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, too, thank the Minister for her fast and decisive action so far in providing the utmost support for housing providers and the community and voluntary sector. Amongst other things, that has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of people sleeping rough on our streets. As the Minister said, homeowners and landowners alike have availed themselves of financial protections such as domestic household rates having been frozen for a period of three months. Many banks have issued mortgage holidays whereby mortgage repayments have also been frozen for three months.”
“It is up to all of us to do what we can and to do it as quickly as we can to help reduce risk to vulnerable people. <BR /> <BR />These are indeed unprecedented times, and there is an onus on this Assembly and particularly on Ministers to bring forward any and all measures that will support people, particularly vulnerable people, at this time. I support the motion.”
“I urge the Minister to make sure that the opportunity to apply to the discretionary support fund, along with the new criteria, is communicated clearly and repeatedly for those who need to hear it and that award decisions can be made quickly to ensure that the financial support can be got to people without delay. I know that the Minister will do her utmost to ensure that that happens, notwithstanding the serious challenges that we face in the current environment. <BR /> <BR />I also commend the people working in the Department in the jobs and benefits offices, on the telephone lines in the independent advice sector, to name a few, who are managing calls from people who find themselves needing advice and support at this very difficult time.”
“It will be worth waiting for, I assure you. <BR /> <BR />I concur with the sentiments expressed by the Committee Chair and welcome the decision to bring forward this additional enhancement to the discretionary support fund in response to the COVID-19 crisis. The Minister is again to be commended on her swift and decisive action and for utilising all means in her Department to support people during these very challenging times. <BR /> <BR />Increasing the income threshold for eligibility to the fund to £20,000 will enable more people on low incomes to access the fund if they are experiencing financial hardship.”
“What is the world coming to? I am sorry to disappoint. You will have to wait a little longer.”
“I know that she has also committed to explore measures that could be put in place to protect renters in the uncertain time ahead. <BR /> <BR />The Minister's actions and those of her ministerial colleagues prove that we do not need to invoke the divine inspiration of some higher power. People who have been impacted on by the pandemic cannot wait for that. What is needed is those in power to use that power now to protect citizens. It is difficult to give out advice in these times. We know that it is a changing picture. It is a changing and evolving situation that will throw up new challenges in the days and weeks ahead. Will the Minister say whether she is considering further changes to discretionary support to deal with the current crisis?”
“I welcome the £1·8 million, which equates to three years' funding, for the independent advice sector to assist people with benefit changes as part of a mitigations package, supporting and protecting 50 front-line jobs and securing three years' funding for the appeals and representation service. <BR /> <BR />Our independent advice sector plays a crucial role in assisting people to access their social security benefits and helping them to make appeals. We will need it in the time ahead as we face the challenge of the COVID-19 virus. The Minister has moved to ensure that funding for community and voluntary groups will continue in the time ahead with upfront payments for the next three months. I welcome the commitments that she has made in discussions with the Housing Executive on a homelessness contingency plan.”
“In short, the regulations will provide a short-term living grant for someone who is infected by the virus or has to self-isolate, if advised to do so, or if a member of their family is affected. That is absolutely the right thing to do. <BR /> <BR />I take the opportunity to applaud the pragmatic, logical and real-world measures that have been taken by Minister Deirdre Hargey and her Department during this uncertain and difficult time for our communities and our society. She has acted swiftly over the past number of days to ensure that there is flexibility in our social security system so that, as she has said, people will not be punished for doing the right thing.”
“Like other Members, I pay tribute to our fantastic Health and Social Care staff. I send my thoughts and my solidarity to them. They are navigating us on this nightmare journey. More than thoughts and words, what we need to send them is the tools and equipment to deal with the volatile and dangerous environment that they now work in. I am glad that Minister Swann has announced that he will source additional personal protection equipment for front-line staff. <BR /> <BR />I, too, welcome and endorse the motion. The regulations will enable the Department to provide a discretionary support non-repayable grant, rather than a loan, for living expenses to claimants who find themselves in crisis as a result of COVID-19, whether or not they have had a previous grant for living expenses in the past 12 months.”
“It is indeed a very sad time for Irish boxing and for boxing fans across the world to hear the sad news of Barney Eastwood's passing. He was a unique character, and his passion for sport and business was unquestionable. He loved sport. He was a sportsman in the true sense of the word, but he was also a very proud Tyrone man. On behalf of the Sinn Féin team in the Assembly, I extend our sincere condolences to Barney's wife, Frances, and to his entire extended family at this very sad time.”
“I concur with the comments from my colleague across the Chamber, and I think that restrictive licensing laws have really hampered the growing industry of craft breweries. I hope that any legislation will reflect that and will enable our craft breweries to grow and flourish and actively contribute to our tourism product. In the interim, will the Minister look at increasing the Easter opening hours for licensed premises?”
“During yesterday's debate on afforestation, the Minister spoke about the light detection and ranging (LIDAR) survey and technology. Does he have any plans to use the LIDAR survey to assess coastal erosion and use the technology for its prevention?”
“The Minister is speaking about the fishing industry and the tariffs that may be imposed. Will he elaborate on those tariffs and the impact that they could have on our fishing industry, which is already under severe pressure? Will he give us a bit more information about the tariffs that he is proposing?”
“Does the Minister intend to ensure that EU funding for local fishing vessels will be protected in the fisheries Bill? If so, can he provide details?”
“I agree with what you said. I know that the first port of call for any club that has issues is LPS, but I want to take into consideration what the Minister's Department could do. Will the Minister outline what important information her Department could provide to clubs about their organisational structure and governance to help them to have a better understanding of the opportunities out there for rate relief?”
“The Minister has answered my supplementary question in a previous answer.”
“Sinn Féin also recommended reversing the burden of proof from child victims to the defendants for some sexual offences. Does the Minister intend to legislate for that change?”
“Harry also rescued the great Bobby Charlton, Jackie Blanchflower and his manager, Matt Busby, who was seriously injured. <BR /> <BR />By any standards, Harry Gregg was a hero, but he never sought any recognition for that, and he was a very private, extraordinarily ordinary person. He was a hero who wanted to be remembered for football. George Best best summed Harry up when he said:”
“I thank Claire Sugden for bringing this Matter of the Day to the House, and to give us the opportunity to pay tribute to Harry. As a Manchester United fan, I, too, feel a sense of loss. I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Harry Gregg. <BR /> <BR />Harry played for United during arguably one the most successful periods in the club's history. He is considered one of the club's best ever keepers. Despite being known for his talent, as Members alluded to, Harry will always be remembered as one of the unsung heroes of the infamous Munich air disaster. Following the horrendous events of that ill-fated journey, Harry set about pulling people from the wreckage, without a thought for his own safety. We heard other Members allude to the fact that he rescued a pregnant mother and her other child, whom he later met.”
“I appreciate that, Minister. I would like to bring to your attention — Members will be aware of this — the absurdity of geo-blocking, which we are all subject to in the North. Can I ask the Minister, alongside the Minister for the Economy, to look at that and, perhaps, work with RTE, the GAA and the BBC to tackle that issue?”
“I accept what the Minister says and that he is aware of the issue. Will he commit to sorting out the funding issues for Down Royal park? How will he prevent such an issue arising in future?”
“I too welcome the announcement today of funding for the schools that have been listed, but it would be remiss of me and it would be conspicuous by its absence, if I failed to mention one school in particular in my South Down constituency: St Louis Grammar School in Kilkeel. It is in dire need of major capital investment. I extend an invitation to the Minister to pay a visit to St Louis to see the situation at the campus. <BR /> <BR />In his statement, the Minister alludes to the fact that he intends to continue the advancement of major capital builds. When will he announce the next tranche of funding for capital projects so that schools such s St Louis' in Kilkeel, in lower Mourne, can get their business case in order and avail themselves of the next tranche of funding?”