Deirdre Hargey
South Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“His double standards, including his condemnation of and opposition to equality and rights for our LGBTQ+ citizens, have caused real harm to others. The revelations about his double life expose the staggering hypocrisy of the DUP's moral facade. We need to know whether failing to act sooner left more vulnerable people at risk.”
“One week ago today, Jeffrey Donaldson was found guilty of 18 child sexual offences, including rape. That conviction was made possible only by the strength and resilience of the two victims who came forward and reported the abuse. Donaldson was an abuser. He abused children, but he also abused his position in politics and faith.”
“They now say that they knew about his behaviour, but, crucially, they did nothing to expose his inappropriate hypocrisy and double life. The 'Spotlight' programme and other reports have shown that senior members of the DUP — its most senior figures, including the then leader, Edwin Poots — were aware of serious issues and allegations abou…”
“It is therefore not credible to suggest that the intelligence agencies were blind to his compromised double standards and double life. <BR /> <BR />Those questions demand answers from the DUP leadership. They demand answers in the House from the deputy First Minister, who was closely associated with Donaldson.”
“It is clear that there is a huge disconnect between Whitehall and the reality that is being felt by people on the ground. A British Treasury policy that is managing decay, real-terms cuts and disastrous policy decisions such as Brexit or the funding of wars over public services comes on top of existing disparities between how public servi…”
“The answer is not the short-term fixes or cash injections that we have had in the past, which have allowed for the repeated Treasury script of record settlements and inability of the Executive to manage their finances — scripts that are often parroted in the Chamber.”
The complete record
Every one of 2,594 lines we hold for Deirdre Hargey, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 24 of 52.
“It will also form part of the anti-poverty strategy to address the long-term issues around fuel poverty and around poverty and inequality more broadly. It will sit alongside the other inclusion strategies around disability, LGBTQI and young people that will be included in the anti-poverty strategy and, of course, the gender strategy. Members will know that I will bring forward those strategies for implementation before the end of the mandate. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge that an immediate response is needed to support those in need now, but that will not solve the issue in the medium to long term. Many Members have reflected that today.”
“Since 2017, my Department has been running the social supermarket pilot programme at five sites across the North — Derry, Strabane, Coleraine, Lisburn and west Belfast. They operate on a membership basis and provide members who experience food poverty with access to food, alongside tailored wrap-around support to address the causes of poverty. The wrap-around support includes fuel poverty support where it is needed. Work is under way to design the roll-out of social supermarket models in all council areas through a co-design process. We are engaging with local government on that initiative. <BR /> <BR />With regard to the current crisis, my Department is developing a fuel poverty strategy, as many Members mentioned. Obviously, it has to be in line with the energy strategy and the green growth strategy.”
“People who find themselves in crisis situations such as being unable to pay fuel bills due to increasing costs may be able to apply for short-term help through my Department's discretionary support scheme. A person does not have to be claiming benefits to qualify for help, and, if they meet the eligibility criteria, they can apply for an interest-free loan or non-repayable grant. Anyone who thinks that they might qualify can refer to the nidirect website for information. Many Members will know that I recently appointed an independent group to look at the discretionary support scheme and how we can enhance it. It will make recommendations to me soon. Any changes will need legislation, and I hope that I can progress that as soon as possible.”
“Most winter fuel payments will be paid automatically to qualifying claimants during November and December, with all payments being made by 14 January 2022. The winter fuel payment ranges from £100 to £300, depending on the claimant's individual circumstances. Last year, 283,537 winter fuel payments were made here, to a total value of £50·6 million. The additional winter fuel payment was made last year, totalling £44·6 million, to an additional 223,000 households. The social fund cold weather payment provides a one-off payment of £25 in periods of severe weather to the elderly, the disabled and those with children under the age of five. The payment is automatically triggered once the relevant temperature criteria are met.”
“The scheme also includes multiple measures: cavity wall insulation; the installation of gas or oil; boiler replacement; and the replacement of windows. There is also the boiler replacement scheme, which provides a grant of up to £1,000 towards the cost of replacing an inefficient boiler that is over 15 years old. That scheme is open to owner-occupiers with a household income of less than £40,000. <BR /> <BR />As well as seeking to reduce fuel consumption through having energy-efficient homes, my Department offers vital financial support to vulnerable households through the social security system. The winter fuel payment scheme was introduced in January 1998 to help alleviate fuel poverty by providing financial help towards winter fuel bills, specifically for older people.”
“<BR /> <BR />This is correctly described as a fuel crisis, and it is a crisis that requires an urgent response. I recognise the urgency of the situation and the need for us, as an Executive, to act quickly to support vulnerable households, many of which had concerns about how to pay their bills long before the current situation came about. <BR /> <BR />My Department offers a range of supports to assist households that are in fuel poverty. Supports include schemes to help improve the energy efficiency of homes. We work with the Housing Executive and councils to offer the affordable warmth scheme to low-income owner-occupiers and households in the private rented sector with an income of under £23,000. Until a few months ago, that was the lower income threshold. We have increased the threshold to allow more families into the scheme.”
“I thank all the contributors to the debate and am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the motion. The longer-term strategy for the wider crisis rests not just with me. It is an issue that the Executive as a whole have to address. All the issues were discussed at the most recent Executive meeting, and we will have to have an urgent, dedicated discussion going forward. <BR /> <BR />I am acutely aware of the impact that recent and ongoing announcements on energy price rises will have on low-income households. The price rises will impact on every family and every household across the North, coinciding as they do with the end of the furlough scheme and the cut to universal credit by the British Government. As some say, it really is a perfect storm, but the situation is imperfect for those on whom all those factors will have an impact.”
“It will affect thousands right across our society.”
“This is having a huge financial impact — definitely. We can see the impact of that Tory policy in England, where families are being forced to leave the home that they have lived in for years with their children and move hundreds of miles away. We talk to NICVA and other organisations. The bedroom tax was brought in as one of the key mitigations back in 2017. We know that our housing make-up here cannot meet the need, and, if this legislation is not progressed, it will force families out onto the street and force them to move miles away. The reality is that it would force them to become homeless, because we do not have the housing composition to meet the need. That will affect working-class families, low-income families and particularly children the most, both in loyalist working-class areas, yes, and across the board.”
“My understanding is that it is about end dates: the DUP wants an end date of three years again. I have said that the bedroom tax, in particular, will not be resolved in three years. We will continually bring people to another cliff edge. I have the legislation ready to go. Any changes in that legislation would mean redrafting. That is more time being wasted when the money is there and the legislation is in place. I agreed to a review, and that was one of the concerns that was raised. I do not know why, even after all this time, there has been no movement on it. That question needs to be asked of the DUP.”
“The big concern is that time is running out. We do not have time. I am already trying to fast-track this because it will not have time to go through the normal processes, but, that having been said, I still want the Committee to have a scrutiny role in what I am putting forward. If you have an issue with what I have proposed, at least allow it to reach the Executive table to be voted on. I have said that I will respect the democratic decision of the Executive, but the issue has not even been allowed on the agenda to enable that decision to take place.”
“That includes people who maybe moved house, there was a change of circumstances and, therefore, they lost the bedroom tax mitigation. They would get that back again under the loopholes being closed. I am not able to do that unless I get the legislation through.”
“At the moment, we are making payments under the Budget Act. The Budget Act should be used only in emergency crisis situations. The difficulty is also that, if anything happened to the Assembly, officials cannot continue to renew the Budget Act. That can be done only by a Minister, and the Budget Act has to be renewed yearly, so there is a concern there. <BR /> <BR />The other concern is that I need the legislation and regulations through to close the loopholes. Families are falling through the net at the moment and are losing out on hundreds of pounds each month because the loopholes have not been closed.”
“I had legislation ready by February, and it still has not moved.”
“My frustration is that we will come to another cliff edge in the way we were in January of last year. <BR /> <BR />I first came into the Chamber as a Minister in January.”
“The legislation is about binning the bedroom tax and closing the loopholes for those families that are falling through the net at the moment to make sure that their payments are covered. It is then about continuing those mitigations, obviously with a review to see if they are working. I am ready to go out with the new review that was committed to within 'New Decade, New Approach'. <BR /> <BR />I am still unhappy, and I am going to call it out again, that the DUP continues to block this matter being placed on the Executive agenda. I have submitted it again to be put on the agenda at this Thursday's meeting for a decision. I am not speaking for the Speaker, but you will have seen the Speaker say in the media last week that time is running out in terms of the Assembly sitting days that we have left.”
“Members will know that I have spoken about this. I was before the Committee a few weeks ago. At that point, I said that I had made 39 attempts to get the legislation onto the Executive agenda to be agreed and progressed. It is now up to 40 attempts. I tried again to get it on the Executive agenda two weeks ago, to no avail. <BR /> <BR />Members will know that, if it is not approved within the Executive Office to be put on the agenda, it cannot be discussed. I raised it under any other business, but all that I could do was to register my disgust that it was not on. The frustrating thing for me is that I have tried 40 times to get this put on the table for a decision. <BR /> <BR />I have the legislation ready and the money in place. Some of the money had to be returned because it could not be spent.”
“We are looking at how broadly we will go. I completely get the importance of sport and physical activity. I played camogie when I was younger. I can see the impact, even over the summer, on young people taking part in sport and physical activity schemes and programmes and the huge benefit that it has for health and well-being. During the pandemic, when those activities had to cease, we saw the impact on those who usually participated and whose children usually participated and heard the outcry that it caused. <BR /> <BR />We continue to engage with Sport NI on the outputs. We have to take into account the impact of the pandemic, particularly on mental health, well-being and resilience. Those are some of the areas that we are looking at on the physical activity side. Once we have a conclusion on that, I will be able to update Members.”
“Thanks very much. First, I am sorry to hear, Chris, that you will be stepping down. It was a shock to everyone, as I said outside. You will be missed in the Chamber, but good luck in your future endeavours. You will probably have a better heart condition afterwards. <BR /> <BR />Work to update the strategy is ongoing. We continue to work with Sport NI and other key partners on the development of the sport and physical activity strategy. I am hopeful that we will be launching the draft strategy shortly. I will update the Committee and the House when we are ready to go live with it.”
“That is all that I can say on the matter at this point.”
“Publicity is one thing but facts and information can be another, given what is out there in public forums or arenas. It is about establishing the facts and whether I can assess that, legally, I have the grounds to ask for more detail. As I said, councils are autonomous bodies in their own right. They have their own procedures to deal with things, whether those are to do with staff or councillors or wider issues. I am aware of the public interest element and that there might be such an effect that those who live in the borough have real concerns. I will continue to keep that under review, but I need the information and the facts. Saying something in public or making an assertion is not factual, and I look at black-and-white scenarios. I continue to keep the matter under review, and my officials continue to engage with the council.”
“I can understand the concerns that have been raised. Members from different parties have raised concerns with me and done so publicly as well. In recent weeks, there have been interventions by the police and others. I have looked at the limits of my powers and my ability to intervene. I continue to keep options open where I am able to do that. That said, councils are autonomous bodies. I have intervened in other scenarios, so I have no fear of intervening, but I have to make sure that, where I intervene, I am legally allowed to do so. I am keeping under careful consideration all of the matters that have come to the fore recently. I will continue to engage. If I need to make an intervention and I believe that it is the right thing to do, I will have no hesitation in doing that.”
“I would have loved the money to have been found to meet that need, but where does it come from? Where do you take it from? Do you take it from Health? Do you take it from Infrastructure? You would be taking it out of other vital public services. Our focus now needs to be on a right-wing Tory Government who want to hurt the most vulnerable in our society. It is the same in England, Scotland and Wales. I was glad that all the parties stood up with me, along with the Welsh and Scottish Ministers. The focus needs to be kept on the British Government, who withdrew that funding.”
“He knows how finances are worked out in the Assembly. It was the British Government who withdrew the money. They hold the purse for making the additional payments. The British Government withdrew the money. All of the parties around the Executive table — the SDLP, Sinn Féin, the DUP, the Ulster Unionists and Alliance — supported me in calling out the British Government, who made the cut. I commended all of the parties for supporting me in doing that. We already put money in in the form of interventions. Up to £600 million a year out of our block grant goes towards trying to soften the worsening impacts of Tory austerity and cuts. <BR /> <BR />There was a recognition by all around the table at the Executive meeting a few weeks ago that, financially, we cannot continue to do that.”
“Again, the Member is just being crass in some of his assertions.”
“The reality is that it is a Tory cut that will result, at the highest end, in £200 million having to be found. When that was placed on the Executive table for discussion and decision, no other Ministers were forthcoming with the finance to cover those costs, so he would have had to make a cut to the budgets of Departments, including Health, Education and Infrastructure. It was the unanimous view around the table that we cannot continue to cover Tory cuts. We, obviously, need to stand up and fight. The Executive had been doing that. It is unfortunate that people are now trying to undermine the consensus that had been there.”
“There was no refusal by the Minister of Finance. It is crass to try to make the accusation that there was. I made a bid in the October monitoring round for the money to fund the loss in the uplift, which was taken away by the Tories. That is the first thing. It was good that every party in the Executive supported me in writing to the British Government, calling for the uplift to be retained. We joined Scotland and Wales in that regard. <BR /> <BR />The Minister of Finance has been very clear that he put the proposal on the Executive table. He also stressed that, if we were going to fund the uplift, we had to do it permanently because we should not be bringing people to a cliff edge. I completely agree, and I supported him in that.”
“That being said, if the case is made, it can be done. It has been done in other areas, so I am more than happy to look at the specifics. When we are looking at houses and trying to build more homes for the future, we need to recognise that people will live longer. It is about making sure that we have the flexibility in the homes that we build so that people can grow old in them and are not forced to move later in life.”
“The population, more broadly across the North, is ageing. We are living a lot longer. There is going to be an increasing challenge in terms of the type of housing that we will need to supply in the time ahead. The housing supply strategy, which will be going out to public consultation later this year, will look at the supply chain that we are going to need between now and 2035. <BR /> <BR />We are trying to get to a position of meeting the needs of older people and those with underlying health conditions. It should not be just one housing type, such as a bungalow; we should be building homes that can be retrofitted to meet the changing needs of the people who live in them to ensure that they can stay in them and that they are a home for life. Bungalows are there in exceptional circumstances.”
“A number of policies have been introduced to address the housing needs of older people and disabled tenants. Annual incremental targets for wheelchair-accessible homes have been included in the social housing development programme since 2017-18, with a minimum requirement of wheelchair-accessible new-build units. The current target is 10% for 2020-21. In addition, all new-build social homes are built to lifetime homes standards, which ensures that homes can be easily adapted to meet the changing needs of tenants. Finally, since 2004, bungalow accommodation has been allocated separately from the house sales scheme, which is a better way of targeting need.”
“New build social housing bungalows are included in the social housing development programme on a scheme-by-scheme basis. Housing associations work with the Housing Executive’s regional place-shaping teams to agree appropriate housing mixes to meet identified local need. As a general principle, bungalow development is not considered to be the best use of land. It is uneconomical when compared with other residential uses at a time when land that is suitable for housing is expensive and in limited supply. Therefore, bungalows are included in social housing schemes only in exceptional circumstances.”
“If we put money in to address the carbon challenges, fewer homes will be built, unless we get significant capital investment. Those are some of the discussions that are going on at the moment. That is obviously part of the housing supply strategy as well, so we will be able to provide more of an update. We continue to work with housing associations and others who are looking to go above and beyond the current minimum standards, because we know that the issue of fuel poverty is huge and needs to be addressed. That needs to be done in a way that ensures that the cost is not put onto those who are already struggling. We need to look at solutions going forward.”
“My Department is able to set a requirement for all new social homes that are being delivered by housing associations to be carbon-neutral as a condition of receiving the grant. However, when homes are built to a carbon-neutral standard, the costs are higher, so careful consideration will need to be given to how any increase in construction costs will have an impact on the number of homes that we can build. <BR /> <BR />Part of the discussion will be with Executive Ministers. As we deal with the issue, we know that we need to act to address the climate challenge and the code red alert that we have been given. However, if we are going to do that by building in those requirements, that will have to be matched with increased provision for the social housing development programme.”
“We will look at new methods of construction as well, because we know about the emissions from the construction of homes on site, so there are difficulties there that we need to work through. Part of that will involve looking at the affordable warmth schemes and what we can do to change them to make sure that there is a greater focus on energy efficiency.”
“We will keep that under review. Part of the discussion at the moment is that, if we are going to reduce carbon emissions and go for zero, we need a step change in the programmes that we run. That will mean an increase in upfront costs, and we need to find the money to do that. Obviously, we are already setting new targets for all new social housing building programmes that housing associations deliver to ensure that they are carbon-neutral. From this stage forward, feeding into the housing supply strategy and the social housing development programme, we will start to look at that to ensure that homes are fit for purpose not just now but for the next 20 or 30 years.”
“However, that will need a huge financial investment, and that is part of the discussions as we work with DAERA, the Department for Infrastructure and the Department for the Economy on bringing forward firm proposals.”
“Retrofitting properties is a much larger expense, and we need to look at from where that money will come. We are obviously working with our colleagues in Scotland, the South of Ireland and Wales to look at models of best practice and what we can do to reduce carbon emissions and look at the issue of fuel poverty. As part of those discussions, we will bring back proposals for what we can do in the private rented sector. For example, could there be grants and stuff given around that? There is potential at some point — we spoke about this a couple of weeks ago — for a whole-house approach to energy efficiency and carbon emissions and maybe not just doing a patchwork.”
“There is a huge challenge ahead, given the carbon emissions from homes. We have over 800,000 homes across the North. Retrofitting will be a huge challenge. Given the extent of the retrofitting that some homes may need, the issue will be whether we demolish and rebuild those homes or fully retrofit them. <BR /> <BR />We are involved in discussions with DAERA and the Department for Infrastructure. We are part of a cross-departmental climate action group, because we know that one depends on the other in looking at the energy efficiency of homes. That work continues. We are looking at the housing supply strategy and at some of the challenges that we have with the supply of new homes. The financing of that will be an issue for the Executive shortly.”
“There is a rapidly increasing policy and regulatory focus on improving the energy efficiency of dwellings as a key measure in the drive to make energy savings and reduce carbon emissions. Increasing the energy efficiency of homes is a vital way of mitigating the effects of climate change, reducing fuel poverty and improving health. The Department is therefore supporting sustainable and energy-efficient design beyond the statutory minimum by allowing associations to claim a supplementary energy-efficient multiplier for new dwellings that exceed the minimum standards currently required under the Building Regulations (NI) 2012. That standard is optional, and the majority of new social homes are built to the standards set by Department of Finance under the Building Regulations and my Department’s housing association guide to development.”
“We will continue to work with parkrun. As I say, we met Andrew and a couple of the organisers last year. I am more than happy to do that. I am not aware of having received a request from the organisers of that marathon. I regularly work with Derry City and Strabane District Council, so I am more than happy to pick up that specific issue as part of my engagement.”
“Notwithstanding the fact that it is not a recognised sport, we are more than willing to continue to work with the parkrun initiative to see how we can support it in the time ahead.”
“At the start of this year, three parkruns, including two junior parkruns, received the COVID-safe PPE sports packs as part of my Department's support package. Moreover, in the financial year 2018-19, three parkruns, including two junior parkrun events, benefited from the Department's defibrillator programme and associated training. The sports packs and the defibrillator programme are managed through Sport NI, so I encourage parkruns to continue to engage with it. <BR /> <BR />Further back, the Department also provided IT system support for some parkrun initiatives. We will continue to support them. A fund is available through Sport NI as part of the Supporting Sport to Build Back Better programme.”
“However, we are looking to work with parkrun, because we recognise the wider impact on getting people active, looking at healthy living, improving health and well-being — particularly mental health and resilience — and the importance that the events have in all of that. I am keen to work with it in the time ahead. I know that Sport NI is doing Project Re:Boot as part of the Supporting Sport to Build Back Better programme. Again, I encourage parkrun organisers to speak to Sport NI. My officials and I are more than keen to continue to engage with them to see what further support we can provide.”
“I tried a parkrun once in Ormeau Park, and I left it after one. I preferred to play camogie, but that was just me. <BR /> <BR />They are enormous events. Recently, on social media, I saw one person who will complete his 500th parkrun in January. With no running experience at all, he started on a treadmill a few years ago, and he went on to do parkruns and has the tattoos to show for it. Parkrun has a huge impact, and, as I said, people from all age groups, backgrounds and abilities can come together to share in those events. <BR /> <BR />Some of the difficulties are to do with parkrun not being a sports governing body. There are certain rules about who can apply for the funding that I can give through Sport NI.”
“As COVID restrictions were lifted, parkruns played an important role in getting large numbers of people back outdoors and into a safe environment and bringing volunteers and communities together. <BR /> <BR />Parkrun has and will continue to have a positive impact on communities, and my Department has engaged extensively with the organisers to assist with the early return of events. Last year, Carál met the Member who asked the question and the event organisers, and that engagement with parkrun organisers continues. <BR /> <BR />While government involvement in the development of new events is not consistent with the parkrun delivery model, my Department is happy to look at where we can assist. We have done so during the COVID pandemic through PPE packs and other supports. We will continue to keep that engagement going in the time ahead.”
“Parkrun is a global charitable organisation that delivers events that are run by volunteers, with the primary aim of helping people to live healthier, happier lives. The events are free to enter and non-competitive and are generally for runners and walkers who enjoy taking part in less formal settings than the more structured competitive events organised by governing bodies or sports clubs. The success of parkrun has been remarkable globally and locally in terms of its popularity and getting people of all ages and abilities into running and walking. There are now 35 events taking place every Saturday morning. My Department recognises the great work that goes on through parkruns.”
“We are looking at that. It is also contained in the recommendations from the task force, which included representatives from the culture, arts and heritage sectors. The task force has made recommendations to me that they see as supporting the sector going forward. I am giving consideration to those, and I will communicate my decision soon. Of the £13 million, I have allocated £5·5 million to a support fund for individuals. That has gone live, and applications are being processed. Once I have firm proposals, I will inform the Committee and the House. I hope to do that soon.”
“Work is ongoing. It was unfortunate that we could not progress the sign language Bill in this mandate. That was communicated to the Committee a while ago. Work on social inclusion strategies and on looking at the legislation and policy development around that is ongoing. We continue to engage with the sector. We will introduce legislation as soon as we can. I am hopeful that that will be done early in the new mandate.”
“Some of that fund was a commitment by the British Government. I have not heard of any progress being made. I urge engagement with the British Government on the issue.”
“I want to continue to work with the task force, the Arts Council and artists — at an organisational and individual level — to support them in the time ahead, which, as the Member rightly says, is required. Even as things begin to open, there is a struggle, and we need to continue to work with them and to support them. They all recognise the importance of coming together through the task force. They do not want to lose that, and I am keen to see that continue as we develop a longer-term strategy.”