Kieran McCarthy
Strangford · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“I am pleased to support the Final Stage and to pass on my thanks and congratulations to all those involved in getting us to where we are this evening. It is simple and straightforward legislation, but it offers those in social work additional recognition of their professional standards, and gives greater reassurance to the public.”
“Specialist training and raising public awareness will be essential. There is a much wider issue of ensuring that the Bill itself will be properly resourced. That is perhaps an issue for another day, and, at this stage, our priority must be to get the legislation onto the statute book.”
“It will also cover people who are vulnerable, as well as those, including people in the criminal justice system, who lack capacity. <BR /> <BR />The new legislation will require that, if a person has capacity, they can then make their own decision about their treatment and that all possible support in making that decision will be provided…”
“That includes our Committee staff, our Assembly Research and Information Service and everyone who contributed to making our Health Committee positive and getting us to where we are this evening.”
“<BR /> <BR />I also thank Alastair Ross for his work in steering the Ad Hoc Committee, which I must say was very heavy work for some of us, but we got through it. I thank Alastair for being there to direct and guide us. Of course, he has already paid tribute to the Clerks who serviced our Committee.”
“We thank Professor McClelland for his dedication and hard work in carrying on where Professor Bamford unfortunately left off. <BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to everyone — as has already been said in the Chamber, there were many — who worked hard and together to see this improvement for everyone with a mental health condition or a learning dis…”
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“These amendments do not force anyone to adopt any particular way forward, but they offer hope, love, compassion and help for those parents to have the best professional help at a time when it is most needed. <BR /> <BR />Any person and, I am sure, everyone in the Chamber who followed the experience of Sarah Ewart and her family could not have been anything but almost ashamed at the journey that that young Northern Irish woman and her family were forced to make. There are, unfortunately, too many Sarah Ewarts in Northern Ireland. It is time to see those circumstances change for the good of everyone in this region. <BR /> <BR />We also had the horrendous case, some time ago, of a beautiful young lady who was a guest — a visitor — to our wonderful island and residing in County Cork. She was a girl called Savita Halappanava.”
“I have always said that I will oppose abortion being brought into Northern Ireland through the front door or the back door. <BR /> <BR />I want to acknowledge the sincerity of my colleagues Mr Trevor Lunn, Stewart Dickson and, indeed, Anna Lo, on bringing the amendments to the Bill. Not once in the amendments is the dreaded A-word used. The amendments deal with the medical termination of pregnancy, only in totally exceptional circumstances — nothing else. <BR /> <BR />I wish to express absolute sympathy with women and, indeed, their partners — because it is not only women who are involved; there are partners, and partners play a very important role — who are faced with such devastating news about their unborn baby.”
“I am grateful to the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland for recognising the importance of the issue that we are deliberating this evening. The party has recognised that the issue is a matter of individual conscience, thereby allowing a free vote in the Assembly. <BR /> <BR />I am totally and absolutely opposed to abortion, and I have always resisted and always will resist the introduction of the 1967 Act into Northern Ireland. I am grateful to hear other voices around the Chamber saying the same thing. I sincerely hope that all our public representatives will continue to oppose this obnoxious Act being brought into our country now or in the future. I have always been a supporter of the pro-life lobby and, for many years, was a member of the all-party group on pro-life. I remain a staunch pro-life supporter.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. Can he tell the House how certain he would be, if the amendment were made, that it would prevent the doors being opened to further creeping of the Abortion Act 1967 into Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. I have a number of questions, but I will ask only one, and it relates to paragraph 22. Will the Minister further explain the role of the social farming support service in Cookstown? Will it help farmers in my constituency — in all constituencies — who are not receiving sufficient prices for their goods? Farmers in my constituency, for instance, are getting very low prices for Comber spuds and turnips, as I mentioned to you previously. Is the service to help to alleviate the problems associated with people involved in that industry?”
“I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he tell the Assembly what he plans to do during the next six months, under the moratorium on the new grid connections?”
“What provision has the Minister made for increasing the availability of shared space in the rural development programme?”
“I thank the deputy First Minister for a detailed response. He will know that, in some rural communities, divisions can often be subtle and less visible than elsewhere. Has his Department any separate or special regeneration plans to tackle that where they see that it may arise?”
“As a member of the Health Committee, I support the Chairperson, her submission and, indeed, other members of the Committee on this very important topic. A lot of time and effort were put into discussing it. I am somewhat disappointed that the Minister has not seen fit to give it his support. On this occasion, I think it is very important simply to support what has been said by the Chair of the Committee and other members.”
“On a point of order, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. I have been in the House for 18 years, and I think that this is the first time that I have had to complain. It is in relation to the performance of the Health Minister today. Despite your efforts to remind him that he had two minutes, he managed to answer only three questions. That is a disgrace. I ask you to go to the deputy First Minister and First Minister and tell them to advise Ministers to waffle less, give more answers and get through the business.”
“The question that I ask the Minister is this: why does it take a serious accident, or indeed fatality in the case of Joshua Kelly this week, before any Department — not just Mark's — does anything to prevent such a thing from happening again? The public perception is that nothing will happen until somebody loses their life. We have it here, unfortunately. I ask the Minister: why, why, why?”
“I thank the Minister for his very detailed response. The Minister will be aware that, in my constituency last week we lost Joshua Kelly, a six-year-old schoolboy, outside a school in Newtownards.”
“I thank the Minister for her very detailed statement. We must offer gratitude for her work, and that of the Department, to come back with extra fishing opportunities worth an extra £1·2 million. The Minister will remember that, prior to going to Brussels, she met local fishermen. Their suggestions, among others, included developing more diverse and sustainable mixed fisheries in the Irish Sea to enable the Northern Irish fleet to be less reliant on the prawn/nephrops catch. Is the Minister satisfied that, notwithstanding the extra £1·2 million, that has materialised? Will there be a mixed opportunity, rather than depending on nephrops all the time?”
“I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. I did not think that you were coming to a conclusion so quickly. <BR /> <BR />You mentioned the local authorities. Is the Minister aware of the real concerns of seven local authorities that have lost some £3 million in the past year? They will be even further disadvantaged. There has been a meeting between the authorities and the Environment Minister, but will you reconsider the loss to those local authorities, which will probably put them further into poverty?”
“To elaborate further on this point; I have spoken to my party colleague in East Belfast and the positive impacts that such a measure had during the Giro d'Italia in 2014 were confirmed to me. During this time, unoccupied shops were given an attractive facade, with a positive financial impact being noted by local businesses in the area. <BR /> <BR />On behalf of the Alliance Party, I support the Rates (Amendment) Bill that has been brought by the Department of Finance and Personnel. I believe that it will bring positive outcomes for everyone in Northern Ireland at a community and indeed business level.”
“That is financially detrimental to business owners who could seek to start up another business in that property. In addition, it does not act as an incentive to maintain the facade of the unoccupied building and support surrounding businesses. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, clause 2 will demonstrate to the business sector and the public that the Assembly fully supports SMEs in Northern Ireland. Moreover, I believe the quoted figure of £750,000 to be a small sum to pay if it supports existing businesses. Indeed, that measure will act as encouragement for those who have gone out of business to maintain an attractive window display. As a result, surrounding businesses will not suffer the loss of income that is so often the case in areas that have been struggling.”
“Through the rates reduction, sports clubs, which can provide so much public service but have faced greater overheads in recent years, can reinvest money to develop and expand their reach and activities. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to clause 2. We have something vastly similar in nature but different in scope. It demonstrates support for businesses operating in difficult times. Within that clause, which amends schedule 8A, we have a recognition of hereditaments that are empty, but which avail themselves of a shop window, as having unoccupied status. That acts as an incentive to maintain the facade of an unoccupied business, which is something that our current system fails to do. At present, as I understand it, commercial properties that are unoccupied but have a window display are ineligible for 50% empty property relief.”
“At that time, the principle was contained in the private Member's Bill, as mentioned, of Mr Daithí McKay, Chair of the Committee, and was to lower the rates paid by community amateur sports groups. Whilst my party colleague Judith Cochrane spoke in favour of the private Member's Bill that day, she also highlighted some of her concerns. On that point, I put on record my support for the proposal, given the significant benefit it would bring to sports clubs around Northern Ireland. It would demonstrate that, at a legislative level, we are appreciative of the benefits they bring to physical and mental health, the positive community spirit they can nourish and the divisions in communities that they can break down.”
“I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Second Stage of the Rates (Amendment) Bill. I am standing in for my party colleague, and Committee member, Judith Cochrane who cannot, unfortunately, be with us this morning. <BR /> <BR />The Bill seeks to amend the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 in two ways: first, by amending article 31 and permitting a reduction in rates for hereditaments that are prescribed as recreational by DFP; and secondly, by amending schedule 8A to the order by inserting that window displays do not constitute an occupied building, therefore making the owner eligible for empty property relief. <BR /> <BR />I turn now to clause 1. I am sure that Members will recognise the general concept, as it was spoken about in the Chamber on 20 October 2015.”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Again, I pose a question to the Member. The Minister is here and heard what was said by the acting Chief Fire Officer in response to the Department, which was that cuts of 5% or more are neither practical nor safe for the people of Northern Ireland. The Minister heard that. I give credit to the Minister for acknowledging it, but it is his actions from this day onwards that matter.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. Would the Member acknowledge the response given by the acting Chief Fire Officer to the Department when he said that the proposed cuts of 5% or more are neither practical nor safe? Given those words from a high-ranking official, would the Member agree that for the Minister to go against that would be absolute folly?”
“— and make sure that there is sufficient funding for the Fire Service.”
“— to further reduce the budget. Invest in strategy. I appeal to the Minister to listen to senior officers —”
“<BR /> <BR />I am aware that the Department has requested a response, as you would expect, from the head of the Fire and Rescue Service to the Department's plans and proposals for 5% or 10% cuts or savings during the 2016-17 financial year. A detailed reply has been forwarded to the Department, outlining what has taken place over the past years and the limitations on what can be done —”
“There can be no doubt that any further proposed cuts to the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service budget of around 5% or 6% — maybe even more — would have devastating consequences for every one of us who lives in this place. The last thing that anyone would wish for would be station closures, even station downgrades, or firefighter/rescuer numbers to be dramatically reduced. I wish to put on record my acknowledgment and appreciation of the efforts of the Fire Brigades Union to highlight and convince government and MLAs here at Stormont of the dire consequences that will surely follow if the Minister and his Department cannot sit down with the representatives of this vital service to prevent disaster and move forward together to secure lasting agreement.”
“It is important, indeed vital, for the Department and the whole community to remember that this is not solely the Fire Service: it is the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, which sees personnel attend many life-threatening incidents, including car accidents. Again, only last week, there were severe flooding incidents. They attend serious transport incidents and farming incidents and many more possible disasters, such as medical and cardiac emergencies, all to save lives and prevent tragedies. That requires funding. <BR /> <BR />In relation to value for money, it has to be recognised that, at present, the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service is one of the best performing in the UK, with an average cost of £38·72 per head compared with the average across the water of £43·69 per head of the population.”
“The Assembly would do well to ever remember the ultimate sacrifice made by Joe McCloskey. <BR /> <BR />As has already been mentioned, over the weekend, unfortunately, a serious fire in Castlewellan took the life of a young girl, Ellen Finnegan. We offer our sincere sympathies. Again, we pay tribute to the firefighters for the excellent work that they did in trying to save the life of that young girl. <BR /> <BR />We all accept that there are budgetary constraints right across the Department. At the same time, we must accept the huge budget reduction for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service over the past number of years; as I understand it, there has been a funding reduction of some 14·5% over the last four years. This is bound to have a dramatic effect on the ability to deliver the service that the organisation wishes to offer.”
“<BR /> <BR />We have only had to listen to, watch and read the headlines in our local media over the last week to learn about the horrific loss of life of a firefighter of some 25 years' experience. Mr Joe McCloskey lost his life in 2003. That has pained and tortured that family for all those years. We offer our sympathy to the McCloskey family and, indeed, to any others who have so grievously suffered the loss of a totally dedicated fireman. That is what constitutes a front-line service.”
“I must say, five minutes to discuss such an important issue is much too short a time. Anyway, at the outset, let me say, loud and clear, on behalf of myself, the Alliance Party and the wider community that what we have in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service are some of the most courageous people who put their lives on the line to do the job of their choosing. That is, as has been said, to save life and limb whatever the circumstances, even to the point of sacrificing their own life. That is what I call dedication to the people whom they serve. That can only be described as a front-line service and must be regarded as such. Anyone who says or thinks otherwise is, in my opinion, in denial and living in cloud cuckoo land. I welcome members of the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service to the Building this afternoon.”
“I remind the Minister and, indeed, other Members that there are more than two fishing ports in Northern Ireland. There are Kilkeel, Ardglass and Portavogie, which Mr Wells seems to have forgotten about. The Minister mentioned the Comber potato. I remind the Minister that unless he joins with the Minister of Agriculture to do something in relation to the Comber spud, there will be none left, because of the prices that the growers are getting — 14 pence a kilo, yet they are being sold in the supermarkets for £1. There is something strange and very wrong. Will the Minister try to do something about that?”
“I thank the First Minister for her reply. Like others, I offer my congratulations to Mrs Foster on her appointment as First Minister and wish her every success in ensuring that Northern Ireland is a fair, just and prosperous society as we move forward. Will the First Minister commit to publishing the quarterly monitoring of the various Departments so that the implementation of the plan can be easily seen?”
“What discussions is the Minister having to ensure that the new Department is structured in such a way that the arts remain a central part of its work?”
“Given that regions like Scotland and, indeed, our neighbours across the border have successfully used increased global visibility for their arts and cultural sector, thereby raising their international profile, will you as Minister in this Assembly commit to making such a policy for us here in Northern Ireland as we move to the end of this Assembly term?”
“I am grateful to the Minister for her response.”
“That was a very long and convoluted answer; it is very difficult to keep in one's mind all the issues that she raised but I am sure that the Minister is aware from the 'Belfast Telegraph' the other morning that farmers in my constituency growing the famous Comber spud are receiving 14p a kilo for their product. At the same time, the supermarkets charge over £1. In those dire circumstances that farmers face, will the Minister ensure that every opportunity is given to farmers and landowners to obtain funding to ensure that energy saving is a priority on their farms and businesses?”
“I will also be extremely brief on this group of amendments. On the whole, they tighten up the definition of the purposes for which data can be collected and ensure that it is explicitly understood that research is for healthcare and social care purposes and that there is no ambiguity. It could be argued that that was already the intent of the legislation, but going the extra distance to tighten definitions should provide the public with additional confidence. On behalf of the Alliance Party, I support the second group of amendments.”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I appreciate that there are concerns about amendment No 8, and it is right that this is given further consideration before the Assembly ultimately decides on the way forward. On behalf of the Alliance Party, I go along with the amendments before us today.”
“The sharing of individualised data already exists in an uncertain state, and its legality is shaped by the Human Rights Act, the Data Protection Act and the common law on confidentiality. The current basis of the public interest test is ambiguous and, indeed, risky. The Bill provides a proper ethical framework for the use of confidential data in the wider public interest and for the wider public good. In doing so, the correct balance has to be found between proportionate safeguards to protect the interests and privacy of individuals and ensuring that research and development can proceed in an effective manner. The amendments in this group on the whole enhance the effort to find the right balance.”
“We need to ensure that our legislation is sufficiently robust to allow us to continue to build on that success and to ensure that we remain a competitive location for the very best researchers in the world. We must also recognise that, without this legislation, Northern Ireland would be out of step with other jurisdictions and our researchers and practitioners would be hindered in engaging and collaborating effectively with their counterparts. It is clear that the legislation would benefit bodies such as the Northern Ireland Cancer Registry, which is funded by the Public Health Agency and located in Queen's University. <BR /> <BR />I appreciate that many people will have concerns about the use of individual data.”
“I support the amendments in this group. The Bill may not be very long and may be viewed by some as marginal to the core challenges within the health service, but it could go a long way towards better facilitating research and understanding of some of those challenges and allow the health service to more efficiently and effectively tailor solutions. <BR /> <BR />We have an excellent life science research base in Northern Ireland. Many discoveries have been made and there is the potential for even more.”
“<BR /> <BR />I must express some sadness around the changes envisaged in clause 10 to fish dealers' licences in that there will be no need for a certificate from a justice of the peace. My disappointment comes from the fact that clause 10 will leave me, as a justice of the peace in Northern Ireland for 25 years, along with so many other JPs, with less work to do in future and fewer opportunities to meet and serve local people who require a fish dealer's licence. However, being the progressive individual that I am, I acknowledge this change, which should make life easier for those who require such a licence in future. In conclusion, given the Bill's critical importance and with limited time available, on behalf of my party I am happy to see the Bill move forward to the next stage.”
“I have to say that with Mr James's vast experience of these matters — and indeed that of his organisation — and his superb knowledge of all things fishing, I am extremely confident that we are on the right road. Although, having listened to the contributions of the Chair of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development and indeed the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, perhaps we will take longer to get to the end of that road. Also in support is the marine task force, which, again, has a vast amount of experience. I am happy to go along with its observations. The marine task force has stated that implementing clause 6, among other things, will put Northern Ireland on a par with Scotland, England and Wales.”
“Let us hope that, as we move forward, we can continue to make progress in the years ahead, sooner rather than later. <BR /> <BR />Earlier, I referred to the consultation that was carried out. It appears that there is support for the new updated Fisheries Bill to modernise the outgoing legislation, which, as Dick James of the Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Organisation said in his response, has generally stood the test of time and would remain in place subject to the amendment of the present Bill. In respect of sea fisheries, the effect would be relatively minor with an update of penalty direct application of EU legislation and the introduction of a permanent scheme to manage inshore fisheries, which, if used appropriately, is probably the best option.”
“It must be the ambition of us all in the Chamber to raise the profile of that very important industry and to get it back to prosperity and to providing a just and decent return for all the people who are engaged in what is a very difficult life. I pay tribute to all those hardy individuals who are out on the high seas at all hours of the day and night and indeed in all weathers, sometimes risking their lives, simply to earn and living and provide for their families. Perhaps, at this Stage, we can offer our thanks and appreciation to the present agriculture and fisheries Minister and her staff for a fairly successful or, at least, better outcome from the December EC annual stocktake and quota meeting, which was held in Brussels just before Christmas.”
“As a member of the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development and on behalf of Alliance Party, I am happy to support the Fisheries Bill. However, important as the Bill is, one has to ask why it has taken so long to reach Second Stage, given that consultation on it was carried out from 18 August 2014 and closed on 10 November 2014. My colleague Robin Swann has just referred to that. The Executive agreed to proceed only on 26 March 2015. We are now in 2016 and, indeed, in the last phase of the present mandate. I, like others, certainly hope that all implications of the Fisheries Bill will be properly scrutinised and that no shortcuts will be taken simply to see it through before the end of March 2016. <BR /> <BR />The fishing industry has been in the doldrums for quite some time — indeed for many years.”
“<BR /> <BR />In conclusion, as this is the Final Stage of the Insolvency (Amendment) Bill, it is also the final Christmas when I will have the privilege to contribute to the Assembly. Mr Principal Deputy Speaker, I take this opportunity to wish you, the Speaker and the Deputy Speakers, all your staff, all the staff working in this Building, and my 107 Assembly colleagues and their staff a very happy and enjoyable Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous 2016.”
“Although there is no financial cost to having different laws, there is a good case for harmonising some of these rules because of the increasing number of businesses that operate across all jurisdictions. As I understand, there are nine objectives in the Bill, and Alliance is content that the broad thrust of the Bill is well intended and will improve the insolvency process. For example, the proposed abolition of the little-used clause relating to early discharge is welcome. This has been demonstrated in England and Wales to be costly, with little benefit to justify the cost. While I am not on the Committee, I have full confidence in all its members. They have fulfilled their duties and done a good job, and I commend them all for that.”
“Like others, I will be brief. As I said earlier, Christmas is coming, so we want to get away and get our work and family business done. On behalf of the Alliance Party, I support the Bill and I thank Minister Bell for bringing it to this stage in the Assembly for approval. Insolvency is, of course, a very difficult process for business people and has a significant financial and emotional toll on people affected. <BR /> <BR />Northern Ireland, like most regions, is emerging from recession, and, as a result of that, we have seen the impact that insolvency can have. Sadly, we have also seen the deficiencies in the law highlighted more often as a result. This is largely a Bill to tidy up the insolvency laws in Northern Ireland. In part, this is about restoring parity between the laws in England and Wales and this region.”
“<BR /> <BR />On behalf of the Alliance Party, I welcome and support the Final Stage of the Bill.”
“<BR /> <BR />As I said recently, our Committee, when we were discussing the Food Hygiene Rating Bill, had the pleasure of visiting premises that prepare food and offer food to the public. I was very impressed with the work that goes on in producing the best-quality food for the public to enjoy. I was extremely impressed by the efforts made by the management and staff in our very own Blue Flax restaurant. They must be congratulated on the work that they do. I also commend the environmental health officers who are employed by our local councils for their work in helping to deliver to the public only the best-quality food premises. It is unfortunate that there are occasions when food providers fall foul of what is required. Our environmental health officers do an excellent job in putting things right on those occasions.”