Ciara Ferguson
Foyle · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“<BR /> <BR />The Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill instructs the commissioner's office to prepare a strategic plan as soon as reasonably practicable after their appointment to review the effectiveness of the Victim Charter and the Witness Charter at least every three years and to provide annual business plans and reports.”
“Sinn Féin very much welcomes the fact that the Bill is the continued evolution of that work to strengthen the rights of victims and witnesses of crime, including the right of complainants to an opportunity to make oral or written representations to the court about any application, to be present at any hearing of the application and to be…”
“<BR /> <BR />The Bill will strengthen protections for complainants in serious sexual offence cases in which pretrial applications for a witness summons are made.”
“It is important because being a victim or a witness of crime is often a traumatic experience that requires dedicated support to recover from. It is important because all victims and witnesses of crime should be subject to a fair and supportive legal system that fully engages with them.”
“Victims and witnesses of crime are entitled to be treated fairly, professionally and with respect in all their interactions with the justice system; to be kept regularly updated, including being provided with relevant information in a timely fashion; and to have their needs considered.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak at Second Stage of the Victims and Witnesses of Crime Bill. I will begin by acknowledging the importance of the Bill in placing the Commissioner for Victims and Witnesses of Crime and that office and its functions on a permanent statutory footing.”
The complete record
Every one of 790 lines we hold for Ciara Ferguson, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 10 of 16.
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Can he confirm that it is not a budgetary issue that is holding up the Cashel development in Derry?”
“Undoubtedly, however, continued pay and inflationary pressures and growing demands on services after decades of austerity mean that those are real issues that we collectively need to get a grip of. It is not about pointing at any one Department: ending homelessness and transforming our public services will require genuine collaboration and collective leadership.”
“We have been subject to a continual failure to adequately invest in society, resulting in devastating unmet basic needs, and we have only to look at the many people who do not have access to basic resources or income for food, clothing, housing or healthcare, for example. The debate is welcome, but it should be viewed in that context, and we should be collectively outlining and asking why we have some of the poorest outcomes. The British Government have failed to deliver sufficient investment to meet our critical social and economic priorities, including the delivery of adequate social and affordable housing. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Finance Minister's work since coming into office on championing that point and negotiating a vital interim fiscal framework in May.”
“<BR /> <BR />More recently, I met Derry City and Strabane District Council building control and legal services about the issue, and they highlighted the plethora of estates that are unadopted. However, they are taking a proactive approach and are setting up a working group, so they are keen to work with all the statutory stakeholders, DFI and the developers to address the matter. Likewise, I commend our community organisations, which are supporting our local communities when it comes to unadopted alleyways and pathways. You can lift the phone to them, and they will support the residents in those areas. <BR /> <BR />As all of us across the Chamber know, 14 years of a Conservative Government in London has wreaked havoc on our vital public services, our community infrastructure and our economic development.”
“We all know about the issues that have been raised today: unaddressed potholes; poor drainage; lack of basic services such as rubbish collection, gritting or street lighting; and the health and safety implications of all those. For example, in Derry, in Gort Na Si Close, which was built back in 2002, the residents are totally frustrated. They are dealing with blocked gullies and broken street lights, but the developer no longer exists. It went into liquidation. Likewise, as a colleague mentioned, residents in the likes of Ivy Mead have been totally frustrated and have been unable to sell their homes — they have attempted four or five times — due to areas not being adopted. Fortunately, after work between DFI and the developer, the developer is out now upgrading that area, which is good news.”
“I, too, welcome the motion and the amendment. All our people deserve access to secure, adequate and affordable homes. That should be supported by good local infrastructure and amenities, accessible services and strong communities. Housing is not just about having a roof over your head but, importantly, is about improving the life and well-being of our people and our families. When we talk about "adequate homes", that simply means homes that are able to meet people's needs in terms of size, space, light, accessibility, proximity to work and support networks etc. <BR /> <BR />Unadopted roads in our housing estates negatively impact on that right.”
“I, too, welcome the Minister's statement and the additional £1·3 million to expand and strengthen the debt advice available across the North, particularly in partnership with our councils. We know the great work that the councils have done with the Department over the years, particularly during COVID. We know that they can come up with really innovative approaches, so I am keen to hear whether there is flexibility around the submissions to the Department for allocations. What can the funding cover, and what flexibility can councils and local communities create? I would also be interested to know how much will go to the Foyle constituency.”
“What steps has the Department taken to achieve a regional balance when placing Civil Service jobs and posts?”
“The recent sexual assaults in Derry were absolutely shocking. My heartfelt thoughts are with all the women affected. <BR /> <BR />I will follow on from what the Minister said: given the recent spike in violence against women, what meetings is she aware of between the likes of the PSNI, Women's Aid and other support organisations to bring forward immediate steps to address the issue?”
“Given that the seven councils are rural by nature, did the Minister conduct a rural needs assessment of the reduction in the rates support grant?”
“Minister, you noted that the Law Society and the Bar say that the system is broken. There are sustained increases in work pressures, real-time cuts and payment delays. We have heard about solicitors walking away from legal aid. We also heard, just last week, that solicitors are failing to come to the north-west to provide services due to cost and time. I welcome a whole-system approach, and reform is coming. Can you throw some light on how you will ensure that legal aid will continue to be available across the North and how you will ensure fair access to justice?”
“I welcome the statement from the Minister this morning and his commitment to rebuilding and transforming our maternity and neonatal services. I also welcome his reiteration of the importance of women being heard, valued and supported. How does the report suggest that we ensure that midwifery-led and home-birth options remain safe and sustainable for women and babies?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Will he provide an update on residents' parking schemes in Derry, please?”
“— there is an urgent escalation of people being removed from their beds and placed in corridors. Is additional work needed to address gaps in specialisms among medical staff and reduce the number of people waiting? In Altnagelvin, 28% or 29% of people —”
“Thank you for the update on that range of measures, Minister. Unfortunately, things are not improving, despite the fact that we have the minor injuries unit and the other measures that you mentioned, and despite the fact that, on a weekly basis —”
“— from multi-annual budgeting, as it will from the recruitment of vital staff.”
“The Executive and the Assembly have a collective vision of access to a secure, adequate and affordable place to call home for everyone. We know that our housing system must urgently be rebalanced to place an emphasis on the delivery of not-for-profit and affordable public homes on public land for the public good. We know that housing supply and delivery will benefit significantly —”
“Sorry. I just want to get through. <BR /> <BR />In the first instance, we should also look to the significant expertise that already exists across our housing sector, such as in the Housing Executive's place-shaping teams, in planning departments, in building control departments and in our construction industry. Where there is weak capacity, we should build and strengthen it. Significant work has been progressed in individual Departments. For example, last week, Conor Murphy launched a consultation on low-carbon heating technologies in residential buildings, and that consultation is open to the public until 31 December. <BR /> <BR />Nonetheless, we need to collaborate continually across our 11 local councils and nine Departments on the issue of housing.”
“The Programme for Government acknowledges that good housing and health and well-being are interdependent and that access to housing is relevant to educational attainment, job opportunities, thriving communities, sustaining our rural communities and maintaining people's stability so that they can thrive. <BR /> <BR />We are all responsible for housing. Housing delivery requires collaborative working across central and local government as well as the third sector and private sector, as we often see housing information through our local development plans.”
“However, we have a draft housing supply strategy that sets out the strategic context and has five core objectives relating to the creation of affordable homes; homelessness prevention and intervention efforts; improving housing quality; building thriving communities, including through shared, mixed-tenure developments; and decarbonisation. The draft strategy enshrines a cross-departmental approach that prioritises housing, from infrastructure and land needs to capital investment, and sets out proposals for long-term policies and interventions. The Minister for Communities should act urgently to publish the housing supply strategy. <BR /> <BR />We also have a Programme for Government that takes us to 2027 and sets a direction for the remainder of the mandate that rightly includes increasing housing supply and tackling homelessness.”
“On the last point, the onus is on the Minister for Communities to act to end no-fault evictions in the private rented sector and to work to support the banning of unjustifiable letting fees. Work must also be progressed to introduce rent regulations, as provided for in the Private Tenancies Act 2022, alongside work to significantly improve housing fitness standards. <BR /> <BR />Many of the longer-term challenges mentioned today are inextricably linked with the impacts of 14 years of Tory austerity, which has decimated our public services, destroyed our living standards and demoralised those who work at the coalface of our housing system.”
“As we move forward in tackling housing once and for all, it is critical that, as a matter of urgency, they are placed on a longer-term sustainable funding model. The situation that we are facing can be described as a perfect storm, as we face challenges right across not only our social housing sector but all housing tenures. Those challenges include shortages of social housing; a decline in suitable secure and affordable private rentals; continued increases in house prices, which, even in my constituency of Derry, average £180,000 for a first-time buyer; and growing levels of homelessness. <BR /> <BR />The most commonly cited reasons for homelessness include accommodation no longer being reasonable, sharing breakdowns and loss of private rented accommodation.”
“In my capacity as Sinn Féin housing spokesperson, I welcome the opportunity to speak on the motion. Housing is a human right that is recognised in international human rights law as part of the right to an adequate standard of living. What connects all our people here — our workers and families — with us, as public representatives, is our being united on the fact that everyone deserves a safe place that they can call home. <BR /> <BR />First, I acknowledge the formidable front-line housing and homelessness prevention providers who operate locally, day in and day out, to provide vital person-centred wrap-around support for those who are being failed by our housing system. I also acknowledge the many organisations that provide housing advice.”
“The Minister described a range of engagement with other Departments. Can he give an update on the feedback from the other Departments on the anti-poverty strategy?”
“Will the Minister agree that it should be targeted at the areas and constituencies most in need, particularly given the level of saturation where even temporary accommodation is not available in areas such as Derry and Belfast?”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. What conversations were had with respect to the importance of projects such as Complex Lives and services such as the dispersed intensely managed emergency (DIME) accommodation projects in relation to homelessness and addressing the huge issue in relation to temporary accommodation?”
“I look forward to working with the Chair, the Deputy Chair, the Committee and the Minister in taking it forward. I look forward to further engagement with our stakeholders and to the next stage of the Bill.”
“We welcome the specific safeguards that have been built in through the role of the independent reviewer, and we look forward to exploring its effectiveness. We also welcome the extension of court security powers to all buildings in which tribunals take place. <BR /> <BR />It is important to note the clause on examinations in criminal proceedings through registered intermediaries or, put more simply, communication specialists. The clause aims to extend the service to the County Court and Court of Appeal, which would offer great support for the most vulnerable who have communication difficulties and need support to participate effectively as witnesses when giving oral evidence in court. We welcome that too. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Justice Bill.”
“It is important to understand the impacts, if any, that the changes to legal aid and taxation may have by improving clarity, predictability and, in particular, payments to legal professionals and how they will have an impact on access to justice. It is also important to understand the compelling reasons why the changes need to happen, particularly when we are utilising Henry VIII powers. <BR /> <BR />It is important to mention the clause on criminal records certificates in Part 4. It will update schedule 8A to the Police Act 1997 to comply with the 2019 Supreme Court ruling on the disclosure of non-court disposals for under-18s. That will entail filtering out old and minor convictions, and other disposals should be introduced.”
“Likewise, as the Chair of the Committee said, it is difficult to get our head round legislation involving terms such as "no bill". We welcome the fact that a paper was produced to help us understand more fully what "no bill" means. <BR /> <BR />As Members have said, legal aid is a key area. It is great that the Minister has clarified that there will be a review of civil and criminal legal aid. That is different and unique in the area of legal aid. We have heard comments that we should wait until the reviews are complete before legislating on legal aid, so the clarification on legal aid and taxation is welcome. I note that the Department has written to stakeholders about further consultation on it.”
“<BR /> <BR />Under criminal proceedings, the Bill corrects a drafting error in the Criminal Attempts and Conspiracy Order 1983, transferring responsibility for consenting to conspiracies outside the North from the Public Prosecution Service to the Advocate General. It also addresses a legal gap in criminal proceedings by amending section 7 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004 to prevent the charge of murder and manslaughter from being no billed when linked to an offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult.”
“<BR /> <BR />As mentioned, Part 4 looks at various matters to help improve the efficiency and effectiveness of aspects of our justice system. The first area includes functions that relate to the police, such as amending the Police Act 2000 to provide the Policing Board with explicit delegation in areas such as pension forfeiture and ill health retirement etc following the 2019 case of McKee & Hughes (and others) v The Charity Commission and the removal of the Comptroller and Auditor General's duty to assess the Policing Board's performance or performance summaries, thus reducing potential overlap and duplication in oversight activity. We welcome that those provisions are in that Part of the Bill.”
“<BR /> <BR />We accept the need for and see the benefits of live links for most cases. They may help reduce delays and deal with travel and waiting times, thus speeding up the justice system. However, it is important to note that, when dealing with live links, it is imperative that we have safeguards in place to ensure that the most vulnerable understand at all times their use during interviews and are supported where and when required. The Northern Ireland Children's Commissioner highlighted that point about live links and about how children and young people could be impacted on. Therefore, we must ensure that safeguarding measures and consent are fully addressed when looking at that Part of the Bill alongside speeding up justice. We all have a duty to protect our most vulnerable, and the Bill must play its part in that.”
“<BR /> <BR />Part 3 relates to the use of live video links by the police for various custody functions, including the extension of police detention, court extensions of detention and suspect interviews, which would amend the Police and Criminal Evidence (NI) Order 1989, or PACE. That is our primary legislation that provides the framework and powers for the PSNI to combat crime. We are all fully aware of the live link services, and they have been in operation for a number of years in a range of court processes, including the court for preliminary hearings, certain sentencing and appeal hearings, the giving of evidence by vulnerable witnesses, defendants and applicants, and between courts and hospitals in certain types of cases. The prisons and courts regularly use live links for remand hearings.”
“I welcome the Justice Bill, which the Minister has introduced. It is a large Bill, which many other representatives stated. We look forward to taking our time to ensure that we scrutinise it to the best of our ability. I echo my party colleague's views on how the Bill has been brought forward. We acknowledge that that is not how legislation should be introduced, and it is important to put that on the record, especially after the High Court judgement. <BR /> <BR />I will not go into the details of the Bill at this stage, as we will have ample time to discuss it at its other stages. As has been mentioned, Part 1 is about retention periods for DNA and biometric material. Part 2 is about proposed changes to bail and custody arrangements for children and young people. I want to make a few comments about Parts 3 and 4.”
“Thank you. I would very much appreciate that. Has any consideration been given to a departmental review of adjudications by governors in prisons?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Given the need for significant capital investment, will the Magee expansion be reflected in the investment strategy?”
“I thank the Minister for his update on the North/South Ministerial Council meeting in May. What engagement does he have planned with the Irish language and Ulster-Scots communities ahead of the next North/South Ministerial Council meeting in the autumn?”
“Minister, when future funding is being discussed and developed with your Department, will that include collaboration with the community and voluntary sector as well as local government?”
“The Minister would agree that, when it comes to financial support, the affordable warmth scheme is critical, particularly for our most vulnerable people and pensioners on low incomes. Can he outline whether the scheme is unable to be continued for new applications, due to the chronic and sustained underfunding by the British Government? If so, what conversations have been had to support vulnerable people whose applications are being processed, or any new applicants?”
“Given the high levels of fuel poverty that people and families across the North continue to experience and the devastating news for pensioners that we are speaking about today, will the Minister confirm the additional actions that he will take to ensure that our pensioners are aware of and able to access their full entitlements? Will he confirm that the detrimental impact that we are talking about today will be reflected in the draft fuel poverty strategy, which is due out for consultation shortly?”
“However, those individuals are at a cliff edge. We need to commend their work and that of the organisations. We need to ensure that this crisis does not continue. Funding needs to be secured for those valuable services. The British Government must make clear their commitment to continue funding the Shared Prosperity Fund beyond March 2025 and to provide a full replacement for EU funding with local control over its use.”
“In March, it did an interim evaluation of its current project, and it found that it is already exceeding its targets. More importantly, it spoke to the individuals who are currently benefiting from that and saw, in such a short time, the resilience of those individuals, who can only be admired for getting back out there, starting their training and education and starting to network. You can see their confidence and their ambition to get back into the workforce. You could not pay for that. If you could bottle the work that those organisations do on a daily basis for individuals who need support, it would be priceless. <BR /> <BR />I will also mention the employment and mentoring officers and staff in Success North West. The 18 staff who work there bring their skills, experience and drive to the table.”
“That is why I want to come to the Shared Prosperity Programme. We have a range of organisations, and I think that all of us have had the opportunity to visit them. In my constituency, those include 21 Training, Mencap, Action Mental Health, Disability Action, NIACRO, Enterprise North West, Include Youth and Triax. Those organisations have worked here for not just the past few years but the past 15 to 20 years. They have gathered the expertise and experience to support our communities, and they play such a vital role, not only in providing employment and skills but in promoting social inclusion and combating poverty. <BR /> <BR />I had the privilege to go back to a project that I used work with. That was called Skills North West, but is it now called Success North West.”
“By working in neighbourhoods and communities — that is where the local knowledge and expertise exist — you can connect those people to the range of services that is available. That is what is so important about the programmes.”
“I found that two of the biggest issues for women in particular were lack of confidence, where they just needed support and confidence to get back out into the workforce, and mental health, which was another huge issue. In any employment programme that I have run throughout the years with a range of organisations, 25% of the individuals who came through our doors had mental health issues. They needed that support.”
“Even more importantly, it left the people in the communities that are the furthest removed from the labour market without a safe space in their community to call into and seek help. <BR /> <BR />As someone who has worked under an ESF project for many years in the neighbourhoods and communities, I know that we have a wealth of talent. We have people who are so talented but who may, at the moment, have complex issues that have arisen throughout their lives, be it trauma, bereavement, mental health issues, childcare issues or caring issues. That group of people would die to get back to work to improve their income and make life better for their family. At the moment, however, they need support and assistance.”
“As mentioned by all contributors today, the British Government's replacement for EU funding, the Shared Prosperity Fund, fell well short of what was delivered under the European social fund and the European regional development fund. As we know, the totality of funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund was £127 million over three years, whilst it was £65 million every year from the European structural and investment funds. <BR /> <BR />That failure, as mentioned, put many groups that have worked tirelessly to support the most vulnerable in all our neighbourhoods and communities at huge risk. It left many families and households at even greater risk, because people are employed by those projects, and they have families. They have skills, and they have worked tirelessly for years. It left them in jeopardy of becoming unemployed.”
“Thank you, Minister, for that very detailed explanation of its work so far, particularly the success of supporting those 5,100 jobs. Will the Minister elaborate on how the fund supports low-carbon projects?”
“As with debates on the previous stages of the Bill over the past couple of weeks, we reiterate that we are working off assurances from the Minister and the Department that they have recognised the importance of proactive consultation with residents, industry experts, building managers and public-sector clients. Once again, we affirm the need for the development of much wider legislation on building safety in the North to deliver only the highest standards of residential safety, responsibility and accountability during the design, construction, completion and occupation of buildings.”