Áine Murphy
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />To those who are following today's debate, I say this: the wounds left by rejection, secrecy and institutional mistreatment run too deep for any statute to fully heal. What we can do, however, is to confront that history honestly.”
“As is the case with so many families across Ireland, the legacy of those institutions has echoed through our family history. I am delighted that she is in the Public Gallery to see the legislation reach its Final Stage.”
“<BR /> <BR />During Committee Stage, we worked constructively across party lines, because we recognised that survivors deserved legislation that reflected their experiences. When survivors highlighted ways in which the Bill could be strengthened, we took those seriously.”
“Many had experienced rape, abuse or exploitation even before arriving at those institutions, yet, too often, they were treated as though they were the ones who should carry shame. <BR /> <BR />Throughout Committee Stage, we listened to testimony that was difficult to hear but impossible to ignore.”
“For decades, many victims and survivors believed that nobody wanted to hear their story, and they often carried shame that was never theirs to bear, grief that society expected them to live with and secrets that were forced upon them by institutions that were supposed to care for and protect them with compassion.”
“<BR /> <BR />We heard the frustration of many survivors who spent years trying to obtain the most basic information about their lives. As one group said to the Committee, survivors were told that their records could re-traumatise them. It is worse not to know such vital information.”
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“No, not at the minute. <BR /> <BR />Improving public transport in Fermanagh is vital to allow communities and towns in the county to thrive and prosper and to address regional imbalance. We also need to invest in our public transport to help to tackle the climate emergency, as it will have a very important role in tackling emissions and pollution. I appreciate that the Minister will take time to fully consider the all-island rail review, and I am confident that, in developing his departmental plan for the future delivery of rail in the North and across the island, he will look to ensure that the rail service works for and benefits everyone, including the people of Fermanagh.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is clear that we need to improve our public transport network, particularly in the north-west, in order to unlock economic opportunities and improve connectivity for workers and families. We also need to improve our road infrastructure, and I warmly welcome Minister O'Dowd's announcement last week to deliver the long-awaited A4 Enniskillen bypass. That investment will make a significant impact by cutting down journey times as well as traffic and pollution in Enniskillen's town centre. It will be an economic driver for Enniskillen and, indeed, Fermanagh more generally. <BR /> <BR />There has been much frustration and disappointment in Fermanagh that the draft all-island strategic rail review did not recommend connections for the county. It is the only county for which rail provision is not recommended.”
“I take the opportunity to speak on the motion, and I thank those who tabled it. <BR /> <BR />Over the past number of weeks in the Chamber, I have heard a lot about regional imbalance in the north-west. For decades, our local economy in Fermanagh has been stifled due to lack of investment and infrastructure. Tourism is a key economic driver for many businesses in our towns and villages, from Lisnaskea to Enniskillen and Belcoo to Rosslea. With the right type of investment, we could truly unlock their full potential. I am incredibly lucky to have grown up beside the beautiful shores of Lough Erne. I would be delighted for our local tourism economy to grow so that people could experience our beautiful part of the island and see what we have to offer.”
“I thank the Minister for making his statement this afternoon. With funding running out in March of next year, will he work with local enterprise agencies, such as Fermanagh Enterprise in my constituency, to co-design a successor to the Go Succeed programme?”
“I place on record my serious concerns at the recent news of possible job losses at BT in Enniskillen, which, of course, would have a detrimental impact on families and on the local economy in County Fermanagh. Will your departmental officials consult with BT to protect workers at this deeply concerning time?”
“There has been a lot of talk about monitoring rounds today. Will the Minister continue his prioritisation of road quality and seek further funding for addressing potholes and road surfacing in the June monitoring round?”
“Thank you, Minister, for your answer. Do you agree that Fermanagh may be a suitable rural area for the launch of the domestic abuse protection notices and orders pilot, given the many difficulties that are faced by women in rural areas in accessing support services for domestic abuse?”
“In 2020, 73% of fatalities occurred on rural roads. The Fermanagh and Omagh district had the highest number of people tragically killed or seriously injured per head of population. Does the Minister agree that improving road safety in rural areas must be a priority?”
“The Bill also introduces powers to remove licences in instances of multiple or serious breaches of the code of practice. As well as that, the Bill includes enabling powers to allow for the introduction of a levy on the industry that will be used for educational purposes and treatment in relation to gambling-related harm. There has been a change to the limits on societies' lotteries, and there can now be an increase in potential ticket prices. That will allow organisations such as Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and soccer clubs to raise additional funds, increasing the current ticket price limit from £1 up to £100. <BR /> <BR />We certainly look forward to seeing the Bill pass and to being back here in the new mandate with the second phase of the gambling legislation.”
“I welcome the Final Stage of this vital legislation. I also thank the Minister for undertaking the reform. As outlined by the Minister on numerous occasions, this is the first phase of a two-phased approach in reforming our outdated and complex gambling legislation. It has been a long but enjoyable process, and it has been clear from all the debates at Committee Stage and from Members' speeches in the Chamber that we are all united in wanting our gambling laws updated and reformed. <BR /> <BR />As was mentioned briefly, this phase will ensure greater protections for children and young people as a result of the new offence of inviting, causing or permitting a young person under the age of 18 to play a high-stakes gaming machine.”
“I will keep my remarks brief, as the detail has already been covered. I thank the Minister and the Committee Chair for the summary of the regulations. As we have heard, their intended purpose is to ensure effective governance by the trustees of particular pension schemes with respect to the effect of climate change. As well as that, there is the introduction of related reporting. The detail of what that means in practical terms has been clearly outlined, and, in the interest of ensuring that any risks to people's pensions are minimised, I am content to support the motion.”
“Minister, in the statement and in an answer to a Member across the way, you mentioned the difficulty that you had in getting this on to the Executive agenda. Can you confirm that the delay in getting the desperately needed support to families facing the cost-of-living crisis was because of the DUP's refusal to agree the necessary allocation of funding?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Minister, do you intend to include the independent strategic review recommendations in the development of future agriculture policies?”
“Amendment No 2 will help to strengthen the wording of the amendment that was passed at Consideration Stage. It increases the scope to ensure that all forms of gambling are included for control and regulations. In turn, the amendment will further strengthen the proposed code of practice. <BR /> <BR />In conclusion, we welcome and support the amendments and look forward to the legislation being introduced as soon as possible.”
“I will keep my comments succinct and brief, as the Minister and the Committee Deputy Chair have already touched on many aspects. I support both amendments from the Minister. As previously outlined during the different stages, Sinn Féin supports the Bill and believes that it will go a long way to updating our outdated and complex gambling legislation. This is a very welcome start to gambling reform in the North. We welcome the Minister tabling the two amendments as a result of technical issues that came about after Consideration Stage. The amendments will further strengthen the Bill and ensure that the policy intention and objective are met. <BR /> <BR />Amendment No 1 will bring us back in line with the Minister's original policy intention.”
“In his statement, the Minister acknowledged that there are no specific blue-carbon monitoring programmes at the moment but stated that future projects are at preparation stage. Will he provide us with more detail on the blue-carbon monitoring projects that we can expect to see?”
“What cooperation has there been between your Department and the Infrastructure Minister on that issue? Can you update us on the progress of the electric vehicle infrastructure task force?”
“I thank the Minister for updating us. Minister, the move to vehicles powered by non-fossil fuels is crucial in the fight against climate change.”
“Minister, do you agree that the extra £300 million that was available for next year, which now sits idle as a result of the DUP collapsing the Executive, would have been much better utilised in helping relieve the pressures facing our Departments?”
“I thank the Minister for making his statement. Minister, from 2017 to 2021, Invest NI hosted only four investor visits in my constituency. The level of jobs and investment in Fermanagh and South Tyrone is considerably lower than in any other constituency. Does the Minister agree that we need a plan to tackle regional inequalities and that Invest NI needs to play a central role in delivering that plan?”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank Minister Hargey for her commitment to modernising betting and gambling laws here as well as tackling head-on the issues that surround gambling. The Bill will begin to help strengthen and radically reform outdated legislation.”
“The Minister has stated on numerous occasions that this is only the first phase of transforming the legislation. I therefore welcome her amendments. <BR /> <BR />The Committee requested that the Minister increase the ticket price limit for society lotteries to a suitable level based on the evidence that it had received. That request was taken forward by the Department and the Minister. They will increase the limit on a society lottery ticket to £100. That will give many organisations and clubs a much-needed boost by increasing their revenue and helping them to maintain their organisation for many years into the future. Likewise, the Minister's second amendment also strengthens clause 14 by adding substance to the relevant definitions.”
“The North of Ireland has the highest rate of problem gambling when compared with England, Scotland and Wales. The current gambling legislation is 37 years old. It is not fit for purpose, nor does it reflect the changing trends in gambling and betting that we have seen over recent years. <BR /> <BR />Due to the requirement for urgent reform, Minister Hargey has taken steps to begin the transformation of legislation here. Of course, that has been stated before, and it will be done as a two-phased approach. Everyone in the Chamber recognises that the legislation needs to be updated urgently, and that is clear from the engagement that we had from parties at Committee Stage and in the amendments that have been tabled for this evening.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak this evening on the Consideration Stage of the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Amendment) Bill. From the outset, I want to make it clear that we all recognise that many enjoy the activity of betting and do so in moderation and remain responsible while doing so. We must not, however, underestimate the issue or dress up the fact that urgent action is required to tackle problem gambling. Problem gambling has destroyed many lives, and it branches out and has a knock-on impact on families and loved ones.”
“Can the Minister outline the stakeholders that the cross-departmental working group intends to meet as part of its review?”
“Sorry. Where was I? I am glad to hear that the Minister will release the Hatch Regeneris report in the coming days, and I am heartened to hear that his preferred option is to introduce a moratorium and a ban. <BR /> <BR />That concludes my remarks for this evening. As I have stated, I am more than willing to work with Members, parties, the Bill Office and the Committee to scrutinise the legislation robustly.”
“No, I will not give way. I want to get back home this evening.”
“I am absolutely committed to working with any and all Members, the Economy Committee and the Bill Office and to following the correct legislative processes to ensure that the Bill can be as robust as possible. I am open to Committee scrutiny of it. I very much look forward to reading the Hatch Regeneris report, and I am glad to hear that the Minister's preferred option is to introduce —”
“To put it simply, the aim of the Bill is to ban all fracking for petroleum. The definition's wording was drafted on the basis of delivering robust legislation to ban all petroleum licensing in the North. The Bill would amend the Petroleum (Production) Act 1964, so we have to be clear in the terminology that we use to amend that existing legislation.”
“As well as its climate implications, fracking has a direct and long-term impact on local environments and, ultimately, local communities. It is heartening to hear from many in the Chamber that they do not support fracking. <BR /> <BR />I will now address some of the issues raised by Members, starting with Miss Woods's contribution. I originally emailed the Secretary of State essentially to gain permission to legislate on offshore fracking. He did reply, and requested additional information, which we provided at the time. The only issue was that, after we provided that information, he never got back to us. We were under serious time constraints, and, as a result, we decided to press on with the Bill to legislate on onshore fracking. <BR /> <BR />A number of Members referred to the ins and outs and ups and downs of the definition.”
“I thank Members for their contributions to what has been an interesting and colourful debate. I will keep my closing remarks brief and respond to some of the issues raised in due course. <BR /> <BR />This is a cross-border issue as the impact of fracking that may happen in County Fermanagh would be felt in County Leitrim and many other parts of the north-west. The discussion that we are having must be seen in the context of the overall climate emergency, which has been mentioned throughout the debate. The Bill sits alongside other important draft legislation, such as that on climate change, in bringing us into line with the rest of Europe in playing our part in the fight against the climate disaster. <BR /> <BR />Our goal as a society needs to be to reduce carbon emissions and protect future generations.”
“I did not, however, receive the necessary confirmation. That having been said, the intention of the Bill is firmly to ban all forms of onshore fracking and to shut the door tightly on the prospect of any fracking on the island of Ireland. <BR /> <BR />I look forward to the debate, and, in my closing remarks, I am happy to deal with any queries that Members may have.”
“The Bill states: "Onshore hydraulic fracturing is unlawful." It means that the Department would have no right to search for or get petroleum by way of onshore fracking, that it would not have any right to grant any licence for the same purpose and that any existing licences that permitted fracking were to have no effect. <BR /> <BR />The Bill pertains to only onshore fracking, where "onshore" includes everything apart from the foreshore, the internal waters adjacent to the North and the territorial sea of the North. It was my intention that the Bill would prohibit onshore and offshore fracking, but I was advised that the seabed and underlying natural resources are reserved matters. I wrote to the British Secretary of State about whether the Bill could legislate for offshore as well as onshore fracking.”
“<BR /> <BR />The previous Economy Minister, Diane Dodds, commissioned the Hatch Regeneris report to examine the impact of fracking, as well as conventional oil and gas drilling, on our communities. That report was completed in May of last year but has still not been released to the public. <BR /> <BR />I will now turn to the Bill itself. First, I thank my predecessor, Seán Lynch, who began the process of developing the legislation over a year ago. I also extend my gratitude and thanks to the Assembly Bill Office for its work and advice, as well as for the assistance that it provided to Seán, me and our staff over the past number of months. <BR /> <BR />The Bill is short, with only one substantive clause, which amends the Petroleum (Production) Act 1964.”
“<BR /> <BR />The opposition to fracking is not limited to Ireland and the United States, with many jurisdictions around the world having already introduced legislative bans or policy moratoriums on fracking. That is the case in the rest of Ireland and in England, Scotland and Wales. Again, the North is trailing behind others. We are the only part of these islands without such provisions to defend against fracking. That is despite the fact that the Assembly voted by a large majority in October 2020 for an immediate moratorium on fracking. <BR /> <BR />The DUP, as the party that has had policy responsibility for it in the Department for the Economy since 2007, has failed to protect our communities against the threat of fracking. The Bill, however, will realise a ban on fracking and bring us more into line with other jurisdictions.”
“Beyond its local implications, banning the practice of fracking is also important in the context of our fight against climate change. Fracking would increase our greenhouse gas emissions. The Assembly is currently considering the Climate Change Bill, which will set ambitious, fair and deliverable targets for net zero emissions. It would also be unfair, as fracking companies, which would be responsible for increased emissions, would be the ones profiting at the expense of local communities. It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever to leave the door open to fracking or other means of petroleum extraction whilst we are still setting targets to reduce our own carbon emissions.”
“I thank the Minister for his intervention. I will not answer it at this time. We are discussing the broad principles of the Bill. I have lost my place; bear with me. <BR /> <BR />Of course, communities are still left with the environmental impact of fracking long after the companies are gone. Fermanagh is renowned for its beautiful countryside and freshwater lakes, to which thousands of tourists and anglers flock every year. Even the public perception of the air, soil and water contamination caused by fracking could cause serious damage to areas that rely on those industries.”
“Like any industry that is based on a finite resource, it is prone to a boom and bust economic model. Once a well has been tapped dry, fracking companies simply pack up and leave.”
“<BR /> <BR />Fracking became widespread in America, particularly in places like North Dakota and Pennsylvania. It has a negative impact on nearby communities, having been shown to cause groundwater contamination, soil corruption, earthquakes, noise pollution and significant increases in airborne radioactivity as well as increased greenhouse gas emissions. The air emissions are particularly worrying as they are formed primarily of methane, which is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide. It has also been linked to a host of health problems, including birth defects, cancer and asthma. <BR /> <BR />Fracking has serious consequences for biodiversity in affected areas, with many wildlife habitats and areas of conservation impacted by industrialisation or destroyed due to contamination.”
“The existence of those two applications shows that the threat of fracking is still with us, that it is serious and that we need a permanent ban on fracking if we are to deal with it once and for all. <BR /> <BR />The evidence shows that fracking is particularly invasive and damaging in its exploration and extraction. It is an unconventional method of drilling for oil and gas. In the process of fracking, a horizontal borehole is drilled into subterranean rock. Fracking fluid is pumped into the borehole at extremely high pressures, with the aim of fracturing the rock. When the rock fractures, it releases oil and gas deposits, which can then be extracted. Large volumes of fracking fluid, which is a mixture of water, sand and chemicals, are required in order to create the fractures in the rock.”
“While the statement dealt with the imminent threat of fracking, it was by no means a permanent solution. <BR /> <BR />More recently, in 2019, two new applications for petroleum licences were submitted to the Department for the Economy. The applications concerned areas in County Fermanagh and near Lough Neagh and, if granted, could allow fracking to commence. Those applications are still being considered by the Economy Minister, although he has indicated that he will not take any action on them until a new petroleum licensing policy is agreed by the Executive. As I said, we now know that we will not have any new policy on petroleum licensing in this mandate.”
“In 2011, the then Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Arlene Foster, granted a number of licences to companies to permit them to frack, including one in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. As I said, that was opposed by our local community, who were deeply concerned by the potential impact of fracking on the locality. In 2015, the 'Strategic Planning Policy Statement' stated that in relation to fracking or:”
“Several attempts have been made to commence fracking in Fermanagh, but the people of Fermanagh and our local communities in Leitrim have been resolute in opposing such moves. The same must be said about communities that have been affected by other attempts to explore for oil and gas, particularly around the Lough Neagh area. That is because our communities know what natural beauty they have, and they value it and their environment. They value it for themselves and their children. Sinn Féin has stood with our communities throughout. We have been consistently and vociferously opposed to fracking. That is why we have worked to introduce this important Bill. <BR /> <BR />It is important to set out the policy context of fracking applications in the North.”
“<BR /> <BR />Last month, in response to a topical question for oral answer from my Sinn Féin colleague Philip McGuigan on why a ban on petroleum licensing was not included in the energy strategy, Minister Lyons stated that he planned to bring it to the Executive "in the coming weeks". Unfortunately, the DUP's decision last week to collapse the Executive means that, once again, we will not see any progress on a ban on petroleum licensing in this mandate. That makes the need to ban fracking all the more urgent. <BR /> <BR />As someone who was born and raised in County Fermanagh and who has been active in the community for a number of years, I know at first hand the impact that the threat of fracking has had on my local community for over a decade.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on the Second Stage of the Onshore Fracking (Prohibition) Bill. The Bill has one very clear objective, and that is to ban fracking in the North of Ireland. In effect, that would realise a ban on fracking throughout the island of Ireland. Ultimately, what we need is a ban on all petroleum licensing. We must ensure that there is no exploration, drilling for or extraction of petroleum here in the North. <BR /> <BR />While consecutive DUP Economy Ministers delayed making decisions on the future of petroleum licensing, my predecessor, Seán Lynch, began to develop legislation to outlaw the particularly harmful method of fracking. On numerous occasions in the House, the current DUP Minister, Gordon Lyons, committed to bringing petroleum licensing to the Executive before the end of 2021. That was not delivered.”
“On behalf of Sinn Féin, I thank the Minister for introducing the Charities Bill, for listening to and taking on board the concerns of the Committee and tabling relevant amendments, which were all passed previously. I also place on record my thanks to my Committee colleagues and Committee support staff. We worked cohesively to ensure that the legislation was as robust as possible. I conclude my remarks there. We support the Bill.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak on behalf of Sinn Féin on the Bill once again. I will keep my comments brief and concise as the finer details were addressed at Consideration Stage. As mentioned by the Committee Chair and the Minister, the purpose of the Bill is to make past decisions taken by staff of the Charity Commission lawful but to do so only where that will not impinge on the rights of the individuals under the European Convention on Human Rights. The Bill will also put in place mechanisms that will ensure greater public trust and confidence moving forward. <BR /> <BR />This very welcome legislation has now reached Final Stage.”
“Minister, rural communities are experiencing a significant deficit of public services, not least in life-saving services. What plans does your Department have to address the lack of fire cover and ambulance provision in rural areas?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. As he is aware, the COVID-19 pandemic has had huge consequences for our health system, not least our ability to deliver specialist treatments such as cancer care, elective treatment and mental health services. Will the draft Budget provide the resources necessary to get the health system delivering those vital services again?”
“Minister, Brexit and the withdrawal of EU funding are the context for the development of a new rural policy framework. The Minister of Finance has highlighted that the £11 million that has been set aside for projects here through the Community Renewal Fund pilot scheme, which is part of the Shared Prosperity Fund, is substantially less than the approximately €70 million per annum that we previously received from comparable EU structural funds. Minister, given your party's support for Brexit, what are your contingency plans to ensure that the social and economic needs of people living in rural areas are met if no more funding becomes available from Westminster?”