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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“I would genuinely welcome a situation where Mr Allister was sponsoring a Bill truly motivated by improving the functioning of government here, notwithstanding the fact that it would run contrary to his approach to power-sharing thus far. However, it is clear from the debate on the first group of amendments that, once again, the motivation of the Bill's author is to fundamentally weaken the functioning of government by undermining the important role of ministerial advisers. The amendments in group 2 carry on in that vein with regard to the Assembly and, by extension, elected MLAs. <BR /> <BR />The amendments in this second group are, at best, unnecessary and, rather than improve ministerial accountability, they dismiss and ignore the current scrutiny function of the Assembly and its MLAs.”
“Minister, have the British Government responded to your request and the request of the Scottish and Welsh Finance Ministers for greater flexibility to ensure that the funding is spent fully and effectively this financial year?”
“Yes, Minister, I agree that it is exciting, but one of the ongoing issues with broadband and the digital divide has been that broadband providers prioritise urban areas for upgrades and improvements while rural areas are left behind. My fear is that, as technology develops, rural areas will be left behind and will be left with superfast broadband whereas urban areas will move to ultra-fast broadband. Minister, have you received any guarantees that Fibrus will upgrade rural broadband services in the longer term so that rural areas can keep pace with urban areas?”
“I thank the Minister for that welcome news. I am sure that we will have some happy people in Fermanagh. Can I invite the Minister to come and visit the library when it is safe to do so?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Some very welcome measures are being announced. How does the Minister intend to use the £150 million set aside for rates relief in the next financial year?”
“Yes, I am coming to a conclusion. There is a growing recognition that domestic abuse is a workplace issue. In the absence of workplace policies, colleagues and managers are not equipped to support victims and ensure that they are safe. Earlier today — yes, it is still today — Sinn Féin TDs introduced legislation in the South that would provide a statutory entitlement to 10 days' paid leave for victims of domestic abuse, regardless of what sector they work in. We were informed that that is outside the scope of the Bill, and we accept that. The Minister for the Economy said that she would bring this forward in the future. I want to make sure that it is brought forward, because it is a vital issue and an absolute priority.”
“As a society, we should all take some responsibility to educate ourselves. We need to know the difference between abusive and non-abusive relationships. We need to challenge assumptions about gender and power. We need to help young people to understand that abuse is a crime. <BR /> <BR />It has been mentioned — so, I apologise — that we had hoped to table an amendment proposing a statutory entitlement to 10 days' domestic violence paid leave for all workers. Domestic violence can affect employment, productivity and health and safety. Domestic violence often follows —”
“The PSNI recognised that officer training on the definition of the new offence and examples of the behaviour that it involves will be pivotal for the successful enforcement of the legislation, a view that was echoed by the Chief Constable. That also requires appropriate resourcing of and investment in training, and I fully expect the Minister to step up in that regard. <BR /> <BR />A great example of this training is Fermanagh Women's Aid's undertaking of an education programme targeted at those in the beauty industry, among other sectors, so that they are able to spot the signs and signpost if a client confides in them that they are a victim of domestic abuse. Similar to the training that I took part in in 2018, that is an invaluable exercise in trying to eradicate domestic abuse.”
“Therefore, I welcome amendment No 21, which would insert a clause and put a statutory duty on DOJ to ensure sufficient training of policing and criminal justice agencies, including PPS and Courts and Tribunals Service staff. <BR /> <BR />Throughout the Committee's considerations of the Bill, one of the most prominent recurring themes from organisations was the need for comprehensive training for anyone involved in gathering evidence and prosecuting and enforcing the new law. The success of the Bill will depend on the effectiveness of that training. It is essential that all first responders and criminal justice agencies fully understand what coercive control is and are able to recognise the signs of coercive and controlling abusive behaviour. Indeed, that was recognised by the PSNI in its written submission to the Committee.”
“As most of us know, it usually takes several incidents before the victim realises that they are being abused or builds up the courage to lift the phone. In some cases, that phone call or plea for help never happens. <BR /> <BR />'Is This Coercive Control?' was a special one-off documentary on BBC Three comprising a social experiment in which a group of young people aged between 18 and 30 came together to consider whether they truly understand what constitutes coercive control. Seventy per cent of people failed to see the signs of coercive control in that documentary. That highlights the education and training that is required around this behaviour.”
“<BR /> <BR />On this, my first opportunity to speak on the Bill, I commend my fellow Committee members for their thorough scrutiny of it, the Minister and the Department of Justice for bringing it forward in a timely manner and all of the groups and organisations who provided written and oral evidence to help better inform us, and, of course, I give special thanks to the victims who provided written and oral evidence of their experience.It is unfortunate that legislation of this nature is required, but, from listening to those groups and the victims, there is no denying that it is absolutely necessary. Incidents of domestic violence are at an all-time high, but that is not a high of which we can be proud. As shocking and harrowing as the statistics are, in some cases, they are only the tip of the iceberg.”
“I remember clearly the first time I was introduced to the term domestic abuse and what it meant. I was 16 yeas old, and Fermanagh Women's Aid had come into my school to give a presentation to our year group. What stood out to me from that presentation was hearing that domestic abuse was not just physical. That was about 14 years ago. To this day, that presentation remains one of the more valuable things that I learned in school. In 2018, I went on to partake in training on domestic and sexual violence awareness with Fermanagh Women's Aid. Given that, it has been a privilege to be a member of the Justice Committee and to be able to shape the Bill to ensure the protection of the thousands of victims who, through no fault of their own, are abused at the hands of their spouse, partner or family member.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Does he acknowledge that changes to the flat rate scheme will cause disruption to the beef sector and could significantly disadvantage our primary producers?”
“I welcome the announcement of the CJINI review of CSUs across the North. Will the Minister indicate a time frame for the completion of that review?”
“I thank Minister for his statement. I want to ask him about the paragraph in the statement that deals with native invasive species. In that, there is a reference to "an ambitious programme of collaboration". Will the Minister elaborate on that programme and its likely impact?”
“Minister, thank you for your statement. Will PEACE PLUS see a reduction in the administrative burden on applicants or projects?”
“There is a wide range of innovative and expansive thinking options out there, which, taken together, will deliver the radical changes to the criminal justice system that are required if we are to support victims and witnesses. That work needs to be a priority for the Department and other organisations that are involved in the justice system.”
“There is also the issue of increasing the jurisdiction of the Magistrates' Court, which, in 2017, the Lord Chief Justice identified as having a number of benefits, including speedier case progression, the better use of the professional skills of judges and alignment with other proposed reforms, such as problem-solving courts. I ask the Minister whether her Department has done any scoping work on that issue and whether she intends to take it forward. <BR /> <BR />One of the most important ways of speeding up justice will be the further roll-out of problem-solving justice initiatives. We have now seen a number of successful pilot schemes and initiatives, such as the use of enhanced combination orders.”
“She also emphasised the need for collaboration between criminal justice organisations. Such collaboration has been seen in a number of other projects that have been taken forward in recent years, including the Working Together project, which required enhanced early engagement between the PPS and PSNI and other criminal justice organisations at key points to improve the quality and timeliness of the investigative stages, as well as improving case files and disclosure. Better cooperation between those organisations is vital if we are to see the improvements to the speed of case progression that is required.”
“<BR /> <BR />We are aware of a pilot project that was carried out in Belfast recently, which involved fast-tracking serious sexual-offence cases involving child witnesses under the age of 13. We understand that that was carried out without the need for additional resources and that the pilot was successful. That is an example of the whole justice system pulling in the same direction to improve outcomes for victims and witnesses in an innovative way and is the type of thing that should be implemented and encouraged. <BR /> <BR />When discussing the Gillen review in 2018, the assistant director of the PPS said:”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Second Stage of the Bill. Reforming the committal process and speeding up criminal justice were commitments that were made in the Fresh Start and the New Decade, New Approach agreements. Speeding up justice is a priority for Sinn Féin and, although the Bill will play a part in doing that, it is clear that there are many other problems in the wider justice system that will not be resolved under the Bill. Therefore, there is a responsibility to fix the system as a whole. <BR /> <BR />The COVID-19 pandemic has added further complications, with a high number of cases having to be cancelled because of restrictions earlier in the year. Therefore, the Department has a responsibility to ensure that any remaining lists are dealt with swiftly.”
“I think that the First Minister might have just answered my question, but can I ask her to outline the timescale for the appointment of a commissioner?”
“Thank you, Minister. You touched on this briefly in your answer, but we heard earlier that the World Health Organization and others stress the need for a find, test, trace, isolate and support strategy. Do you have any plans to renew the approach to cover all those elements?”
“Minister, you touched on this briefly in your previous answer. What is your assessment of the impact of the onset of COVID on referral waiting times for special educational needs assessments for primary-school pupils? What action are you taking to address it?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. Is the proposed review of the forward work programme due to the consequences of COVID? Will he comment on the extent of the impact that COVID has had on the work programme?”
“I thank the Minister for her comprehensive answer. It has been two years since the DOJ consultation on the criminal legislative framework to tackle antisocial behaviour. Does the Minister intend to make legislative changes to tackle antisocial behaviour and, if so, will they form part of the Miscellaneous Provisions Bill?”
“Minister, do you agree that the business rate policy for the next financial year needs to be set as soon as possible in order to give businesses time to plan?”
“Big oil and gas companies do not have the best interests of our constituents at heart and do not respect our democratic institutions. That is why I urge all parties to fully support the motion.”
“All the people on the ground, of all political persuasions and none, know that the negative impacts of fracking far outweigh the supposed benefits of the oil and gas industry rolling into our area. The farming sector, the larger agri-food sector and the tourism sector are the lifeblood of my county. The long-term damage that would be done to the health of my constituents, coupled with the devastation to the economy and the environment, can never be allowed to happen. <BR /> <BR />In 2014, without warning and with no community consultation, an oil and gas company rolled into Fermanagh and made illegal threats against Belcoo residents. That fracking company went on to take two judicial reviews against two separate Executive Ministers.”
“We must look to renewable energy today, focus on renewable energy today and support renewable energy today; not push it into the next mandate or into the next year. The first step in fully supporting renewable energy is supporting this moratorium on issuing petroleum licences and then introducing legislation to ban all hydrocarbon exploration and extraction. <BR /> <BR />I will now speak briefly about my county of Fermanagh. For too long, the threat of fracking has hung over our community in Fermanagh. Multiple studies have linked fracking to not only air and water pollution, soil contamination and the creation of dangerous waste by-products but to several types of cancer, pre-term births, high-risk pregnancies, asthma, migraines, fatigue, nasal and sinus symptoms and several skin disorders.”
“One quote is from Pope Francis; the other from Charles Windsor. If they can agree on the threat facing us from climate change, it should be easy for all of us to agree to this motion. Indeed, as evidenced by all who signed the motion, it is pretty clear that most of us recognise the threat posed to us all and what the way forward should be. Hydrocarbons, fossil fuels and oil and gas — whatever term you wish to use — are a clear and present threat to human health, to biodiversity, to humanity itself and to our planet's very future. <BR /> <BR />One of the simplest answers to that threat is to keep fossil fuels in the ground. As an Assembly and a society, we must consign oil and gas to the dustbin of history.”
“I will start my remarks by quoting two individuals who, going by their remarks over the years, care deeply about climate change and the future of our planet. The first is:”
“<BR /> <BR />Our legislation was commended in Westminster, when it was remarked that the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Criminal Justice and Support for Victims) Act is generally regarded as superior to the legislation in force in England and Wales. However, we must not become complacent. The harsh reality is that cold, cruel traffickers and enslavers continue to operate here. So, as we approach Anti-Slavery Day on 18 October, I echo the call in the motion for the British Parliament to pass the Modern Slavery Bill. We must remember that everyone everywhere has the right to a life free from slavery.”
“Modern slavery is very much a hidden issue, with many people oblivious to the fact that, incredible as it may seem, this crime is happening right under our noses. Therefore, awareness raising must be an increasingly important task. I welcome the Department of Justice's awareness-raising campaign, which has seen it work in partnership with local councils, the emergency services, public and private and organisations and a wide range of civil-sector organisations. It is important that we continue to educate the public and, importantly, ourselves to be alert to the signs that someone may be a victim and report suspicious activity to the PSNI or the modern slavery helpline.”
“<BR /> <BR />Modern slavery affects people of every colour, age and gender, but it is more prevalent among vulnerable people. Therefore, in the "pursue, protect and prevent" approach in the modern slavery strategy 2019-2020, it is the prevent strand that I find imperative: reducing the threat of modern slavery by reducing vulnerability and demand and by raising awareness is critical. Peter May, the permanent secretary of the Department of Justice, got it in one when he said:”
“Many of them end up on our shores, being trafficked under our very nose. <BR /> <BR />Between 2017 and 2020, the PSNI recorded 108 human-trafficking and exploitation crimes in this jurisdiction. Over the past three years, nine individuals have been prosecuted for human-trafficking offences, and four convictions have been secured. I appreciate that such cases are often very complex and that the PSNI and the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) take them very seriously. The low conviction rates remain a matter of significant concern, however. Something that can reverse that, or at least aim to tackle it, is giving victims the support that they need to recover from their ordeal and to make if possible for them to think about giving evidence against their traffickers in court.”
“According to Anti-Slavery International, slavery is so common that it is possible for you to come across victims of it regularly. It is an inexcusable abuse of basic human rights. People can become entrapped, be it to clean houses and flats, to produce the clothes that we wear, to pick the fruit and vegetables that we eat, to dig for the minerals that are used in our smartphones and make-up, and to work on construction sites. Many, many victims can become entrapped in the sex industry, being horribly exploited into forced prostitution, criminality and, in some cases, even organ removal. <BR /> <BR />Human trafficking can affect anyone of any age, gender or nationality. In many cases, people are forcibly removed from their homeland and away from their family and friends to be exploited in another country.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Minister's economic recovery strategy cites the need to resolve low-paying jobs, yet her strategy only looks at improving productivity to do this. She has given no commitment or recognition to the need to end precarious work that results in low pay. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that the functioning of our society relies on the lowest-paid and least-valued workers. Lessons must be learned from that. The Minister has failed to recognise the importance of promoting and facilitating greater trade union membership and collective bargaining rights, both of which have been proven to lead to higher wages and greater productivity rights. Workers firmly need security and protection and must not be forced to choose between risking their health and risking their job.”
“<BR /> <BR />In June of this year, Sinn Féin published our economic recovery strategy, which is based on four key principles: supporting businesses; delivering on a just transition; giving the Executive the tools to aid recovery; and supporting workers and their families. As Sinn Féin's spokesperson on workers' rights, I will home in on that element of our strategy, which focuses on tackling the scourge of low pay and in-work poverty across the North. As Sinn Féin MLAs, we are committed to delivering on the New Decade, New Approach commitments, including the banning of zero-hours contracts and the Executive becoming a living wage employer. Any economic recovery cannot repeat the mistakes of the past, and it must provide decent and secure work.”
“<BR /> <BR />To have a fair recovery, we need to see fundamental changes to our labour market so that workers are truly valued and are afforded the necessary rights and entitlements to take on a new job or additional hours. The so-called new normal or "Build back better" cannot just be slogans; they must contain commitments to advance flexible working arrangements, as well as maternity and bereavement leave. We have heard about the bids that the Economy Minister made in relation to economic recovery, and there is certainly a need to have an economic recovery strategy that addresses the long-term structural issues in the local economy, including low productivity, by focusing on skills development and strengthening workers' rights as well as the economic recovery from COVID-19. That is vital to avoid mass redundancies.”
“This is not about pouring money into business accounts simply to pay bills; it is about protecting livelihoods and supporting workers and families. When I talk about supporting workers and families, I refer to more than just allocating financial support to those who become unemployed; I am also talking about those who remain employed but may be working from home and deserve the right to disconnect, the new mums who are returning from maternity leave, having been denied many classes and developmental opportunities for their babies because of COVID-19 closures and restrictions or those who have lost loved ones and require paid bereavement leave.”
“Businesses and workers have faced a difficult few months. It has been only around seven months since the COVID-19 outbreak began, but it is apparent that the virus will have a devastating impact on economic activity here and, as a result, a detrimental impact on workers and their families. Projections that more than 100,000 people in the North could be unemployed by the end of 2020 fill me with deep concern. As must be the case for all MLAs, the majority of queries that come into my office are about the jobseeker's element of universal credit. Surely, it is more efficient to support workers to stay in work than to put them through the hardship of being unemployed. Small businesses and microbusinesses and their workers are the backbone of our economy.”
“Can the Minister outline her plans for wider and more comprehensive reform of the overall prison system?”
“Does the Minister regard the HIA apology as a public acknowledgement of the wrongdoing suffered in institutions?”
“One of the reasons that it has been difficult to provide extra financial support for workers during the COVID crisis is the lack of tax data. Does the Minister agree that, if we had more tax powers and more tax information, we could do more to help our constituents?”
“Minister, you referred to the fact that you have asked for further analysis to be undertaken on staffing for the reshaping of stroke care. Can you clarify what that further analysis is examining and the time frame for its completion?”
“Although I support the motion and the call for a feasibility study, I would need to see the details and potential impact of any proposed commissioner before concluding on the best and most effective method of supporting victims, listening to and amplifying their voices and ensuring that victim services and policy are of the highest standard.”
“She also stated that she intended to explore ways in which her Department could further develop new services or deliver existing support and protections more effectively. <BR /> <BR />Our neighbouring jurisdictions all have different forms of victim support, but the one that I find the most interesting is Scotland, to which my colleagues referred. Scotland does not have a victims of crime commissioner, but, in a response to a parliamentary question in 2018, the Cabinet Secretary for Justice responded:”
“The report also identified that criminal justice organisations often focus too much on statistics, meeting targets and independence, and there is insufficient emphasis on personal experiences that often have a lifelong impact on victims, their families and those closest to them. While the report did not specify that a victims of crime commissioner should be established, it stated that substantial work is needed to raise awareness in the community about the Victim Charter and the Witness Charter. <BR /> <BR />Earlier this year, the Minister stated that, while the introduction of a victims of crime commissioner is not being proposed by her Department at this time, no final decision has been taken.”
“Providing services and support that are tailored to their requirements runs parallel with ensuring that victims and witnesses get the personal help that they need. However, in July, a Criminal Justice Inspection report found that victims and witnesses remain fundamentally unaware of their rights to information, support and protection and that services to assist them were still not being consistently delivered to a quality standard. Obviously, when a criminal justice system fails to do that, it has a negative impact on public confidence in the justice system and could deter victims from reporting crimes.”