Jonathan Buckley
Upper Bann · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Sinn Féin's representatives in the European Parliament voted against proposals aimed at strengthening the management of illegal immigration and facilitating the return of failed asylum applicants — those who entered countries illegally — to designated return hubs outside the European Union.”
“Last year, Sinn Féin, alongside the open-border brigade of the Alliance Party and the SDLP, voted against my motion in the Assembly that called for action to address concerns about illegal and uncontrolled immigration.”
“People want an immigration system that is controlled, credible and properly enforced whilst ensuring that the genuine, heartfelt, lived experience and concerns of local citizens are at the heart of the debate. That is not an unreasonable position to take.”
“I highlight yet another example of a political party claiming to represent the views of people across the island of Ireland yet taking a position that is fundamentally out of step with the concerns being expressed by a vast number of people across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and, indeed, the rest of the United Kingdom, and t…”
“The Minister is aware and is, in fact, on record as having suggested that organised drug crime is happening in prisons. I have previously raised that matter in the Assembly.”
“Minister, I am sure that you agree that we cannot continue to leave residents in limbo. There has to be some progress on the matter. A number of unfinished developments have been lying stagnant for a long time, but the number is so small that it would not require that great an amount of money to ensure adequate facilities for residents, e…”
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“That should be at the forefront of our minds. However, my thoughts are also with the regular and routine officers who have had to deal with a situation that is new to them and to society. They have had to intervene and get involved in matters, which, in their normal-day policing, they would never envisage.”
“Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I am mindful of what you have said about looking at the regulations and the power that was put in place for police to send people home. It is appropriate to note that it is important that we have the debate today on the policing of COVID restrictions. Without doubt, the COVID regulations have been a difficult matter to police, and difficult adjustments have had to be made in how they are dealt with. The police have had to operate in ways that we never thought that they would, and they have had to intervene in situations in which they never thought that they would. Undoubtedly, the incident on the Ormeau Road at the weekend was difficult for the PSNI, especially given the need to respect the fact that there were grieving families remembering a horrible, historical atrocity of the Troubles.”
“Unfortunately, we will truly see those difficulties only in the years ahead when it may be too late to intervene.”
“I hope that the difficulties pertaining to the European Union and the roll out of the vaccine can be solved soon to ensure that we can get general society back to some form of normality. <BR /> <BR />There is more work to be done on the vaccination programme. We need to continue to have conversations about those at-risk sectors and how we can bring society back to normalisation. I think of the teaching population across Northern Ireland because of the untold impact on our young people throughout COVID-19. Members across the Chamber will agree that it has been devastating.”
“We hear plenty in the Chamber about what has been done wrong or right with regard to COVID-19. We all have different gripes about certain aspects. I will not shy away from saying that I do as well. However, we can look at the vaccination programme with a real sense of pride that the United Kingdom has been a world leader in the vaccination roll-out. We only have to look at the debacle last week around the AstraZeneca debate across Europe, and we can be thankful that the United Kingdom had sufficient supply chains in place. Northern Ireland has reaped the benefits of membership of the United Kingdom whereby our society is being vaccinated at a record-breaking speed.”
“The rule also amends the expiry date, detailed in regulation 15 of the principal regulations, to "midnight on 5 March 2021". <BR /> <BR />In debating the health regulations, it is key to note, as the Minister has said, that restrictions have helped to bring infection rates down, but we must be ever mindful of the impacts across society that continued lockdowns and restrictions are having. We must remain vigilant and do what we can to ensure that we control the virus, but we must also look at those other sectors and how we can best support them. <BR /> <BR />I take great heart, as will many Members, from the vaccination programme. I will, again, place on record my thanks to the Minister, his Department and Patricia Donnelly for the efficient manner in which the vaccination programme is being delivered in Northern Ireland.”
“I will start this debate, as we all have in the weeks that we debate Coronavirus regulations, by placing on record my sincere thanks to all of the healthcare professionals who continue to play their part in controlling this virus and tending to those who have succumbed to it. It goes without saying that they continue to face considerably high pressure points across hospital sites in Northern Ireland and, indeed, the United Kingdom. <BR /> <BR />The regulation before us today is a statutory rule to amend the date that the Department of Health must review the need for the restrictions and requirements imposed by regulation 3 of the principal regulations to:”
“On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I hope that you will indulge me. During the debate, we received the sad news of the passing of Captain Sir Tom Moore, a man who raised over £33 million for the NHS. His example, kindness and generosity of spirit have touched many during the coronavirus pandemic, across the United Kingdom and in the House. I want to put on record my thoughts and prayers for his family at this time. Thank you.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he agree that, in this sense, Sinn Féin is truly living up to its name, "Ourselves Alone"?”
“The question is yet another example of a policy of cutting off your nose to spite your face from pro-Remain parties in the House. The trade in livestock across the Irish Sea has taken place unhindered for centuries. Does the Minister agree that the situation that we face is yet another example of the outworkings of the protocol and further highlights the societal and economic pressures that it has placed on Northern Ireland? Therefore, will he join me in calling on Her Majesty's Government to enact and enable article 16 to bring this sham to an end?”
“Will the Minister outline concrete proposals that she can put to the Minister of Finance for additional resources to help hauliers in this difficult time?”
“As the Minister knows, road hauliers face a deeply uncertain time on two fronts, with COVID-19 isolation costs and retail sectors closed across the GB mainland, meaning that there are no backloads coming back to Northern Ireland and additional costs. In addition, we have the Northern Ireland protocol, which was supported by your party in the House for rigorous implementation, meaning excess costs and bureaucracy for road hauliers.”
“<BR /> <BR />The report raises many questions, which we will take up in due course with the Minister, but I am glad that it is a conversation starter about this serious issue, which we have to deal with as we move on from the first and second waves of COVID-19.”
“One of the strengths of the report is that it looks beyond the current crisis to the reforms that are needed to transform and revitalise the care home sector in the future. The pandemic has laid bare the weaknesses in relationships between the Department, the trusts and care homes. It has also highlighted the great void between staff terms and conditions in the public and private sectors. We want to see cooperation overhauled in those areas. The proof will be in the pudding in terms of the Health Minister's stated plans to bring staff terms into line with those in the public sector. We are mindful that recommendation 29 on staff ratios must be considered in the context of full workforce planning across the health and social care system.”
“Asymptomatic testing should be ramped up, and mental health support for residents and staff should be expanded. As the Chair mentioned, rapid testing can prevent staff having to drive significant distances for a test at mass testing centres.”
“In the immediate future, we would like the Minister to take forward the recommendations on enhancing visiting arrangements. That is something that has struck a chord with us all and is still very live and very relevant.”
“Carrying out a Committee inquiry like this in such circumstances has been difficult, whether that has been the online forums in which we have had to engage or, indeed, dealing with the here and now of COVID-19. We recognise that the roll-out of the vaccination programme has dramatically changed the nature of the public heath response, but that does not mean that we should not reflect seriously on the deficiencies of the steps taken in the first wave and use that learning to adopt more effective measures in future. <BR /> <BR />The report focuses on only one aspect of society that has been impacted on by COVID-19. We acknowledge that much more work and investment will be needed to assess the effectiveness of Northern Ireland's response and to look at events in a much more holistic way for the future.”
“We welcome the vaccination programme that has been rolled out into our care homes at high speed. That is really welcome and can help to bring them towards some sense of normality. <BR /> <BR />I will not have time to touch on them all, but there are some notable recommendations. We have recommendations on visiting, testing, PPE, funding reform, standards of care and mental health. Those are real issues, every one of which merits an Assembly debate in its own right, but we know that the point of the inquiry is as a conversation starter. It is now up to us, as Committee members, to engage directly with the Department and others to ensure that we find a credible way forward and prepare for such events. <BR /> <BR />I sincerely thank every stakeholder who provided evidence to the inquiry in what were extremely challenging times.”
“<BR /> <BR />I came to the Committee late in the process, when evidence had already been taken. It was of value for the Committee to look into this and to see ways in which we could reflect, learn and plan the way forward. The purpose of the inquiry was to help mitigate and manage the impact of a potential second surge of the virus in care homes. The Committee received 21 submissions from a range of organisations spanning public, private and charitable organisations, professional bodies and trade unions. Shortly before the report was agreed, the HSC began to roll out the vaccination programme. While some of the report's content may, therefore, now be dated, the recommendations are a contribution to present and future planning. The Committee was very aware that this is a rolling situation with continual developments.”
“By and large, I concur with many of the Chair's remarks. Many Members have been touched by the COVID-19 pandemic. We can all look to an experience where we have watched how cruelly COVID-19 has, sadly, affected those in care, many in end-of-life care. As, I am sure, other Members have, I had a close friend in a care home. He was somebody whom I visited regularly in normal times and someone who valued friendships and visits. Sadly, I had to watch from a window in his closing days as he breathed his last breaths. That was not because he was COVID-positive but because of the restrictions that were put in place. It really has been devastating, particularly in this sector. We have seen loved ones lose those who are most precious to them, not having been able to be at their side in their darkest days.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does he acknowledge that the ability to socially distance at many small independent retailers, given that they work on an appointment basis, makes them a much safer environment than Marks and Spencer, for example, where people go for their jolly shop and then venture on into the clothing section?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. He articulates his point quite well, and I know that this is something that he has long debated. However, in following that same logic, when we look to the Republic of Ireland and see what was described as "some of the highest rates in Europe", does the Member equally call for an equitable approach between the South and North with regard to COVID-19's spread?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I know that he has been on record with this point at the Committee, but would he agree that, if it appears to be transparent that click-and-collect services cannot be provided for reasons that are presented by medical officials or whatnot, we should look towards a form of click-and-collect services that could apply stricter enforcement rules and guidance? That would enable small independent retailers to use up some vital stock that will, essentially, be useless by the time that their business can operate again.”
“I believe them to be pivotal in this debate. The road ahead will be long. There will be many twists and turns in relation to COVID and the regulations. I do not want to fall out with any Member of the House for being passionate about something that I feel is having an adverse impact on people who do not deserve it. I hope that, in the spirit of such debate, we can continue to confront those issues, deal with the pandemic and, sadly, deal with the long-term consequences thereof.”
“At the end of the day, if there are spare vaccinations, let us see a process by which we can vaccinate teachers or those who are vulnerable. We all know them. We need to get society moving again, and moving quickly. <BR /> <BR />We now look to commence vaccination of the over-75s group, and that is a testimony to the dedicated teams of vaccinators. With over 1,000 volunteers to take up this role, the Health Minister needs to look at expanding the skill set further. As our society eventually reopens, we have to be mindful that pressures on our public servants, including teachers and police officers, will only increase. We believe that there is merit in providing those who work at high risk with a vaccination programme. <BR /> <BR />Mr Deputy Speaker, I thank you for your indulgence on those points.”
“That is a real tribute to those administering the vaccination scheme. I take that point on board, but I would like to see flexibility within the scheme to allow for a process by which we can start to normalise society. The restrictions alone can never hope to see us through the pandemic, nor can they deflect attention from the need to ramp up that vaccination programme on a massive scale. I mentioned in Committee that we should have vaccination 24/7, if we can. I look across the trusts. This morning, we heard how trusts have got through vaccinating their staff, and now we are starting to see the slowing down of vaccination centres because there is not the same footfall coming through them. Maybe I am missing something, but this should be the very time that we should be ramping it up.”
“We have seen the negative impact that COVID regulations have had on our young people, and it is now incumbent on us to make representations to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to see whether we can vaccinate our teaching population, to ensure that we can get our young people back to education as quickly and safely as possible. Those teaching special educational needs children have not for one moment stepped back in this pandemic; they have stepped forward, into the breach. We now need to support them with a vaccination programme that is fit for purpose. <BR /> <BR />On that point, I commend the current vaccination programme and those administering it, because it is a leader in the United Kingdom. In fact, it is compared globally with some vaccination programmes.”
“24, some takeaway food businesses have highlighted the fact that the 11.00 pm cut-off point for delivery disadvantages shift workers in hospitals, many of whom work on the front line. We should be open to listening to those concerns substantively in the coming days. <BR /> <BR />As I have outlined throughout my contribution, we must collectively focus our energies on the clear path that gives us the most hope of righting the horrible wrongs of COVID-19, and that is vaccination. It has been noted on numerous occasions that a lot of the sectors that I have mentioned have been affected by the COVID pandemic. We now need to look at ways and means by which we can protect those sections of society and get them back operating again. I look to our teachers; I am sure that many Members have this thought as well.”
“We in this House have a duty to repay their faith in the Executive's response by ensuring that we chart a course outside this pandemic. Those businesses devastated by the current rules should have access to the vital financial and practical support to get back on their feet. There is a particular responsibility on Ministers to meet the needs of our independent retailers, who are rightly seeing these large supermarket retailers acting outside the spirit of the regulations in non-essential sales. <BR /> <BR />There are some areas where there should be scope to give more flexibility within the structure of the current regulations. That was mentioned at the Committee. For instance, in respect of amendment No.”
“In a moment. <BR /> <BR />I thank the independent retailers for their endurance throughout this time. They realise that their sacrifice regarding their businesses, jobs and perhaps even their livelihoods is for a greater cause — to suppress virus transmission in the community — albeit that, as I mentioned, I have been sceptical, to say the least, about the evidence of community transmission in close-contact services. It has been mentioned many times in the House that illegal gatherings — house parties or whatever — are a far greater threat than independent businesses, which have probably put in place more stringent measures than the multinationals that are open freely.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I am sure that it is something that the junior Ministers will take up in their final contributions. <BR /> <BR />Independent retailers are not being unfair in what they are asking for. Their plea is that either you level up with click and collect or you level down and put everybody on the same footing. That is all that they ask for. It is only right that we in the House fight for that level playing field.”
“I understand and accept fully that the Executive Office, maybe through the junior Ministers, who will give us an update, has been engaging with the sector. I would like to think that they have heard loud and clear the frustrations of independent retailers across the country and how we should right the wrongs contained in the regulations.”
“They understand the need for restrictions to be put in place to prevent community transmission. Many of them have put their lifetime's work into establishing their businesses. They have been on the high street through thick and thin. They have sustained the Northern Ireland high street through wars and the Troubles, but they now face their biggest threat yet. They have been closed, but multinational retailers in the very same towns, sometimes on the edges of our town centres, continue, unhindered, to sell the very same product that the independent retailer has been prevented from selling. That is ludicrous in the extreme. We need to look at how we can deal with that issue, because the independent retailer runs the risk of never returning to the high street.”
“The Belfast Trust experienced a 30% increase in inpatient mental health admissions at the height of the previous lockdown. It is clear that the extension of the regulations, including the continual closure of schools, requires us to look more at how we can target the early prevention of mental health issues, particularly in children. <BR /> <BR />I will now speak to the amendment (No. 24) regulations, particularly the issues surrounding small businesses — another sector that has been profoundly impacted on by restrictions — and the closure of non-essential retail businesses and click-and-collect services. Small independent retailers are the backbone of the Northern Ireland economy. They have looked at the restrictions that have been put in place with disdain.”
“Deputy Speaker, I thank you for your indulgence on that point. <BR /> <BR />As I said, the restrictions and the amendments are so wide-ranging that it is only right that we, as elected Members, consider their full impact on society. As I said, cancer affects everyone. It affects every family; there is not a family that has not been touched by it. When I hear the stories through email and phone calls and on the radio, I have to speak out. I understand the need for restrictions. I am not a COVID denier: all that I say is that we need to think about the long-term impacts that the restrictions could have on society. <BR /> <BR />In this place, we have spoken regularly about the impact that the pandemic has had on mental health.”
“Do we, therefore, need to think about opening satellite centres for cancer patients to be seen by the professionals whom they need, be that a surgeon, an oncologist or a palliative care specialist? Could we make better use of peripheral facilities? We all know of buildings in our trusts that have not been used because staff are working from home. Maybe there is space to allow some sort of cancer centres to open. Could we introduce a system in which a patient has a COVID test done 48 hours before an appointment?”
“Those symptoms can be picked up in the history, but, sadly, because of the COVID-19 restrictions, they are not. Patients are presenting late and are automatically placed on end-of-life treatment. Perhaps people are not aware that GP doors are still open. Perhaps there are flaws in the system. For example, who is triaging calls? Is it receptionists, or is it qualified professionals? After all, this is new to everyone. I implore the junior Ministers to take that point up with the Health Minister. It has been lost as we have been debating regulations. <BR /> <BR />We need to realise that COVID is here and does not seem to be going anywhere quickly.”
“The restrictions that are in place can, as I outlined, have a devastating impact on other services, but I do not want to talk only about problems. I am not here to attack; I am here to speak on behalf of those who have been impacted by COVID restrictions in many ways. I want to look at possible solutions. There is a worry that, due to COVID-19 and the restrictions in place, potentially curable cancers have been detected only at an advanced stage. There are many sad cases of advanced throat cancer that could have been detected earlier. Other cancers such as bowel cancer, diagnosis of which is based on symptoms of a change of bowel habit, would ordinarily be referred by a GP to a red-flag clinic. I do not see why that cannot continue.”
“For that to be compounded by the cancellation of scheduled surgery is a bitter blow that, sadly, will inevitably lead to lives being lost that would otherwise have been saved. <BR /> <BR />There is a fear that surgeons who have been out of the theatre for so long — this was mentioned in Committee — will have missed out on training and development, which could jeopardise the full resumption of services once the pandemic has ended. <BR /> <BR />I was shocked to learn at the Health Committee last week that there is evidence that paediatric surgery has been subject to suspension. There are serious concerns about how that will affect children and young people's health and well-being now and in the future.”
“It scares me and, I say without doubt, many Members. It is deeply worrying that, despite the current restrictions, which are starting to bring limited rewards, sufficient capacity has still not been achieved to allow the cancelled surgeries to resume at even close to normal levels. The number of non-COVID patients in the ICU and general beds has also continued on a disconcerting downward trend. We have heard the harrowing reports about cancer diagnosis coming late because of presenting too late at A&E or fear of coming forward.”
“I thank the Member for his point. That is what the restrictive measures can do. It is important that we note that and do not just nod through restrictions without considering their real impact on normal people. Mr Sheehan's point is correct. I fully understand that we have been dealing with the COVID pandemic. I see the pain that families suffer as a result of deaths from COVID-19. I see the pressure on health professionals. I see the pressure on our Departments. I see it all, but, equally, it would be remiss of me, as an elected Member, if I did not comment on the wishful thinking of some that we will pass regulations and not look at their wider implications. It is incumbent on Members to do that. <BR /> <BR />The statistics that are before us and that Mr Sheehan mentioned should send shivers up every one of our spines.”
“It is easy for any Member to say, "We should place society under restrictive measures to deal with COVID", but we also must reflect that they have impacts on other services.”
“<BR /> <BR />At last week's Health Committee, I raised the plight of two individuals who had had to ring their GP because there were no face-to-face consultations. They were, I think, prescribed painkillers for their symptoms, and that happened two or three times. When the pain continued, they presented at A&E, an advanced stage of cancer was diagnosed and they were dead within four days. That is a tragic story. I asked the health trust personnel at the Committee about it: they talked about late diagnosis. <BR /> <BR />The evidence on cancer from the health trusts was damning. It showed that the number of cancers detected is down; the number of red-flag cases coming forward is down; late presentations at A&E are up; and there is a pause in paediatric services. Those are the results of the restrictions.”
“There is no doubt that the restrictions that are before us today to try to drive down infection rates coincide with the closure of cancer services. The cancellation of cancer services is the greatest COVID sin of all. It should never rest easy with any Member that we have been forced down a path where those who require urgent and immediate surgery have a fear of presenting at A&E. They are not seeing their GP because of a lack of face-to-face consultations. There is real, palpable anger. You have only to listen to radio programmes and to watch TV shows across the country to realise that those with cancer are suffering. I imagine that there is not a family represented in the House that has not been impacted by cancer, and it is all the more alarming to deal with it in the middle of a COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The restrictions, particularly the ones that we are studying today, coincide with some devastating news: the cancellation of cancer services across Northern Ireland. Some will ask what they have to do with the current restrictions that are before us today.”
“I think that that is a point that is lost on a lot of Members because, while restrictions have been seen to become the norm for dealing with COVID-19, it is what the long-term outcome of those restrictions causes for other sections of our society that we need to take into account. Earlier, John O'Dowd mentioned the lack of opportunities and the difficulties for university students, and that is another one. It is not just something that is facing our young primary-school children, but, right through, that experience has been lost, and we have to take cognisance of that fact. <BR /> <BR />I want to talk about our vulnerable people: cancer patients and those suffering from poor mental health.”
“I understand that, in the House, quite rightly, there is divided opinion on how safe the school environment can be, but it is upon us to ensure that, as quickly as possible, we provide the space in which our children can return to education and provide them with those basic needs. <BR /> <BR />I ask parents what the major defects and defaults from lockdown and, indeed, the restrictions have been. They talk about our young people being failed academically, emotionally, physically and, indeed, socially. We have to realise that the restrictions that we put in place, albeit to stem the COVID influx, have long-lasting impacts.”
“There is the closure of schools, the lack of face-to-face teaching and the impact on progression of basic skills. It was noted in a recent Stranmillis University College report that motivation has been one of the key elements noticed by those who conducted the study of our young people. It was reported that they no longer have the motivation to learn the essential life skills that they would do in a classroom. We only have to engage with the many parents who are struggling with home education — homeschooling — to realise the devastating impact that lockdown will have on our children.”
“Let us look, for example, at the working poor and the impacts on job losses, bills, financial pressures and family life. While it may be OK for people who have the luxury of green, open spaces in their gardens or, indeed, who have a wide family bubble to support them, for many of the working poor throughout Northern Ireland and, indeed, the world, the COVID restrictions and measures that are in place to bring the virus under control have had a devastating, long-lasting impact. We have to recognise that because it is true. I am not here to lay the blame at anybody's door either; I am simply outlining the effects of COVID restrictions. Indeed, that includes the ones that we have before us today. <BR /> <BR />The impact on another section of our society, our children and young people, has been well-documented.”
“Equally, it is important to note that restrictions and lockdown measures are not a cure to COVID-19. As has been seen around the world and, indeed, in Northern Ireland, once restrictions are lifted, cases go up and we face a repeat cycle. I think that Members can agree that, as a society, we need to learn to move beyond the blunt instrument of restrictions and lockdown. I am sure that we can all agree with that, because we have agreed on that point before, albeit that the pressures that come with COVID-19 have been relentless. <BR /> <BR />We need to examine some of the lockdown restrictions before us today and how they can have a long, shadowy impact on many sections of our society. How do the restrictive measures before us today, and lockdowns in general, impact on society?”