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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“There is an urgent need now for the Health Minister — I am sure that you will address this in your comments, Minister — to investigate those remarks and publicly dispel any such notion.”
“I will get to that in my comments. I appreciate that. <BR /> <BR />As far as I know, the Minister has never publicly discussed a plan that would:”
“I appreciate the Minister's intervention, but my colleague Chris Hazzard has seen those minutes. Those of us who have been involved in the struggle to protect local health services and the sustainability of rural hospitals in recent times will not be shocked to hear a Belfast-based consultant speak of the need to centralise services. It is deeply worrying that he speaks of an actual plan to close half the hospitals. The public has not been made aware of any such plan and, indeed, as far as I know —”
“The minutes of the meeting have been seen —”
“<BR /> <BR />Minister, I need to raise — hopefully, you will address them — the recent comments by a senior health consultant in which he revealed a plan to close half the hospitals across the North. That is a grim warning to rural communities that they face a huge battle to save their local hospital in the time ahead. In a recent meeting with Health officials from across the North, Dr John Maxwell, a senior emergency department consultant with the Belfast Trust, provided an update on the controversial review of urgent and emergency care in which he referred to a plan to:”
“In order to begin to rectify that, my Sinn Féin constituency MP colleague, Chris Hazzard, and I have requested that the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust and the Department of Health explore the possibility of establishing a pathfinder project similar to the recent Southern Trust pathfinder in Newry, which has had a positive effect on the protection of services at Daisy Hill Hospital. That will not only enable us to benefit from an interactive and consistent process of public communication and consultation but, perhaps most importantly, demand a real and meaningful process of co-design with staff and their trade union representatives.”
“Unless something is done to protect and enhance the availability of specialities and critical care cover, the Downe will struggle to meet the emergency needs of the local community without relying on the Ulster Hospital in Belfast.”
“There is no doubt that the long-term viability of the Downe Hospital has been undermined in recent years by the reduction of specialities on the site, such as the lack of an inpatient cardiology service and the loss of our 24-hour A&E. As the local community argued at the time, not only have the cuts had a direct impact on local patients who need to avail themselves of the services, but the cumulative effect continues to limit the overall delivery model of services at the Downe Hospital. In recent months, the absence of critical care backup and anaesthetist cover made the delivery of emergency care very difficult to sustain at the Downe.”
“Like Mr McGrath, I do not remember a time when there was not a campaign to retain services at my local hospitals, be that the Downe Hospital or Daisy Hill. For years, the community and ourselves as political representatives have been resisting and fighting the many attempts to remove and downgrade services. To be frank — pardon the pun — we are sick of it. <BR /> <BR />The unprecedented COVID crisis was met with understanding and generosity by the local community in South Down. However, there is now a growing belief in the community that health officials are using COVID-19 as a convenient cover to advance extensive reform plans at the Downe without any need for consultation.”
“I thank the Minister for her continued commitment to the bridge. She knows that I never miss an opportunity to raise it with her. As she said, it would be a massive boost to the connectivity around the lough for Counties Down and Louth, for the economy and, of course, for tourism. <BR /> <BR />When the Minister goes back to meet Louth County Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, will she be in a position to present the options being discussed between her and her counterpart, Minister Ryan? How soon after a final option is settled on does the Minister anticipate that we will see boots on the ground, ground broken and the start of construction of the Narrow Water bridge?”
“<BR /> <BR />Approximately £4·5 million has been spent by the Fire and Rescue Service on dealing with fires in the Mournes over the last number of years, and that pales in comparison with the money that has been given to local management groups such as the Mourne Heritage Trust. Does the Minister agree that that shows that we got our priorities wrong in that regard, and will he commit to prioritising a partnership approach between central government, councils, local agencies and landowners in order to ensure that necessary resources and action plans are put in place urgently so that we will not see the scenes that we witnessed over the last four days and there will be no more looking down the back of the sofa for pennies to protect our most precious habitats?”
“I think that we will all agree that the sickening scenes of devastation that we witnessed in the Mournes over the last four days will live long in the memory, and I have no doubt that it will have an apocalyptic effect on our unique habitats in the Mournes. <BR /> <BR />Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, if you will allow me, on behalf of the people of South Down, I send heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the women and men of the Fire and Rescue Service, who were aided by the Irish Air Corps, for battling the fire courageously for the last four days. Their heroic effort will not be forgotten by the people of County Down.”
“With the announcements by the Executive on easements of some restrictions, it is vital that those in most need are given support and treatment at the point of need and as soon as they need it. Access to cancer services, in my opinion, is one of the most important issues.”
“I appreciate, Minister and Deputy Speaker, that I am asking more questions than giving a speech as such. The Minister also knows that I am not a member of the Health Committee, but I, like other MLAs, have been asked questions by constituents. If there is anything that we can do of a positive nature today, I think that it is to give greater clarity on what the next steps are. <BR /> <BR />I also understand that there have been workforce planning issues regarding getting consultants, and the issue of recruitment and retention of staff is nothing new. However, if we are to restore the much-needed services and supports to pre-pandemic levels, we need to ensure that the right staff, including nurses and theatre staff, are secured. <BR /> <BR />I look forward to hearing what the Minister has to say in today's debate.”
“There are forms of cancer that are aggressive in their nature and, therefore, an aggressive approach is needed. So, while the 62 days is a benchmark, I ask the Minister to clarify what steps or actions will be taken in the context of those aggressive cancers. <BR /> <BR />Screening is also key, and that often starts with the GP. Given the impact that COVID has had on getting access to our GPs, I am very interested to hear what the Minister will do regarding anyone with a fear of having a lump or bump and how they will be seen in a timely and speedy way. <BR /> <BR />Paediatric cancer services also need greater clarity. Are paediatric patients on a list for surgery and is it the same list as that which exists for adults? What is the situation there?”
“The intention to tackle that mighty challenge was definitely there but was perhaps a bit lacking on the detail of how it will happen. Take, for example, red-flag cancer treatments. That should promote a sense of urgency, and plans need to be published to deal with red-flag cancer services. Individuals and families need to know that the Minister has their back and that they will be supported. <BR /> <BR />We will hear the phrase "COVID recovery" a lot, and that is a good thing, but we will also need to see what that recovery looks like. There is currently a target waiting time of 62 days for first treatment following an urgent GP referral for suspect cancer. For some forms of cancer, that is a dangerously long time. With pancreatic cancer, for example, people have died within a few weeks from diagnosis, and some have died within days.”
“No one will forget the past year. COVID has impacted on so many aspects of our lives, and none more than those people who, during this time, have had enough cause for concern to go to their GP. Imagine for one minute what that is like. I know that there are Members who will know exactly how that feels, and we are truly delighted at their recovery and wish them well post-surgery and with their ongoing treatment. I assume that, under the law of averages, one in four of us will be impacted by cancer and that someone right now is fretting over something that is not right, either with themselves or with a loved one, and is worrying about having to go to their GP to have those conversations. <BR /> <BR />Last week, the Minister of Health made a statement on hospital waiting lists.”
“There may be people watching the debate who are coming to terms with their sexuality. Maybe they do not have the right support system around them, and maybe they are not given meaningful, proper sex education in their schools that reflects their feelings and sexual orientation. If you are such a person and you take nothing else from the debate today, please know this: homosexuality is normal and natural. You cannot change or control your sexuality any more than you can change or control the colour of your skin, and anyone who tells you otherwise is nothing more than a snake oil salesman. No cure is required for being yourself, and you do not need to be fixed because you are not broken.”
“It is also important that those affected by conversion therapy and the wider LGBTQ+ community have their say when the legislation goes out to consultation. I have no doubt that they will do that. <BR /> <BR />As I said, Sinn Féin will support the motion as it stands but will not support the amendment. I urge other Members to reject the amendment. The toxic mix of heteronormative conservatism combined with religious fundamentalism that permeates the DUP is given voice in its attempt to amend the motion. The amendment seeks to provide cover for quacks and clerics to continue to damage and harm our LGBTQ+ citizens. Again, I urge Members to reject that fossilised thinking by rejecting the amendment. <BR /> <BR />I will finish by saying that I am sure that there are many eyes and ears on us today.”
“I want to make it clear that Sinn Féin unequivocally condemns the practice of conversion therapy and what it stands for. It is deeply damaging to the mental health and emotional well-being of the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. We are resolute in our opposition to homophobia and discrimination in all its forms. <BR /> <BR />Despite DUP attempts to suggest otherwise, it is fundamentally wrong to view the LGBT community as requiring a fix or a cure. That is why the Sinn Féin Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey, is bringing forward legislation to ban conversion therapy in every way in which it masks itself. Like any new legislation, it will take time. I am sure that my colleague will, of course, want to ensure that no loopholes are made available by any changing of names or definitions.”
“When asked about their experience of conversion or "pastoral therapy", as it is sometimes called, participants in the discredited practice said that they were made to feel so degraded and ashamed and that their self-loathing became so great as a result of what they were being told by the people delivering the therapy that they wanted to end their life. If there are organisations in this jurisdiction exposing our citizens to behaviour that is so destructive that it makes them feel that they want to end their life, the Assembly needs to come down hard on them and work to eradicate the practice completely. <BR /> <BR />I thank the hundreds of people who have contacted me over recent weeks to show their support for a ban on conversion therapy. I do not think that I have been lobbied as strongly on any other issue.”
“A recent 'Spotlight' investigation of conversion therapy reported that, in 2018, a UK-wide survey found that over half of those who had experience of attempts to change their sexual orientation had subsequently suffered mental health issues and one fifth had attempted suicide. <BR /> <BR />A UN expert recently reported to the Human Rights Council that conversion therapy inflicts "severe pain and suffering" on lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender-diverse persons, often resulting in "psychological and physical damage" that is "long-lasting".”
“I support the motion and oppose the amendment tabled by the DUP. I am conscious that there will be people outside the Chamber watching the debate who have experience of the trauma of this kind of pseudoscientific malpractice. I hope that we all bear that in mind and are sensitive to it in our contributions. <BR /> <BR />It is hard to know where to start with a concept like this, which is so obviously morally and ethically wrong. It is so indefensible that it is really hard to get your head around the fact that it still happens here today. I will start with the term itself: "conversion therapy". The word "therapy" suggests something healing, holistic and restorative, so let us look at the therapeutic effects of attempts to change a person's sexual orientation.”
“The proposed new requirement would also be in line with the arrangements in the Scottish Parliament and the House of Commons. While I will not go into detail, the Committee also recommends various textual improvements to clarify the existing provisions and to achieve consistency in the code and guide. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, the Committee envisages that the outcome of the review recommendations will be an improved code and guide that reduces the risk of non-compliance, with the resulting reputational damage; increases transparency; and leads to increased public confidence in the Assembly through a strengthened standards regime. I look forward to hearing the contributions from Members in the debate.”
“That is the approach generally taken in Dáil Éireann, Seanad Éireann, the House of Commons, and the House of Lords. The Committee considers that it will offer a clear-cut and accessible approach, with less scope for misunderstanding by Members. <BR /> <BR />Secondly, the Committee recommends that a gap in the rules be addressed to require Members to register the value, or estimated value, of gifts, benefits, hospitality and visits. The value of a gift or other material benefit can be a key consideration in determining whether it could reasonably be thought to influence a Member's actions. This new requirement would support the sixth rule of conduct, which states:”
“The issues covered under stage 1 were identified since the code and guide were last updated in June 2016, including by the previous Committee, the last Commissioner for Standards, as a result of the experience of the registration process in the current mandate, and in developments in comparator legislatures. <BR /> <BR />The detail of the proposed amendments to the code and the guide is set out in the annex to the report, and the associated rationale is explained in the body of the report. At this point in the debate, I will highlight the two key changes proposed. First, the Committee recommends a move away from the approach of setting registration thresholds as a proportion of a Member's salary to one of expressing them as rounded cash sums.”
“That highlights the importance that we, as individual public representatives and this Assembly as an institution, need to place on high ethical standards. <BR /> <BR />In turning to the Committee's report, it is the usual practice that the Committee reviews the code and guide in each mandate to ensure that it is kept up to date and reflects good practice with regard to parliamentary ethical standards. As such, the Committee's strategic plan for 2020-22 provided for the review to be undertaken in two stages. That is with stage 1 addressing urgent and straightforward amendments and stage 2 covering more complex and detailed issues, including the arrangements for handling complaints of inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour.”
“In that regard, I draw on the words of another and more current American political analyst in Noam Chomsky, who, in pointing to the principle of universality, said:”
“When the Assembly last considered a motion along these lines in 2016, my predecessor, the Committee Chairperson Cathal Boylan, drew on the words of President John F Kennedy from 1961 when he was delivering a special message to the US Congress on conflict of interest legislation and on the problems of ethics in government. President Kennedy pointed out that the basis of effective government is public confidence and that confidence is endangered when ethical standards falter or appear to falter. Public confidence in the Assembly as an institution is, of course, a key reason why we need to promote and maintain high ethical standards. <BR /> <BR />However, it might be argued that there is an even more fundamental reason.”
“Although that might be true in theory, regrettably, the international experience of government is that rules and codes of conduct are a necessity in practice.”
“<BR /> <BR />I shall address the second limb of the motion first, given that a commitment to high ethical standards provides the foundation on which the codes of conduct are built. It has been said:”
“I welcome the opportunity to bring the motion on behalf of the Committee on Standards and Privileges to the Assembly today. The purpose of the motion is fourfold. First, it is to seek Assembly approval of the Committee's 'Review of the Assembly Members' Code of Conduct and the Guide to the Rules relating to the Conduct of Members: Stage 1'. Secondly, it is to affirm the Assembly's commitment to high ethical standards and to the code and guide. Thirdly, it is to seek Assembly approval to amendments to the code and guide in accordance with the annex to the report, which sets out the necessary changes in a tracked format for ease of reference. Fourthly, it is to seek Assembly approval for the amended code and guide to come into effect on Monday 12 April 2021.”
“That said, Sinn Féin is happy to support the motion. It is vital that we continue to look for ways to support young people through these challenging times, and Sinn Féin's focus remains on making employment, skills and opportunities accessible for our young people.”
“Those have implications for all Departments, particularly as they try to "build back better". <BR /> <BR />I commend the Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey, for launching the equality impact assessment (EQIA), which allowed people the opportunity to have their say on the consultation on the Budget process. She has made it clear that she is committed to taking forward the Job Start scheme, and we await the outcome of the Budget deliberations, which are, of course, an Executive decision. <BR /> <BR />I make it known to the House and the Members who tabled the motion that I met the Finance and Communities Ministers and that both are in resolution mode with respect to Job Start. Both Ministers remain committed to delivering on the Job Start scheme, and I am entirely confident that we will see it come to fruition fairly soon.”
“That will allow the scheme here to support single-job creation. Surely, Mr Frew understands and other Members know that that is really important, as many local businesses here are small to medium-sized enterprises that would not have met the criteria. That would have had a knock-on effect, limiting the variety of employment and training opportunities that were available. <BR /> <BR />The implementation of the scheme has been delayed, and that has been frustrating for everyone. Parallel to that, the difficulties highlighted by the recent draft Budget have been discussed at length over the last number of weeks in the Chamber: flat budgets, yearly budgets, British Government constraints around the spending review outcomes, late announcements, no ability to carry over the money etc.”
“While a number of employability initiatives are currently run by the Department for Communities, the Job Start scheme and the additional labour market interventions that the Minister has outlined have the potential to be an important element in the pathway to recovery as we move out of COVID restrictions, especially for people in that particular age group. <BR /> <BR />I recognise the important intervention by the then Minister Carál Ní Chuilín in not just turning out a copy-and-paste job of the Kickstart scheme in Britain but tailoring the scheme to our unique circumstances. I heard Mr Paul Frew lament the fact that it was not a copy-and-paste job, but I am sure that he will know that that decision has since been vindicated by the scrapping of the 30-employee rule in Britain.”
“Sinn Féin firmly believes that the Job Start scheme is a vital element in that overall recovery piece and is critical for those young people to gain the necessary skills and experiences that will allow them to obtain long-term employment. <BR /> <BR />While the motion makes reference only to the Department for Communities and the Department of Finance, the Department for the Economy and the Department for Communities have a shared role to play in addressing youth unemployment. For example, the Department for the Economy is responsible for skills, training, apprenticeships and the Careers Service, and the Department for Communities provides the necessary support for preparation and financial assistance for people seeking employment.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion on the Job Start scheme. It is really important to recognise the huge impact that the pandemic has had on our economy, on businesses and on the workforce in general. Many Members have said that young people will feel that impact very acutely as they try to establish a foothold on the employment ladder and look for opportunities to learn new skills. We have spoken many times in the Chamber about the need to build our way out of the pandemic and about having the courage to create the economic stimulus that we will need to sustain and grow our economy in the time ahead.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member accept that Brexit will also put our young people at a disadvantage? It will have a detrimental impact on skills and apprenticeships, and the British Government's proposed replacement scheme will go nowhere near to matching the EU social fund programme.”
“I thank the Ministers for their statement. I am delighted that a tentative return to sport has been announced. Personally, I am excited to get home to get the football boots and gumshield hoked out and get back to kicking a football. Does the Minister agree that facilitating a return to sport is crucial for our recovery and our mental and physical well-being? Does the Minister agree that continuing that engagement with sporting bodies and clubs will be critical as we make our way out of lockdown so that we keep our kids and young people on the pitch where they belong?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. The publication of the pathway to recovery document will give our citizens some sense that there is an end in sight to the unprecedented crisis that we have all had to contend with over the past 12 months. <BR /> <BR />Given the experience of coming out of previous lockdowns, will the joint First Minister set out how the Executive will engage with each of the key sectors — sport, arts, culture, business and, of course, the community and voluntary sector — so that they can properly prepare for the steps that they need to take to aid the recovery?”
“— and to capitalise on the benefits of our changed trading reality.”
“— are articulating the need for us to find a better way. It is critical that we listen to the voices of the business community. They must have a say in the long-term strategy to minimise the problems —”
“I am nearly finished. <BR /> <BR />Sinn Féin has always believed that there is a better way to do business. Increasing numbers of businesses and civic voices —”
“It is incumbent, therefore, on the Economy Minister to work with agencies such as Invest NI and others to support local suppliers and businesses to fill the void left by British exporters. Now, more than ever, there is an onus on the Minister and the Department for the Economy to support producers and suppliers to diversify their product offerings. An Executive subcommittee on the economy could provide that leadership to trade representatives and agencies. <BR /> <BR />I recently listened to the respected economic journalist and commentator, Paul Gosling. He said that the British subvention to the North was a subsidy for failure and not an investment for future success. The institutionalised belief that a failed and weak economy in the North is the norm permeates the Civil Service, and that has clouded thinking.”
“That tells me that businesses here had already begun to pivot towards the South and the EU's 450 million consumers, and that pivot is becoming more apparent. <BR /> <BR />Many local businesses and producers now see new opportunities opening up. They are stepping up and stepping in by filling new orders from supermarkets, when those contracts would previously have been snapped up by British contractors. I need only to look to my constituency to find a good example of that. Deli Lites, a gourmet food sandwich company located in South Down, is now the primary sandwich supplier to Boots stores in the North and across Britain after securing a major deal in January. That new partnership is a prime example of the unique opportunities that exist among the Brexit difficulties.”
“While it is true that east-west trade has been in decline, it is important to note that GB-NI trade so far in 2021 is up on the same period last year. I suppose that that fact does not fit with the current narrative. While east-west trade has been declining since the Brexit referendum, North/South trade in services rose to an all-time high of £3·07 billion in 2018, according to InterTradeIreland. In 2019, the value of goods exported from the South to the North increased by €140 million. That is up 6·85% on the previous year. Prior to COVID, cross-border trade among SMEs was at an all-time high and was valued at £6·5 billion. North/South trade remains resilient despite COVID disruption.”
“In a debate like this, it is important to look at the facts and the reality of where we are and where we need to go. We are in the middle of a double whammy impact on our lives and economy. COVID and Brexit have combined to deliver the biggest trading shock that these islands have experienced in decades. We are in no position to cut ourselves off from any trading avenues, be that North/South or east-west. <BR /> <BR />In the past few weeks, the Members opposite have suddenly become very exercised about the impact that Brexit will have on east-west trade, which totally ignores the fact that the destabilising effect of the Brexit referendum has meant that east-west trade has been in decline since 2016.”
“That is endemic of a wider failure of leadership at every level in the British Government. This institution must therefore step in and fill that vacuum. Members must lead from the front and steer our economy in the right direction.”
“It is legally binding, and it is here to stay. <BR /> <BR />Much has been made of recent EU blunders by Members who seem determined to keep walking us into political crises. I suggest to those Members that the least that they could do after foisting their hard Brexit on us is to join the rest of us as we attempt to find solutions for businesses here and mitigate the worst impact of Brexit on our economy. We have had some success in resolving the potential impact on the second-hand motor trade, for example, but it is clear that support for businesses in terms of the British Government's level of preparedness was not there. The trader support scheme and other related schemes clearly failed in their mission to properly prepare and inform businesses here and in Britain on the upcoming changes.”