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.”
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“<BR /> <BR />I recognise, particularly as the pandemic has raged, that, in any shock to the system, whether it is a health pandemic or an economic crash, it is often the low-paid workers and those in precarious work who are doomed to zero-hours contracts who feel the impact most. I will engage with the incoming Economy Minister to make sure that we look at what we can do to strengthen workers' rights and protections. I am committed to doing that not only in relation to the Bill but in my responsibility for addressing poverty and inequality in the time ahead.”
“They will allow the entertainment to run to the end of drinking-up time. That is what I propose in the legislation that I want to bring through. <BR /> <BR />Obviously, as somebody who worked for most of my life as a shopworker, as well as a community activist and worker in the community and voluntary sector, workers' rights are important to me. It is an important issue, but it is beyond the scope of the Bill, so I cannot introduce it into this legislation. We have engaged with the Department for the Economy, which is responsible for it. It has given assurances that there are protections under existing legislation, but engaging with and listening to trade unions and workers is important.”
“I am really committed to that because I recognise that, even in my constituency, these issues come up regularly for the communities that live in and around the premises. We will ensure that we work with communities and ensure that they are notified, and I clarify that that will done through councils and not just by advertisements in local newspapers. There will also be a duty on public houses to put up notices in and around their premises. Those are extra engagements beyond the normal advertising in papers. <BR /> <BR />I am glad that Members agree on the changes to the one-day loophole. They were proposed as a result of the engagement with the Committee on closing that loophole and building greater protections around it. <BR /> <BR />An issue was brought up about entertainment licences.”
“If the House is minded to go with 104 nights, that can be reviewed to see how it is operating, and changes can be made through subsequent regulations. <BR /> <BR />Many Members touched on the impact and the challenges of the pandemic. There is no doubt about that, but councils, the sector itself and the community more widely have been calling for the changes. They are outdated laws, and we need to modernise them. We need to bring them up to where people are and how they live in 2021. This is a balanced package of measures from the point of view of health and of making sure that we modernise our laws and keep them under review. <BR /> <BR />There has been a lot of concern about and endorsement of community consultation and engagement.”
“Members talked about tourism and life in towns and city centres, particularly around Easter Sunday etc. Opening up our towns and city centres has been widely welcomed, and it is not just for tourists. Broad public opinion is supportive of the changes that we are looking to make to bring our 25-year-old licensing laws into 2021. It is a step in the right direction, with protections built in. I am not supportive — other Members touched on it — of an increase to 208 nights. I have said that there is no big reason to do that. I will clarify the issues raised: yes, the number of nights can be changed by regulation, up or down. Those regulations would have to be filtered through and approved by the Committee and then by the Assembly. Those protections are built in.”
“Thanks very much to everybody who contributed to this part of the debate. I will try to cover as many of the points as possible. Many Members made comments about the officials and the Committee. I completely endorse those.”
“The Member's amendment does not take into account the impact on local residents, with there being no requirement to notify local residents and no opportunity for the courts to place conditions on the authorisation following a complaint. <BR /> <BR />Finally in this group, I tabled amendment No 63, which adds a reference to Sundays in the replies listed in schedule 2 to the Bill. The amendment is consequential to amendment No 48, which removes restrictions on permitted hours on a Sunday in registered clubs. Those are the amendments in group 1.”
“As with amendment No 3 for licensed premises, the provision of 104 late-night authorisations effectively means two a week, which could have an adverse impact on residents. Proposed new clause 24A, introduced by amendment No 49, includes provisions to allow complaints to be made to the courts where undue inconvenience is caused to local residents as a result of a late-night authorisation. Again, a court will be provided with the power to revoke, modify or place terms and conditions on an authorisation as it sees fit. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 50, which Kellie Armstrong tabled, would also introduce a new clause 24A to the Bill to increase the number of authorisations that the police can grant from 85 to 208. I, along with the Committee, am content with the limit of 104 set in my amendment No 49. I therefore do not support amendment No 50.”
“I therefore tabled an amendment— amendment No 49 — that will introduce a new clause 24A to the Bill to increase the maximum number of late-night authorisations that the police may grant to registered clubs from 85 to 104.”
“1, the removal of restrictions for late-night opening on Sundays in licensed premises, I propose amendment No. 48, which will apply to registered clubs. The amendment introduces new clause 23A, which will remove the restrictions on Sunday late-night authorisations for registered clubs. <BR /> <BR />Registered clubs are currently allowed to apply to the police for an authorisation for additional hours until 1.00 am for special occasions on up to 85 nights a year. As I mentioned earlier, evidence received by the Committee resulted in a request to increase that number to 104. Given that registered clubs with bars and restaurants have been subject to the same COVID restrictions in their licensed premises, I agree with that level of increase.”
“A court is notified of an alteration to a club only at the renewal of registration stage, and, if the court considers the premises are no longer suitable or proper, there is the potential for the club to have its application for renewal refused. Therefore, I propose an amendment, amendment No. 47, to address the disparity identified between registered clubs and other licensed premises. The amendment will insert new clause 22A in the Bill, and that will introduce a new article 12(A) in the Registration of Clubs (NI) Order 1996. The new article will require registered clubs to apply to the courts for approval to make alterations to club premises. The procedure for such applications is set out in new schedule 4A. Further to amendment No.”
“6 to allow complaints to be made to the courts under part VIII of the Magistrates' Courts (NI) Order 1981 where undue inconvenience is caused to residents as the result of a late-night authorisation. The amendment provides the Magistrates' Court with the power to revoke an authorisation, modify the hours of an authorisation or make an authorisation subject to terms and conditions as it thinks fit. <BR /> <BR />I move on to amendments relating to registered clubs. Evidence presented to the Committee highlighted the disparity between the process for licensed premises and the process for registered clubs in dealing with proposed alterations to premises. A licensed premises is required to obtain approval from the court in advance of any alteration to its premises; a registered club is not.”
“Therefore, I do not support that amendment. <BR /> <BR />Given the significant increase from 20 to 104, which is two nights a week, I believe that residents should be made aware of an intention to apply for a late-night authorisation. That is the case for late-night opening for larger pubs that have regular late nights, but not for smaller pubs. There is also no opportunity for the police to revoke or amend authorisation once it has been granted, and there is every possibility that a licence holder could apply for most or all of the 104 nights in one application. The only option open to the police is to wait until the next application, which could be up to a year away, and reject it. Therefore, I propose amendment No.”
“That is two a week, with the expectation that the authorisations will be used at the weekend. The Bill already contains a power allowing the number of occasions to be amended by regulation. Therefore, any issues arising from the increase could be addressed fairly quickly. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No. 5, tabled by Kellie Armstrong, seeks to increase the number of authorisations provided for in the Bill from 85 to 208. That significant increase would double the number of nights that I propose in amendment No. 4. I have not heard any compelling reason to justify such an increase. The Committee, after deliberations, was content with the maximum limit of 104. If later nights were granted throughout the week, the impact on communities, police resources and other organisations and agencies involved in the night-time economy could be significant.”
“On the basis of the evidence presented by representatives of private members' clubs, the Committee determined that the number of times that registered clubs can apply to the police for a late-night authorisation for special occasions should increase from 85 to 104. Smaller pubs, alongside registered clubs, have been severely affected by the COVID restrictions. They have had to remain closed, even during some of the periods of relaxed restrictions when larger pubs were able to use outdoor space. <BR /> <BR />I accept the Committee's position that it is logical and equitable for the maximum number of authorisations for small pubs to be the same as that for registered clubs. Therefore, I propose amendment No. 4, which will increase the number of times that small pubs can apply for late-night opening from 85 to 104.”
“In that process, although the opportunity exists for any person residing in the vicinity of the premises to object to the late opening order, there is no requirement for the applicant to notify those people, and it is therefore unlikely that they will be aware of an application. I believe that it is vital that the impact on local residents is taken into consideration and that the Bill is an opportunity to ensure that. I am, therefore, proposing amendment No 3 to clarify the position in relation to applications for late-night opening until 1 am or 2 am. <BR /> <BR />Clause 4, as introduced, was to increase the number of occasions on which pubs that are not structurally adapted to provide food or entertainment can apply to the police for late opening from 20 to 85.”
“With 104 late nights, the reasonable expectation is that those nights will be used at the busiest times and usually at the weekends. The police confirmed that that was the case and that there would be no significant impact on its resources. With 208 occasions, however, it would result in late nights being granted on weeknights, with a resulting impact on resources and other agencies and organisations involved in the night-time economy. I do not, therefore, support the amendment. <BR /> <BR />In the course of progressing the Bill, my officials identified what appears to be an anomaly in the Licensing Order, in respect of the application process for article 44 additional permitted hours orders when they are made to the Magistrates' Court.”
“<BR /> <BR />Clause 2 introduces provisions for public houses and hotels to apply to the courts for an order for further additional permitted hours, to 2 am, up to 104 nights per year. Amendment No 2, tabled by Kellie Armstrong, proposes that the number of days in any year that can be specified in an order for further additional permitted hours for public houses and hotels be increased from 104 to 208. That is a significant increase — double the number of nights in any year — and I have not heard a compelling reason to justify it. The Committee in its deliberations was content with the maximum limit of 104 nights. The police raised concerns about the impact on resources if 2 am opening were granted for weeknights.”
“I see no policy reason why additional hours in those circumstances should not be brought into line with the hours on other nights or why they should not be extended to all licensed premises where alcohol can be consumed. I also believe that a small increase in permitted hours across all licensed premises, where consumption is permitted on the premises, will result in a cumulative increase in revenue that will be welcomed by the industry, which has suffered so badly over the past year. <BR /> <BR />I therefore propose amendment No 1, which will introduce a new clause, 1A, to remove the restrictions on late-night permitted hours on a Sunday for premises licensed for consumption on the premises.”
“It simply extends the already permitted hours in the evening by one hour into Monday. <BR /> <BR />Sundays can be busy times for some premises, with family and sporting events taking place. There are professions that require people to work on a Sunday, and for them Monday is a day off. Sunday nights for those people are the equivalent of Saturday nights for most. In terms of tourism, it is understood that visitors here for long weekends find it frustrating that one of their nights is cut short. That is particularly the case for visitors whose culture involves eating later in the evening, before moving on for entertainment and drinks. <BR /> <BR />A number of other articles in the Licensing Order 1996 restrict Sunday permitted hours.”
“I record my thanks to the Committee for Communities and to the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson for their assistance in progressing the Bill to Consideration Stage. Their scrutiny has been robust and diligent, and the amendments that we have agreed will, I believe, result in a better Bill. <BR /> <BR />On amendment No 1, following the evidence presented to the Committee by leading hospitality representatives, the Committee asked that I accept an amendment to bring the additional opening hours for pubs and hotels on a Sunday, which are currently restricted to 12 midnight, into line with those permitted on weekdays. I acknowledge that Sunday is a day of religious significance, but the amendment does not extend to the permitted opening time for premises on a Sunday.”
“It is still being looked at, Andy. I will have a meeting again soon with officials, but I have your meeting on my to-do list of issues that we are going be picking up. They are doing some final assessments on some of the additional information that you provided at the meeting, and, as soon as I have a way forward, I will come back and update you directly.”
“At the moment, I have responsibility to bring forward a number of strategies, including the Irish language and Ulster-Scots strategy, and I am committed to doing that. I want to adopt the same approach as in other inclusion strategies around gender, LGBTQI, disability and anti-poverty. We want to set up an expert panel to do research on the situation at the moment with the language and heritage aspects and then look at a co-design approach, working with the Ulster-Scots community and Irish language community, to bring that forward. I have put my proposals to the Executive, and I am waiting on them being approved so that I can go ahead and set up the expert panel and the co-design groups.”
“In the first five weeks of the operation of the hub, there have been 36 requests for Irish translations, totalling 172,000 words, and four requests for Ulster-Scots translations, totalling 7,000 words.”
“The central translation hub has been established. That was one of the commitments of New Decade, New Approach. Phase one of the establishment of the hub for Irish and Ulster Scots went live in April of this year. Phase two, which is the establishment of a framework for newcomer languages, contract-managed by the hub, will go live in October of this year. The hub is initially using a hybrid model for operations, which includes an in-house team for Irish translation and an enhanced outsourced collaborative framework that provides written translation for all. Sourcing Ulster-Scots translation has presented some unique challenges, including the lack of an agreed standard for spelling, grammar and terminology. We continue to work with the Ulster-Scots Agency and others on the development of that aspect of the translation hub.”
“That is no problem. Everywhere I go, somebody is a member of Glentoran in one way or another, even though, admittedly, I am not. I am more than happy to take up the invite.”
“I have not met only Gaelic clubs. I have met football teams, rugby teams and hockey teams. I met clubs for a variety of sports over the past while. I even met many sports organisations during lockdown about the response to COVID. I have said previously that I am willing to meet clubs. In the context of subregional stadia where I will be making a decision on a future programme, I need to watch my engagement with clubs. I am more than happy to meet you and the Glentoran club. I have no issue at all with that.”
“Over 405 employers have enrolled to deliver the scheme in a variety of areas. I visited some of those employers recently. The Job Start scheme is one element of support that we can offer in the Department, and we are also working with the Department for the Economy. It is a limited scheme in some ways. It is a six-month funded placement that gives people the opportunity to be in a workplace, to work with an employer and other employees, to build on their experience in that area and to see whether they are interested in it as a career path. If they want to progress in that career or to look at another career opportunity, we can support them through the wider Social Security Agency (SSA) supports. We are working with the Economy Minister to look at apprenticeship opportunities as a way of progression beyond the Job Start scheme.”
“We could offer other opportunities. We provide CV support and application support, and we can look at training opportunities. I know that it does not relate to the question, but we have made changes to universal credit and childcare to try to free up opportunities by which people with children can look at getting into employment. That can be looked at on an individual basis. <BR /> <BR />If you have not had a specific answer to your question, Robin, I will go back to see why that is. I will then respond to you directly.”
“They can, but it will depend on the employer and the other social security support that they can get. The opportunities are six-month placements. They do not go beyond that unless you are registered as disabled, in which case you can go for a nine-month placement. To get vocational training in that timescale may be restrictive, depending on what it is that you want to do. There is flexibility, working with work coaches. We can look to support, through schemes, any young person, individual or, indeed, company that wants to offer training opportunities. Nothing is set down, specifically, to say that you will get a vocational qualification, but that is something that we want to encourage, because the whole point of Job Start is to make sure that people are work-ready and being skilled up.”
“That is a huge area — probably the biggest. There was no internet when the current legislation was first implemented, so that area is completely unregulated, although there are other powers that can be used in the interim. There has to be consultation and engagement to look at the nature of online gambling, how widespread it is and its impacts here. There are issues that we need to pick up on around reserved matters, such as advertising. Work will begin on those areas. That is why we are breaking the legislation down. I wanted to make sure that we brought in some protections in this mandate. That is the Bill that I presented to the Executive last week. Work is ongoing to look at the bigger area of online gambling, in particular, so that legislation is ready for the next mandate.”
“We are starting that work around online gambling, which is probably a bigger issue because it is unregulated. There are issues around advertising laws, which are a reserved matter. In recognition that we will not get all of that through during this mandate, I am allowing assessment and consultation work to be carried out so that we can start prepping legislation for the new mandate that will begin after the election next year.”
“In the first phase, which I hope will be done by the end of this mandate, we are looking at introducing a code of practice for those who are operating, looking at a levy, and looking at bringing in new criminal proceedings against, in particular, those who allow young people to use gaming machines. There are, therefore, a number of changes. There are also easements around proposals for Good Friday and Sunday openings, and around allowing charities to raise money and fund raise by way of selling ballots online. That issue was raised by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA). That became a vital issue for charities resources and funds during the COVID pandemic, when charities were not allowed to meet in person. <BR /> <BR />More work needs to be done on the second part of the legislation.”
“Thankfully, I got agreement from my Executive colleagues to bring forward the Bill. There was a brief presentation to the Committee last week, and it will be presented in the coming period. There has not been a change in gambling legislation since I was five years old — 36 years ago — so it is long overdue. When that legislation was brought in, the internet was not a thing; it had not been created. Again, that shows that there is a need for a review. <BR /> <BR />I have agreed to take forward the gambling legislation. There has been consultation. There is a lot of interest, in the Chamber, in the important issues of reforming the existing laws. We will do it in a two-phase approach.”
“Whether we will go ahead with the new body is being assessed at the moment, so I cannot give too much away until all that work has been done. There is, however, a recognition that the evidence presented must be robust and clear. There is also a recognition that not everyone goes to the PSNI, albeit it is the main body that gathers evidence of intimidation, and we are looking at how community information can support a claim. We are looking at all of that and at any implications or unintended consequences of next steps. Once I have clarity on a way forward, I will come back to the House to present the review's findings, but I will also follow up with a response to the Member specifically.”
“I will bring the results of that review back to the Committee as soon as we have concluded it.”
“Yes, there is still engagement there, as there is with the PSNI on verification. There is a recognition that, when looking at the housing selection scheme and at intimidation points more, we need to look at the verification process and make sure that it is as stringent as it can possibly be for those who have been intimidated and that it weeds out others who have not been and are perhaps trying to use the system. Those assessments are ongoing. <BR /> <BR />During the consultation on the housing selection scheme , the issues of gender violence and domestic violence against women were brought up very strongly. There was concern that, if the points system were to be removed without doing more work, people could be left at a disadvantage. Work is therefore continuing, and we are doing a broader review of intimidation points.”
“I recognise that some fell through the gap and did not get to apply in time, and that, as opening up continues, there are clubs that still find themselves in hardship. We got more money — an additional £5 million — under the COVID moneys recently for sport, and I want to work with grassroots clubs, the governing bodies and Sport NI on how to reassess need. Any club listening should make sure that it is registered with Sport NI to access the funding opportunities and support that are available. There is a small pot of money that clubs can apply for, via Sport NI, that looks at the sustainability of clubs post-COVID. Again, I advise people to go to the Sport NI website for assistance with applying.”
“I was delighted to be in Armagh and visit the club. From watching the young people on the pitch, who were playing camogie, hurling and football, I could see the impact. I know from talking to some of the families and coaches that having young people back playing sports again has been a really good thing. Such clubs have made a big contribution over the past year. When the young people have not being playing, the community has felt the loss of the value that clubs make to society, particularly in rural communities. I therefore want to support such clubs. <BR /> <BR />The sports sustainability fund played a critical role, which the Committee recognised when it looked at the issue. The fact that almost 80% of the funding went into grassroots sport demonstrates the demand and need that was there.”
“I want to continue to engage with sports organisations, and one of the biggest areas is the need for small capital resources to assist clubs to upgrade their facilities. I hope to bring forward a scheme in the short term to further support those organisations in the time ahead.”
“Almost 80% of that funding has gone to grassroots sporting organisations across the North through the governing bodies. Sports organisations have played a huge role. At the start of the pandemic, working with the Executive Office, the IFA, Ulster Rugby and the GAA, primarily, came together to provide a strategic response to assist with issues such as the roll-out of the vaccination, the food response and the supply of medicines. We worked well with those organisations. In the last year, particularly in the last few months, I met grassroots sports clubs throughout the North in urban and rural settings. I have seen the contributions that they have made to their local communities during the pandemic by offering their facilities and clubs to help with the community response in delivering food parcels and with other issues.”
“The sports sustainability fund has provided funding totalling £23 million to 35 sports governing bodies to cover their losses and those of their affiliated clubs. I can advise that awards have been made through the sports governing bodies to 452 individual beneficiaries of the fund. The funding has proven to be essential to help to sustain our sports sector and the services that they provide to local communities. The sports governing bodies and their clubs have been able to provide a safe return to activities as the restrictions have been lifted. Sport NI is now involved in a post-award vouching and verification process to ensure that the funds have been used for the purposes provided. Should any irregularities be found, Sport NI has the option to request partial or full recovery of those funds.”
“There are ongoing engagements between councils and the Department. Obviously, moneys went to councils as part of the COVID revitalisation fund, and that will be used to revitalise town centres as well. Once those conversations conclude, the direction of travel will be outlined. When I have more detail, I will formally write to the Member and update the Committee in the Chamber.”
“I do not have an update on the master plan with me. There has been engagement with the council on that matter. I can write to the Member with a more specific update on the actions that have taken place.”
“In responding to COVID, good work has been done with DAERA to release moneys jointly to meet the community need, particularly in rural areas. Again, I have engaged with DAERA about regeneration moneys in order to expand that to rural settlements and areas. Early conversations have started with DAERA, and the Minister has responded positively. Our officials are engaging to find the best way forward to address those specific concerns. I am more than happy to speak to the Member about any issues. I will update Members after the conversations with DAERA have concluded and a way forward has been found. I hope that that will be soon.”
“Traditionally, in the Department, regeneration and the budgets that go along with it have focused on urban areas, particularly those with larger populations. A number of Members have raised the point about smaller rural settlements. In previous years and mandates, the focus on many of those came from DAERA.”
“We await the presentation of the review of the master plan in the Department. There has been ongoing engagement with the council, which, in turn, has engaged with the community. I am hopeful that the review will pick up the concerns, aspirations and hopes of the community. I do not have the plan yet, but, once I have the specifics, Mervyn, on the seafront and the ferry terminal, I will be more than happy to meet you. If that is on-site in Ballycastle and gets me up the coast, I will be more than happy to do that.”
“The Ballycastle town strategy was published in 2009, and, earlier this year, my Department provided funding to enable it to be reviewed. The review is ongoing and has involved consultation with local elected representatives, businesses, community interests and relevant statutory bodies. The revised town strategy or "master plan", as we intend to call it, will focus on the regeneration projects that will allow Ballycastle town centre to grow, prosper and diversify in the years ahead. The review will be completed this month, and my Department will work closely with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and other statutory bodies to agree how best to implement the recommendations of the Ballycastle master plan.”
“More information will be given after this week's Executive meeting and in the following week, once the Health Department has finished those assessments.”
“I am only joking. <BR /> <BR />The date of 21 June is indicative. We are working with the task force and the Health Department on bringing forward more specifics to start to open venues. Mitigations can be put in place if you are doing stand-up comedy. The issue with music generally from a public health perspective is that the louder the music, the more people have to shout and the more transmission there is of spit and other things. <BR /> <BR />That said, we are actively looking at mitigations that could be put in place. With the indicative date as given, venues can increase capacity, depending on the size of the venue, and have events such as stand-up comedy, while making sure that a risk assessment is carried out.”