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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“I thank the Minister for his response. How will he ensure — in fact, guarantee — that this warmly welcomed additional funding capital will make a real and substantial advance on the current pattern of segregated education throughout Northern Ireland?”
“Over this financial year and the likely time needed to implement welfare reform, I understand that the Executive will have surrendered over £150 million that could have been spent on protecting core public services. Unfortunately, that money is now lost. Perhaps those who tabled the motion might wish to reflect on their earlier actions. <BR /> <BR />However, we will support the motion and the amendment, but it is an ethos that must run through all our public services and apply to the Minister here, not just to the British Government.”
“It is also why we should ensure that DARD, for instance, spends its money on promoting agriculture and supporting farmers rather than spending millions of pounds moving the headquarters from Dundonald to Ballykelly in the current financial circumstances. We do support the spreading of Civil Service jobs to other regions. The question is about the timing. A better definition of core public services could be useful in that regard, as it would allow us to differentiate between front-line services and other areas of spend. <BR /> <BR />Finally, it is worth remembering the political cost of obstructionism. We only need to look at the recent welfare reform proposals and the fines that the Northern Ireland Executive were forced to surrender to the Treasury.”
“It must also mean that it is not allocated on the basis of a carve-up between the two larger parties. If that were to be the case, we would not be doing the best that we could to protect core services in such difficult financial times. However, that attitude must go further. It is not only when dealing with the British Government that we should seek to protect core public services. We should prioritise them with a united front in our own dealings here at home in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />That is why it is important that we seek to push the Department of Education's protection on to the schools rather than absorbing it in bureaucracy.”
“The motion is a timely reminder of the need for every politician and public representative to recognise the importance of our key public services. For us in Alliance, that means protecting front-line services and targeting funding on deprivation where appropriate. A sense of agreement amongst the parties before Christmas, at the eleventh hour, certainly helped to contribute to a better financial deal in the Stormont House Agreement. We welcome the fact that we have been able to secure an extra £2 billion of spending power from the British Government. It is now, however, important that we monitor exactly how well this money is spent, so that we can ensure that we get the very best deal out of all of this for our constituents and, indeed, for the years ahead. <BR /> <BR />This means that we allocate this funding on the basis of need.”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree that the delivery of meals on wheels until now provided not only good nutritional food but an important social contact with the people driving the vans? In many cases, it was the only face that they saw or voice that they heard all day. That is now to be denied, and deliveries will take place only once a fortnight or even once a month.”
“I am very grateful to the Minister for her response. I noted that she described the coastline as "beautiful". I hope that, in that regard, she thinks about the residents who live along the coastline. Will she put out any initiative to ensure that our precious asset of Strangford lough can be used by all sporting organisations so that we can carry on with a good, healthy, outdoor lifestyle?”
“Can the Minister tell the Assembly what, if any, work will fall by the wayside as a result of the savings that are spoken about in paragraph 19?”
“Following on from that question, I am concerned about paragraphs 19 and 20. Paragraph 19 states that there have been:”
“<BR /> <BR />Childhood obesity is very important and something that we all know is going to have to be tackled in the future. Can the Minister advise if there is any possibility, under the EU action plan on childhood obesity, for funding to be directed to ensure that our young people, particularly our schoolchildren, continue to get the education that is needed and the wholesome food that has been provided but that is under threat because of serious budget constraints in Northern Ireland? Is there any chance that the Minister could chase that up to ensure that youngsters at our schools continue to get good wholesome food, fruit etc?”
“Mr Speaker, I take this opportunity to congratulate you on being elected Speaker and wish you every success in the future. I also take this opportunity to welcome our Health Minister back. He was lying very low over the last fortnight, so I am delighted to see that he is around and fighting well. <BR /> <BR />The report that we have has this morning is very comprehensive. It covers many important issues and the progress on them. I am delighted to hear and see the Minister's enthusiasm to see Ireland united on the introduction of minimum unit pricing at the same time. As the Minister has said himself, most of what is contained in the statement is about everybody cooperating very well to the benefit of all our people on the island.”
“I am very grateful to the Member for giving way. Does she agree that this Assembly should have great concern in view of the fact that we have just come through a crisis in A&E? Do we have a Health Minister? He has not been seen since the crisis came about. Given what the Member has just said, we should all be concerned that the Minister is around to oversee what is happening.”
“I thank the Minister for her response so far. Could she advise the Assembly on the suitable social partners? Would those include conservation groups, which already do excellent work throughout Northern Ireland?”
“I am grateful to the Member for giving way on that important topic. Like me, he is a member of the Agriculture Committee, and we have expressed concerns on a number of occasions about the wisdom of spending so much when money is scarce. Will the Member agree that even the farmers are a bit concerned about what is happening? I am a Member for Strangford, and a lot of my constituents are employed in Dundonald House, and they will certainly not be going to Ballykelly.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. He will know as well as I do that there is never smoke without fire. There are always rumours around. Indeed, I understand that it has come from officials of the Department for Regional Development. As the Minister knows, the Comber greenway is a fantastic asset for the Strangford and East Belfast constituencies, promoting health and leisure activities. Will the Minister guarantee, as he has done for me in relation to the senior citizens' SmartPass, that, under his watch, this little bit of heaven on earth will remain a cherished open space for everyone and that the pathway will not be encroached upon in any shape or form?”
“Can the Minister clarify beyond any doubt that he is strictly limited and is not advocating, as has been suggested in some quarters, that the Abortion Act 1967 be brought to Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the Deputy Chair of the Committee for his contribution. There is very little else to add. Members have a copy of the report, and, on behalf of the Alliance Party, I support the review of topical questions. I thank the Committee staff who worked with us to examine the issues fully and to come up with the report. I also thank those who came before the Committee to give evidence and, indeed, those who submitted written evidence. As in all cases, not everyone gets what they want, but I think that we have come to a fairly reasonable conclusion. Our Deputy Chair has covered all the important aspects of the review, and I am fully in agreement with him. I ask the Assembly to support the motion.”
“On a point of order, Mr Principal Deputy Speaker. When the Health Minister is here, will he join the rest of us in offering our deepest sympathy to the family of Mrs Una Crudden who sadly died at the weekend? Every Member will know how Una fought gallantly. She was more often in this Building than some of the rest of us.”
“Does the Minister not recognise that this is yet another attack on the elderly and infirm? It comes on the back of the reduction of meals on wheels, particularly in rural areas. What he proposes applies to not just the Northern Trust but other trusts. It will end up with more of our senior citizens going into hospital, which is something that we are trying to avoid.”
“Will the Minister give a commitment that, if she gets the opportunity to contribute to the tourism strategy, she will ensure that the new, revitalised Exploris in Portaferry is in the promotional material, so that we can encourage visitors to that constituency?”
“I thank the Member for giving way. Does the Member agree with the Justice Minister when he said earlier that the fullest cooperation between his Department and Lord Morrow is exactly where we are at today, and it should be welcomed by everyone?”
“Given that some schools have prepared and are openly preparing children for the selection tests and that, equally, other schools are refusing to do so, is there anything that the Minister can do or intends to do to regularise what is happening and simply provide a level playing field for all our schoolchildren?”
“That should free up resources to ensure the long-term sustainability of the MS respite centre at Dalriada, which should continue to provide that service, for which demand will only increase. <BR /> <BR />Every Member will be aware of how crucial respite care and respite breaks are for MS patients and, indeed, their carers. It is simply a lifeline that contributes to the well-being of all concerned. Without respite provision, MS patients can experience declining health, which inevitably leads to costly hospital admissions. That is exactly the opposite of what Transforming Your Care advocates. Surely the officers at the Northern Trust and, indeed, the Minister, who is with us today, must appreciate that cutting this respite facility will lead to much more being spent, because MS patients will be admitted to hospital. Let us retain Dalriada.”
“I will at the end, John, if I have time. I believe that there is a requirement for the new Minister to give a clear sense of direction as to how he intends to strategically plan and manage the future provision of health and social care as we move forward. <BR /> <BR />We know that the available resources are not going to keep pace with the growing levels of demand. Therefore, some tough and radical decisions will have to be taken in relation to ensuring that there are efficiencies and less waste throughout the entire health service. That will entail a stronger focus on public health and primary care and on ensuring that resources are invested in the community and in a consolidated acute service provision.”
“I believe that it is a combination of the loss of the facility and a scepticism over the reliability of the alternative provision offered. That is an ever-increasing concern with respect to Transforming Your Care. <BR /> <BR />The Transforming Your Care document is the journey that we are all on. We have supported it up until now. It is a fundamentally sound policy intention, but it has been undermined in the absence of a significant and transparent transfer of resources into community provision and primary care.”
“I acknowledge the situation that the Department finds itself it, but if there was an epidemic, God forbid, in the morning, I can assure you that the Department would find whatever money it would take to get on top of that. We acknowledge that it will not be easy given the pressures that the Department is under, but we must make an effort. <BR /> <BR />Many questions have been asked about what will happen from April 2015 onwards. Surely, there is greater scope to restore funding in that context. That, in turn, begs the question: what wider reforms or savings can be undertaken to ensure provision of resources for Dalriada Hospital's regional multiple sclerosis respite centre? Reaction against the closure has been strong, and rightly so.”
“The fact that the situation has arisen raises questions regarding the financial management or mismanagement and planning over the last few years and begs questions over the future sustainability of the health budget in coming years. <BR /> <BR />As has already been said, over 4,000 people across Northern Ireland suffer from multiple sclerosis. Respite to give some essential support to carers is absolutely vital. I note that this is a regional facility offering a service to all the people of Northern Ireland. We hope that the Northern Trust can find the shortfall to keep Dalriada open, given that we are only talking about £600,000. However, it appears that the trust has very little room for manoeuvre. <BR /> <BR />If any immediate salvation is to come, it is more likely that the resources can be found from the Department.”
“I fully support the comments made by Fearghal McKinney. On behalf of the Alliance Party, I support the motion. Any proposed reduction in health service provision for our community causes real concern. It is right and proper that the community and elected representatives speak up loud and clear in the hope that officials in the Department get the message. <BR /> <BR />The closure or, indeed, temporary closure, as we have been told, of the excellent facility is, on the surface, a reflection of the in-year financial pressures that continue to be experienced by the Department of Health, notwithstanding the generous reallocation of budgets to the Department through the June and October monitoring rounds.”
“I hear the Minister's response in relation to this. I hear it in her voice that she is determined to see this through and she has almost reached the stage of arrogance. In view of the horrendous fiscal situation every Department is in, and how they have all had to cut back, why and how is she so determined that this will go ahead, mindful that others have had to cancel or postpone projects?”
“Does the junior Minister agree that it would be better for Northern Ireland if we had a single equality Act as soon as possible rather than trying to address equality issues piecemeal, bearing in mind that it is almost five years since GB introduced its Equality Act?”
“Will the Minister outline how he thinks such advice and empowerment can be passed on to young people, especially how it can be done other than through the school system?”
“The Alliance Party welcomes this very important statement this morning. I thank the Minister for delivering it. There are two issues of great concern for me about how to empower children to avoid all such abuse. The Minister said in his statement:”
“I am grateful to the Minister for giving way. I could not resist the temptation. The former Minister told the Assembly and the country at large that he would not implement the cuts that were coming down the line if he was not given the £180 million during the monitoring round. The Minister did not get that funding, and, as a result, he did what he said he would do: step back. You, unfortunately, have become the hatchet man who will implement these drastic cuts, which will affect everyone in Northern Ireland.”
“Does the Minister concur with the commitment given by his Assembly Private Secretary (APS), Mr Easton, that the money will be found to keep the minor injuries unit open in Bangor? How exactly will that be done?”
“I am sorry that I cannot afford Sammy a few minutes.”
“— in limited circumstances. The Assembly has to step up to the mark.”
“We would also encourage a greater focus on early intervention and prevention and support for mental health issues. Cutting in those areas would be counterproductive. Surely, the Department must see that. <BR /> <BR />Some tough decisions over the facilities in the health estate across Northern Ireland will have to be taken. We are top-heavy in that regard. We will need to concentrate acute services and, at the same time, better resource community services and GPs. We would even consider whether there is surplus land within the health system that could form part of an asset-sale strategy for the Executive to allow that money to be reinvested in health provisions. <BR /> <BR />Alliance is also open to tough decisions around the reintroduction of prescription charges —”
“We have a concern that Transforming Your Care, which was supposed to provide a better service for patients as well as make the system more efficient, is, due to its financial pressures, being slowed down rather than accelerated. Surely, that is a false economy. <BR /> <BR />That is borne out in the seemingly bizarre decision to suspend the minor injuries units in Bangor and other places. Such a suspension will only shift greater burdens on to already overstretched A&E services. The same can be said about Dalriada, Lagan Valley and Downe and in the reduction in domiciliary care. All of those measures will put pressure on our A&E units. <BR /> <BR />Alliance would encourage a greater focus on better public health, the reduction of smoking and alcohol consumption, and awareness of obesity issues and illegal drugs etc.”
“Hold on, Sammy, until I see how I get on.”
“It is obvious that there has been a state of denial over this looming crisis, with the notion that gaps could be plugged through allocations from the various monitoring rounds. That approach was blown out of the water with the crisis of how to address welfare reform in Northern Ireland and the financial penalties. To be clear: the problems with our resourcing of the health system predate welfare reform, but the failure of the Executive and Assembly to agree the way forward on welfare reform seriously complicates any solution. <BR /> <BR />Alliance is open to considering additional resources for health, as it is provided for in the draft Budget, but that has to come in the context of a proper strategic review of expenditure across the board.”
“We do not dispute that increased pressures are being placed on the health budget by changing demographics and other factors in our society. That is why we need to be prepared to do things differently in some respects — in fact, in many respects. However, major questions have to be asked about how we have stumbled into a major financial crisis this year, with considerable resources having to be diverted from other Departments to bail out the health service, with a similar situation proposed in the Executive's draft Budget 2015-16. <BR /> <BR />We are told that even those major Budget reallocations will be insufficient to meet rising demands, and we continue to see the effects of the cuts to health provision. Clearly, this situation has not emerged in just one financial year but has been building up over many years.”
“If I have time at the end, Mr Wilson. <BR /> <BR />Alliance recognises that the status quo in our health and social services sector is not sustainable. We have to welcome the development that people are living longer and we need to invest in new technologies, treatments, drugs and diagnostics. Our ultimate anchor point throughout those changes should be the maintenance of a quality public National Health Service that treats all citizens fairly and that is based on need, when they need it, and not at the end of a long waiting list. <BR /> <BR />Alliance continues to support the broad thrust of Transforming Your Care. It offers the potential for a much more strategic and integrated approach to the changing health needs of our population. However, we have increased concerns about its delivery or, perhaps, its non-delivery.”
“The Alliance Party believes that there has been poor management of the health budget over recent years and, indeed, maybe mismanagement as the Finance Minister indicated. There also appears to be a counterproductive undermining or retreat from the implementation of Transforming Your Care. <BR /> <BR />It must also be said that the two parties behind the motion and the amendment are failing to take any realistic position on how the Executive can balance their Budget next year and over the remainder of this decade. Nor are they offering any compelling alternative to ensure that the funding of the health and social services sector can be placed on a sustainable footing and address the health requirements of our population.”
“Secondly, there is an advantage to the food sector as a whole from a process that will assist in driving standards up even higher. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, I suspect that most of the detailed debate will now revolve around the capacity of the district councils to implement the scheme. I have no doubt, as a former councillor of 28 years in the best council in Northern Ireland — namely, Ards Borough Council — that the council officers will rise to the challenge. Also, the rules and regulations around the right of appeal and the capacity to ask for a reassessment of the business are slightly different concepts. <BR /> <BR />On behalf of the Alliance Party, I support the Bill and look forward to giving it more detailed consideration later on.”
“There may be an assumption that, once again, the small cafes or restaurants will be the soft touches, in comparison to the bigger establishments, and be disproportionately affected by prosecution, fines etc. <BR /> <BR />To date, the voluntary scheme has operated and has been relatively successful. However, it has its limitations. As I understand it, just over half of businesses display their rating, and, naturally, the rate of display tends to follow the higher scores awarded. I think the Minister made some reference to that in his introductory remarks, and we know that it is correct. I do not think that businesses have anything to fear from that voluntary process becoming mandatory. First, most businesses are run well and responsibly, with a high standard of hygiene.”
“After the consultation period and discussion with the Health Committee, the preferred way forward was a new scheme with the mandatory display of ratings at food premises, plus recovery costs where businesses choose to request a rerating. <BR /> <BR />The Bill contains some 20 clauses. The implementation of the Bill will fall on local councils and their food inspectors. I support the comments of the small business group, the FSB, about ensuring that all inspectors are given the best training to enable them to fulfil their duties. The FSB also noted clauses 10 and 11, where offences are created and the fixed penalties kick in. Its concern is that all eateries and food supplies are subject to the same rules and regulations.”
“I rise to speak in favour of the Bill. I am a member of the Health Committee, and, as our Chair said, we fully support the efforts being made to make our food safe, particularly to ensure that food prepared and consumed in many eateries throughout Northern Ireland is safe for human consumption and, more importantly, that clients and customers have the knowledge that the premises have been examined and given a rating number indicating how the authorities regard the eating establishment. The Bill will make it mandatory for food businesses to display their food hygiene rating in a public place where clients can see it before they enter any of the premises. <BR /> <BR />There are, of course, safeguards built into the scheme, including the right of owners to appeal against a rating that they have been given.”
“I understand that the initial consultation presented views either way, and I will be interested to hear, at Committee Stage, what further views emerge during consultation. <BR /> <BR />I also support clauses 1 and 2, which allow modern business practices to be used on insolvency issues, such as authorising electronic means etc rather than printed references and correspondence, which will be very useful. <BR /> <BR />As others said, clause 1 also authorises online meetings, and those are timely and sensible changes. In conclusion, Alliance will support the Bill at this stage. We will, of course, follow the Committee scrutiny carefully and consider any issues that are raised at that stage. However, we support the passage of the Bill at Second Stage and agree with its provisions.”
“Although there is no financial cost to having different laws, there is a good case to be made to harmonise some of these rules among the increasing number of businesses that operate across both or all jurisdictions. <BR /> <BR />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 abolition of the little-used clause relating to early discharge is welcome. That has been demonstrated in England and Wales to be costly and of little benefit to justify the cost involved. <BR /> <BR />I am interested to hear the Minister's views and to hear whether further consultation on restricting practitioners to personal or corporate insolvency is intended.”
“On behalf of the Alliance Party, I support the Insolvency (Amendment) Bill and will say a few words on the issue. <BR /> <BR />Insolvency is a very difficult process for business people and can have a significant financial and, indeed, emotional toll on those who are affected. Like other areas, Northern Ireland is emerging from a recession. As a result, we have seen the impact that insolvency can have. Sadly, we have also seen deficiencies in the law highlighted more often as a result. I see this Bill as largely tidying up and updating, as the Minister said, the insolvency laws in this region. <BR /> <BR />This is in part about restoring parity between the laws in England and Wales and those here at home.”