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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“I thank the Minister for coming here and answering questions. I welcome the fact that the Minister is seeking to strengthen the memorandum of understanding with the South. Hopefully, he will not have to face those communication issues into the future. Will the Minister outline or detail what proposals he made, or intends to make, to Minister Donnelly to achieve a strengthening of the MOU?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Will any more money be made available to social enterprises from the dormant assets scheme?”
“The Minister mentioned some of the guidance and direction for schools. Will any additional support be given to schools and principals on how they should fulfil their obligations in implementing the legislation? I ask that given the challenges and pressures that school environments are under with the pandemic.”
“I thank the First Minister for her answer. As we heard, the minority ethnic development fund is supporting crucial work. Does the First Minister agree that that work is undermined when political representatives, such as her party colleague Gregory Campbell, make unrepentant and unapologetic racist remarks?”
“We know that, particularly during the first wave, there were significant gaps in the Irish-medium sector and also for organisations that represent newcomer families. In his first answer, the Minister mentioned the work streams that were set up. Will he outline what direct engagement he has had throughout the process with the Irish-medium sector and the organisations that work with newcomer families?”
“I will follow on from that. Paula made the point about carers and prioritisation within the vaccination programme. We have also been lobbied, as you know, by teachers in special school settings. The JCVI has stated that decisions on prioritisation are policy decisions. Can you outline, Minister, the role that you will play in designing prioritisation in our vaccination programme?”
“Does the Minister have any update on the hyponatraemia work streams, and when does he expect them to be completed?”
“However, it is important to note that although some families will not need or want that additional support, we must find a way to identify those who are struggling and want additional support and then find a way of providing support tailored to them, should that be from an educational perspective or, indeed, a health and social care perspective over the coming weeks and months. <BR /> <BR />I am happy to support the motion, and I thank the Members for bringing it to the Floor of the Assembly.”
“Therefore, it is important to ask how COVID-19 is affecting the mental health of these families, with a view to gaining insight into how we, as a society, with the Department of Health and the Department of Education — all of us — can support them over the coming months. <BR /> <BR />Reports are showing that children with special educational needs and their families are likely to be at greater risk, unfortunately and sadly, of experiencing poor mental health and being under substantially greater pressure than less-vulnerable families during COVID-19.”
“<BR /> <BR />Staying at home and, in many cases, as we have seen, not attending school or not getting the same levels of support that families and kids received in the past has created a uniquely stressful situation for those children and their families. Their carefully developed routines have been disrupted, their support networks have disintegrated and parents have been asked to do a job that trained teachers find challenging. The parents are doing that without any training. These changes have happened really abruptly, and the consequences will be particularly profound in the special educational needs community.”
“There is good reason to believe that the pandemic and our response to it may be affecting children with special educational needs and their families disproportionately, and, unfortunately, that is likely to have negative outcomes for their mental health. We know that some mental health problems are already associated with special educational needs in normal circumstances, such as anxiety in the autism spectrum, and it seems likely that the scale and speed of the social change that has taken place since the end of March could exacerbate existing mental health problems and, indeed, trigger new ones for some of those children.”
“<BR /> <BR />Evidence is emerging that parents of children with special educational needs and the children themselves appear to be experiencing worry and changes in mood and behaviour because of the rapid social changes that have occurred over the past 10 months. COVID-19 is clearly affecting the mental health of parents and children. Some parents reported feeling overwhelmed, so the implications of how to support those families in the immediate future must be discussed. That is why I welcome today's debate and motion.”
“Unfortunately, as we know, that absence has been the experience of so many families throughout the pandemic, <BR /> <BR />It is deeply upsetting that, in addition to school closures, vital health and social care wraparound services were also withdrawn, leaving children with special educational needs and their families feeling isolated and abandoned. We need to know that that lack of support will not happen again and that those families will not be left on their own. We also need to understand what planning and consultation have taken place. Can the Department of Education and, indeed, the Department of Health, provide reassurances that those families will be supported no matter what comes down the line in the months ahead?”
“I start by joining with other Members in commending all the work that has been done by so many organisations that have supported children and their families over the difficult past months. That includes one of the groups in my constituency, Kids Together, as well as the Children's Law Centre, the Evangelical Alliance, and the National Autistic Society, which has been mentioned previously. <BR /> <BR />As we all know, routine, stability and support are so important in the lives of children with complex needs. The absence of those things, which might seem simple to us, can cause major emotional and behavioural difficulties, with consequences for families and home environments.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement and for all his work over the past number of months. Does he agree that some of the COVID money that is available to the Executive could or should be used to award a "Thank you" payment to all our health and social care workers, including our student nurses and domiciliary care workers? That would be a gesture of gratitude from all of us to say, "Thank you" for the enormous work that they have carried out over the past 10 to 11 months during an unprecedented health crisis.”
“I thank the Minister for today's important statement. We know that, compared with other jurisdictions, levels of sickness and absenteeism are disproportionately higher here. On that basis, has the Department or the Minister carried out any assessment of how those levels vary across the prison sites?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. It touched on some of what I wanted to raise in my supplementary question about how the scheme will be rolled out in the North, and it makes sense that it will be rolled out similarly across these islands. Maybe the work has already taken place, but I want to ensure that you have a consistency of approach. Is it something that you are discussing with other Justice Ministers?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. She mentioned the public health crisis that we are in, and she will be aware of the complex health needs among the prisoner population as we have spoken about that before. On that basis, can the Minister give an update on whether she has had any conversations with the Minister of Health on the vaccine roll-out among the prisoner population and prison staff?”
“Hopefully, that will not happen. <BR /> <BR />A few Members have said — it is referred to in the motion — that the Education Minister needs to be really clear with parents and school leaders with regard to the scientific and public health advice that he has received from the Department of Health. He needs to say what that specific advice was and when he received it. The health and scientific advice must be the basis of our approach. As I said, it will protect us not just from the physical impact of the coronavirus but also the mental health of our young people, parents, families and all the school staff.”
“In addition, we need to consider the implications of the spread of the virus for us all, including the added risk, as has been mentioned, from the new strains of COVID-19, particularly the one that has gripped Britain. <BR /> <BR />There are no easy answers with regard to school openings during the current wave of the virus. However, the ongoing confusion and slowness in decision-making in the Department of Education compounds some of the stress and anxiety that is already being experienced by children, parents and school staff. The Minister's recent statement provides some clarity in the short term with regard to the first week of the school term, but there is much uncertainty about the way forward and what contingencies will be put in place for schools, particularly in the event of the situation deteriorating further.”
“They will have been worried about how to prepare for exams and the implications that that might have for them without that support from their friends, who may have had similar worries. They are unable to communicate with one another in the way that kids would be used to. <BR /> <BR />Similarly, anxiety is experienced by those with children who have special educational needs. It has already been mentioned in the Chamber that those kids need the routine of school, which is really important in their lives. There will also be anxiety among those for whom childcare in the absence of school will be problematic. There is also considerable anxiety for pupils, parents and teachers who are or who live with clinically vulnerable people as they go to school every day, while cases of COVID in the North increase significantly.”
“It is important to recognise that health is not just physical but mental and that we need to protect the mental health and well-being of children and that of their parents and all school staff as well as their physical health in school settings during the pandemic. <BR /> <BR />In October 2020, the youth well-being survey found that rates of anxiety and depression were around 25% higher in the North compared with Britain. There were differences between the most deprived areas and the least deprived areas. That is really stark, especially when we already know that COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on deprived communities here. Some children will undoubtedly have experienced anxiety during the pandemic when they have already spent many weeks away from their school, their friends and their normal study routine.”
“I support the motion and, in particular, the call for clarity from the Education Minister on the return of schools in January. The Education Minister has very recently provided some clarity on the return of schools. The announcement of the decision not to open primary and post-primary schools next week in light of the deteriorating COVID-19 pandemic situation, however belated, is important, and I welcome it. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin has consistently said that we will follow the scientific and health advice in how we respond to the pandemic, and that applies in the context of schools reopening.”
“Improving the guidance on ammonia has been mentioned. Can the Minister elaborate on whether there is any scope in the planning review to look at improving other environmental aspects of the planning system?”
“Will the Minister fund the Agenda for Change pay awards as part of the 2020-21 Budget?”
“Does the Minister agree that the petition of concern should be used only for the very precise purpose for which it was intended, as a cross-community safeguard?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. He acknowledged the close and productive cooperation between the Health Ministers, the CMOs and both Administrations. Can he confirm whether the issue around the sharing of traveller information data North and South has finally been addressed and, hopefully, resolved?”
“<BR /> <BR />At the start, I mentioned that we have all come across many people who have had particularly stressful times. That includes people from right across society, including people from businesses and staff who are struggling with their livelihood to health and social care workers, ordinary families and people of all ages, young and old. I will end my comments with the same sentiments that the Minister expressed in her closing comments. There is a tried-and-tested response to help to keep one another safe. I encourage people to please keep socially distancing, washing their hands and wearing masks.”
“I welcome that that measure is now in place, but should it have taken so long for the Department of Health or the Health Minister to empower the councils? <BR /> <BR />The face coverings regulations raise the fixed penalty fine for not wearing a face covering from £60 to £200. When we introduce fines, it is important that there is a measure of their effectiveness. Unless someone has the means to pay a fine of £200, that amount could be just as unaffordable as a fine of £2,000. I make that point because a balance needs to be struck between introducing restrictions and ensuring that people have the means to adhere to the restrictions. That must be the central approach. As much as restrictions are there to control, there also needs to be an approach of support.”
“As referenced by the Chair of the Executive Committee, many will remember that date more for the difficulties in securing agreement in the Executive, including that some Ministers rejected public health proposals. Regrettably, as we all know, coronavirus does not care about political divisions or disagreements. It just wants to spread, and systems need to be in place in order to reduce or stop that spread. I look forward to the new COVID strategy, which was debated in a motion in the House recently and supported by all parties. <BR /> <BR />Returning to the regulations, amendment No 14, essentially, gives councils the ability to enforce some of the existing regulations. It was made on 13 November, some eight months after the pandemic started to hit.”
“We are debating four health protection regulations — amendment No 13, amendment No 14, amendment No 15 and amendment No 16 — as well as amendment No 4, which deals with face coverings. Most of the statutory rules came before the Health Committee on 26 November, with the last appearing on the Order Paper before the Committee has considered it fully, as it was included in our tabled papers just last Wednesday. That speaks to the speed with which some of the regulations are drafted and to the importance of having an agreed approach that is based on public health principles ahead of time. <BR /> <BR />The majority of restrictions were made around 13 November.”
“I start by acknowledging that the past few months have been really difficult and challenging. I genuinely struggle to think of anyone who has had an enjoyable time throughout the period of the restrictions, but I am sure that we are all aware of the many people who have had a very stressful and very lonely time. Tragically, we have seen the reported deaths rise above 1,000, and the true number is likely to be much higher. My thoughts are with all those families who have been bereaved and who are going to particularly struggle over the Christmas period. <BR /> <BR />As we debate and discuss the restrictions brought forward by the Minister of Health and his Executive colleagues, it is important that we do not lose sight of the negative impact that COVID-19 is having right across society.”
“I thank the Member for her answer. Does she agree that, given that we are 22 years on from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which promised equality and mutual respect, now is the time for the Commission to agree that any display of paintings, artefacts and symbols throughout the Building should reflect and be representative of all the citizens and the diverse society that the Assembly now serves?”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Will the Minister also outline the time frame for the delivery of the emotional health and well-being framework? Will he commit to making this an urgent priority in the new year of 2021?”
“However, I hope that, in some small way, the progression of a wide-scale vaccination programme will instil some happiness, contentment or hope in the wider public and that we can all begin to plan and to aspire to live our lives just as we used to before.”
“As referenced earlier by the Committee Chair, vaccines have all but wiped out serious diseases such as smallpox, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and many more. We have a responsibility to make people appreciate and take pride in the fact that this is the chance for our generation to eliminate coronavirus. <BR /> <BR />I am conscious that today's debate will, as the Deputy Chair of the Committee and others mentioned, be of little comfort to families mourning the death of a loved one who tragically lost their battle with COVID-19. Earlier, Ms Cameron referred to the fact that, sadly, we passed the sad milestone of 1,000 deaths today.”
“<BR /> <BR />All the groups that I have spoken of — pensioners, young people, those who were shielding — as well as the wider public need firm assurances that, when the vaccine is ready, it will be safe and free, and it will be made accessible as swiftly as possible to all, regardless of age, gender, financial position or location. <BR /> <BR />The Minister and the Executive must initiate a compelling, powerful information campaign to generate maximum awareness of the importance and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine. A high uptake of any future vaccination programme will be crucial, as we all know, in defeating this virus. <BR /> <BR />People need to know and understand that countless lives are saved daily across the globe as a result of vaccines.”
“Understandably, they have been worried and anxious throughout this whole period, and it is fair to say that many have been living with the constant fear of contracting the virus and with the thought of how serious that might prove for them. <BR /> <BR />With that in mind, I have submitted a question to the Minister of Health asking which clinically vulnerable groups, apart from those over the age of 65, will be considered as priority groups for receiving the COVID-19 vaccination. I look forward to the Minister's briefing to the Health Committee on Thursday, when, I am sure, we will be provided with such further detail. However, today, I stress to the Department and to the Minister that central to any successful roll-out of this vaccination must be a clear communication strategy with the public on what to expect and when to expect it.”
“I apologise that some of my points will be repetitive as other Members have touched on them, but it is important that I cover them. I support the motion and join other Members in welcoming the positive developments to secure a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. <BR /> <BR />Last week, I held engagements in my local area of west Belfast with a number of groups, including a pensioners' group and a youth group with children ranging from the ages of 10 to 18. What I found most interesting was that, regardless of age, the same question was to the fore of people's minds, and it was, "When can I access a vaccine, and when will we begin to see an end to coronavirus?". <BR /> <BR />Concerns have been brought to my attention, and some Members have touched on this, by people who had to clinically shield during the first wave of the pandemic.”
“Does the Member agree that countries that have put in place a more robust find, test and trace programme have been successful in protecting not only their people but their economy?”
“Will the Minister give an updated timeline for the next steps of the sentencing review, including how long she believes it will take to complete the programme of work?”
“To follow on from that, I will say that, unfortunately, I have lost two extremely close family members on the roads, both at the start of December, so I am well aware of the impact that losing someone in such a cruel way can have on families. <BR /> <BR />I know that the Minister will be aware of the new McDonald's restaurant that has opened on McKinstry Road in the Colin area of west Belfast. We met a team of her officials the other week and had a good site visit, but I have the same concerns and genuinely live with a fear that, with kids, young people and people of all ages crossing those four lanes, someone will be killed or really seriously injured. Can the Minister update us on progress or on a timeline for pedestrian safety measures?”
“<BR /> <BR />Therefore, I welcome the LCM, in the context of the amendments, to help to implement the recommendations of Julia Cumberlege's review: the creation of a patient safety database; the recording of details of devices when they are implanted into women's bodies; the putting in place of a patient safety commissioner; and a suitable redress scheme. Those would be significant steps in restoring the confidence of so many who have suffered so terribly as a result of medical devices. <BR /> <BR />It would be remiss of me not to finish my remarks by paying tribute to all those campaign groups and individuals who worked tirelessly to have their voices heard and to highlight the mesh-implant medical device scandal.”
“Full redress for all those patients affected must be a priority and, most urgently, the Department of Health must provide care for those injured by mesh implants, and that begins with safe access to full mesh-removal surgery. <BR /> <BR />With every scandal that develops, whether neurology, urology or mesh implants, sadly, we find a lack of transparency, accountability and too many patients who are hurt and who have lost faith in a healthcare system that was supposed to help, rather than harm, them.”
“That is something that did not happen until now. It also recommends the establishment of a patient safety commissioner. <BR /> <BR />The 'First Do No Harm' report uncovered a complete lack of transparency with regard to the regulation of devices, such as mesh implants. They were used in the surgical repair of pelvic organ prolapse and have caused crippling, life-changing complications for many patients. I met with many such patients and can report that their entire lives, families, careers, intimate relationships, literally every aspect of their lives, have been upended by the trauma of their experience. Our responsibility to mesh-implant victims does not end with this Bill, or with the recommendations of a report. It is met only when we provide the supports recommended and needed by those injured by mesh implants.”
“The pressures of the current pandemic have restricted the time available for extensive scrutiny of the legislative consent motion. However, as previously noted by the Health Committee Chair, some extremely important issues are addressed in the amendments concerning the Medicine and Medical Devices Bill. <BR /> <BR />I am pleased to note that the Bill incorporates the recommendations of 'First Do No Harm: The Report on the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review'. As many Members know, that report was long awaited and hoped for by many women who have endured harrowing injuries as a result of mesh implants. The 'First Do No Harm' report recommends, for example, the establishment of a centralised patient database that should be created by collecting the key details of the implantation of all devices at the time of operation.”
“The Minister will be aware that the paediatric pathology service here collapsed a few years ago and is currently accessible only in Liverpool. Will the Minister explore, with the Health Minister in Dublin, the provision of an accessible paediatric pathology service on the island or an in-reach service into the North?”
“<BR /> <BR />My concern is not so much about increasing fines but about providing the means and reasons for the public to self-isolate, and for them to feel equipped to do so safely for themselves, their community and their future livelihoods. We need a new strategy that is health-led but that involves everyone and every Department in the Executive. It needs to recognise that the rampant spread of COVID-19 is still damaging, even with the emerging and hopeful news that a vaccine is close to being developed.”
“There is pressure on those who, financially, are living week to week or month to month. Their worry is not entirely about catching the virus but about receiving the alert and what comes with that, and having to self-isolate for two weeks and the consequences of that for someone with children, who is in a low-paid job and may be struggling to put food on the table. I do not think that statutory sick pay goes far enough to encourage anyone to self-isolate and to help to break the chains in transmission, yet the lack of follow-up calls offering healthcare or financial support or enforcement does little to help.”
“The key is to break the chains of transmission. That means reducing social contacts, and enabling and encouraging more people to stay at home and to self-isolate. I note the efforts of the Department for Communities on discretionary grants and the advice helpline for those self-isolating, and also the work of the Public Health Agency, the contact-tracing team and the mobile app. I got a notification to self-isolate due to being a close contact of someone who had tested positive. Thankfully, my results came back negative. However, throughout that period, all I received was a text message. No one called me to see how I was or to make sure that I was self-isolating, which is important for compliance.”