Barry McElduff
West Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“I empathise to some degree with those who are qualified longer needing to secure posts, and I encourage the Minister to look creatively at that in the future, if he can. Is there any possibility of introducing or exploring the possibility of a scheme to refresh the head teacher workforce in our schools?”
“Further to Mr Agnew's question, I point out that your predecessor, Minister O'Dowd, was able to increase provision in the most socially deprived areas from 20% to 25%. We want universal provision, but, in some wards that are otherwise regarded as affluent, there are big pockets of deprivation, so is there any scope for looking at that?”
“In light of the fact that there have been increases to teachers' pension contributions and employees' National Insurance contributions as well as, in recent years, changes to income tax thresholds, will teachers be better off or worse off? How does that compare with other public-sector workers?”
“Members will be aware of some problems with the process in the last mandate. For example, the primary schools consultation feedback took the Education Authority over one year to analyse. It was not without its problems.”
“Parents with children in special schools are part of the process for the first time, and they want assurance that the added-value nature of special schools will not be lost in an attempt to standardise provision. <BR /> <BR />As a Sinn Féin MLA, I will say in Irish that we will support the DUP amendment.”
“I will make the first part of my contribution in my role as Chair of the Education Committee, and then I will make some comments from a party political perspective.”
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“I think that it will be appropriate in time for the relevant local government authorities in Donegal, Derry and Omagh to look at ways and means of reflecting his legacy. As someone who regularly attends the Mid Ulster Drama Festival, I know that a Friel play was always the highlight of nine nights in a row of theatre in Carrickmore. <BR /> <BR />Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbhrón a dhéanamh lena mhuintir.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom mo chomhbrhón a dhéanamh le muintir Friel agus tá sé tábhachtach an comhbrhón sin a chur in iúl ag an am seo. I thank Anna Lo for tabling this very important matter and the deputy First Minister for acknowledging Brian Friel's "Killyclogherness". Derry and Donegal have, perhaps, the strongest claim on him, but I think that it is important for somebody from the Omagh district to step up here and say that we are very proud of him as well, and we do not give up our characters too handily. Brian Friel joins major local literary figures, such as Alice Milligan and Benedict Kiely, who are no longer with us. They were major literary figures from the Omagh district, I suggest.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. The Minister is aware of my strong interest in three schools in the Omagh district, for which I have been lobbying over the summer months. They are: Dean Maguirc College, Carrickmore; St. Scire's Primary School, Trillick; and All Saints Primary School, Tattysallagh. Is there any way in which the Westminster Government can be persuaded to give the Minister's Department a workable budget to make sure that schools in category 1 can proceed without delay?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for her answers. What form will the consultation on subregional facilities take?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I commend the Minister and her Department for the excellent work on the rural proofing Bill so far. Can the Minister further outline what powers and provisions will be in the Bill?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Given the ageing population and the higher numbers with mobility problems, there is a greater need for single-storey dwellings from either the Housing Executive or the housing associations. Can the Minister intervene with his colleague to ensure, particularly in the Omagh area, the greater availability of single-storey dwellings, specifically for people with mobility problems and for our ageing population?”
“I beg to introduce the Rates (Relief for Community Amateur Sports Clubs) Bill [NIA 59/11-16], which is a Bill to amend the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977 to make provision for relief from non-domestic rates for registered community amateur sports clubs.”
“He referred to the transfer of powers from DRD to the Department of the Environment. <BR /> <BR />He mentioned "responsible businesses". We have heard that the Bill will reduce the regulatory burden, but how will it do so? Will the responsible businesses notice any changes, and what will be the better outcomes for responsible businesses? Furthermore, how will the legislation change the way in which the Department works with councils? Will that work, as the Minister outlined, be largely in the area of air-quality assessments, or will it be more than that? A third question is on powers of entry. What is the difference between the current situation and the proposed situation? My contribution was essentially to ask three or four questions.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Ba mhaith liom labhairt go gairid ar an reachtaíocht seo. On the surface, the Bill appears to be very positive and necessary, if it is aimed at reducing bureaucracy. This legislation will come to the Committee in the early autumn. <BR /> <BR />From what I picked up from the Minister today, and from a briefing to the Committee in March, the Bill seems quite technical. I am asking a few questions now. Is it a desk exercise? Is it like the strategic planning policy in the sense that it brings together existing rules, regulations and powers under one umbrella, or is it more substantive than that? The word that the Minister used most was "streamlining"; there was a lot of streamlining in the Minister's contribution.”
“The Minister said that one of the key factors in that was the reliability of modern breathalysing equipment. <BR /> <BR />My colleague Ian Milne will speak later on group 2 and will make it clear that we are taking a precautionary approach to other amendments. <BR /> <BR />I reflect that the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee have accurately dealt with the Committee's position on each of the amendments in group 1 relating to drink-driving law reform.”
“At an early stage in the process, the Committee expressed concerns about a number of provisions, but, as the Minister outlined, the Department was responsive to the Committee's concerns. I do not always say it, but the Department was well served by the calibre of the officials who came before the Committee and listened carefully to everything that the Committee had to say. The Committee has now arrived at a situation where the Minister has accepted, in this group of amendments, its recommendations. <BR /> <BR />As has been stated, group 1 relates to drink-driving law reform and the removal of the statutory option. Compliance with European human rights legislation and standards was key to securing our support, and that has been achieved.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. I rise to speak on the first group of amendments to the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, which, as outlined, contains 27 clauses and two schedules. Other Members, including the Minister, have reminded us of the main objectives of the Bill. At the outset of my party's contribution to Consideration Stage, I want to point out that Cathal Boylan, who led for us in Committee, has recently undergone a major operation. I wish him a full and speedy recovery. Cathal certainly played a full role in the scrutiny process of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />As has been outlined by the Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee, we have reached consensus in the Committee on the group 1 amendments, as I understand it, and we broadly support the Bill.”
“Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Minister for the detail in his answer. Very many rural communities in West Tyrone are being left at the mercy of private satellite companies that provide a much poorer product and customer service. To cut to the chase, I ask the Minister for a commitment, here and now, to meet me and a group of representative people from the West Tyrone constituency aimed at getting to grips with our rural broadband and mobile phone coverage problems once and for all.”
“I commend the Minister and the Minister of Education for work done in this area by way of a lot of meetings with Minister Quinn and, subsequently, Minister O'Sullivan. Is the Minister satisfied that part of the training for careers teachers and careers advisers is touching on the range and type of courses that are available to local students along the border corridor in the likes of Institute of Technology, Sligo, Letterkenny Institute of Technology and Dundalk Institute of Technology?”
“Go raibh maith agat. Would the Minister consider supporting the notion of funding being made available to ethnic community support groups like the Omagh Ethnic Community Support Group on a multi-annual basis so that they can prepare for the longer term rather than on a year-to-year basis. I join other Members in welcoming junior Minister McIlveen to the House in her new role.”
“Go raibh maith agat. I thank junior Minister McIlveen for her answer. Does she believe that reform of the legislation will be a key feature of the racial equality strategy? How does she envisage such reform of the legislation rolling out?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. My question follows on from those raised by Bronwyn McGahan and David McIlveen. Is the deputy First Minister satisfied that Minister Paschal Donohoe and an Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, remain fully committed to the A5 project from the Dublin Government side? I note the comments by the deputy First Minister on the expectation that a paper from Minister Kennedy on taking the project forward will come to the Executive in the coming weeks.”
“I will zone in on the current needs of Omagh Independent Advice Services. Will the Minister ensure that senior officials from his Department work closely and directly with Omagh Independent Advice Services to fix a hole in its finances? I understand that the deficit runs to £12,000 for the current year.”
“Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire agus le cathaoirleach an Choiste Comhshaoil as an mhíniú. I thank the Minister and the Committee Chair, Anna Lo, for explaining the statutory rule once again and for reminding us that the Committee looked at this earlier in the spring. Most of the issues have been covered in the explanations, but I want to ask the Minister about the incentive for early payment. I think that the figure in the legislation is a 25% reduction. I wonder how that figure was arrived at and whether there is any information based on the Scottish experience of how many people tend to pay early in the process with that reduced figure.”
“How can you be sure the fines will have an impact?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. My intention is to speak briefly in favour of the motion. As has been outlined by the Minister and the Chair of our Statutory Committee, we are dealing with a provision for a level of fixed monetary penalties in minor cases of marine pollution. We are dealing with the less serious type of offence, and that is reflected in the low level of fines. <BR /> <BR />I will ask a couple of questions of the Minister, if he is in a position to take them. How might public awareness of the new by-laws be raised? Can we be certain that the fines will have an impact?”
“Is there anything that the Minister and her Department can do to assist businesses for which the revaluation exercise could become a tipping point, forcing them to lay off employees or even to close their doors? I am thinking about a number of small rural towns in west Tyrone, where it appears that local businesses have been hammered. One business in the Carrickmore area has seen a rise of 618%.”
“The revaluation is a long overdue correction and a help to many businesses that have been facing difficulty. Sectors and locations that have not performed well since the last revaluation 12 years ago are now paying less. Conversely, those that have fared better are paying more. The revaluation is informed by the property market, and we are not raising more money from it. However, should the correction present individual business with excessive financial pressures, I encourage them to speak to Land and Property Services about the possibility of a payment arrangement.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for his statement. Is the Minister at liberty to pinpoint the location of the two illegal waste landfill sites, which are to be addressed in this calendar year? Can he also outline the scale of the problem at both locations?”
“I commend the Department, the Minister and the Committee for Culture, Arts and Leisure, which has taken a very strong interest in this subject.”
“I am not sure whether you noticed that or not, Mr Speaker. <BR /> <BR />At that match, a tragic situation developed close to half time where two people in the stand required the use of a defibrillator. Unfortunately, one gentleman died, but one life was fortunately saved. This is a matter of life and death, and it would be good to have this type of register across all public buildings and to have the involvement of all Departments.”
“<BR /> <BR />Some other issues have been thrown up with rural locations, such as the value of having house numbers on display and making sure that name signs for roads are clear in rural communities. In my constituency, I am aware that, in the recent past, the absence of proper signage at Retreat View and Granagh Lane led to emergency services going past those locations and having to come back. Can you imagine if that were to happen in the case of someone needing a defibrillator? <BR /> <BR />The GAA, the IFA, the rugby authorities and other sporting bodies are all playing their part in a very impressive way. Earlier this month, when Tyrone won the All-Ireland Under-21 Championship title at Parnell Park in Dublin —”
“I am pleased to note that, in my county of Tyrone, the Cormac Trust initiative has been rolled out to every club and every community. Just yesterday evening, I visited my own club rooms in Carrickmore to see that there is a dedicated, accessible building clearly marked with "defibrillator" on it. I had a discussion with parents who were waiting to collect their young ones from training about their knowledge of that defibrillator and spoke to some people who had been trained in its use. In the Carrickmore community in mid-Tyrone, a first responders organisation has been established as well. It is made up of volunteers who live or work in the area, and they have been trained to attend certain 999 calls in support of the Ambulance Service.”
“I am pleased that the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure is in attendance, and I note from the Research and Information Service (RaISe) document that has been provided to all MLAs that, in correspondence from the Minister to the Committee in February of this year, she stated that she would welcome and support a strategic response across all Departments on this important matter and committed DCAL to taking action. <BR /> <BR />I am familiar with the work of the Cormac Trust. Following the tragic death of Cormac McAnallen in 2004, there was a lot of focus — understandably so — on the need to provide automated external defibrillators to communities and to train people in their use. Other Members referred to other sporting individuals who died or nearly died in various scenarios.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Tá mé an-sásta tacaíocht a thabhairt don rún seo, agus don leasú chomh maith. I very much welcome the motion and commend my colleagues for taking the initiative to table it. I also welcome the amendment, which certainly adds value and increases the amount and type of action that needs to be taken and will be taken to save lives. <BR /> <BR />I strongly support the mapping of defibrillator provision in DCAL, its relevant agencies and, indeed, all the other Departments, as is referred to specifically in the amendment.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. Can the Minister, either now or in writing, detail the life-saving treatments and services that will be available at the new local hospital in Omagh following the transfer of services from Tyrone County Hospital that is expected to take place early next year? Can he detail the treatments that will be available in an area where many people, through being in a rural setting, are very distant from an acute hospital?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. It was brought to my attention within the last week by a lady from the Tamlaght Road area of Omagh that light is being blocked from going into her kitchen, which is having a very detrimental impact on her amenity. What advice does the Minister have for that lady, who cannot afford the £350 fee?”
“I think that it is relevant to the third paragraph, which talks about the North/South work programme as it pertains to transport sectoral.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Will the Minister commit to introducing some urgency in the North/South work programme on the collating of evidence regarding the damaging, detrimental impact that the HGV road users levy has on our local economy? I know that the Minister is committed to assessing evidence, but is there any indication from him on the methodology for collecting the evidence? I have constituents who are making that point, and they want to know what to do.”
“I thank the Minister for her strong interest in Omagh, Strabane and the West Tyrone constituency. Following the review of public administration, may I encourage the Minister to engage directly with Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and with the DOE Planning Service to see whether additional flexibilities can be achieved in the future to identify land suitable for inward investment in the Omagh area?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I hope that you are all keeping well.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I thank the Minister for her comprehensive answer. She will know that I organised a public meeting in Eskragh some months ago, which was attended by representatives of BT and satellite broadband providers. I understand that DETI officials, who were unable to attend the meeting, were to discuss their input to all of that. <BR /> <BR />Will the Minister undertake to write to me to detail in an even more comprehensive way — drilling down to further detail about the various exchanges — the precise measures that are planned for the 2015-16 year to improve broadband coverage in rural west Tyrone? <BR /> <BR />I was delighted to hear the Minister speak musically of all those townlands and villages. It was beautiful to hear that.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Phríomh-LeasCheann Comhairle. What existing environmental functions will transfer to the new Department after restructuring?”
“Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Minister for her reply, particularly her reference to the notion of removing restrictions. Has the Minister or her Department given consideration to enabling credit unions to provide financial support to local businesses, most typically small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)?”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. I ask the Minister whether this legislation has or will be subject to equality impact assessment.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. It was, indeed, a big weekend for sport. The Tyrone hurlers beat Roscommon, which I would like to add to the list of feats over the weekend. <BR /> <BR />The Minister mentioned reaching out to developing tourism markets such as North America and Australia. Is work being done by Tourism Ireland to reach out to the Irish diaspora and to those who have emigrated to assist us in this work? There are a lot of Tyrone people in Philadelphia and New York. A joint mission by the Minister and Minister Donohoe might prove very fruitful.”
“Following on from the Minister's reference to the stocktake report, does he agree that, essentially, the stocktake report was a missed opportunity to resolve the issues central to the dispute in Roe House?”
“I just want to explain to the House that I have had sight of the HET report on the Kingsmills incident — the murders. Several suspects are named in that document. Raymond McCreesh is not named in that document — 106 pages — as a suspect in relation to the Kingsmills murders. I want to put that on the public record.”
“— why are so many non-determination appeals taking place? Why are people not even waiting for a refusal and going straight to appeal? Does the Minister have anything to say about the Screggagh incident?”
“On the one hand, the industry will emphasise jobs created by wind farms and, on the other hand, groups like Lisnaharney Area Residents Group will emphasise displacement of jobs through lost tourism potential. <BR /> <BR />Reference is made in paragraphs 10 and 11 to wind turbine regulations — ETSU-97 or ETSU-R-97 — and there is general agreement that these need to be reviewed, that local government authorities and environmental health departments are far too stretched by regularly adjudicating on such matters and that perhaps there should be more of an onus on developers to prove that the noise regulations are being adhered to. <BR /> <BR />There are many questions for the Minister. For example —”
“I want to commend the local group of residents from the Lisnaharney area, which is in close proximity to Gortin, who have a very positive and proactive community development agenda for that beautiful part of the Sperrins near Gortin. Their plan for the future to create jobs and build tourism is based largely on exploiting the outdoor recreation potential of that area, and, in their submission, they point to the detrimental impact on visual amenity of a large-scale wind farm application and possible displacement of jobs in the tourism sector.”
“In paragraph 22, there is reference to a cumulative impact and saturation point in the number of wind developments that are either operational in or planned for an area. Paragraph 18 highlights the fact that, hitherto, there has been a lack of a strategic approach to zoning or identifying the most appropriate locations for wind turbines. <BR /> <BR />I am aware of a number of large-scale applications in the pipeline. One of those is described as Doraville, and it has wide implications for communities in the Glenelly valley in south Derry and the part of the Sperrins in Broughderg. Indeed, I helped to facilitate a pre-application hearing for residents in respect of that application, and the scale of it is most worrying.”
“They would have liked the timing to be different, as, with the development of the single planning policy statement and the report being almost coincidental, they are unable at this point to take full account of the recommendations in our report. <BR /> <BR />I refer to paragraph 3 of the report. My party is supportive of Programme for Government targets, but my colleague Cathal Boylan made the point earlier that we cannot ignore the concerns of local residents who have questioned the way in which that target is being achieved through an over-reliance on wind energy and an underemphasis on and underutilisation of other renewable energy sources. <BR /> <BR />What about the key conclusions and recommendations? In paragraph 18, there is specific mention of my constituency of West Tyrone and the issue of saturation point.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a LeasCheann Comhairle. At the outset, I, too, want to thank the Clerk and staff of the Committee, as well as our Chairperson, Anna Lo, and Deputy Chairperson, Pamela Cameron, for their leadership throughout the inquiry. I endorse the Chair's statement ahead of today's debate, which essentially calls for a more strategic approach in the siting of wind infrastructure and an urgent review of current noise guidelines. <BR /> <BR />I suppose that the recommendations contained in the report constitute advice to government, principally to the Minister of the Environment and the Department generally. Yesterday, a Sinn Féin delegation met the Minister and senior planning officials from his Department, and they have undertaken to give full and thorough consideration to the report.”
“I thank the Minister for the specific answer and the detail contained therein. I hope that the Minister sees a connection with my supplementary question, because I do, although my mind might work in funny ways. Enterprise zone status might appear like a long shot. Coleraine has enterprise zone status. Might there be a case for enterprise zone status for Omagh, the county town of Tyrone, if you have ever heard tell of it?”