Colm Gildernew
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I have been working with Dungannon Chamber of Commerce and Industry. It will welcome this work, particularly in light of its concerns about vacancy and protecting the retail heart of towns such as Dungannon.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, you said that there has been an improvement. However, recently, there were reports of over 1,400 patients waiting more than 28 days. How will you ensure that trusts consistently meet the targets for suspected cancer appointments in particular?”
“However, the Committee will want to examine carefully how any new or amended powers would operate in practice. Powers relating to information sharing, official warnings, directions, removal from office and disqualification can have significant, long-standing consequences for charities, trustees, staff, volunteers and, indeed, public confi…”
“<BR /> <BR />The regulations are consequential to the uprating order and provide the supporting technical changes needed to ensure that the revised benefit rates operate correctly. The regulations increase the earning limit for carer's allowance from £196 a week to £204 a week.”
“In response to those findings, Minister Hargey introduced the Charities Bill, which was enacted in 2022. The legislation put in place many of the review's priority recommendations in the limited time remaining in that mandate. The Charities (Amendment) Bill represents the next stage of that reform programme.”
“The Committee will wish to explore the implications of those changes, including for organisations operating across jurisdictions or delivering charitable activity in or from the North. Our charity sector includes a diverse range of bodies.”
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“The Committee asked the departmental officials if they would be prepared to accept that proposed amendment and bring it forward at Consideration Stage. The Minister responded that he did not think that the amendment was required and that the Department could consider providing the Committee with a review of the impact of the implementation of the measures in the Bill three years after introduction based on the monitoring of automatic enrolment that it currently carries out via the annual survey of hours and earnings (ASHE) and any other statistics available at that time.”
“During the Committee Stage, members of the Committee asked officials about the plans that the Department had to evaluate the changes once the Bill was in operation. Members were informed that the Department would use tools such as labour market surveys and impact assessments. While those were seen as useful measures, members impressed upon officials the need to be proactive in their evaluation to ensure that unintended consequences, such as those that we heard from the University of Stirling on the clawback of increased costs by employers, would not occur. <BR /> <BR />The Committee then discussed the possibility of an amendment that would place an obligation on the Department to ensure that a review of the impacts of the legislation was carried out within three years of the powers being used.”
“As Chair of the Committee, I rise to speak in support of the amendment. The stated purpose of the Bill is to implement reforms to automatic enrolment in workplace pensions by introducing a power to make regulations to reduce the lower age limit at which otherwise eligible workers must be automatically enrolled into a pension scheme by their employers. The policy intent is to use the power to make regulations to reduce the lower age limit from 22 to 18 and reduce the lower limit of the qualifying earnings band or repeal the lower limit of the qualifying earnings band, so that contributions are calculated from the first pound earned. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is small, with only two clauses, but, as I have just outlined, it has potentially far-reaching implications, particularly for young people of working age.”
“I am conscious of the concerns that have been raised by Housing Rights. What engagement was there with stakeholders? Who will oversee implementation of the removal of rule 23?”
“I thank the Minister for the statement. I note that the next summit will take place here in June. Does the Minister agree that those summits provide a very useful opportunity for all Governments involved to collaborate and share as we work our way through similar issues and challenges?”
“Those groups' facilities are also without power, however, so we are seeing a situation in which people are being asked to travel to get support. Although the support in Dungannon leisure centre is welcome, people in Fivemiletown are 15 or 20 miles from there. <BR /> <BR />We need to instil resilience in local communities, including through a scheme that sees small rural halls being equipped with emergency generators, water to some degree, washing facilities and cooking facilities. Doing that would allow those small communities to become more resilient, because do not forget that, at the same time, we are also telling people not to travel. There is therefore much more that can be done. Following Friday's storm, we need to act immediately and make changes for the next time.”
“They are west of the Bann as the result of underinvestment. While we cannot build a perfect system, surely, we can, over time and with proper planning, start to improve the system that we have to make it more robust. That has to be looked at realistically. <BR /> <BR />Given that we are told that not all needs can be met this time, we have to look at the alternatives. I believe that they lie in rural communities particularly. We have small rural groups and rural halls that are more than willing to help in their communities in times of need.”
“All the time, we have not only people who need life-saving medical equipment, which has been flagged as a significant issue, but huge numbers of others who have, for example, temperature-regulated medicines, which becomes an issue after several days. Families who have children with autism experience huge disruption. We do not seem to have the correct identification and support process in place in advance of such events. Those needs can be predicted and worked on. <BR /> <BR />I welcome and acknowledge NIE's efforts over the weekend to communicate with us at times, and I acknowledge that we cannot build a perfect system. However, it has to be said that it is no accident that most of the power cuts that are still ongoing — my electricity went off again this morning — are west of the Bann.”
“I want to address some of the issues that continue to flow from storm Éowyn. The key issue that I want to focus on this morning is that the term "unprecedented" has been used about the storm, and the storm itself certainly was unprecedented. However, the impact of power cuts and water disruption on rural areas is far from unprecedented; it is all too precedented. My issue is that we do not seem to be learning the lessons, even the basics, around communication and how we can do better in such situations. <BR /> <BR />My area, the Brantry in south Tyrone, has been without electric for significant periods three times over the past eight weeks. Yet, every time that those situations arise, we have, at times, trouble getting through on phone lines and trouble getting action.”
“The anti-poverty strategy must be accompanied by a comprehensive and fully costed implementation plan with clear targets and outcomes to reduce poverty across our society, particularly among children. It must focus on fixing the root causes of poverty, including low income, educational attainment, disability, gender, ethnicity and addiction. Finally, it must also contain achievable targets and outcomes that are quantitative, qualitative and time-bound to properly measure performance and demonstrate and track the impact of strategic actions. <BR /> <BR />I am happy to support the motion, and I look forward to the debate in the House today.”
“Child poverty levels remain stubbornly high, with previous strategies failing to make any meaningful impact. Children living in poverty are more likely to have poorer outcomes in later life when it comes to physical and mental health, educational attainment and economic opportunities. Tory austerity, particularly policies such as the two-child limit, must shoulder much of the blame for where we are today with child poverty.”
“I once again call on the Minister for Communities to urgently publish the anti-poverty strategy. <BR /> <BR />As a member of the Public Accounts Committee, I participated in the recent inquiry into child poverty, the findings of which were extremely stark.”
“The COVID pandemic, together with the cost-of-living crisis, has had a major impact on the levels of poverty and deprivation in our society. The inflationary price increases on essential items such as food, fuel and electricity and other items such as car and home insurance, which have been driven partly by British Government policies, have pushed record numbers of people into financial hardship. <BR /> <BR />The Good Friday Agreement gave a commitment that the Executive would produce an anti-poverty strategy to tackle the growing prevalence of poverty in our society. Unfortunately, 26 years on, we still wait for that strategy, and it is clear that the need has never been greater. While I welcome the work that has been done to date, there must be no further delay in the publication of that strategy.”
“<BR /> <BR />While food banks are an important safety net in ensuring that people have enough to eat, their existence points to a failure of the economic and social security systems here to meet people's basic needs. It is our job as legislators to understand why so many people rely on food banks and to fix the problems at their root cause, which is poverty. The poverty and income inequality report published in March last year showed that roughly 18% of people in the North were living in relative poverty, which was up from 16% in the previous year. The figures pertaining to child poverty are even more concerning, with 24% of children living in relative poverty, which is up from 18% in the previous year.”
“When a parent lacks the resources to obtain enough food for themselves and their family, they often face choices that no parent should be forced to make, such as choosing to skip a meal or reduce portion sizes so that others might have enough to eat. Research carried out by Trussell found that, over a 12-month period, one in six adults in the North had experienced some form of food insecurity, which is the highest level in recent times. Consequently, we have seen a huge rise in the number of people availing themselves of food banks, with a 143% increase in food bank usage over the past five years, including a 90% increase for children. I encourage the Minister to engage actively with Trussell, Barnardo's, the Cliff Edge Coalition and all of the groups that are so aware of the difficulties and, indeed, the solutions.”
“I start by thanking Sian and the other Members who tabled today's motion. It is hard to imagine that, in 2025, there are still people without enough food to eat, but, unfortunately, that is the reality for so many families in our society. Food insecurity is defined as a lack of:”
“I thank the First Minister and the deputy First Minister for their statement. Can they set out how the Executive are prioritising vulnerable and older people, particularly those who are absolutely reliant on electricity to power medical equipment?”
“I acknowledge the achievement of Errigal Ciarán in reaching the all-Ireland senior club final yesterday and acknowledge the effort that goes into such an achievement right across a club, particularly a rural club such as Errigal Ciarán. I also want to let the club know that it brought great pride to the county of Tyrone, particularly in light of the fact that it was, surprisingly to many, the first time that a Tyrone club had featured in an all-Ireland final. Finally, I wish a speedy recovery to the Canavan brothers, Ruairí and Darragh, who both picked up injuries during the game.”
“Déanaim comhghairdeas le foireann sinsir na bhfear ó Airgeal Chiaráin a bhain cluiche ceannais craobhchomórtais sinsir chlubanna na hÉireann amach inné. Rinne siad tréaniarracht, agus chuir siad dlús leis an imirt sa dara leath, ach, ar an drochuair, níor éirigh leo.”
“Minister, almost one in four children live in poverty, and many families continue to struggle to afford basic essentials. You referred to early 2025: will you give us the latest date by which the Executive will have an anti-poverty strategy to consider?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I welcome in particular, Minister, your highlighting the importance of responding early and your unstinting commitment to doing so. On the subject of early interventions for children with special educational needs, are the proposed provisions designed for children who have been statemented, children who are awaiting a statement or children who are showing signs of having special educational needs?”
“<BR /> <BR />A number of months ago, an event was held in the Long Gallery that many MLAs attended. Credit unions from across the North are engaging with political leaders in their areas. I encourage everyone here to speak to their local credit union and see what services they offer and what assistance they can provide around the issues that restrict them in providing that service. It is important, as we move towards Christmastime, that people in our communities understand that credit unions are open and available to providing loans to people who may not get them elsewhere. Often, they can prevent people from falling under the influence of criminal loan sharks who seek to exploit people's vulnerabilities. <BR /> <BR />There is an onus on us. We have a good system of credit unions in place, and we should do all that we can to support them.”
“This morning, I draw attention to some of the issues and difficulties that credit unions across the North face. Within the past week, I have been honoured to attend a meeting with Dungannon Credit Union and the Moy Credit Union and Aghaloo Credit Union AGMs. I declare an interest as a founder member of Aghaloo Credit Union. <BR /> <BR />Credit unions occupy and play a central role in many of our communities, and, in many cases, they are largely staffed and run by volunteers. They are regulated by the same framework as regulates the huge corporate banks, which are essentially profit-making. The credit union ethos is not for profit; it is a service for local areas. They are under the same regulatory system, but they also have significant constraints around how they are taxed and the investments that they can make.”
“Will the Minister confirm when he will legislate to extend the vital benefit cap mitigations, post March 2025?”
“I say that the Minister needs to urgently publish the disability strategy with a time-bound implementation plan and take whatever legislative steps are required to ensure that our laws are fit for purpose when it comes to protecting the rights of all disabled people here.”
“<BR /> <BR />Four years have passed since the work on the disability strategy commenced, and it has long since passed the time when the strategy should be published. In closing, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, agus a chairde”
“The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is the basis on which disabled persons' rights should be enshrined in our laws going forward. We must have laws that are based on the principles of inclusion, equality of opportunity and respect for difference. <BR /> <BR />The previous Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey, began the work of creating a new disability strategy. A key component of that work was the input of the co-design group, which gave people with disabilities a direct role in producing that important strategy. The disability co-design group must continue to have a direct input to the disability strategy, and the Minister should re-engage with the group at the earliest opportunity.”
“The ongoing failure to simplify, harmonise and modernise a single equality approach is negatively impacting on individuals, employers and services, including by providing no protection against indirect discrimination. Deaf and disabled people are vulnerable to discrimination due to our ineffective and piecemeal disability equality legislation, as was outlined in the August 2024 RaISe paper, which provides a comparative study of equality legislation. <BR /> <BR />It is fundamentally unfair that different equality groups have different protections without any justifiable reason. Next week, I will join Disability Action and Belfast City Council at a conference that has been organised to celebrate and to consider ways to further improve access to employment and educational opportunities, alongside public and political life.”
“We also heard how our current laws on protecting those with a disability are outdated, limited and inconsistent. Those gaps do not provide the level of protection that exists in neighbouring jurisdictions, nor does the legislation keep pace with developing international standards.”
“Each of us will know people in our communities who live with disabilities, and many of us will, at some stage in our lives, experience some form of disability. In recent weeks, the Communities Committee received a briefing from Geraldine McGahey from the Equality Commission about future disability law reform. One of the statistics that we learned from that briefing was that 55% of all calls to the Equality Commission in 2023-24 were due to discrimination on the grounds of disability, which is, indeed, a damning statistic.”
“I thank Members for bringing this important motion to the Assembly. Next Tuesday, 3 December, we will celebrate the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities. On that day, we recognise the valuable contribution that people with disabilities make to our society and support them in raising awareness of the challenges that they face every day. People with disabilities often experience extreme difficulties in accessing services, gaining employment and availing themselves of the opportunities that most of us here take for granted. People with disabilities also struggle to have their voices heard and to have their concerns addressed. <BR /> <BR />According to the 2021 census, almost a quarter of our population is living with some form of disability.”
“<BR /> <BR />On behalf of the Committee for Communities, I recommend that the Assembly approve the draft Electrical Safety Standards for Private Tenancies Regulations (NI) 2024.”
“<BR /> <BR />I move now to the implementation. The Committee feels that the phased introduction applicable to new tenancies from April 2025 and all tenancies by December 2025 strikes a practical balance, allowing landlords sufficient time to comply while ensuring the swift implementation of safety measures. The Committee commends the Department for committing to the development of accessible guidance notes to assist landlords and tenants in understanding their responsibilities. <BR /> <BR />The regulations are not merely about compliance; they are about safeguarding lives and ensuring that every tenant in the private rental sector in the North has the right to live in a safe and secure home with standards that reflect the dignity and protection that every individual deserves.”
“The HSE highlighted to us the importance of preventative maintenance programmes, including the regular inspection and testing of equipment. It feels that those measures would align with the regulations' intent to enhance safety standards and minimise risks. <BR /> <BR />The Department has advised the Committee that the regulations will apply only to the private rental sector and not to the social sector, which encompasses housing associations and the Housing Executive. The Committee was advised that departmental officials are reviewing the decent homes standard that currently applies to social housing, including Housing Executive and housing association stock. The Committee strongly urges the Department to continue that work at pace, as we need to ensure that all housing is subject to high standards of electrical safety.”
“Committee members were, therefore, pleased to note that the draft regulations conformed to the requirements specified in the Electrical Safety First briefing paper on the mandatory five-year certificate, the requirement for qualified electricians and clear time frames for remedial actions. The Committee also welcomes the fact, as, I am sure, do all Members, that the legislative intent is to reduce the risk of injury death caused by an electrical fault and to ensure that rental properties meet the required safety standards. By introducing the regulations here, we will catch up with protections that are already in place in Scotland, Wales and England and have prioritised tenant safety. <BR /> <BR />The Committee wrote to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the Electrical Safety First briefing.”
“From the response received, Committee members were pleased to note that Electrical Safety First has been active in advising on the content of the regulations and that it has a representative on the expert advisory panel, mentioned by the Minister, that the Department set up to inform the development of regulations on alarms and electrical safety being made under the Act.”
“<BR /> <BR />Electrical Safety First further advised the Committee that, in order to safeguard all tenants regardless of tenure, it is crucial to implement electrical safety checks every five years and that that should involve a thorough inspection, conducted by a trained, qualified and skilled electrician, accompanied by an electrical installation condition report. Any identified faults should be promptly rectified within the specified time frame. <BR /> <BR />Following the briefing, the Committee wrote to the Department requesting an update on the status of the regulations on electrical safety in the private rental sector that were coming forward under the Private Tenancies (NI) Act 2022.”
“<BR /> <BR />The regulations will include mandatory five-yearly inspections, meaning that landlords must ensure that the hard-wired electrical installations in rental properties are inspected by a qualified electrician at least every five years; tenant protections, in that tenants will receive reports within 28 days of inspections, ensuring transparency and accountability; enforcement mechanisms to ensure that local councils are empowered to issue remedial notices and, where necessary, undertake urgent remedial work to address violations; and penalties for non-compliance, whereby landlords failing to comply may face fines of up to £5,000 or fixed penalty notices.”
“Committee members were told that 58% of accidental house fires are caused by electricity, with such incidents imposing an annual cost of £47·1 million on the public purse. The group advised the Committee that enhancing safeguards is crucial to ensuring people's safety and well-being in our ever-increasingly electricity-dependent lives, describing the range and quantity of devices that we all have plugged in and charging at home daily.”
“I declare an interest: I own a residential property from which I receive a rental income. <BR /> <BR />As Chair of the Committee for Communities, I support the introduction of the draft Electrical Safety Standards for Private Tenancies Regulations (NI) 2024. The regulations represent a critical step forward in ensuring the safety and well-being of tenants in the private rented sector here. After thorough examination of the regulations, the Committee was content to endorse them and the protections that they seek to implement. <BR /> <BR />The Committee, at its meeting on 20 June 2024, was briefed by Electrical Safety First on the need for legislation to address a pressing need.”
“Minister, I very much welcome this morning's statement, which confirms that £17 million will be allocated to all the households that lost their winter fuel payment. The Labour Government's decision to remove that vital payment from so many pensioners was cruel and callous, and they should reverse it immediately. <BR /> <BR />While it is welcome, it is only a one-off payment and does not fully replace the payment that was taken away by the British Government. Minister, will you bid for any further funding that may become available in order to top up the scheme? How will you ensure that pensioners are protected in the longer term?”
“I welcome the Minister's statement, particularly around the issues of scrutiny, accountability and public confidence, given the matters that he and I have previously discussed in my constituency. Is he able to assure us that the new arrangements will ensure that communities can access those helplines as and when they are needed and that a robust and timely response will be available to them?”
“I thank the Minister. I share that concern overall. It is important. It is clear that more needs to be done to attract the required consultants to come and work here across the North, including the Western Trust area. What more can you do or are you doing to attract the required consultants to work in the public sector?”
“Will you outline your proposals on the important issue of carers' leave, please?”
“Cuirtear i gcuimhne dúinn i rith Movember nár chóir dúinn faillí a dhéanamh i sláinte na bhfear. Agus sinn ag iarraidh seirbhísí sláinte a fheabhsú, caithfimid tionscnaimh a fhorbairt le feasacht ar an mheabhairshláinte a ardú, leis an fhéinmharú a chosc, agus leis an leisce a bhaint de bheith ag caint ar fhadhbanna meabhairshláinte.”
“Tá a sáith dúshlán meabhairshláinte os coinne na bhfear anseo; chuirfeadh an ráta féinmharaithe scanrú ar dhuine, go háirithe an ráta i measc na bhfear óg. De réir NISRA, tá an ráta féinmharaithe i dTuaisceart na hÉireann ar cheann de na rátaí is measa sna hoileáin seo. Tugtar aghaidh ar an fhadhb sin i rith Movember trí chomhrá oscailte ar an mheabhairshláinte a spreagadh, rud a chuidíonn leis an leisce a dhíbirt, leisce a chuireann bac ar na fir a bheith ag iarraidh cuidiú a fháil. <BR /> <BR />Agus ár sochaí ag cur Movember ar aghaidh, tá deis againn ár machnamh a dhéanamh ar an dóigh a bhféadann ár mbeartais cur le sláinte na bhfear ar fud an Tuaiscirt, ó bheith ag cur seirbhísí meabhairshláinte chun feabhais i gceantair thuaithe go rochtain is fearr ar scagthástálacha ailse a chur ar fáil.”
“Tá seans go bhfeicfimid méadú ar líon na gcroiméal, na bhféasóg agus níos mó clúmh aghaidhe sa Tionól agus ar fud na sochaí an mhí seo, nó beidh cuid mhór daoine i mbun feachtais agus ag tiomsú airgid le haghaidh Movember. Gach Samhain, cuireann Movember dúshlán na bhfear croiméal a ligean orthu féin le haird a dhíriú ar cheisteanna tábhachtacha a bhaineann le sláinte na bhfear: an mheabhairshláinte, an féinmharú, ailse próstataigh, agus ailse magairlí. Tá níos mó i gceist le Movember ná airgead a thiomsú; spreagann sé na fir a bheith dáiríre faoina sláinte, agus spreagann sé an tsochaí an tacaíocht atá de dhíth ar na fir a thabhairt. Tá na ceisteanna sin tábhachtach agus róthábhachtach anseo sa Tuaisceart.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement and welcome the significant investment in housing, as well as the £17 million for winter warmth to address or partly mitigate the British Government's disgraceful cut in that benefit and the money for tackling rural poverty and social isolation. Those are welcome. <BR /> <BR />Can the Minister comment on financial transaction capital funding? How could it be better utilised to prevent future significant underspends?”
“I urge the Department to work with the council, which is supportive of the direction of travel, to see whether it can be done during the Christmas period.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is also worth pointing out that some of the nearby towns have different arrangements that place Dungannon at a disadvantage. Magherafelt, for example, has two-hour parking, while Cookstown has free on-street parking. <BR /> <BR />The call for change is supported not only by the traders but by the newly formed Dungannon and South Tyrone Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which reflects the dynamic and entrepreneurial cohort of business people whom we have in the area. It is incumbent on us to support them by addressing the issue. <BR /> <BR />Finally, to demonstrate the worth of the proposed change, the traders are asking for it to be considered as a trial during the Christmas period, to allow those traders to take full advantage.”