Jemma Dolan
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“Minister, I am really shocked at that response, because I am not aware of any Western Trust engagement on the vision plan. My question was going to be, "Will you outline how you will ensure that the public are aware of this planning, so that they can engage with it?".”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. Last week, the Irish Government announced a further €30 million investment in the Ulster canal restoration project. That is transformative for the communities along the route and will benefit local economies and tourism. What is the current position of the Ulster canal project?”
“They are the result of years of chronic underfunding by successive British Governments and a funding model that has consistently failed to recognise the real needs of people here. That is the root cause of the problem.”
“Our public services are under immense pressure. Health workers, teachers and community organisations are all being asked to do more with less. Communities that have already endured years of austerity continue to feel the impact.”
“However, the second part of the motion is profoundly flawed and contradictory. On the one hand, it welcomes the efforts of local Ministers to press for more funding for public services, while, on the other hand, it states that the Executive are purposely deciding to "impose further austerity" by not agreeing to a Budget.”
“There is an onus on us as elected representatives to deliver better front-line services. However, we cannot get away from the fact that we are a devolved region with limited fiscal powers. Almost all our funding comes through the block grant.”
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“<BR /> <BR />While the economic recovery must be led by the Department for the Economy, there is a responsibility on the Executive as a whole to contribute. Transport and physical infrastructure are the responsibility of the Infrastructure Minister, and, as infrastructure development is central to closing regional imbalances in the economic recovery, it is important that the SDLP recognises that responsibility. I am from Fermanagh, a county without a single mile of dual carriageway, never mind a motorway. I could give you all a lesson on regional imbalances, but I will leave that for another day.”
“<BR /> <BR />Developing the skills base of our young people and workforce should remain central to our economic success going forward. There are too many sections of our society where low skill levels and low educational achievement are prevalent. I have real concerns that, in a post-COVID-19 world with significant competition for jobs, that section of society could face even greater challenges in securing employment. At the end of December 2020, 94,800 employees in the North were still on the furlough scheme. Therefore, the potential for unemployment to increase significantly over the next few months means that there will need to be a particular focus on adult education and the opportunities to reskill and upskill.”
“<BR /> <BR />To achieve the kind of economy that we want and need to see, key structural weaknesses in our economy need to be addressed, such as too few higher-paying jobs, the skills gap and our regional imbalance. We know that higher pay and greater stability brings benefits to people's well-being. Working to increase the number of people in higher-paying jobs and to decrease the number of lower-paying jobs will bring a range of economic and social benefits. While the Economy Minister recognises the need to end low-paid jobs, her strategy looks only at improving productivity in order to do that. She has given no commitments or recognition to the need to end the scourge that is precarious work that results in low pay.”
“Investment in rural broadband through Project Stratum must mean that those in rural areas are not impeded from working remotely. <BR /> <BR />A strong, regionally balanced and inclusive economy is essential if we are to tackle the social and economic challenges facing us. Any economic recovery cannot repeat the mistakes of the past and must provide decent and secure work. Sinn Féin is committed to strengthening collective bargaining rules to empower workers, such as the need to remove the 20-employee threshold for statutory trade union recognition. There has been significant spin from the Executive on business survival; however, trying to keep the pre-pandemic economy alive will not bring about an economic recovery. We have already seen an adverse impact on our high street with a number of retail outlets moving exclusively online.”
“The COVID-19 pandemic has given the world a different perspective on the way that we live our lives. It has exposed flaws in the traditional models and approaches to public services, but, likewise, it has progressed thinking and practice around new and different ways of working. An example of that is the regional hubs announced by the Finance Minister last week. It was probably not a direct result of the pandemic, but the pandemic was possibly a catalyst in making us realise that remote working is feasible and productive. Enabling people to work closer to home promotes regional economic balance, reduces carbon emissions and, perhaps most importantly, promotes the work-life balance and health and well-being of employees.”
“Minister, I welcome the fact that you have required parity of treatment between agency and permanent workers in pay, annual leave and paid time off for medical appointments. In addition to those improvements in conditions, has your Department included any social clauses in the contract?”
“Can the clarify whether it is the case that the British Government developed the scheme and, according to their own Treasury rules, must fund it?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. As part of this conversation on pausing and repeating the academic school year, the issue of applying flexibility to the school starting age has been highlighted again, and I welcome the fact that you intend to introduce legislation to provide the level of flexibility that many parents and children need. What can parents who want flexible school starting ages now, particularly in light of COVID, do?”
“<BR /> <BR />I know that updating the sewerage infrastructure cannot happen overnight, so I ask the Minister to instruct NI Water to upgrade the waste water treatment plant in Ravensbrae to its standards and to adopt it. If, for whatever reason, that is impossible, the least that the ratepayers of Ravensbrae and Garrison expect is that the Department for Infrastructure, through NI Water, should take over the management of the plant until the mains sewerage system is updated and extended in Garrison. <BR /> <BR />The planners and the developer have let down the residents. This petition calls on the Minister for Infrastructure not to let down the residents. In 2021, sewage treatment should not be a luxury; it is an essential utility.”
“Lough Melvin is the only location in the world where the gillaroo trout can be found. <BR /> <BR />In response to a question for written answer to the Minister for Infrastructure last year, I was told that it could be at least six years before the sewerage infrastructure in Garrison would be updated. Quite frankly, the people of Garrison cannot and should not be expected to wait for six years. Every month, the electricity supplier threatens to cut the power to the waste water treatment plant because the developer who built it refuses to pay the bill. The result of that will be similar to what the residents of Galliagh Shore experienced: raw sewage running down the street and children not being able to play outside, not to mention the smell.”
“<BR /> <BR />My first preference would have been to go door to door with this petition, but, as we all know, current health regulations prevent that. Therefore, I thank the 258 people who have taken the time to sign the online petition. The 258 signatures may not seem like a lot, but, bearing in mind that Garrison has a population in the region of 350 people, those signatures represent a large majority of the residents and their concerns. <BR /> <BR />We have a number of unadopted housing estates in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, but Ravensbrae is of particular concern due to the potential of raw sewage leaking into the world-famous Lough Melvin, which is internationally renowned for its unique range of plants, animals and fish.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Thank you for the opportunity to present this public petition with regard to the adoption of the waste water treatment works in Ravensbrae, Garrison, County Fermanagh. <BR /> <BR />The waste water treatment works serving Garrison has been at capacity now for two decades. Therefore, for the Ravensbrae development to get planning permission, the developer had to build his own waste water treatment plant. Through bad planning policy, he was allowed to build a treatment plant that was not up to a standard that NI Water could adopt. This has left the Garrison community and the natural environment around the village with a ticking health and ecological time bomb on its doorstep.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Does she anticipate that all the recommendations will be included in the Bill for the next mandate?”
“The Allison Morris case and the cases of stalking of many other victims that have been referred to by Members across the Chamber sum up how necessary the legislation is, and I am pleased to see it progress in what I see as another step forward to protecting victims of potentially harmful crimes. I support the overall purpose of the Bill.”
“Last year, I read Allison Morris's courageous and open account of her experience of stalking in her article in 'The Irish News'. I will read from it to put stalking into a real-life context. She said:”
“Scottish law has made stalking a priority crime, and we should follow its lead. In the Twenty-six Counties, there is no specific law pertaining to stalking, but stalking laws are contained in the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.”
“<BR /> <BR />We are falling behind other countries in this area. In England and Wales, because the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 did not deal effectively with stalking, it was amended, and two stalking offences were introduced in 2012. More significantly, since 2010, Scottish law has made stalking a specific criminal offence.”
“Victims of stalking may have to turn to several different legal instruments to seek a remedy, depending on how they are victimised. <BR /> <BR />The legal framework may complicate criminal prosecutions. Stalking can engage a number of rights under the European Convention on Human Rights and international standards, including the right to life; the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment; and the right to a private and family life, which includes a person's physical and psychological integrity. All of these articles place positive obligations on the state to protect victims of crime. Additionally, the rights to an effective remedy and no punishment without law may be engaged. It is apparent that there is a gap in the law that has not yet been filled.”
“Social media and smartphone technology, which allows for easy tracking of people's movements, has fuelled the dramatic rise in the offence of harassment and stalking. There were 234 cases of harassment in 1998-99. However, there were 2,449 cases in 2016-17, a rise of 947%. That equates to almost seven incidents a day in the North of Ireland. One in five women and one in 10 men are likely to be victims of stalking at some stage in their lives. People who end up in court on charges commonly regarded as stalking behaviour can only be charged under existing harassment or intimidation legislation, such as the Protection from Harassment Order 1997. In cases where stalking is prosecuted under harassment law, the penalty may be lenient and not in keeping with the intense fear that the victim has experienced for a prolonged period.”
“I start by thanking LPS for stepping up and helping to provide economic support during this very difficult time. Minister, given that significant COVID support funding is available, is some of that funding available to the Economy Minister for workers and businesses that have been excluded from or are ineligible for existing schemes?”
“I too welcome the Minister back to the Executive. Minister, does the Department plan to ensure that all communications issued to disabled people meet their requirements?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement this evening. The level of COVID funding will reduce dramatically next year. Given that some Departments will return money late in the year, can COVID money be carried into the next financial year?”
“We are all aware of the concerning rise in positive COVID cases over the past couple of months. Minister, are you satisfied that the highest possible health and safety protocols are in place to protect prisoners and staff?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Will she provide an update on Executive nominees to the boards of the North/South implementation bodies?”
“Therefore, I call on the Department to make its obligations, as outlined in these amendments, a priority.”
“Domestic abuse does not discriminate against people because of their income, background or perceived social standing. However, the amendment will be beneficial to low-paid and low-income victims. At present, many victims may not qualify for legal aid because they are just above the current threshold but cannot afford legal representation. They are the working poor: those who earn enough to be just above the breadline but still face many financial struggles. It is important to put in place adequate support for these people, and I want that to be addressed as part of the clause 27A review. Access to justice is incredibly important for everyone who needs it. As was said at Consideration Stage:”
“<BR /> <BR />The provision on compliance with the order, which will capture behaviour that happened elsewhere if the perpetrator has a base in the North, has also been expanded. Further revisions have been made to strengthen the provisions and make it explicit that requirements, including restrictions or prohibitions for notices and orders, apply to children of, or living with, those for whom protection notices and orders are made. <BR /> <BR />I am also in favour of amendment No 7, which is new clause 27A. The new clause places an obligation on the Department of Justice to lay a report before the Assembly, no more than 24 months after the Bill comes into play, setting out proposals for reducing the costs incurred by a victim of domestic abuse or:”
“The issue of age was raised with the NSPCC, and it was keen to ensure that under-18s were not drawn into the criminal justice system for breaching an order. The NSPCC wishes to see a more child-centred approach being taken where the perpetrator is a child under the age of 18. Where a young person is experiencing abuse and a child is engaged in harmful behaviours, the response should be child-centred. It should seek to prevent further harm and promote rehabilitation that will challenge and change that harmful behaviour. However, it is vital not to wait until a young person reaches that point before interventions take place. I have already said in the Chamber, as have others, that the operation of the Bill needs to be accompanied by education for our children and young people on healthy and positive relationships.”
“However, thankfully, the Department has brought forward a substantial amendment, which we will support. <BR /> <BR />One particular element of the amendment that I support is that the regulations:”
“First, I will speak in support of amendment No 2, which replaces the original clause 26. It places a responsibility on the Justice Minister to make provision for domestic abuse protection orders and notices within 24 months of commencement in order to protect and support the victims of domestic abuse. Clearly, the whole Bill is about protecting and supporting the victim in one way or another, and domestic abuse protection orders and notices are one way of doing that. I commend the Department for facilitating the Committee's concerns about clause 26. The Minister intends to bring forward detailed primary legislation to provide for domestic abuse protection orders and notices. She therefore rejected the Committee's amendment at Consideration Stage.”
“The importance of all-Ireland tourism has been mentioned, but the importance of all-Ireland tourism to Fermanagh is of the utmost importance. Initiatives such as the Shannon-Erne Waterway have provided a unique opportunity for visitors to travel through Leitrim, Fermanagh and Cavan by boat. Minister, you mentioned the potential of waterways. Have any commitments been made regarding further investment in the Shannon-Erne Waterway as a major tourism initiative, particularly in the linkages between Clones and Upper Lough Erne, which were set out in New Decade, New Approach?”
“Thank you, Minister. Will you join me in encouraging other venues to take similar steps to increase accessibility through the provision of those types of essential facilities?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers so far. Have the British Government guaranteed that CAP funding will be replaced in full?”
“Minister, do you share my concern that Brexit, particularly a non-negotiated Brexit outcome, will have devastating long-term economic consequences, particularly along the border corridor and in rural communities like ours?”
“Roy Beggs asked my question. I thank the Minister for his statement and welcome the progress made on the dormant accounts fund.”
“We should seek to advance the objectives of social and economic equality, sustainable economic development and the protection of workers' rights and incomes.”
“The reality is that many of the hoteliers and B&Bs who come out the other end of COVID will have been kept in business by all-Ireland tourism flows. That has been acknowledged by the tourism recovery steering group set up by the Minister, which has found that, over July and August, visitor numbers from the Twenty-six Counties of Ireland to the North increased by 200%. The Minister and Tourism NI must invest in the all-Ireland tourism product and seek to build on its strengths as part of its recovery. <BR /> <BR />While we face unprecedented challenges on our way to recovery, we have an opportunity not to repeat the problems underpinning the economy. We must not seek a return to business as usual.”
“The Executive need additional taxation powers to level the playing field between these large corporations and small retailers. <BR /> <BR />Another sector that has already been touched on but needs attention in the aftermath of COVID-19 is tourism and hospitality, which has suffered more than any sector this year. As I come from one of the most scenic and beautiful counties in Ireland, I understand the value of tourism and the positive impact that it has on the local economy and workforce. In Fermanagh, it is our bread and butter, but tourism has been decimated by COVID-19, and the industry is, understandably, very concerned about the future. The significant fall in overseas visitors has been mitigated by a sharp rise in North/South tourism activity.”
“Therefore, it is imperative that trade unions such as the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW) are included in conversations around the reform of the high street. <BR /> <BR />Having a workforce that is flexible and agile to help local businesses to prosper is essential to any economic recovery model, but, in return, workers need and deserve secure, stable and unionised employment. While high-street retailers have suffered due to restrictions, global giants like Amazon have made extortionate profits. In the last quarter alone, Amazon's global revenues jumped to €80·6 billion. Sinn Féin recently supported a global campaign that called on legislators across the world to take action on Amazon's tax evasion and exploitation of workers.”
“These workers generally earn minimum wage and work unsociable hours to put goods on our shelves. Sinn Féin is committed to ending precarious working arrangements, which are commonplace in the sector, and I am hoping that my private Member’s Bill to ban zero-hours contracts will be one step towards that. The consultation closes on Sunday, if you have not already completed it. During the consultation period, we heard some horror stories of how workers on zero-hours contracts have been treated. One employee told us that, if he went off sick from work with COVID, for example, or any other illness, there was no guarantee that his job would be there for him when he was well again.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate this evening, and I commend the Committee on the report, which is intended to be the beginning of a wider, much needed debate on economic regeneration following COVID-19. <BR /> <BR />As the report says, business and other sectors have yet to realise the full impact of the COVID-19 crisis, as has society as a whole. As I have previously outlined in the Chamber, if COVID-19 has taught us one thing, it is the value of our low-paid workers. There are patterns of repeated low-paid, insecure employment in deprived families and communities. Low pay causes in-work poverty and leaves families in danger of deprivation. <BR /> <BR />The pandemic has shown that retail workers are essential workers and must be valued.”
“To ensure that staff get their breaks and time away from their work stations, does the Commission need to recruit more staff or review work practices?”
“Go raibh maith agat. Thank you, Minister for that answer. It will clearly will take time to develop new proposals. Will interim arrangements be put in place during that development phase?”
“Will the Minister agree that the Barnahus model is the gold standard for supporting child victims and witnesses, and can she confirm if there is any work ongoing to introduce such a model here?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I note and welcome the Department's work on providing remote evidence facilities for vulnerable adults and child victims and witnesses.”
“I pass on my sympathies to the workers and their families at this difficult time. There is no good time for job losses or job insecurity, least of all at the start of December. <BR /> <BR />Minister, you will be aware that many young people work in Debenhams and in the retail sector generally. Unlike many of their colleagues, workers under the age of 22 will receive less redundancy pay, despite having the same period of service and the same role. In light of that announcement, will you amend the relevant legislation and remove the age discrimination that exists in redundancy pay?”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. Many school principals ask for more flexibility for minor procurements. Will the Procurement Board consider that?”
“Minister, our priority must be to find new ways to minimise the impact of the pandemic, save lives, reduce the spread of the virus and protect the capacity of our health service. Is the joint First Minister optimistic about the potential for a mass vaccination and testing programme?”
“Many in the Chamber are willing and more than capable of putting questions to Ministers on the Floor of the Chamber and challenge them where necessary. This is as it should be. It is our responsibility. It is what we were elected to do. <BR /> <BR />The amendments ignore the fact that the Assembly and its Members have held and continue to hold Ministers to account. It is not about improving scrutiny because, in reality, the amendments will not do that. It is about undermining the credibility of this institution, and we all know what Mr Allister thinks about the power-sharing institutions and the Good Friday Agreement that established them. On that basis, given that the Bill is about undermining the functioning of government here, Sinn Féin will oppose all the clauses of this cynical and counterproductive Bill.”
“The Assembly, like Committees, is an important forum for the scrutiny of the Executive and Ministers. As we all know, the scrutiny role is a fundamental part of the work of the Assembly, and it is the responsibility of each MLA to perform that role. It is an essential rule to delivering good governance and is necessary to hold Ministers to account. In reality, the clauses do nothing to enhance that role. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 21 is a case in point. Under section 44 of the NI Act 1998, the Assembly has the power to call witnesses and documents. Ministers already appear regularly at Committees to engage with and answer questions from MLAs. Ministers are required to answer listed and topical oral questions approximately every fortnight on the Floor of the House.”