Sinéad Ennis
South Down · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“The revelation over recent days that members of the DUP, including the Assembly Speaker, Edwin Poots, had knowledge of the exploitation of a young woman by the now convicted paedophile Jeffrey Donaldson raises serious questions for the DUP.”
“The bottom line here is that a dangerous paedophile went unchallenged and, worse still and despite clear, known red flags, was elected leader of the DUP.”
“We only have to look at Belfast Harbour's master plan, which sets out the possible significant economic impact that that can have. That includes enabling a quarter of all island-wide seaborne trade, which, in turn, creates £8·8 billion in gross value added and equates to 15·7% of the North's total annual output.”
“Instead, the focus must be on whether the agencies that have responsibility, including the environmental regulators and enforcement bodies such as the NIEA and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, are doing enough and whether they have sufficient powers to tackle such issues effectively.”
“The primary objective of the shaking up of driver licensing here in the North is to improve road safety by ensuring that young people are better equipped for driving on our roads. However, at present, many young people pass their tests and are completely priced out of driving because of the insurance rip-off that we are seeing.”
“That reality sees them borrowing from the Department, which is already in a very constrained capital budget position, as the Minister outlined. The provisions in the Bill will ensure that the accountability and oversight mechanisms provided by commissioners on the boards of ports or harbours will continue.”
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“I thank the Minister for his response. I am glad that he has reiterated his commitment to the restoration of full access to services. I have been dealing with a number of families and carers across south Down who have been struggling since the start of the pandemic and still struggle today without the full restoration of respite and adult day-care services. <BR /> <BR />The Minister said that the review is expected to report within the next few days. Will he use that as an opportunity to examine how best those services can be expanded to ensure a definite return to full-time access to those respite and adult day-care services?”
“That is their main source of income. <BR /> <BR />For the reasons that I and all the other Members have outlined in the Chamber today, we need the legislation to progress, and we need it to progress at pace. This is just the first phase; it is not the final product. I urge my former colleagues on the Committee and other Members to work on this with the Minister rather than against her and ensure that we do all that we can to protect those dealing with a gambling problem and stop the risk of others falling into a gambling addiction.”
“I appreciate that. If the Member thinks that the Committee can get 360 new clauses right between now and next May, who am I to tell him otherwise? <BR /> <BR />Many of the recommendations included in our policy document, some of which I outlined, will not, I know, be included in this phase. I am hopeful, however, that some will be considered in the next phase. <BR /> <BR />The Minister touched on lotteries. We know that those are a huge issue relating to the ability or, rather, inability of local charities, GAA, soccer and rugby clubs, societies and the community and voluntary sector to raise revenue. We need only look to the past year and the huge impact that those groups and clubs made through their response to the pandemic. We need to acknowledge that and make it easier for those groups, societies and clubs to raise revenue.”
“As a former Committee member, I know that. I also know that my former colleagues on the Committee know and appreciate that overhauling the legislation and introducing a completely new regulatory framework would take no fewer than 360 new clauses. If you are telling me that my former colleagues on the Committee believe that they can scrutinise 360 new clauses before next May, good luck to them. That is definitely not the same cautious Communities Committee, bemoaning its workload, as I left a number of weeks ago.”
“Participation in multi-operator self-exclusion schemes, designed and overseen by the gambling regulator, should be a licensing condition for anyone operating in the Irish market, whether they are do so from a shop, at a track or online. <BR /> <BR />We understand from the Minister's comments that the legislation is being done in two phases. That is due to the constraints imposed by the time left in the mandate and the impact of bringing forward other legislation. Today, former colleagues on the Committee and other Members have made hay out of the fact that the legislation is in phase 1 and does not go far enough. Of course it does not go far enough: that is because it is phase 1. The Minister said that there will be a phase 2. Much has also been made of the time pressure that the Committee is under with other legislation.”
“We also want the introduction of a requirement for age verification to precede gambling online. The extension of an electoral database checking facility should be explored to enable that to happen more speedily. I will put that into context: currently, our 14-year-olds, 15-year-olds and 16-year-olds can take their parents' credit cards, go online, sign up for one of the online betting companies and gamble for 72 hours before anybody checks that they are who they say they are, but a 14-year-old, 15-year-old or 16-year-old cannot go into a bar and drink for three days before the barman asks for ID. It is totally wrong and needs to change.”
“The Member opposite asked what the Department was doing when the Assembly was down recently: it was taking forward the consultation on gambling legislation. On behalf of Sinn Féin, I responded to that consultation, which the Department launched in 2019. Some of the key asks that we included in our consultation response came from our all-island problem gambling document, such as the introduction of modern gambling legislation that takes account of and accommodates faster responses to future technological advances so that we can give comprehensive coverage to gaming, gambling and betting, whether that is land-based or online. Sinn Féin also wants the establishment of an independent gambling regulator whose functions include administering a fund to minimise problem gambling. The fund would be financed by a mandatory levy on the industry.”
“I absolutely agree with the Member's sentiment. There are so many areas that we deal with in the Chamber that, if there were specific focus put on them in our schools and other education facilities, it would save us a lot of time, hassle and money further down the line. <BR /> <BR />That is why I am glad to see that the Minister is proposing a levy on the industry. While we need to ensure that there are mechanisms in place to allow people to enjoy gambling safely, there is a responsibility to protect vulnerable people. The introduction of mandatory codes of practice and a statutory levy to help pay for research, education and treatment in the way that the Minister outlined would go a huge way to achieving that. <BR /> <BR />As many Members have said, our gambling legislation is complex and outdated and requires urgent reform.”
“It affects people mentally, emotionally and, of course, financially. That is why we need properly funded, gambling-specific addiction services here that can treat not only the person but those close to them —.”
“That is not to say that places such as the Dunlewey Centre and Cuan Mhuire and Davina's Ark in Newry are not doing great work providing gambling services and addiction services more broadly, because they absolutely are, but we need more gambling-specific addiction services in place for citizens in the North. <BR /> <BR />I thank everyone at Davina's Ark in Newry. They allowed me to come into their premises to chat to staff and service users and gave me the opportunity to discuss the proposals that we were putting forward and to see how those proposals measured up against their experiences in Davina's Ark. <BR /> <BR />The trauma that ensues when someone in your family has a gambling addiction is really far-reaching, because it affects not only the person living with the addiction but the wider family.”
“It is a fact. <BR /> <BR />I stress that I recognise that most people enjoy gambling and can do so responsibly. My party colleagues and I also recognise, however, the alarming rise in problem gambling across Ireland. Through our research at that time, we discovered that, in the North, we have the highest rate of problem gambling in comparison with England, Scotland or Wales. We have four times the number of problem gamblers that England has. It is clear that problem gambling is a serious public health issue, yet there are no dedicated inpatient addiction services specifically for problem gamblers.”
“I would have been really interested to read other parties' proposals on problem gambling, but, alas, Sinn Féin was the only party to put together such a document. I stress that I recognise that most people —”
“I, like others, welcome the opportunity to debate this important legislation. While I am no longer a member of the Communities Committee, this is one of the pieces of legislation that I had been greatly anticipating. It is one of many necessary and progressive pieces of legislation that the Minister is bringing forward that are designed not only to help vulnerable people but to modernise much of our outdated legislation. I wish adh mór to my former colleagues on the Communities Committee and good luck to the Minister with their workload in the time ahead. <BR /> <BR />In 2018-19, along with my Sinn Féin colleagues in the Oireachtas, I undertook to put together Sinn Féin's all-Ireland 'Problem Gambling Policy' document. The document has been referenced quite a bit today by other parties.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I wholeheartedly agree with his sentiments on broadcasting and how it should be regulated. Much has been made of the document we put together, and one of its proposals was on whether advertisers should be allowed to advertise before the watershed. While I said that I agree with the Member's sentiments, surely he knows that it is not within the remit of the Assembly or the Minister to influence the rights on broadcasting and that that rests with Westminster.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Does he agree that the wholly negative presentation of the protocol from some quarters is not only inaccurate but irresponsible?”
“I appreciate the Member giving way. On that note about equality, Members will be shocked to learn that there are no autism-specific learning centres in any of the post-primary schools in Newry and Mourne. If we are serious about getting this right, as Members have rightly suggested that we should be, we cannot allow inequalities, such as those that exist in my area and probably in other areas, to persist.”
“Thus, ambitious targets should be set to meet energy rating standards in the private rented sector. The benefits are cross-cutting: cut costs for tenants, tackle fuel poverty, improve living standards through better health outcomes, comfort and energy efficiency, and deliver carbon reduction targets by 2050. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is necessary. It provides renters in the private rented sector with some increased protections. The Bill will ensure that those in the private rented sector have access to a high quality, safe and secure home.”
“The Bill aims to provide thermal comfort and, simultaneously, reduce fuel poverty, as it contains enabling powers to make regulations concerning the minimum energy efficiency standards of private tenancies. Oftentimes, when you scroll through the likes of PropertyPal, you see that many homes in the private rented sector have a low energy performance certificate (EPC) rating, meaning that it will cost more for tenants to heat their homes and maintain warmth as a result of poor insulation. Therefore, homes in the private rented sector will be required to have a minimum EPC rating. Sinn Féin believes that that should be a matter of absolute priority, in light of the fact that fuel poverty is linked to socio-economic circumstances and housing quality. Energy retrofit measures will mean more energy efficient homes and warmer homes.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill also requires that all private landlords provide fire, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and that their properties meet electrical safety standards. The right to adequate housing is recognised in international human rights law. Crucially, in the midst of a housing crisis, prices can continue to increase as standards drop, and the Bill must help to protect tenants through mechanisms such as those mentioned.”
“For those with families, that can, perhaps, involve finding alternative educational facilities, childcare arrangements and support networks. That is an immense pressure in and of itself, and we must ensure that people are better supported within the private rented sector so that no person has to pack up their life with little or no prior notice. As a result of the pandemic, the notice to quit period has been extended to 12 weeks, and that will be the case until May 2022, but the shift in demographic within our private rented sector makes it all the more important that we try to ensure that the legislation is strengthened further. NISRA statistics from June 2021 indicate that 14% of the households that present as homeless are homeless due to a loss of rented accommodation.”
“The right to a good-quality, affordable and secure home is a fundamental human right, which upholds all other aspects regarding health outcomes, educational attainment, suitability for work, childcare, and much more. It is crucial that that is delivered within the private rented sector, too. <BR /> <BR />Undoubtedly, a key aspect of the proposed Bill, for many in the private rented sector, will be the extension of the notice to quit period. As the Minister outlined, a clause in the Bill provides the potential to alter the notice period to a maximum of six months. Citizens in the private rented sector deserve to live in dignity, security and peace, as much as people in any other sector. When asked to leave a property, it often means transferring all postal addresses, finding alternative work and medical practitioners, and much more.”
“The Minister just mentioned it, so I know that she is aware of law firms contacting victims to offer paid representation to help them to fill out application forms for the permanent disablement payment scheme. As she said, several organisations are funded to do that. What direct engagement has she had with victims to make sure that they are directed towards those organisations so that they do not have to pay unnecessary costs?”
“<BR /> <BR />Taken together with the other hugely important provisions of the Bill, of which there are too many to go into, today is a really positive step forward, finally, in the implementation of the Bill. I am happy to support its passage to the next stage.”
“Image-based sexual abuse is just as invasive and horrific as other forms of sexual abuse, and it is right that we take it just as seriously. We need to get it right, however, so I look forward to working with the Justice Committee to ensure that there are no loopholes in the offence, such as those that exist in other jurisdictions. <BR /> <BR />Other key features of the Bill include protecting children from grooming and other forms of sexual offences and abuse, including creating a new offence of adults masquerading as children online, ensuring that the law on sexual exploitation is kept up to date with modern technology by including live streaming and replacing references to child prostitution and child pornography in law.”
“<BR /> <BR />Nonetheless, the Bill contains some important clauses that will implement key recommendations from the Gillen review of serious sexual offences cases and the review of the law on child sexual exploitation and sexual offences against children. I am pleased to finally see the introduction of the new offences of upskirting and downblousing. Upskirting involves the taking of a photo or video under a person's clothes without their consent in order to capture images of their body or underwear. It violates a person's right to privacy and bodily integrity and can be a deeply invasive, traumatic and distressing experience. The evolution of technology and the wide availability of smartphones have meant that the law has not kept pace with the increasing frequency of the offences, and victims have been let down.”
“The DUP, despite being on record as saying that it had no issue with the content of the Bill as drafted, disgracefully blocked its progression for fear of potential amendments at later stages. That was a shameful derogation of its legislative responsibilities and showed contempt for the democratic process. As a result of that political grandstanding, the previous Bill had to be revised, and some hugely important clauses were pulled out to narrow its scope. Also removed was the option to propose amendments on some really important issues. All of that because one party in the Executive — the DUP — did not like what it was potentially going to see.”
“I welcome, as other Members have done, the introduction of the revised Bill to the Assembly. It is long overdue, and it is great to see it finally reach this stage. However, I have to share my disappointment at the serious and wholly unnecessary hurdles that had to be overcome to get us to this point. For months, we heard MLAs from across the political spectrum talk about the importance of passing the former Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, and four of the five Executive parties supported that Bill when the Minister first tried to introduce it. Yet, one party in the Executive held the Bill hostage for two months and blocked it from being progressed, despite the huge challenges that we face given the short time that remains in the current mandate.”
“The Justice (Sexual Offences and Trafficking Victims) Bill is crucial legislation that will allow us to build on all the great ongoing work. I look forward to scrutinising the Bill in the Justice Committee to ensure that it is of the highest standard.”
“I have paid close attention to the great work that has been carried out by my colleagues in Sinn Féin and, indeed, across the Assembly on so many important issues, such as domestic and sexual violence, gender-based violence and other issues of public protection. The Assembly passed the Domestic Abuse and Civil Proceedings Bill earlier this year, which was a landmark achievement, and the hugely important Protection from Stalking Bill is working its way through the legislative process. There has also been other important, ongoing work done, including the Gillen review of serious sexual offences cases, the review of the law on child sexual exploitation and work to tackle domestic and sexual violence, modern slavery and human trafficking.”
“Go raibh maith agat, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. As you said, I have, in recent weeks, taken on the role and that of Sinn Féin spokesperson for justice. I look forward to taking my place on the Committee at its next meeting. If you will indulge me, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I want to pay tribute to my predecessor, Linda Dillon, for her work in the role, and I am sure that other members of the Committee will attest to her positive contribution while on the Justice Committee. <BR /> <BR />Although I am a new member of the Justice Committee, many of the issues that face us are not new to me.”
“With regard to planning, there is probably no decision more anticipated than that of Casement Park. We know the huge cultural and economic benefits that that Executive flagship project will bring. When will the Minister be in a position finally to approve planning permission for Casement Park?”
“They were a good sounding board and a good link between the Committee and the Department. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin submitted a detailed response to the public consultation in 2019, because we knew how important modernising our liquor licensing laws was for the pub and hospitality sector. I thank and commend the Minister for her determination to get the Bill passed before the end of this month so that the new laws can be enacted as soon as possible. Because of that, we should see the much awaited changes, particularly to Easter opening, in time for Easter 2022. <BR /> <BR />This is hugely positive legislation. It will give the hospitality and tourism sector the boost that it undoubtedly needs as we recover from the economic damage of the pandemic. Sinn Féin welcomes its passing at the Final Stage today.”
“It provides for further additional hours for pubs and hotels and the extension of drinking-up time, and there are new clauses on major events, local producers' licences and cinemas. That, coupled with minimum unit pricing and restrictions on advertising and promotional schemes, means that we have a good and balanced Bill. As the Chair said, it will not go far enough for some, and it will be a bridge too far for others. For me, the key thing is the balance that we have undoubtedly tried to strike to give everyone a fair crack of the whip. <BR /> <BR />Like the Chair, I thank the Assembly staff and the Clerk and Claire McCanny for her invaluable assistance throughout the Committee's deliberations on the Bill. I also recognise the departmental staff, who have been on hand at a moment's notice when the Committee needed them.”
“<BR /> <BR />As the Chair and the Minister said, we took a huge number of written submissions and over 35 oral evidence sessions, and we put in 30-plus weeks to get to this point. No one will forget the 3.00 am sitting a few weeks ago. However, it was all worth it to get to the point where we can tell the hospitality sector that we have listened to it. We have listened to the calls, for many years, to modernise our liquor-licensing laws and bring them into the 21st century so that the North can be seen as an attractive place for people to socialise and to holiday, where the hospitality and tourism sector has the chance to compete economically with other regions across these islands. <BR /> <BR />The Bill removes the additional restrictions at Easter and the restrictions on late opening on Sundays.”
“I reassure the Chair that I will be doing some homework, shall we say, of my own at the Mourne Mountains Brewery taproom event next week. I will bring my findings back to the Committee. <BR /> <BR />I feel great pride, as I have said before, that we have reached the Final Stage of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Bill. I feel relieved but proud. As I have said, it is the first Bill with which I have been involved, so it is good to see it over its final hurdle today. <BR /> <BR />I said last week that we Committee members feel that the Bill is our baby. However, we have had to get used to the fact that it belongs to all of us in the House. I say again how pleased I am at the interest in the Bill from all Members who contributed to the debates.”
“Like the Committee Chair, I look forward to scrutinising the Bill further at Committee Stage.”
“The outworking of the judgement meant that around 7,500 orders, directions and decisions made by commission staff were unlawful. The resulting impact on charities was huge, and that is why the introduction of the Charities Bill is crucial. Some past decisions taken by commission staff, through no fault of their own, were deemed unlawful as a result of the McBride case, and I welcome the fact that provisions in the Bill will mean that those will be reversed. That is the right thing to do. The Bill will also ensure that approximately 6,000 charities will not have to go through the process of re-registering. That will come as a huge relief to many. <BR /> <BR />I support the passage of the Bill at Second Stage. I hope that it will go a long way towards building back the confidence that the public should have in our charity sector.”
“The Minister for Communities used the term "lifeblood of our communities", and that is exactly what charities are. They provide support in so many different ways to the most vulnerable in our society. In 2008, the Charities Act introduced a regulatory framework for charities here, and that was done to ensure greater transparency and greater public confidence. As a result, all charities established in the North had to register with the Charity Commission, but the subsequent McBride High Court judgement in 2019 had a massive impact on our charities. The judgement found that the commission had no express or implied power to delegate its functions to staff acting alone and that, instead, those functions could be delivered only by the commission.”
“I will keep my remarks brief, because the Minister and the Chair have given a very comprehensive overview of the Charities Bill. I welcome today's Second Stage and acknowledge the vital role that charities play in our communities. I have had the privilege, as has my colleague Liz Kimmins, of doing a little bit of work with some local charities, such as Supporting People and Communities Everyday (SPACE), so I know about the Trojan work that charities do and the difference that they make to people's lives, especially over the past year. <BR /> <BR />Charities and the community and voluntary sector took on an even greater significance at the height of the COVID crisis, and I am sure that they will continue to play a key role as we make our way out of the pandemic.”
“The £217 million spend on planned maintenance for the 2021-22 year must be focused on that issue to ensure the comfort and safety of citizens who have already waited far too long and in poor conditions.”
“The knock-on effect of a lack of good, affordable homes in the likes of Rostrevor will have far-reaching consequences for the fabric of the community there. <BR /> <BR />The task of revitalising the Housing Executive is vast. It includes not only building new homes to address the numbers in housing stress but maintaining and retrofitting existing stock to ensure that it is up to standard. The Housing Executive needs to give full consideration to the responses to the cavity wall insulation consultation, which was closed at the beginning of this year. Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has exacerbated the difficulties over the past 18 months, but it is now fundamental that the repair and replacement retrofitting project be undertaken without delay.”
“For many young people and families in places such as Rostrevor in South Down, there is no prospect of one day owning or living in a home in the place where they grew up and where their family is from. The cost of homeownership coupled with the total lack of investment in any social or affordable homes in Rostrevor means that some people will be forced to move out to the hinterlands of Warrenpoint, Hilltown or Newry. That means that they will lose the connection to their community — their local GAA and soccer clubs — and children will not go to the school that is their parents' first choice. The choice to live and work in the community that they grew up in and are from will be out of reach for some people.”
“The discussion should be extended to the many people who own their home but who, because of their financial circumstances, cannot afford to insulate or upgrade it. As other Members have said, over 180,000 people in the North suffer with asthma. Many of those people are homeowners, and living in a damp house could trigger an asthma attack in any of them. Equally, homeowners should not be put at a disadvantage simply because they own their property. Absolutely no one should have to live in a home that could have an adverse impact on their health. <BR /> <BR />The right to a good, safe and secure place to call "home" is fundamental to providing a firm foundation for people and families. A good home is a firm foundation for good health, well-being, stability, human dignity and a good quality of life.”
“It is wrapped up in the financial realities of the Housing Executive and the ongoing challenge of revitalising it and enabling it to borrow again. That is a challenge that the current Communities Minister has not shied away from. I accept that, while a large proportion of Housing Executive houses are built to a decent standard, the Housing Executive has acknowledged that there are problems and instances of damp and mould in its housing stock. Regardless of how widespread the issue is, it is not acceptable for any of our citizens to live in a home that is riddled with damp or does not meet the standards any of us would expect. <BR /> <BR />Cavity wall insulation is critical for maintaining the fabric of homes and the people who live in them.”
“There are two Sinéads in the one constituency, so it is understandable. Thank you, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. I welcome the opportunity to speak on today's motion, because it is a chance for us not only to deal with the substantive issues in the motion but to discuss the overarching need for investment in the Housing Executive stock. <BR /> <BR />We have seen welcome progress recently on the Irish language commitments in the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) agreement. That is, of course, good, but we want to see delivery of all the commitments in NDNA, including the commitment to tackle the lack of investment in Housing Executive stock. <BR /> <BR />The discussion about damp, mould and cavity wall insulation cannot be taken in isolation.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Minister, the statement indicates that the £18 million that was allocated for the delivery of Casement Park could not be spent because the planning permission was not yet received. Can the Minister give assurances that, as an Executive flagship project, it is still a priority for him and that he will ensure that the necessary funds are found, when they are needed, to deliver Casement Park?”
“Of course, that was not possible due to the current pandemic, and steps were needed in the interim to ensure the continued provision of services. <BR /> <BR />As I said, I welcome the report. It is fair to say that nobody across the House will have a problem with any of the recommendations. We now need to see Minister Hargey working with the ombudsman and her team on the full implementation of the report's recommendations.”
“It has been doing extremely good work in highlighting the concerns and the treatment that some people experienced in the Capita process. <BR /> <BR />I put on record the fact that Minister Hargey is the first Minister to commit to bringing those assessments back in-house. She has stated her intention to do that as soon as it is practicably possible and her intention for health professionals in the Department to carry out those assessments. That is absolutely one of the changes that needs to happen. <BR /> <BR />I also welcome Minister Hargey's commitment, which she has stated to the House before, to working with the ombudsman on the report and the recommendations. However, she requires resources and the support and partnership of the Department of Health to do that.”
“Sinn Féin has fundamental concerns with the Capita system. I commend the ombudsman and her team for carrying out their in-depth investigation, which began 20 months ago. I am glad to say, however, that, since the appointment of a Sinn Féin Minister, a number of immediate and much-needed changes have been introduced to improve the delivery of PIP and that more changes will come. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the report and its findings and recommendations. As Paula Bradley said, I, too, have had many people contact me over the years regarding their experiences as, I am sure, has everyone across the House. At this point, I thank the independent advice sector for not only its work in guiding people through the PIP system but its continued advocacy for change.”
“I thank the Minister for that. I think everybody will agree that modernisation of our liquor laws was long overdue. I know that the hospitality sector is supportive and appreciative of the Minister's attempts to get the Bill passed as quickly as possible. The Minister referred to amendments that have been made, and she tabled a few herself, so will she reiterate the main benefits in the Bill for the sector?”