Rachel Woods
North Down · Green Party · Northern Ireland
“We have to get it right, but we are not starting from scratch. We only have to look across the water or down the road to the public and private sectors that already offer that type of leave. <BR /> <BR />I now turn to the comments of other Members.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is time to end the coercive control that criminal gangs have over our communities. Victim and survivors' voices must be heard and reflected in our laws and policies. Minority groups should not be sidelined or silenced. We need to educate from a very young age.”
“There is no direct cost to employers from safe leave, and it is needed to deal with the issues related to abuse. We need to destigmatise abuse and tackle root causes, misogyny and toxic masculinity. <BR /> <BR />I agree with Mr Weir's comments. We should not need to have the protections in place.”
“I thank every Member who spoke during the debate for their comments and support for the Bill. I will address the Minister's comments first. I thank him for being here, and I am glad that he is feeling better. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly cares, and we need to work constructively together to help.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said at Second Stage, period poverty must be viewed through the lens of children's rights and how the Bill meets our obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).”
“<BR /> <BR />I take this opportunity at Final Stage to thank officials and members of the councils who took the time to discuss with me their policies, the background to them and how they are working in practice: thank you for everything that you are doing for your staff, and I hope that, should the Bill pass, your regional Parliaments an…”
The complete record
Every one of 1,434 lines we hold for Rachel Woods, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 8 of 29.
“Ministers and Departments do not like having commitments and resourcing stated in primary legislation, which is why I did not push this in Committee, but we heard, loud and clear, from organisations pointing towards resource deficits. The Bill will require resourcing, specifically with regard to the amendment on legal aid. It is a matter that I, and other members of the Committee, would like further clarity on in future. I accept that the Department has produced figures on that for the Committee but, for the record, there will be an impact on legal aid with this Bill. The modelling and the changes that will happen require a new framework to be put in place, as we have with the departmental amendment in front of us. Whilst technical, it addresses some of that in the legislation, and I will support it.”
“The Department must have a way of reviewing and reporting on the legislation before us and its effect on the system and of involving the Committee to ensure that the post-legislative scrutiny is there and to ensure that the legislation is having the intended effect: looking at the impact on victims, as well as possible unintended consequences of delay simply being moved further up the line, as it were. I hope that this review, and the post-legislative scrutiny, will occur and involve the Committee and others. I will touch on this later, in my comments on Mr Allister's amendments. <BR /> <BR />I stress again the importance of resourcing the Bill.”
“I appreciate that a larger piece of work is going on with the criminal justice agencies on this issue. New information-sharing systems are being trialled and developed, and further work is planned as part of the committal reform programme. However, challenges remain. In my view, those still-existing challenges are not a reason for not removing the committal stage, which the Gillen review recommended in order to deal with unnecessary delay and the re-traumatisation of victims having to provide evidence where it is not strictly necessary.”
“That is reflected in the Committee's report as well. This legislation alone will not fully address the delays in the criminal justice system, nor is it intended to do so solely. Much more can be done, as others have said.”
“I met a number of stakeholders and individuals — I thank them for their time — who were concerned that removing the committal stage would not reduce delay, as most of the delay lies elsewhere in the system, including, for example, the time taken to get forensic evidence and information and the time taken to compile police reports and complete the investigatory stage. As I said previously, I have some sympathy with those arguments.”
“I do not intend to speak for very long. The Chair gave a very good overview of the Committee's scrutiny over almost the past year. Thanks has to go to the Committee Clerk and the staff. <BR /> <BR />Many have pointed to the abolishing of the committal stage as a means of addressing some delays in the criminal justice system, and that rationale has been put to us previously. It is an argument that has been made across the world during reform of judicial processes, and, as we know, it is not new to Northern Ireland. The Assembly debated the matter previously, and the Committee discussed, at length, delay in the system, the effect of removing the committal stage and whether removing it would do what it says on the tin.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement today. My thoughts are with the families of Lisa and Charlotte and others affected by this. I appeal again to anyone with any information to please come forward. <BR /> <BR />What does the Minister mean by an "early post-sentence review of tariff"? Does that imply that it could be applied retrospectively? If so, does she support that?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Does she agree that the shortage of staff in special schools is an urgent matter and that it affects the ability of classes to run, which has a negative impact on our children, young people and their families? Will she outline how her Department is ensuring that enough professional, fully qualified, skilled and experienced staff are available to fill positions in special schools?”
“I thank the First Minister for his answer. The First Minister will be aware of comments by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during a recent visit that the failure to roll out abortion services in Northern Ireland was abhorrent. Are the Executive on track to implement abortion services for Northern Ireland no later than March 2022?”
“Will the junior Minister give an assurance that the FICT report and plan will be published in this Assembly mandate?”
“I know that the process is now going to be led by the Executive Office rather than Health, so will the deputy First Minister say that she is committed to adequate funding and resources being allocated from the Executive Office for long-term support services for victims and survivors of the mother-and-baby institutions?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for making the statement today. Let us call this for what it is: one of the greatest scandals of our time. Last week, a number of us met representatives of the truth recovery design panel in Northern Ireland, and I thanked them for their openness and honesty and for engaging with us during that meeting. I hope that all records and information will be retained and released when required, and I hope that interpretation of GDPR will not be an issue either, as that was a crucial point that was raised with us.”
“<BR /> <BR />I hope that this Bill goes some way to encourage those conversations in society, in our homes and with our friends and families. I will support the Bill at Second Stage.”
“In Belfast, we saw that powerful street art dedicated to the campaign to end period poverty and empower women was vandalised. That should never have happened. It was defaced and painted over. We should really look at that and how it reflects the stigma that still exists in society. We need a law on public awareness and public conversation around the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Many of us here will remember our first conversations about periods, be they with family or friends. I personally found it very uncomfortable and felt like it was a really weird conversation to have. Looking back now, I do not know why that was. It truly goes to the heart of the issue: it is still stigmatised. Perhaps it was just not talked about, but I think there is something in those original, awkward conversations that we all had. Why was it awkward? It is not.”
“<BR /> <BR />On the subject of education, how do we educate children and young people about what is happening to them? Why is it not taught in schools in the long term?”
“It would mean that the likes of our local leisure centres and local government public buildings could also be included in the Bill. That may have to go to the Department for Communities, but, if it can be done, it is worth doing. <BR /> <BR />Finally, periods are much more than pads, tampons, Mooncups, cramps and pills. The progression of this Bill through the House gives us all an opportunity to look at the unhealthy narrative around the issue and the idea that it is something of a taboo subject. It is not. It is not somehow unclean, it is not something that people should be ashamed about, and it is not funny. Talking about periods should not continue to be stigmatised. It needs to be part of the public conversation, and I know that the Committee will want to consider that.”
“I would really like to explore whether councils can be included in the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Related to that, in council, we also dealt with the provision of bins in public areas. The Committee should be mindful of the lack of adequate bin provision in public toilets and in public bodies. Every public toilet should have a suitable period and personal hygiene product waste disposal facility. It is not OK to have one bin in the communal area of a public toilet beside the wash basins for disposing of period products. I do not want to walk out of a toilet having to wrap up a used product in toilet roll. I would like some privacy. As the Bill recognises, we should all expect dignity at every level of government. I encourage the Committee to consider how that provision could be added.”
“For somebody fleeing domestic abuse, shelters and support and emergency accommodation could also be looked at as providers. <BR /> <BR />I previously raised another issue about clause 2, and I know that Mr Catney is considering it. It is about whether the provision of free products in public-sector bodies could be extended to local councils. It is something that I worked on when I was a councillor. Some councils have piloted that scheme, and Derry City and Strabane District Council is one of them. Unfortunately, Ards and North Down Borough Council did not take it forward as a pilot scheme. To be honest, some frankly bizarre conversations were had and bizarre conclusions drawn about whether people were in financial stress and about what that meant, but that is for another time.”
“As we heard, the Homeless Period does amazing work donating and delivering period products and personal hygiene products to those who face homelessness. As it says, it is particularly difficult and problematic with there being limited or no access to sanitary products, meaning that homeless women are often forced to go without, as well as their having no access to showers. I raise this question in order to get something clarified: if people were trying to access products under the scheme outlined in clauses 1 and 2 and did not have proof of address or had to leave their home address quickly in an emergency and had no ID or card — if it were a card scheme — could they still access products if they needed to? Sinéad Bradley talked about domestic abuse.”
“Again, those experiencing period poverty face barriers to play and recreation. Talk to children and young people about where they are playing and where they are taking part in sport. We know that we need to listen to the views of children and young people who are experiencing this now or who have experienced it all before. It is important that their voices be heard and that they be involved with the Department in the design of any scheme developed under clauses 1 and 2, if the Bill passes. It is important that that feedback and information be gained from young people when working out suitable access points. <BR /> <BR />A practical matter that I raised with Mr Catney and on which I encourage the Committee for Education to engage is the reality of homelessness.”
“We know that many people who experience poverty miss school and are absent from class. We know that poverty is directly linked to educational underachievement and that it is another way in which poverty disadvantages young women and girls. It is therefore particularly important, as the Bill progresses, that the Committee hear from children and young people who face barriers because of period poverty. Article 31 explicitly asserts the corresponding right:”
“Period poverty is unnecessary and unfair, and products should be universally accessible, as they are an essential everyday health product. <BR /> <BR />As I stated, addressing period poverty can be looked at in the context of human rights. Articles 28 and 29 of the UNCRC stipulate that there should be no barriers to accessing a broad education that encourages:”
“<BR /> <BR />She started by outlining a scenario that I can safely say that I have experienced a number of times. She said, "Picture yourself at work. You're on your way to a very important meeting when you experience a very urgent call of nature. You make haste to the nearest toilets only to find that, in order to get toilet paper, you need to put a pound in the toilet paper vending machine, but you don't have a pound with you. So, what do you do? How do you feel?" She continued, "It's not toilet paper that thousands of girls in Northern Ireland are expected to pay for; it's sanitary products". She asked one simple question, "Why is a difference made between the need for period products and the need for toilet paper?". The answer, of course, is that there is no difference.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will make a few comments about viewing the matter through the lens of a child's rights and how that goes to meet articles in the UNCRC. On World Children's Day a few years ago, in my role as political youth champion, I, alongside a number of other MLAs, attended the children and young people's summit that was organised by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY). On the day, we heard from young people about the issues that they wanted us to consider and take forward, one of whom was Miss O'Donnell, who gave a presentation on period poverty. Her presentation is on NICCY's website. I encourage everybody to look at it, but I will give a brief overview of her comments on that day. It very much stuck with me.”
“<BR /> <BR />As we have heard, steps have already been taken in Northern Ireland to pilot the provision of period products for those who need them. As we know, however, provision is not universal. This year, we saw the long-awaited launch of the Department for the Economy's pilot scheme for provision in further education institutions for a year, as well as the Department of Education's scheme to provide free products for Northern Irish schools. Many businesses are already taking steps and leading on the issue, including, in the hospitality sector, a number of restaurants and bars — recently, I have seen an increase — that provide free period products. They are alongside the likes of Lidl, which became the first retailer of its kind to provide free products to customers via a coupon scheme that can be used every month.”
“I speak today on behalf of Green Party NI MLAs to support Mr Catney's Bill at Second Stage. I thank him for bringing the legislation to the House. I do not intend to speak for very long, but I want to raise a number of points that the Committee might consider, including the importance of looking at the Bill through the lens of a child's rights, as well as practical considerations and access points. <BR /> <BR />As others have said, globally, period poverty intersects with other forms of disadvantage, including poverty and geography. It is an issue of gender inequality and should be considered in the context of the full range of human rights treaties, including CEDAW, the European Convention on Human Rights and the UNCRC, which I will touch on later.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. He touched on the policy options. In a letter to me earlier this year, he stated that he would bring policy options to the Executive for final approval prior to public consultation. He referenced that in his answer. Does he have a date?”
“<BR /> <BR />There is much more that we can all do to ensure that we make further improvements to our water quality in and around North Down, but also across Northern Ireland. We can learn from places such as Switzerland and New Zealand. If we need regulatory reform to improve standards, let us do it. Our coastlines and beaches are there to be enjoyed, to provide us with much-needed access to the outside, and to be looked after and maintained to ensure that the environment is as healthy as it can be.”
“<BR /> <BR />As has been noted, the bathing season normally runs from 1 June to 15 September. I suggest to the Minister that that be revisited. Bathing season is now every day, every month of the year. I would certainly welcome testing and monitoring over the winter period, as well as the expansion of testing to areas that, despite not being designated, are used by people. A bathing water report from 2016 states that the general advice is not to bathe during or for up to two days after a heavy rainfall event. Is there any public awareness of that? Is advice going out? Also, what is a heavy rainfall event? It was lashing over the weekend; does that mean that we should not swim on Sunday or Monday? It is certainly not something that I have any direct information about.”
“I, of course, argue that those items should not be in our pipes or sewerage systems or be thrown away improperly, but litter ends up in our sea and on our shores. <BR /> <BR />It is a big problem, as anyone who takes part in the many litter-picking groups that are active across North Down will tell you. We know from the recently published marine litter report that an average of 375 items of litter are observed per 100 metres of beach, with 67% of the items recorded being made of plastic. There is, again, a body of work to be done with the Minister for Infrastructure. I encourage the Minister to do so in order to address water quality and mitigation measures and solutions for the long term, perhaps through the blue-green infrastructure funding. That could also be looked at to provide water safety and rescue items along the coastal path.”
“I will not repeat all of the issues that Mr Chambers raised or what needs to be done. We know what needs to be done to address the issues at Ballyholme, so I encourage the Minister to work with the Minister for Infrastructure to do so. <BR /> <BR />We need to know whether our communication processes need to be improved for the area, if something inappropriate were coming from the countryside or the hills after heavy rain, for example. We need to ensure that our water-quality standards are met and that our natural environment is given our best care. I remember, many years ago on council, discussing the idea of putting nets around drainage pipes to collect larger waste items, and that being turned down. Why?”
“As Mr Chambers outlined, Ballyholme's water quality has improved in recent years, but it failed to meet the minimum standards in 2016 and 2017 and has consistently just been graded as sufficient ever since.”
“<BR /> <BR />In August just past, visible pollution was reported in the river at Seapark in Holywood. It was found that the blockage was caused in the sewerage system due to a build-up of grease from commercial premises. I appeal to everyone to not pour grease or other materials down the drains as these so-called fatbergs are very costly to remove and can cause serious disruption and damage to our water infrastructure, which, as we know, is already under pressure. <BR /> <BR />We know that, despite the investment, Ballyholme's water quality was low this summer and that there was a spike in bacteria recorded in the water that was tested.”
“We need to look beyond the lough and the coastal area to improve our water quality. <BR /> <BR />Mr Muir already covered this, but last year there was a slurry spill at Crawfordsburn river, for example, which is a protected area. In April this year, there was a diesel spill in Millisle, which a number of Members were dealing with. The efforts and concern of the volunteers who helped to clean up the areas are testament to how much local people care about our natural environment and want to protect it. Diesel spills, as we know, are extremely dangerous for marine and bird life and impact on fish and shellfish long after the diesel has left the area and been washed away. The Millisle incident showed the need for improved signage and communication with groups and people that use the area.”
“My memories are from the being in the water around the Holywood and Kinnegar areas, where I frequently saw items from the sewerage pipe floating past me, which was not the most pleasant of experiences. Despite successful attempts to stop sewage going into the lough, which were and are welcome, it seems that the water quality in certain bathing areas needs serious attention, hence the topic for today's Adjournment debate. <BR /> <BR />I want to share my experience in the last couple of years. I have been dealing with a rising number of pollution incidents along the North Down coast that have been reported by constituents, so there is much more that needs to be done by people, communities, council and the Departments to ensure that our waters meet the best standards for people and the environment alike.”
“I thank the Member for securing this topic for the Adjournment debate today. Much of what I will say has been covered by other Members, which shows that this is an issue that we have all dealt with as constituency MLAs. <BR /> <BR />As we know, there are hundreds of people swimming off the beautiful North Down coast every day or taking part in the wide variety of water sports that are on offer. Although not a regular, I have been known to jump off the pier at Kinnegar on Boxing Day to get rid of the cobwebs, swim off our beaches or have a paddleboard around the lough, which usually involves a bit more time in the water than on the board. Like Mr Chambers, I remember being told to not go into the sea and the lough, not because of the jellyfish but because of the pollution and the water quality in certain areas.”
“I thank the Minister for making this statement to the House, and I appreciate how much correspondence will be coming in both on the helpline and by email. Many constituents are at their wits' end because they cannot get through, get put on an automated line or have not had a reply to their email. Can the Minister tell me if there is a specific contact number for MLAs so that we can try to rectify issues on behalf of constituents? It is the more complex and urgent queries that are coming into our offices, and we have had some difficulty getting information on the MLA email.”
“I will indeed. In the short term, they must provide financial assistance to those who have been hardest hit by the energy crisis. Intervention is an option.”
“Therefore, it is time for the Executive to step up and tackle those issues head-on. It is not OK simply to say that we are at the mercy of the market. We leave it to the market only if we choose to do so. If regulation is required, Ministers should instruct their Departments to develop legislative proposals. The Executive must set the standard and the example through implementing the required changes in, for example, our social housing stock; not in ten years' time but now.”
“The 'UK Fuel Poverty Monitor 2019-20' found that the pandemic had created difficult conditions for fuel-poor households, driven by:”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. He is correct that a balance is needed, but we cannot just keep destroying the environment for the sake of projects that could be placed elsewhere. Mr Frew made the point that we need to invest in offshore, tidal and hydro as a mix. <BR /> <BR />National Energy Action (NEA) NI pointed out that, every winter, thousands of people are faced with living in properties that are dangerous or unfit for colder seasons and that 22% of households in Northern Ireland still live in fuel poverty. They live below the poverty line and have much higher bills owing to a poor level of energy efficiency. An analysis suggests that, during winter months, families in cold, leaky homes face bills that are different by, on average, £50 from those of families in well-insulated homes.”
“I thank the Member for his intervention. I completely agree. We also need to look at the contracts for difference (CfD) scheme and at how pricing is set and whether it is set for Northern Ireland or within the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. I would certainly welcome information from the Executive on where they are with that, or, indeed, from the Member's party colleague the Economy Minister on the energy strategy that we await. I completely agree, but there needs to be a coherent approach.”
“When will we see the huge investment in home-heating transition from oil and gas boilers to electricity from ground source and air source heat pumps? It needs to be joined up, however. Putting a heat pump in a poorly insulated home is like using a teapot with cracks in it, as my colleague said a couple of —”
“We need to address energy insecurity at international and local levels. We have warned against reliance on fossil fuels, and we identified the recovery period from the pandemic as a once in a lifetime opportunity to change and build back better. <BR /> <BR />Those calls have not been met with meaningful action by the Executive. I repeat the questions, as others have. Where is the energy strategy that we were promised last year? Where is the fuel poverty strategy that we have been waiting on for nearly a decade? When will we implement passive house standards as a minimum in building regulations, so that all new homes require less energy and retain more heat? Where is the extensive retrofitting programme for older houses, so that we can stop people pumping money into heating their street rather than themselves?”
“<BR /> <BR />We can talk about a worldwide squeeze on gas and energy supplies and various factors such as the cold winter in Europe last year, increased demand from China and the impact of the pandemic, but that will not bring comfort or solace to those who will have to choose, yet again, between heating and eating or making more sacrifices for the sake of their family. <BR /> <BR />Our people need action from government, and the Executive can and must introduce measures to ease the pressure on those with very limited incomes, but we should never have reached this point. For over 10 years, the Green Party has called for a green new deal for Northern Ireland that would involve a radical overhaul of our energy system and mass retrofitting to improve the energy efficiency of homes.”
“I support the motion. For those in our society who are on the lowest incomes, struggling to make their budget stretch and provide for their family, the coming winter is shaping up to be like no other. Unprecedented gas price hikes announced last month coincided with increases in the cost of home-heating oil that have been incremental but significant. The Utility Regulator has warned that gas bills could jump by another 50% in December, and, with the cost of electricity also set to rise considerably, we face further price rises next year. When is it going to end?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. On a similar theme of planning and projects, she will be aware of the recent studies that show a lack of public confidence in the then centralised planning system and a desire for reform dating back to 2011. Does the Minister support the introduction of equal rights of appeal to our planning system?”
“I beg to introduce the Domestic Abuse (Safe Leave) Bill [NIA 41/17-22], which is a Bill to make provision for an entitlement to paid safe leave for victims of domestic abuse; and for connected purposes.”
“I thank the First Minister and deputy First Minister for coming to the Chamber. I am still being contacted by constituents who are clinically extremely vulnerable (CEV), immunosuppressed or unable to take vaccines, and they are worried about relaxations. In the autumn/winter plan, is there any part or section of the contingency measures that deals with those who are CEV or immunosuppressed to ensure their safety? Also, has the First Minister any information on whether there is the intention of the Executive to approve vaccines for those who took part in the Novavax trial?”
“My deepest sympathies are with Sir David's family, his friends, his loved ones, his staff and his colleagues at this very difficult time and into the future.”