a lot of people, will the Minister confirm whether patients have been referred to other jurisdictions for treatment via an extra contractual referral (ECR) process or healthcare directive?”
“<BR /> <BR />To conclude, like the Chair, the Deputy Chair and other Members, I thank the Minister and all of his officials for taking Committee members' concerns on board and for tabling the amendments. I look forward to engaging and continuing to engage on the new structures into the future.”
“In the context of mental health and addiction, that is one of the ones that I wanted to focus on today. Thankfully, through amendment No 1, if it is passed, that local engagement and input into the commissioning of services can be and will be maintained throughout the transitional phase of the process and the legislation passing. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 2 places a statutory duty on the Department of Health to make regulations on area integrated partnership boards, and that amendment also has my full support, as it will give the Committee and the Assembly the highest level of approval when we come to consider those regulations when they are introduced.”
“As my party's spokesperson on mental health and substance use, I cannot overstate the importance of that local input, particularly from the community and voluntary sector and other local organisations that, as we all know, provide an invaluable understanding around mental health and substance use challenges on the ground in our communities. We cannot understand substance use or design the needed treatments without understanding the circumstances of mental health patients or of people who suffer with addictions. For me, that is one of the reasons why the amendment is so important. The community and voluntary sector and local groups provide much of the important intelligence that is needed around the commissioning process for mental health and addiction services and, of course, other health services.”
“Until the Department brings satisfactory proposals before the Assembly and the Committee for their replacement, the LCGs will remain a participant and an integral part of any transformation of the health and social care sector. During consideration of the Bill, members of our Health Committee highlighted concerns with the Department, including the lack of clarity that we had around the new arrangements and what would replace the local commissioning groups and concerns around the diminished local input into the commissioning process.”
“It has already been said by other Members that each of us in the Assembly agrees that transformation of the health and social care system overall is completely necessary and that it must be completed in a considered and measured fashion so that, going forward and into the future, we get right all of the issues that Members have raised today. The amendments proposed by my colleagues improve the Health and Social Care Bill in particular, as they acknowledge the necessary co-production requirements going forward as we transform the sector. <BR /> <BR />The amendment to retain the local commissioning groups has my strong support.”