Liz Kimmins
Newry and Armagh · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I do not know how it will have affected North Antrim specifically unless the Member is referring to something in particular. We all have a responsibility in climate change and what we do to try to mitigate its impacts.”
“As the Member rightly said, removal of the zero-detriment policy is for the AERA Minister, and I have engaged with the Minister on that, as well as on the removal of the statement of regulatory principles and intent. I recognise that removing that would have detrimental impact on future development.”
“In response, we recently developed and introduced new appraisal guidance, which represents a significant and deliberate shift in approach. Under the previous arrangements, schemes were largely determined by a monetised cost-benefit ratio threshold where, typically, projects that fell below a ratio of one did not progress.”
“A number of significant issues have led to that scenario. I assume that the Member is referring to waste water capacity. I have said that NI Water has suggested that it needs between £3·5 billion to £3·6 billion for the next price control period.”
“Recruitment is a key challenge faced by all Departments. In questions to the Minister of Health, my colleague from Newry and Armagh referred to the recruitment issue that recently impacted on Daisy Hill. The challenge is not unique to DFI. I want to put a focus on ensuring that we build our internal capacity and improve staffing levels.”
“The Executive and the Assembly agree that the Executive's Budget is not adequate, which is why we are in that negotiation. When it comes to the capital budget, we have to factor in a timeline for the legal challenge that we are going through. It is unlikely that we will get a decision from the court on this side of the summer recess.”
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Every one of 2,530 lines we hold for Liz Kimmins, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 49 of 51.
“Sadly, in recent weeks, we have witnessed a number of racist attacks in our communities, including, as other Members mentioned, the disgraceful vandalism of Jewish graves in Belfast City Cemetery and the writing of racist slogans in Jonesborough in my constituency. We also saw a horrific attack on a Syrian family who had moved into the area just 24 hours before. Like millions of people from the Jewish community who had to flee their homes during the Holocaust 80 years ago, that family had to leave their home in Syria to escape the conflict and had come to Ireland to try to raise their young children in safety, with the hope of a better life for them. <BR /> <BR />Those attacks are not representative of my city or the people of Ireland. I unreservedly condemn them and, again, send my solidarity to all those who have been affected.”
“I support the amendment and welcome the debate. <BR /> <BR />Antisemitism is a form of racism that should be condemned by all. To tackle it, we must work together to eradicate all forms of racism and build a more equal society. In the years since the Good Friday Agreement was signed, we have made significant progress. That is evident when we see the diverse and multicultural society that exists across the island. <BR /> <BR />There can be no excuse for attacks on or discrimination against anyone, regardless of their race, religious belief, cultural tradition, sexual identity or national identity.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. It is good to hear the progress around that. It is unrealistic to think that the hate crime Bill will be achieved during this mandate — Minister, you outlined that — and the preparation for the next mandate is good to hear about. Thank you for the comments on the attack in my constituency, and I echo you in relation to the Jewish graves in Belfast City Cemetery. What work is being done in the here and now by your Department to tackle some of these attacks, while we wait for the legislation?”
“Does the Minister agree that early intervention and prevention is key to combating domestic violence and abuse? That said, when does she anticipate that the advertising campaign for the new domestic abuse offences will go live?”
“It will be no surprise to the Minister that I ask a question on the issue. As she knows, while the scheme is welcome, a very small number of schools in Newry and Armagh were included in the first tranche. I ask that any future roll-outs focus on areas that were not covered, so that schools in my constituency, such as Killean Primary School, St Clare's Abbey Primary School and St Joseph's High School might be included. Can the Minister also provide detail on how the Department decides which schools will be included?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. It is good to hear about the progress in Lisburn. As a former employee at Lisburn health centre, I know that a lot of my former colleagues will be delighted to hear that it is progressing as it is. <BR /> <BR />Minister, will you provide an update on the Newry Community Treatment and Care Centre, and what funding has been set aside for new primary care hubs?”
“We need an urgent reassessment of the applicability of brush burning, and we should invest in moving farmers and landowners away from such practices. Will the Minister, therefore, engage with his counterparts in the South and look at how we can come together to address the issue?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I, too, send my gratitude to all those who helped over the weekend. Coming from a neighbouring constituency, I am a regular visitor to the Mournes. I cherish the beauty of the area and what it provides for us. <BR /> <BR />Brexit will starve Northern agencies of vital conservation management funding. We need an all-island approach to address the issue. As we have seen over the weekend, the same pressures, caused by human behaviour, have affected the kingdom of Kerry, in Killarney National Park, and the land in the kingdom of Mourne. The prescribed period for burning in the South ends on 1 March, whereas in the North, it ends on 14 April. That is far too late.”
“The statement mentions that a high number of epidural blood-patch patients had unsatisfactory care, and the Royal College of Physicians has confirmed that that amounts to almost 70% of those patients. What support is available to those patients? Has the trust offered them a full apology?”
“Will the Commission also consider measures to make the Assembly more family-friendly through childcare provision for Members and staff?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Minister, will you commit to implementing safe zones around healthcare facilities that provide compassionate care like that in order to ensure that women do not have to suffer further intimidation, harassment or abuse while accessing those services?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I, too, welcome the measure, as it is very positive. Anything that improves the speed and efficiency of family proceedings should be welcomed. It is important to recognise that, no matter what the situation is, the biggest impact is generally on the child or children in such scenarios. <BR /> <BR />Minister, there is a huge role for digital technologies in transforming civil and family justice, but many citizens, particularly those in rural areas, have difficulties in accessing and sometimes have no access to broadband. What safeguards will be in place to ensure that access to justice is not affected for those people as we go through the changes?”
“Minister, as you will know, I raised the issue last week of the protests outside John Mitchel Place in Newry. I have engaged with a number of agencies over the last week or so on this. Minister, can you advise of what engagement you have had with clinicians and the chief executives of the trusts across the North, all of whom are trying to deliver services under the law without any framework for what they should provide or any support from the Department? The Southern Trust's clinic in Newry is dealing with quite a difficult issue with the protesters. The clinic provides a range of services, for all sorts of reasons, and many vulnerable women and children face a really challenging situation, as do the staff, many of whom have been in touch with me about the impact that it is having on their daily lives.”
“I thank the joint First Minister for her answer. The recent breaches by the British Government of their legal obligations to implement the protocol will come as no surprise to the majority in the Chamber, who were and remain opposed to Brexit and who were acutely aware of the damage that it would do to our people and economy. Does the joint First Minister share my concern that the British Government's most recent solo run on the implementation of the protocol was reckless and unnecessary and that it creates even more instability and uncertainty?”
“In relation to Mr Storey's point, other Ministers have shown clearly that there are ways of addressing these things. One possible way is an application process whereby a student shows proof of their home address and attendance at university. Does the Member agree?”
“<BR /> <BR />This has been a year that none of us will ever forget, least of all those who have been forgotten and excluded from the support that has been provided to date. These students are our future and have an important part to play in the economic recovery from COVID. If we are truly committed to showing them that we value their contribution and potential, we must treat all our students fairly and equally. I ask Members to support our motion and reject the DUP amendment so that we can get support to our students urgently.”
“Chris, like many others, has lost his job because of COVID and now faces significant rent arrears that neither he nor his family has the ability to pay. <BR /> <BR />Those students feel badly let down and have described how they just need a helping hand to survive these turbulent times. I feel that this is an opportunity for the Minister to show all our students that she and her Department value them and are intent on treating them all equally. The reasons given by the Minister to date demonstrate an unwillingness to explore all options to provide this essential support, especially, as others have mentioned, in light of the fact that the Finance Minister, Conor Murphy, is willing to provide the money and has encouraged her and others to make further bids to support excluded students, but those have not been forthcoming.”
“She expressed deep disappointment, however, when she learned that the Minister had excluded her and many others from the COVID disruption payment despite her studying only a few miles up the road from Newry. <BR /> <BR />Chris is another student from Newry. He is studying in London, as his chosen course is not available here. Chris's course has been moved online, and he is paying in the region of £3,000 a month in rent for a flat in London that, owing to the current restrictions, he has not been able to live in. Chris was not eligible for support from student finance in normal circumstances and was heavily reliant on his part-time job to help him cover his living costs while studying at university.”
“<BR /> <BR />Aoibhin is a third-year nursing student from Newry who is studying at Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) in the South and has been on placement throughout the pandemic. Aoibhin described to me the impact of the COVID pandemic on the hospital environment and the increase that there has been in the responsibilities and workload for all staff and students. She described to me how one of her most challenging experiences during her time on placement was caring for a newborn baby who, sadly, would not survive. She described how the context of COVID made that situation even more difficult and made her role of caring for him and supporting his family during this very sad time even more important. Aoibhin hopes to return to work in the North when she completes her studies.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Member for her intervention. She makes a very important point. One thing that we have all learnt is that there are so many unique situations. I appreciate that it is not always easy to reach everyone, but, when we have the information and the knowledge, we must endeavour to do so. I therefore agree with the Member's point. <BR /> <BR />Over the past year, I have heard many different experiences from our students, and I will share some of those with Members today to emphasise exactly what they face, particularly when we continually claim that we want to ensure that they return home to live and work in the North when they qualify in their relevant career paths.”
“<BR /> <BR />The message from excluded students is that they feel discriminated against and undervalued, even more so if they are part-time students, are studying a further education course or are studying in the South of Ireland, in Britain or abroad.”
“Other Executive Ministers have stepped up to the plate and shown initiative and flexibility to get support out to those who need it, and she must do the same. I have written to the Minister on countless occasions, as she will know, to highlight the significant issues that students are facing and to all but beg for the support payment to be extended to those students from the North who are excluded. Unfortunately, that has been to no avail. I have also asked her to engage with her counterparts in other jurisdictions and, in the absence of her doing that, have written to Ministers across the water to see what support they can put in place.”
“<BR /> <BR />As many other Members have said, students have been expected to continue to pay full tuition fees for courses that have been moved online and high rents for accommodation that they cannot live in as a result of the current restrictions across these islands. As well as that, they are having to deal with increased living costs arising from the need to have the additional resources that enable them to complete their studies outside their university campuses. Although we all fully appreciate the unprecedented challenges that this year has presented us with, it is the responsibility of the Economy Minister to ensure that all sectors in her Department receive the adequate support to help them through these challenging times. That responsibility has not been met.”
“I am exasperated that, one year on from the start of the pandemic, we are still fighting to ensure that those on whom COVID-19 has had a severe impact receive much-needed support to help them survive the unforeseen challenges with which the pandemic has presented us. Over the past number of months, I, like many other Members, have been engaging with hundreds of students from across my constituency, and across the North, who feel excluded and undervalued by the failure of the Economy Minister to support them during this challenging time. Week after week, via Zoom meetings, emails, social media and through our offices, we have listened to the hardships that students are facing and the impact that they are having on them, causing them unnecessary stress and anxiety, which is subsequently affecting their mental health.”
“OK. Thank you, and apologies, Chair. I just wanted to raise that because it is a pertinent issue, particularly in this conversation and discussion. It has caused a lot of tension and concern in my constituency in particular, and when we are —”
“Apologies. I just want to highlight the fact that we are talking about rights — the rights of everyone. Surely, the rights of the women accessing services, for whatever reason, should be respected as part of the conversation. If we were not having this conversation and if the services that have been legislated for had been commissioned, those women would not have to endure the disgraceful scenes they face every day. I am glad that the Member —”
“I want to read out a message that I received yesterday from a lady who has had to deal with those protesters every day on her way to work.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. I respect her comments about not getting into the debate around pro-life and pro-choice. <BR /> <BR />I ask the Member and others in the House whether they share my condemnation of the anti-abortion protest that has been happening at the John Mitchel Place clinic in Newry over the past number of weeks. It is a clinic that provides a range of services for women and children, including speech and language therapy, health visiting, family planning, and support and counselling for women who have suffered miscarriage and stillbirth. Over the past number of days, particularly in the lead-up to the debate, I have been flooded with messages from women who have been impacted by the horrific imagery and disturbing slogans being displayed by protesters who claim to be pro-life.”
“Gender-based violence has a devastating impact on the lives of thousands of women and children in the North every year, and, as others have said, the COVID pandemic has heightened this to frightening levels. This will continue long past COVID, and it is important that, if we truly want gender equality for all, we put a strategy in place now and try to eliminate it. <BR /> <BR />I also want to point out the disproportionate response from the Met to the peaceful vigil over the weekend. People showing solidarity in a peaceful way to try to send comfort to the friends and family of Sarah should be allowed to do so without being treated in that way.”
“I send my condolences to the family and friends of Sarah Everard and express solidarity with all the women and, indeed, men who have come out over the past number of days to share their shock, anger and sadness at the events surrounding Sarah's death. As others said, last Monday, we all came together to celebrate International Women's Day. This Matter of the Day is in stark contrast to everything that that day represents and everything that we celebrated. <BR /> <BR />It is important to recognise the stark gap created by the lack of a gender-based strategy to deal with violence against women and girls, with the North being the only area in these islands that does not have such a strategy in place. It is time that we get that in place immediately.”
“Can the Minister, therefore, confirm that his decision was based on advice from departmental officials?”
“I thank the Minister for her answers. While the roll-out of the 20 miles per hour zones is a very welcome development, I know that a number of schools were disappointed that they were not included in it. What assurances can the Minister give that she will prioritise the further roll-out of this scheme as part of her road safety programme?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement and for her ongoing, steadfast commitment to the provision of housing. What work is ongoing in the Department to identify land that is needed to meet housing demand?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I see that the contribution of spatial planning to the revitalisation of towns, as well as to COVID recovery, was agreed as an area of focus for the sectors. It is vital that we help our towns and businesses to come out of COVID on a strong footing. The parklet scheme in Belfast has attracted the eyes of many. It is an innovative way of adapting to the new dispensation and to helping businesses. I encourage the Minister to work closely with councils across the North in the further roll-out of that initiative. I wrote to the Minister, recently, about interest in the scheme for Newry. Was that discussed, on a broader basis, obviously, at the meeting? Has the case for parklets across the North strengthened since the meeting?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers so far. He will, undoubtedly, be aware that the Human Rights Commission (HRC) has been given leave for a judicial review of his failure to commission and fund abortion services that have been legislated for. In light of that, will he move to remedy the situation and ensure that women have access to appropriate modern health services?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I noticed that the website for Waterways Ireland only possesses annual reports and corporate plans from a few years ago. Will the appointment announced this morning come with more up-to-date published plans and enhanced transparency? <BR /> <BR />Furthermore, we all recognise the importance of our waterways, and many in my constituency want to ensure that they have continued access to Newry canal, and we have talked about a lifting bridge designed for the southern relief road and Narrow Water. Will the Minister comment on that?”
“I understand that the issue of non-disclosure of information about a victim is one that must already be considered by the Parole Commissioners when assessing prisoner suitability for release on licence. Can the Minister clarify how much weight that carries in those assessments compared with other considerations such as good behaviour?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Will the Executive's COVID-19 task force also play a role in planning for long-term economic recovery, and will it complete a reset of how we do economic business?”
“I thank the Minister for his answers so far. Minister, as you will know, retaining our skilled nurses and other healthcare professionals is just as important as recruiting and training more. What new initiatives has your Department undertaken to support staff to stay in post, including, for example, a regional menopause policy?”
“I am especially pleased that the report recommends urgent reform in relation to staff terms and conditions. One thing that the pandemic has shown is that it is some of the lowest-paid workers who have stepped up to the mark and played a vital role for the most vulnerable. It is past time that they got the recognition that they deserve.”
“That is crucial, and I, like all Members, have been contacted throughout the pandemic by many families who were unable to see their loved ones or had to make an excruciating decision about which family member could visit their mum and dad. There is an important balance between supporting personal relationships and keeping care home residents safe, but it is imperative that a regional standard is clearly set out to ensure consistency and fairness of approach and to support care home management in making those really difficult decisions. <BR /> <BR />I thank all the staff who went over and above to care for and support residents and their families through this really challenging time. Without them, we would be in a very different place.”
“<BR /> <BR />There is an obligation to ensure that social care as a whole, not just care homes, is better prepared going into the future. That includes better support not only for unpaid carers but for day-care and domiciliary care settings. I welcome the recommendations that call for a wider look into all those issues and into how care homes play a key role in the delivery of health and social care services. <BR /> <BR />As other Members have done, I particularly highlight recommendation 53, which clearly calls for greater visibility and places human rights at the centre of a pandemic response, including visiting arrangements and communication with loved ones.”
“I have serious concerns about the impact of this on their health and well-being in the long term. I declare an interest, having worked as a care assistant in a nursing home in my area for many years and in the social care field. I can safely say that working in a care home is one of the most rewarding jobs that I have done. Care home staff look after not just the physical needs of residents but their emotional and mental well-being. They are a friend, a listening ear and a support for the wider family, and they play a key role in recognising and responding to every resident's needs. To be able to do all that in normal circumstances, let alone under the pressures of a pandemic, is an immense task but one that is a vocation and something that we all enjoyed.”
“Like everyone, I welcome the report and thank everyone, particularly the Health Committee, the Chair, my colleague Colm Gildernew, and all who contributed and helped to complete the findings and recommendations. The report covers a broad range of areas, and I certainly think that it forms the basis for improving a future response. I hope that the House supports the report. <BR /> <BR />The impact of COVID-19 on care homes will be felt long into the future. It will be felt by the families and communities who have lost a loved one; it will be felt by the residents, who were unable to see their families and friends in the usual way throughout this time; and it will almost certainly be felt by the thousands of care home staff who were on the front line.”
“What will the next steps be for implementing the remedy to the McCloud judgement?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Having read the public exam guidance that was published in November, I and many others are still deeply concerned that the Minister and CCEA continue to ignore the concerns of young people, their families and teachers. There will be no level playing field when it comes to the public exams that will be used next year. Many young people will have had multiple periods of self-isolation, so the education experience is very varied. Will the Minister consider directing CCEA to add greater optionality for the exam papers for 2021 to try to reduce some of the stress that is being felt by our young people?”
“Will the Minister advise whether public liability claims against the Housing Executive are a frequent occurrence?”
“My question follows on from the previous question on sexual violence and the impacts across both jurisdictions. Minister, based on what you have said, will you commit to the development of an all-island strategy to tackle sexual violence, mainly for the issues that have been outlined.”
“I thank the Minister for her answers so far. As well as this being devastating news for the Debenhams workers and their families, hearing of the number of other retailers that are also in difficulties is another major blow. The news is hugely devastating for Newry, which is in my constituency, where a significant number of those retailers employ hundreds, if not thousands, of people. <BR /> <BR />The Minister alluded to some of this in her previous answers, but, for clarification, what is the Department doing proactively to engage with workers and to help them reskill and retrain to try to bridge the gap if those redundancies come?”
“The Minister will not be surprised to hear this, but another road that is in desperate need of upgrading is the A1, and, unfortunately, in the last number of weeks, we have seen yet another fatality there. I am sure that other Members saw the segment on the news last week about those who have been campaigning long and hard for improved safety on that road. Can the Minister state when, if next month's decision on the inspector's report is positive, construction is likely to begin?”