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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“Yes, as long as they keep within the regulations, which say that there will need to be an assessment of the venue size, recognising that venues have different capacities, and that a risk assessment will need to be conducted. There is an issue about how loud music can be in a venue, and they would need to adhere to that. As part of the task force's work, I hope that live music and how loud it can be played will start to be taken forward through more easements over the coming weeks.”
“As part of the COVID moneys for recovery and safe reopening, we continue to work through the task force to look at schemes that we can support them through until we are in the position where society and that part of the economy have fully reopened.”
“Yes, there definitely will. That is why I was glad that my full bid for COVID moneys was met with the moneys that were allocated just over two weeks ago. <BR /> <BR />The situation with freelancers has been significant, as they have been directly impacted. That is why I made spaces available on the task force for freelancers. The nominations came from the sectors, and they nominated the people, they felt, could best represent them. Obviously, they are still being impacted, probably more so than other industries, as venues have effectively been shut and they have not been able to play music or participate in live events, festivals or gigs.”
“We are also working with the Department of Health to look at the cultural, economic and social impacts of keeping the current restrictions in place, but I hope that we can start to move to have music and events again in the short term. <BR /> <BR />With the release of the COVID moneys from the Budget, I now have financial support for the culture, arts and music sectors in the short term. That has been welcomed by those sectors.”
“We want to engage them. The task force has had meetings and has tried to meet individuals and groups over the last week or so in order that it can come back with firm recommendations on the way forward. I am hopeful that I will be able to make more announcements over the next few short weeks about getting music and events up and running again. <BR /> <BR />There have been pilots of some festival events in Liverpool, and measures have been introduced there. Via the Health Minister, we continue to engage with the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) and others on the learning and lessons from those events and how they can be used in what we do here. I will continue to keep Members up to date on that. <BR /> <BR />As I said, we are making those assessments.”
“We are conscious that we moved at a different pace with reopening in our pathway to recovery, and I know that that drew some criticism. We have engaged on that on a weekly basis in the Executive, and I am sure that it will be raised again this week and next week as we start to look at the next phase of easing restrictions. On the one hand, we are moving well with the numbers that we are hitting in our vaccination programme, which is obviously having an impact. Assessments are still being done on the Indian variant and any other variants that may come into play. <BR /> <BR />One of the primary reasons for creating the task force was to start to work with the sector and those with expertise in managing events safely. Those people have done that for pretty much all their working lives, and it is part of the work that they do.”
“The task force will look at measures to support reopening and recovery in the short term and will inform the longer-term work on the strategy for culture, arts and heritage.”
“Those steps are welcome and take us a considerable way along the path to the reopening of our culture, arts and heritage sectors, with all the social and economic benefits they bring. However, it is vital that we continue to be careful and stick to the rules and guidance. <BR /> <BR />I recognise the importance of getting our arts and culture sectors up and running again. For that reason, I have established a culture, arts and heritage recovery task force, chaired by Rotha Johnston, with members drawn from across those sectors, including the music industry. I recently met Music NI to discuss some of the specific issues around music venues and events such as festivals. <BR /> <BR />I have asked the task force to consider what further support might be needed for those whose activities and livelihoods continue to be impacted by COVID.”
“I am pleased that live music, indoors and outdoors, can now be performed, though subject to a number of limits and specific exclusions in the interests of safety. From 24 May, the number of people permitted at indoor and outdoor gatherings was increased, supporting the return of arts and cultural activities, including live music. The maximum size of an indoor gathering is now based on the capacity of the venue, and up to 500 people can form an audience at an outdoor gathering. Risk assessments and social distancing measures need to be in place, and those new limits do not supersede specific restrictions contained in the legislation on live music in hospitality venues or at post-ceremony celebrations for civil partnerships and weddings.”
“We had to look at issues of domestic violence, gender-based violence and intimidation. Victims have to have a place to go. However, that work is ongoing. Over the next short while, we hope to have clarity on the way forward on intimidation points. Work has already started on implementation of the remaining 18 recommendations.”
“Work is ongoing on the housing selection scheme. A consultation has taken place; obviously, the Assembly was down for a while. I was absent last year, when I was ill, and Carál Ní Chuilín, as Minister, brought forward 20 recommendations as part of that review. Some 18 of them were adopted by the Department and proceeded on. The Housing Executive, with the Department, set up internal structures to implement those recommendations. It will take one to two and a half years for that to be done, because new systems have to be put in place for the new points system. <BR /> <BR />Two areas have not been taken forward, and more work is being done on them. They are access to intimidation points and interim points. Other assessments are being done. Obviously, we were concerned about removing those right away.”
“I also want to look at co-ownership and other models of home ownership and to introduce an intermediate rent, to provide an additional, high-quality supply of housing. <BR /> <BR />We are making changes, and I will soon implement the review of the housing selection scheme and the points system to make sure that we assess people quickly and that they get the appropriate points. A housing supply strategy will be going out soon to consultation, and that will provide the framework for addressing the whole-system approach and details of the impacts on or blockages to delivery. <BR /> <BR />All of those will come together. I gave a commitment, as part of the ministerial team, which the Member who asked the question was part of in November, that those investment challenges and opportunities will be presented to the Executive by March next year.”
“This is part of the revitalisation programme with the Housing Executive to deal with its investment and borrowing challenges and to make sure that it is structured in a way that it can borrow finances that does not have an impact on the block grant. Currently, any money that it borrowed would be taken directly off the block grant, so that would defeat the purpose. We are looking at that. We dealt with the issue of corporation tax, and we are trying to recoup around £56 million that has been paid to the Treasury over the past number of years. We are in continuing negotiations about that. As I said, I am keen to bring forward a consultation on the future of the Housing Executive's house sales scheme, and this is primarily about protecting the current supply of social homes and what we are losing through that right-to-buy scheme.”
“There are 18 new social housing units currently under construction in the North Down area. I am aware that several schemes have been proposed and we are doing the due diligence in working with housing associations over the coming period to try to bring those across the line as soon as possible. As I said, there is a target under the social housing development programme of a further 551 homes to be carried forward between now and 2025.”
“I am happy to engage further on those issues in your specific area.”
“I am keen to consult about the right-to-buy scheme under the Housing Executive. We are looking at other opportunities through a housing supply strategy, working with the infrastructure barriers and the other practical barriers to housebuilding. The biggest issue is getting the Housing Executive to build again, and one of the critical issues is dealing with its investment challenges and ensuring that the structure is there so that it is able to borrow and that that money is not taken from the block grant. That is one of the barriers at the moment. <BR /> <BR />Through the social housing development programme, there is £162 million in social housing funding for this year and in the North Down area, over the next couple of years, we are earmarking a further 551 new social homes for development between now and 2025.”
“There are a total of 1,890 applicants on the common waiting list for the allocation of a social home in the North Down area as of 31 March this year. Of those, 1,319 were deemed to be in housing stress. While 275 homes have been allocated over the last year, I am acutely aware that there is a shortage in the supply of homes, and that needs to be addressed urgently. To do so, I have set out an ambitious long-term plan to increase the supply of social and affordable housing and reduce housing stress. However, these plans will take time to come to fruition, and, whilst I share the concerns about the numbers waiting on a home, the projected outcome of my plans is about ensuring that the supply of social homes meets the increasing demand going forward. Crucial to this is ensuring the protection of our existing social home stock.”
“To run alongside the Job Start scheme, we are looking at a similar scheme for older workers. We are in the middle of putting provisions in place to take that forward, and I am hopeful of making an announcement on that in the short time ahead.”
“Over 410 employers have applied to date, and 1,200 Job Start jobs have been applied for as part of that. To date, funding has been approved for 269 jobs as part of the scheme, and 68 of those jobs were advertised on JobCentre Online. Just over 1,000 additional opportunities are still outstanding for which young people can apply.”
“We are trying to use social media outputs, working through councils, in relation to economic development and job skills opportunities. As our social security offices begin to ease out of restrictions, there will be greater opportunities there. We are trying to provide information to the voluntary and community sectors, not just so that they can avail themselves of job placements but as a way of spreading the word about those opportunities. If there are additional and more specific things that we can be doing in certain areas, I am keen to explore those with departmental officials.”
“My officials continue to assess applications and to carry out due diligence checks in order to ensure that young people who take part in the Job Start scheme will receive a quality job opportunity, along with the support that they need to develop occupational and employability skills that will help them to achieve sustained employment in future. <BR /> <BR />My officials will continue to engage with a range of organisations to inform them about opportunities in the Job Start scheme. In addition, a multi-channel advertising campaign through different forms of media, including TV, radio, digital and social media, commenced on Monday 10 May 2021. That campaign will ensure that potential employers and young people are aware of the scheme and know where to access information on the nidirect and nibusinessinfo websites.”
“Applications for funding for the Job Start scheme opened on 2 April 2021. Employers of all sizes, including those in the voluntary and community sector, can participate in the scheme. Applications are categorised by the Job Start team by council area. The South Antrim Assembly constituency takes in a large part of the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area. <BR /> <BR />By 21 May, 33 employers with a base in the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area had applied for funding to offer Job Start opportunities. Some of those employers have sought funding for multiple jobs.”
“I thank the Deputy Chair and the other Members who spoke. Quickly, the Bill is about protections and safeguards. It is about looking at master trusts and making sure that they are adequately regulated. I again thank everyone for their engagement. I thank Gerry and the team for their work with the Committee behind the scenes to move the Bill at pace to make sure that we can extend protections.”
“I know that pensions legislation can be somewhat complex and, therefore, I thank the Chair of the Communities Committee and, indeed, the Committee and the Assembly for the positive manner in which they have conducted discussion of it.”
“For example, if a contract placed between the trustees or managers of the scheme and a person who provides services to the scheme permits an early exit charge that is higher than the early exit charge cap, that will allow the term to be overridden. The policy supports the policy intention of capping early exit charges in occupational pension schemes and banning member-borne commission arising under the existing contracts. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, the pensions market continually evolves and modernises, and there is a clear need to ensure the adequate regulation of master trusts, given how they have developed since the introduction of automatic enrolment. I trust that Members are content with the broad thrust of the Bill.”
“Since the introduction of the new pension freedoms in April 2015, which enable many aged 55 and over to access their pension savings more flexibly, individuals have faced a range of potential barriers, including incurring early exit charges when seeking to access their savings. Schedule 18 of the Pensions Act (NI) 2015 allows the Department to make regulations that restrict charges or impose requirements on certain pension schemes. The Bill allows the Department to make regulations to provide that any term in the contract that is inconsistent with something in the regulations made under schedule 18 is overridden.”
“Information gathering is an important part of the regulator's toolkit, and the Pensions (NI) Order 2005 already makes it a criminal offence for individuals to fail to provide information requested by the regulator. The Bill extends those powers to include those involved in running master trusts. Ultimately, the regulator also has the power to withdraw a scheme's authorisation, forcing it, essentially, to leave the market. Those powers are designed to help to ensure that those managing master trust schemes continue to protect the interests of members. <BR /> <BR />I turn to the remaining provisions of the Bill.”
“The intention is that a list of significant events will capture events that could affect the ability of master trusts to continue meeting the authorisation criteria. For example, the scheme may have a change of trustee, and, as the fitness and propriety of the trustee are linked to the authorisation criteria, the regulator must be informed of such a change so that the new trustee may be assessed against the relevant standards. <BR /> <BR />The regulator will also seek to support and assist those involved in running a pension scheme. However, there is a need for clear consequences for schemes that fail to comply with their duties.”
“The aim is to ensure that essential protections are put in place in a way that is proportionate to the risks experienced by master trusts. Under the new regime, master trusts will be prohibited from operating unless authorised by the Pensions Regulator. <BR /> <BR />The Bill sets out specific requirements that must be met in order for a scheme to be authorised. The requirements relate to, for example, financial sustainability, governance and the fitness of people involved in the scheme. In addition, the regulator will be given new powers to supervise master trusts, enabling it to intervene where schemes are at risk and falling below the required standards. <BR /> <BR />The regulator must be notified in writing if significant events occur in relation to an unauthorised master trust scheme.”
“<BR /> <BR />Currently, master trusts here are regulated in accordance with the occupational pensions legislation. However, that legislation was developed with a single employer pension scheme in mind, and, consequently, it does not take into consideration the different structures and dynamics of master trusts, which give rise to different risks. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is a response not to a fundamental problem with master trusts but to the exceptional growth in membership. In 2010, across Britain and here, there were 0·2 million members of master trusts; by November 2019, 16 million members in 37 trust schemes held more than £36 billion in assets. <BR /> <BR />The introduction of a new authorisation regime is designed to address the legislative gap and to try to prevent problems arising in the future.”
“Master trusts have become a popular vehicle for employers, particularly small and micro-employers, seeking to enrol employees in an occupational pension scheme. <BR /> <BR />A master trust is a form of multi-employer occupational pension scheme for unconnected employers. Instead of the employer setting up their own pension scheme, the scheme is provided by an external organisation that runs the pension scheme for numerous employers. <BR /> <BR />Such schemes offer benefits to employers and members. They can spur competition in the market and allow for economies of scale, thereby providing value for money. They are also an efficient solution for smaller employers, for whom setting up an individual pension scheme would be difficult and prohibitively expensive.”
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to move the Final Stage of this important Bill. Pensions are of pivotal importance in helping to secure a comfortable life for people in their later years. It is vital that we do what we can to make sure that those pensions are secure and that members' interests are protected. That is why the provisions of the Bill, in particular those on the better regulation of master trusts, are so important. <BR /> <BR />Members will be aware that the pensions landscape has changed significantly over recent years, and, as a result, the way in which people can save and access their pension savings has been transformed. Automatic enrolment has resulted in a significant increase in the number of people being enrolled into a workplace pension.”
“We want to ensure that we work with the sector and have the resources in place to do that. I will continue to engage as we move forward.”
“I stood up a community emergencies leadership group, which involved grassroots and strategic organisations that have helped us to craft our response to the COVID pandemic and also to look at the recovery. Just over two weeks ago, I met that group to look at social recovery. Obviously, at present, we are bidding for COVID money with regard to restrictions being eased. I want to continue to try to support the sports sector, the charity sector, community development organisations and the culture, arts and heritage sector. I have made bids for COVID money to try to look at that in the time ahead. One area that we have secured in the budget is the £9 million for homelessness services. Particularly as restrictions begin to ease, that may actually bring issues such as homelessness to light.”
“Overall, the Department has invested over £306 million as part of the COVID moneys over the last year. A large part of that went to food support and community support programmes that run through councils. We have been working collaboratively with councils, which, ultimately, work with community organisations at the grassroots level.”
“Yes. I was glad to change the legislation to allow those organisations to sell lottery tickets online for fundraising activities. This primarily came from a request from NICVA, from the sector itself, which asked us to look at this and to look at more flexibility that could be built in, because of the impact that the pandemic has had on the ability of charities and others to fundraise. I am delighted that we have been able to make this change and that those organisations will be able to fundraise through ticketing and lottery schemes. It lifts the block, and it is something that the sector wanted.”
“I want the first part of the legislation to be completed by the end of this mandate. I have engaged with the Committee for Communities and highlighted a number of pieces of legislation that I want to bring forward by the end of this mandate. I will go through the normal process of introducing legislation in the Assembly, and it will go to the Committee for consideration. I am hopeful that we will have that legislation in place by the end of this mandate. That is the timeline that I am working to in order to bring in that protection for residents in the private rented sector.”
“However, there are consultations and engagements that need to happen around those other areas of work, particularly around enhancing the role of councils in enforcement. I hope that the Executive will soon sign off on the introduction of a draft Bill, the first part of that legislation. Then, we will work on and draft supplementary legislation before the end of this mandate.”
“Yes. I will be bringing forward legislation. A proposal for the first strand of legislation to build in extra protections for those living in the private rented sector is currently with the Executive. When you look at the revitalisation of housing and what needs to be done on that, you see that there are more children and families now living in the private rented sector than in the social sector. The conditions and the safety standards for those people is a huge area, so part of the legislation will look at health and safety in homes and issues such as electrical checks and the installation of carbon monoxide alarms. <BR /> <BR />We are drafting other legislation concerning the private rented sector in order to deal with issues such as letting agents and having a longer-term review.”
“We have set up programme boards to bring forward proposed models on the way forward to deal with some of the historic debt issues and the finances of the Housing Executive. <BR />All of this work will culminate in a proposal, with timescales and finance attached, that I will present to the Executive before the end of this mandate for sign-off and approval. As I said, I am also moving forward with engagements and consultations about a supply strategy for the North, and I am looking to introduce things such as ring-fencing, which will be done in this mandate. However, the longer-term challenges will be presented in a comprehensive report to the Executive before the end of this mandate, and work is well under way to develop that.”
“This year's budget is £162 million. Also in 2020-21, we had the first increase of its kind for a decade in new social homes started: we had 2,403 homes. I want to ensure that we can build the capacity and have the finance to look at increasing housing development over the next period.”
“Over the last six years, the Housing Executive paid over £56 million in corporation tax. We have been exempted from that and are trying to claw some of the money back and to deal with historic debt. We will soon consult on a housing supply strategy. We will look at supply, right to buy, and ring fencing. We will also look at an exercise to identify surplus land and will work with local councils so that they can identify public land in their areas in order to address housing. We are starting to work with the Housing Executive to look at towns and city centres, for example, the Living over the Shop scheme. Are there things that we can do? We will even look at buying back homes to reintroduce them to the public housing market. <BR /> <BR />I am glad that we have seen an increase of £26 million in the housing budget this year.”
“That has been raised regularly. When Carál Ní Chuilín was in the ministerial position last November, she made a statement setting out the trajectory on what we need to do on housing in the time ahead. There are huge changes relating to revitalising the Housing Executive, such as ensuring that it deals with its historic debt issues, looking at the £7 billion deficit that it needs in order to maintain its current stock, and freeing it up to allow it to build again. We have established a programme board with the Housing Executive and the Strategic Investment Board to look at models and options. I want to do that while retaining the current set-up of the Housing Executive. We are looking at that at the moment. <BR /> <BR />We had a good result on corporation tax.”
“We will assess rural proofing and, hopefully, we can make a joint announcement between the three Ministries on making a change in those areas. As part of the housing programme, looking, again, at specific rural needs, we met community organisations in rural areas where those issues have been consistently raised. Working with the other Ministries, we want to bring forward proposals for changes to address the issues.”
“It is an important point. I want to make sure that we are rural-proofing our policies and our spend. That will ultimately mean a change in spend and how money is allocated, for example through councils and other mechanisms. I am committed to looking at all those issues. I have also written about regeneration functions. Primarily, in the Department, mine is focused on urban settings. Many Members have written to me recently about rural settings. <BR /> <BR />I have engaged with the AERA Minister and the Infrastructure Minister to get a joined-up approach to rural issues and rural inequality. That has been positive. We provided some funding during the pandemic to respond to the needs of the rural community. We will bring forward that engagement soon. I have asked for a meeting with them.”
“<BR /> <BR />We are working across government to look at what comes out of the co-design approach, at how the strategy will be funded and at how Departments can take a lead on certain aspects. The strategy will then go out to public consultation. I hope that the timeline will be for me to present the strategy, along with the other inclusion strategies, for sign-off and approval in December. There is other work ongoing. I have papers in on welfare mitigations and other protections. There is also the whole housing transformation that we are trying to do, as we recognise that housing plays a fundamental role. We are looking at areas such as Foyle, where there are high levels of people in housing need. I want to introduce ring-fenced funding to start to address the housing crisis in Foyle, north and west Belfast and other areas.”
“The poverty figures are well known. They have been highlighted, and everybody has seen that they have been exacerbated as a result of the pandemic. As part of New Decade, New Approach, I had responsibility for taking forward an anti-poverty strategy, which includes child poverty. We established an expert panel, which published its report in March. We have now established a co-design group that is working with community organisations and experts involved in the fields of child poverty and poverty more broadly. We have also established a cross-departmental working group, because it is recognised that the issue of poverty does not rest just with my Department but spans Departments. I know that, last week, the Health Committee looked at a report on health inequalities that showed that the numbers have got worse rather than better.”
“There are ongoing discussions about finance and what it will mean in the time ahead. Once that has been confirmed, I will update Members.”
“Since 2018-19, my Department has been working in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, local councils and the Public Health Agency (PHA) on access to changing facilities. A total of 12 new changing place facilities, at a range of locations across the North, have been supported through the programme. My Department is leading on the development of the Executive's disability strategy. As part of that strategy, we have developed a co-design approach with the sector, including for changing place provision. We are working with the Department of Finance to consider how the issues will be reflected in the new strategy and to determine the funding that will be made available. Subject to that, after consultation, I will present the full disability strategy to the Executive in December.”
“As I said in response to question 4, the refresh and re-engagement exercise is nearing completion. I hope to have that presented to me, and then, in the coming weeks, I want to make a presentation to the Executive for sign-off in order to allow the programme to go forward. Departmental officials have also worked with experts on an advisory group comprising key stakeholders from the Chief Leisure Officers Association (CLOA), the IFA, the NI Football League (NIFL), Sport NI and my Department. That has ensured a collaborative approach to developing the shape and scope of the programme.”