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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“<BR /> <BR />There is no guarantee that the Labour Government will continue the Shared Prosperity Fund in its current form. Regardless of that, we need community groups that rely on it to have clarity on funding as soon as possible and to be given a guarantee that the funding will continue beyond 2025. I ask Members to support the motion.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Sinn Féin Minister of Finance, Caoimhe Archibald, continues to lobby the British Government on funding guarantees beyond March 2025. I am sure that Members will be keen to hear about progress on that. Sinn Féin MPs have supported NICVA's calls for assurance from the British Government on the continuation of vital funding for the community and voluntary sector through the Shared Prosperity Fund. Just last week, John Finucane and Paul Maskey were in Westminster, meeting Minister Alex Norris to urge him to provide clarity on funding for the community and voluntary organisations that, we all know, form the backbone of our communities, providing transformational services for young people, workers and families.”
“The impact of the loss of £23 million per year is being felt by groups such as the Training for Women Network in east Belfast, which has already had its funding cut from 8% to 3·7% and faces yet another cliff edge as March 2025 approaches. <BR /> <BR />The Shared Prosperity Fund, administered from the distance of Westminster, is problematic and should, rather, be delivered through our Executive and Departments, which have a much clearer understanding of where the money is best spent to deliver the best outcomes across our communities. Local projects that provide local services to vulnerable people, create jobs and provide opportunities for young people are far better understood by local representatives and organisations, who understand the specific needs of their clients and communities.”
“I flag to Members the fact that First Steps Women's Centre will present here in the form of a human library on 8 October. I encourage MLAs to take the opportunity to meet them. <BR /> <BR />Voluntary and community and social enterprise organisations employ approximately 53,600 people across the North in the provision of mental health, disability and autism services and on projects dedicated to alleviating poverty, helping the homeless and those who struggle with addiction, assisting with employment skills development and assisting women to enter the workforce. Between 2014 and 2020, the ESF programme supported over 77,000 people into employment.”
“For example, community transport is a vital service that connects many isolated people to essential amenities. NICVA has reported that, of 216,000 journeys taken on community transport in 2016, 46% were for health-related matters and transporting patients to hospital appointments when other means of transport were simply not available. <BR /> <BR />I also cite the important work of groups in my constituency, such as First Steps Women's Centre in Dungannon, which provides much-needed support. I hosted the Committee for Communities there for it to see at first hand the support that the centre provides particularly to women in south Tyrone in education, skills, child support, language development and in so many other important ways.”
“The British Government have to date failed to live up to their commitment to replace European funding in its entirety.That failure to replace funding has placed many groups in a precarious position and has caused uncertainty about their long-term sustainability and their ability to provide the services that are so badly needed. The Shared Prosperity Fund (SPF) of £127 million over three years represents a shortfall of approximately £23 million per year for programmes that work to combat poverty and increase social cohesion, reduce economic inactivity and increase the skills base that is so important to our economy. <BR /> <BR />Services provided by the voluntary and community sector are of particular importance to our rural communities.”
“the folly of Brexit is playing out across all our communities in the North. The loss of funding, such as the European social fund (ESF) and the European regional development fund (ERDF), is impacting vital services across the community and voluntary sector, causing uncertainty in services that are often most needed by the most vulnerable groups across society. <BR /> <BR />We in Sinn Féin opposed Brexit, as we understood the importance of continued European Union support for our community and voluntary sector, peacebuilding, our agriculture and our economic development.”
“I thank the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their statement, particularly for the emphasis on collaborative working and the community playing an active part. In light of that, do they agree that it is essential that all voices provide input into shaping and informing the consultation process?”
“Minister, thank you for your statement and for the additional allocations that you have announced. Can you outline the resource and capital funding that is being provided to the Department for Communities, le do thoil”
“I wish the Minister well in his new role. Minister, you will be aware of the desperately sad plight of people here who need to use paediatric pathology services. The lack of such services in the North means that families have to travel to England in the worst of circumstances. Did you have an opportunity to discuss that issue on a North/South basis with your counterpart, Minister Donnelly, and, if not, will you commit to doing so in the autumn?”
“<BR /> <BR />After careful consideration, the Committee was satisfied that the regulations are necessary and beneficial. They align with our ongoing commitment to support individuals affected by serious health conditions such as diffuse mesothelioma, who will continue to experience financial implications associated with the disease. On behalf of the Committee for Communities, I am therefore content to recommend that the Assembly approve the regulations. That approval will ensure that we continue to provide essential financial support to some of the most vulnerable members of our society. I thank the Minister and his officials for their ongoing engagement with the Committee on those and other matters.”
“Furthermore, the regulations do not impose any additional cost on businesses, charities, social enterprises or voluntary bodies. As for financial and regulatory compliance, payments under the 2008 scheme are funded through the recovery of amounts from civil compensation, thus ensuring that there is no extra financial burden on public funds. Additionally, the regulations comply with section 24 of the NI Act 1998 and align with the corresponding regulations in Britain, thereby maintaining parity, in line with existing policy. The Committee understands that, in order to maintain legislative parity, the regulations will come into force concurrently with similar amendments in Westminster, supporting an alignment of approach with social security and disability support.”
“The need for change arises from the inflation adjustment based on the consumer price index for September 2023, which was recorded at 6·7%. The uprating of payments is consistent with other disability benefits and reflects our commitment to supporting those who have been severely impacted on by asbestos-related diseases. <BR /> <BR />I will now speak about the rule's purpose and its implementation. It aims to adjust lump sum payments in line with inflation, ensuring that beneficiaries receive adequate compensation that reflects current economic conditions. The Committee was advised that there was no statutory requirement for consultation on the changes proposed by the rule, nor did the rule require an equality impact assessment (EQIA) to be done.”
“As Chair of the Committee for Communities, I support the introduction of the regulations. The Committee considered the statutory rule (SR) at its meeting on 11 April. I will not rehearse the details — the Minister set them out in great detail — but the primary purpose of the change is to increase lump sum payments made to individuals suffering from diffuse mesothelioma, as well as to their dependants. Members will be aware that the regulations are crucial for individuals who are afflicted by that debilitating disease, which often results from asbestos exposure. Under the Mesothelioma, etc., Act (NI) 2008, payments are made without requiring proof of negligent exposure to asbestos or proof that the exposure occurred during employment, as the Minister outlined. That ensures swift and fair payment of compensation to those affected.”
“The associated uprating rule introduces a modest increase — from £139 to £151 — in the amount that a person eligible for payment of carer's allowance may earn in the preceding week without being deemed to be gainfully employed and losing their entitlement to that allowance. <BR /> <BR />Whilst the Committee commends the Department for bringing forward the adjustments, which the Committee supports, we must continue to advocate continued evaluation and enhancement of our social security system to ensure that all individuals, especially carers and those with disabilities, receive the comprehensive support that they deserve. I am content to recommend that the Assembly approve the order and the associated regulations.”
“The increases in carer's allowance, disability living allowance and personal independence payments are welcome, yet they may fall short in providing the necessary support for those groups. Carers who dedicate their life to looking after a loved one and those who live with disabilities require more robust support to cope with rising costs and the financial pressures that they face daily. <BR /> <BR />Committee members have been interested in carer's allowance, having been briefed by Carers NI on how unfair that benefit is. Worth only £81·90 a week and available only to those who provide unpaid care for a minimum of 35 hours a week means that the payments are worth a maximum of £2·34 an hour, which is equivalent to nearly five times less than the national living wage.”
“It is important to recognise specific adjustments such as the increase in widow's pension and the pension credit minimum guarantee. Those adjustments signify an important step in supporting our most vulnerable citizens, including widowers, pensioners and those who rely on pensions and allowances. Whilst we acknowledge those positive changes, it is crucial to recognise the ongoing challenges faced by many in our community, particularly in the cost-of-living crisis. Despite the uprating, there are pressing concerns that still need our urgent attention. <BR /> <BR />We must not overlook the fact that carers and individuals with disabilities continue to struggle to meet their daily needs.”
“The Committee welcomed the uprating of premiums paid to disabled people in receipt of working-age benefits — universal credit, income support, housing benefit, jobseeker's allowance and employment and support allowance — by 6·7%, in line with CPI, as the Minister said. We also welcomed the fact that certain child and family elements will also be uprated in line with the increase in the relevant HMRC rates.”
“As Chairperson of the Committee for Communities, I support the motions relating to the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order (NI) 2024 and the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations (NI) 2024. The Committee considered the order and the draft regulations at its meeting on 11 April 2024. The Committee regularly sees secondary legislation pertaining to social security benefits, and it is aware that the order is one of several statutory rules that relate to the annual uprating of certain benefits, pensions and allowances. <BR /> <BR />Whilst any increase during a cost-of-living crisis is to be welcomed, the Committee continues to hear regularly from witnesses about the ongoing hardship faced by many of the most vulnerable in our communities.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Child Support Enforcement Bill represents a positive step in ensuring that child maintenance arrears are collected more efficiently and effectively. I am therefore content, as Chairperson of the Committee for Communities, to confirm that the Committee supports the principles of the Bill and looks forward to considering it in further detail during the Committee Stage.”
“<BR /> <BR />Concerns were raised about parents with custody who may have been victims of domestic violence and whether collection arrangements would ensure adequate protection where necessary. The Department assured the Committee that processes are in place to protect parents where needed, including the ability to halt enforcement actions, if necessary, to ensure their safety. <BR /> <BR />The Committee also queried the potential resource pressures and the need for staff training. The Department indicated to us that, due to the small number of cases that reach this level, significant resource implications were not anticipated and training would be coordinated with the Department for Work and Pensions.”
“During the briefing, the Committee underlined to officials the importance of continuous engagement with stakeholders, including the Courts and Tribunals Service and the Department of Justice to ensure the Bill's successful implementation. That collaboration will be important for any future secondary legislation and for addressing concerns related to appeals processes and other operational queries. <BR /> <BR />Members also sought clarification of how the new administrative orders would reduce the processing time and whether they would have the same legal standing as court orders. The departmental officials confirmed that the new orders would, indeed, have equivalent legal status.”
“Rather than repeat the details of the clauses of the Bill, which the Minister has outlined, it is clear from the briefing by officials that the Bill's intent is to improve the outcomes and life chances for the affected children by ensuring that child maintenance payments are paid promptly and effectively. It will hopefully help to address child poverty in some part by making it easier and quicker to enforce maintenance orders, ensuring that financial support reaches children in need without undue delay. <BR /> <BR />The Committee heard that the new system should also allow for more direct interaction between CMS and non-resident parents, minimising the delays associated with court processes and facilitating quicker resolutions. That streamlined process is also expected to increase compliance from non-resident parents.”
“I rise as Chairperson of the Committee for Communities to speak in support of the Child Support Enforcement Bill and to affirm our commitment to conducting thorough and effective scrutiny during the Committee Stage. <BR /> <BR />The Committee received a detailed briefing on the Bill on 6 June 2024 from departmental officials. The briefing provided Committee members with insights into the Bill's objectives, provisions and anticipated impacts. The Bill is intended to align child support enforcement mechanisms here with those already established in England, Scotland and Wales under the Child Support (Enforcement) Act 2023. It was explained to the Committee that the alignment would ensure parity and improve the efficiency of the Child Maintenance Service in securing maintenance for qualifying children.”
“I thank the First Minister for her statement, which is important for the victims, survivors and campaigners of so many years. Will social security benefits be disregarded for the purpose of payments?”
“I particularly welcome the commitment to build on the common ground that we all share to realise the potential of the Long Kesh site for the benefit of all. As such, First Minister, can you outline the next steps in moving forward with that?”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee's call for evidence is now live on Citizen Space, and we have identified stakeholders from whom we wish to take evidence. We have also written directly to organisations that tend to employ or attract younger workers. We encourage people to engage with us as we go through Committee Stage into the autumn term. I ask the House to agree an extension to provide the Committee with additional time to scrutinise the Bill so that we can do our best to ensure that our scrutiny is as thorough and considered as possible.”
“We welcome the proposed changes, which will ensure that people save from a younger age, but we now need to give the Bill proper scrutiny and ensure that we, as a Committee, give ourselves sufficient time to gather evidence and engage with stakeholders. Indeed, we are planning to engage with the Youth Assembly to help gather views, as the Bill will have an impact on young workers. <BR /> <BR />Committee members have already identified the need for an appropriate communications strategy to ensure that young people are aware of the Bill and to explain what it might mean for them. We will take the views of the Youth Assembly on board and try to ensure that we use communications channels that will reach workers of a certain age and, indeed, future workers, on whom the changes that are proposed in the Bill would have the most impact.”
“I request that Members support the extension of the Committee Stage of the Pensions (Extension of Automatic Enrolment) Bill to 8 November 2024. I recognise that it is a short Bill, but, nevertheless, it demands the same scrutiny as any other Bill, owing to the impact that its proposals may have, particularly on young workers. <BR /> <BR />At Second Stage, the Deputy Chairperson highlighted how:”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, on behalf of the Committee for Communities, I recommend that the Assembly approve the draft Local Government (Remote Meetings) Regulations 2024.”
“We welcome the flexibility that they provide by allowing councils to continue their essential work under varied circumstances. The ability to hold meetings remotely or by hybrid means is not just a matter of convenience but an important step in ensuring resilience, participation, accessibility and inclusivity in our local governance. We have a duty to ensure that council members and the public can engage in the democratic process regardless of their physical location, mobility or care-giving obligations. The implementation of the regulations should be guided by the principles of transparency, accessibility and compliance with equality legislation to ensure that all council members and constituents can participate fully in local government.”
“That ensures that remote attendance does not compromise the integrity of the decision-making process. <BR /> <BR />The regulations promote equality by making council meetings more accessible and by contributing to strengthening diversity among our representatives, including, importantly for me in my constituency, those living in rural areas, people living with disabilities, those with caring commitments and many others who might otherwise face unnecessary barriers to their participation. The regulations can equally contribute positively to motivation, productivity and retention. The Committee followed up with the chief executives of the local councils on their plans for implementing the regulations in an equitable manner. <BR /> <BR />On that basis, the Committee is content with the draft regulations.”
“However, members sought assurance from the Department and local councils that the regulations would be implemented equitably and that councils would make provision for that flexibility in their standing orders. <BR /> <BR />At its meeting on 9 May, the Committee considered a response from the Department that confirmed that it would be a matter for each council to make standing orders governing remote attendance. The standing orders will specify the basis and process for considering whether council meetings should be held remotely or in hybrid format and who is to assess or decide that. The regulations stipulate that a member attending remotely must meet specific conditions to participate in votes, namely having the ability to hear and be heard and, where practicable, see and be seen.”
“I will not repeat the technical aspects of the regulations, which the Minister set out, but, in short, the regulations represent a more up-to-date and forward-thinking step in modernising how our councils conduct their meetings while ensuring accessibility, flexibility and resilience in our local governance. <BR /> <BR />At the Committee meeting on 25 April, members confirmed to officials that they were content for the Department to make the statutory rule.”
“I thank the Minister for his remarks. I support the introduction of the draft Local Government (Remote Meetings) Regulations 2024. Members may recall that regulations that were made under coronavirus legislation that enabled councils to hold hybrid and remote meetings expired earlier this year, and the need to urgently progress their replacement was discussed in this place. <BR /> <BR />At the Committee's meeting with the Minister, it sought assurances that appropriate replacement regulations would be expedited and raised the need for urgency in progressing them. The Committee considered the SL1 for the regs at its meeting on 25 April 2024.”
“Do you believe that British Prime Minister Sunak should be clearer on the British Government's financial commitment to the building of Casement Park?”
“No, I will not give way today, thanks, Daniel. <BR /> <BR />On that basis, I also acknowledge the work that the Minister of Finance did to secure the commitments made to date as part of the interim fiscal framework. <BR /> <BR />Members, we need to look to have the further devolution of fiscal powers to allow for more long-term strategic planning and proper investment in people's lives and well-being and across our public services in the North.”
“Although a below-inflation increase to the baseline occurred in 2022-23 for Supporting People, it has not been guaranteed on a sustainable basis. If that funding is not achieved, the programme will undoubtedly see service reduction and contracts having to be returned. <BR /> <BR />I commend the Minister of Finance for undertaking what I understand was a very difficult task in particularly challenging financial circumstances. Across the Chamber, we recognise that the financial package that accompanied the restoration of the Executive was always going to fall far short of what was required, given the years of continued underfunding of this institution. On that basis —.”
“The number of households with homelessness status on the social housing waiting list has grown by 122% over the past decade to over 27,500 households in September 2023. Additionally, the number of people living in temporary accommodation more than doubled between 2018 and 2023. Housing Executive spending on temporary accommodation rose by £17·3 million over that period. That is particularly concerning, as spiralling costs in that area consume any available budget that is meant to support homelessness prevention work. <BR /> <BR />New Decade, New Approach identified housing stress as an area that required prioritisation, so it would be remiss of me not to highlight a few areas of particular concern.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will now make some brief comments as the Sinn Féin spokesperson for communities. The Budget is vital for the Department, given the lack of time that there has been to agree a departmental response and the fact that there are several areas of significant importance that fall within the Department for Communities' portfolio. Those include primary responsibility for our community and voluntary sector; the anti-poverty strategy; language and social inclusion, right through to neighbourhood renewal; and sport, culture, arts and heritage. <BR /> <BR />As all of us across the Chamber know, the Department for Communities is also responsible for housing and for homelessness prevention. I will focus my remarks today on those areas.”
“The Committee needs to receive all relevant documents and information in a timely manner, allowing it sufficient time to perform its duties comprehensively. Moreover, there should be clearer articulation of how each financial decision fits within the broader strategic framework of the Programme for Government. An updated in-person briefing for the Committee has now been confirmed for Thursday 6 June, which will hopefully provide some insight but which is too late to enable a substantive contribution to this debate, leaving the Committee unable to reach a position on the Budget. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, although we recognise the difficult financial climate and the challenging decisions that must be made, it is imperative that every Statutory Committee be given the necessary time and information to perform its duties effectively.”
“As of our most-recent meeting, we have only received headline figures for the capital and resource allocations, as set out in the Budget 2024-25 document. These figures are not sufficient to make meaningful comparisons against the bids submitted by the Department for Communities. Based on correspondence provided in the past couple of days in relation to the Budget allocations, there are significant gaps, and that leaves us with an incomplete picture. For instance, the £115·8 million shortfall in non-ring-fenced resource funding and the £167·3 million shortfall in capital DEL bids highlight the severe constraints and potential impacts on vital services and programmes, yet the specific implications and strategies to mitigate these shortfalls are not outlined. In fact, I can quote:”
“<BR /> <BR />At the outset, I acknowledge that all members of the Committee recognise a critical issue: the North is severely underfunded against objective need. That is a pressing concern that impacts on every aspect of public services in the North of Ireland. The Committee, however, has had insufficient time to meet and thoroughly consider as a group this Budget allocation. This delay is hampering our ability to perform our scrutiny role as effectively and diligently as we would like. Regrettably, I must inform the House that our Committee has been unable to reach a formal position on the Budget for 2024-25. That is not due to any lack of agreement or commitment from Committee members but because of a deficit in receiving timely information.”
“I will speak as Chair of the Committee for Communities initially, and then I will make a short contribution in my capacity as Sinn Féin spokesperson for communities. <BR /> <BR />As Chair of the Committee that scrutinises the largest Department in government, employing almost half of the Civil Service, I would like to be able to say that the Committee has received advance notification of, and extensive briefing in relation to, the Budget allocated to the Department for Communities. Immediately after our most-recent Committee meeting, on Thursday afternoon, Committee members received a document containing an update on the financial position. We now know that DFC was allocated £856 million of resource DEL funding, £133·4 million of net capital DEL and £29·8 million of financial transactions capital.”
“Members were pleased to hear that dashboards will be launched to the public as soon as they are available, that the Money and Pensions Service will provide a MoneyHelper dashboard for those who wish to use it and that a campaign to publicise dashboards will be launched in due course. <BR /> <BR />Overall, the Committee recognised that the aim of the regulations is to provide a comprehensive and user-friendly service to help individuals understand and manage their retirement savings better. It was therefore content to recommend that the Assembly approve the regulations.”
“The Committee also asked whether work can be done for people who work in the EU but reside here in the North to ensure that their pension schemes will also be accessible on the dashboards. We were informed, however, that there are currently no plans to incorporate pensions based outside of here or Britain. <BR /> <BR />Finally, the Committee asked the Department to publicise the availability and location of the dashboards to ensure that anyone who is a member of an occupational pension scheme is aware of the service. It is fair to say that it is important to get that information to young people in particular in a way that is accessible. The Department informed us that access to free and impartial pensions guidance is available through MoneyHelper.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Committee welcomed the fact that the regulations set out a robust and effective enforcement regime that will allow the Pensions Regulator to take appropriate enforcement action in the case of a failure to adhere to any of the proposed requirements. That provision will provide a significant deterrent to non-compliance. The Committee wrote to the Department with some queries about the regulations. We asked whether all government pensions will be available on the dashboards well in advance of the connection deadline of 31 October 2026. Members were pleased to note that the state pension will be one of the first to connect to pensions dashboards and that guidance will be published setting out a staged timetable for connection.”
“I will now speak about the key provisions. The regulations will require all occupational pension schemes within their scope to connect to the pensions dashboards by the deadline of 31 October 2026. Pension schemes must be prepared to respond to data requests in the correct format in order to ensure a comprehensive and reliable service for the public at the earliest opportunity. The regulations also stipulate that any organisation wishing to provide a pensions dashboard service must meet specific criteria in order to be deemed a qualifying pensions dashboard service. That includes obtaining permission from the Financial Conduct Authority and adhering to standards set by the Money and Pensions Service.”
“<BR /> <BR />It was clear to the Committee that changing work patterns and automatic enrolment have led to an increase in individuals with multiple pension pots. Over time, many people lose track of their pensions. The introduction of the pensions dashboard aims to address that issue by making it easier for people to access their pension information. It will significantly improve individuals' awareness and understanding of their pension and estimated retirement income.”
“I support the Pensions Dashboards (No. 2) Regulations 2023. I thank the Minister for setting out the detail of the regulations. <BR /> <BR />The Committee considered the regulations at our meeting on 22 February, when we received a briefing from officials from the Department, who explained to members the continuity and enhancement that the regulations would bring to the pension system. Members recognised that pensions dashboards are a pivotal advancement in our pension system. They are electronic communication services that allow individuals to view all of their pension information, including the state pension, in one online location. That service is crucial in helping people to reconnect with lost pensions and for supporting better retirement planning.”