Deborah Erskine
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Democratic Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Minister, you did not mention the removal of the zero-detriment policy, which is a concern that I have. That is worrying for anybody who sits in the Chamber, and for the construction industry in particular.”
“I thank the Minister for his comments about the Western Trust's chair. I, too, pass on my sympathies to his family. <BR /> <BR />Minister, we had the pause to the emergency general surgery consultation process last July. You asked the trust to provide a vision plan.”
“Quality assurance is really important when looking at roads. A number of us in the Chamber could take you to potholes that we have raised with the Department that have been fixed but have then reopened within a matter of days, meaning that we have had to go back into the portal to raise it with DFI staff again.”
“I thank the Minister for her statement and hope that she enjoyed her visit to Enniskillen. The statement mentions moorings. I want to focus on the Fermanagh end of the Ulster canal. I have received communication about accessible jetties and ensuring that jetties and moorings are up to standard.”
“<BR /> <BR />That was laid bare last Wednesday when representatives from the ICRIR said that they had written to the Irish Government 11 or 12 times without receiving any form of reply from them. That is shameful.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is interesting that, for years, Sinn Féin has called on the UK Government to provide information, yet its silence on the Irish Government is deafening. There are people who sit in the Chamber who know exactly the truth about what happened, yet they are prepared to lie about their involvement in the IRA.”
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“I thank the Minister for her statement and hope that she enjoyed her visit to Enniskillen. The statement mentions moorings. I want to focus on the Fermanagh end of the Ulster canal. I have received communication about accessible jetties and ensuring that jetties and moorings are up to standard. That is vital for tourism at the Fermanagh end. It is important for the linkage between the canal and the Erne water system. Has ensuring that we have proper and accessible jetties at the Fermanagh end been part of the discussion?”
“The money is not coming — there is no magic money tree — so will you urgently ask the AERA Minister to rethink that policy change because it will have a massive impact on the economy in Northern Ireland?”
“Minister, you did not mention the removal of the zero-detriment policy, which is a concern that I have. That is worrying for anybody who sits in the Chamber, and for the construction industry in particular. I got a response from you today, to a question for written answer, stating that with the removal of the zero-detriment policy, an estimated 80% of house enquiries that can currently be supported will not be able to be connected. That is huge. That means that people will not be able access housing in Northern Ireland. It is vital that that policy remains in place for the construction industry. Minister, in the same answer, you indicated that you are doing all that you can to get more money to increase capacity, but you have been trying for some time.”
“Quality assurance is really important when looking at roads. A number of us in the Chamber could take you to potholes that we have raised with the Department that have been fixed but have then reopened within a matter of days, meaning that we have had to go back into the portal to raise it with DFI staff again. That causes real frustration. I could take you to Camgart Road in Clabby, about which I have raised issues a number of times. That road now has to be resurfaced because it has so many potholes. Specifically how many road inspectors will you employ? That is vital to quality assurance in your Department.”
“Will you step in stop the limbo? Ultimately, this is about patients' lives —.”
“It also stated that staff say that no significant changes have been made to improve the system. How can the public have confidence on this? We are another year down the line. What is the vision?”
“I thank the Minister for his comments about the Western Trust's chair. I, too, pass on my sympathies to his family. <BR /> <BR />Minister, we had the pause to the emergency general surgery consultation process last July. You asked the trust to provide a vision plan. I am quite surprised by your answer, because I, as an elected representative, have not heard exactly what the result of that vision plan will be. Your Department has not even produced its own hospital reconfiguration plan, so how do the two match up? We have had the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) report, which worryingly stated that we have no extra ambulance cover.”
“However, that amounts to nothing more than gaslighting of the worst kind of those who have had to live with needless pain and grief at the hands of terrorists. The Irish Government's position is indefensible, in the same way as those who sit on the Benches opposite continue to glorify and laud the bomb maker and those who pulled the trigger.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is interesting that, for years, Sinn Féin has called on the UK Government to provide information, yet its silence on the Irish Government is deafening. There are people who sit in the Chamber who know exactly the truth about what happened, yet they are prepared to lie about their involvement in the IRA. They heap trauma and hurt on innocent families as they continue to laud and celebrate the victim makers: the perpetrators of violence. The Irish Government are no better. <BR /> <BR />Recently, in a letter to the Executive Office, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade indicated that it would do all that it could to assist legacy investigations.”
“<BR /> <BR />That was laid bare last Wednesday when representatives from the ICRIR said that they had written to the Irish Government 11 or 12 times without receiving any form of reply from them. That is shameful. The Irish Government's failure to cooperate has been highlighted by my party leader repeatedly, but it was stark to hear the figures directly from Peter Sheridan. <BR /> <BR />The Irish Government have continually sought to lecture the UK on legacy issues whilst doing nothing to help victims and survivors find out the truth about what happened to them. During the Troubles, there were over 500 murders along the border. In many cases, the attacks were launched from the Republic of Ireland, with the perpetrators also finding refuge in the South. What are the Irish Government hiding?”
“Last Wednesday, at the Executive Office Committee, we heard evidence from the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR). Today, many innocent victims across Northern Ireland will have woken up at the beginning of yet another day on which they will not receive justice for the murder of their loved one and hear the truth about what happened to them. Vital evidence relating to their case is sitting there, but, shamefully, the Irish Government are sitting on their hands. They continue to lecture others, yet they fail to provide innocent victims with the chance to see perpetrators of violence brought to account for their heinous actions.”
“Are you implying that, when he is chair of that board, he takes direction from the likes of the Minister? Obviously, that is a very —.”
“Minister, I recently asked about the cost of missed hospital appointments. That figure was £33 million per year. I assume that there will be a cost to strike action, as appointments will have to be changed or cancelled. Budgets are tight, so, setting aside the pay element, how much will the strike itself cost the Department and the trusts?”
“<BR /> <BR />People want delivery on real, practical solutions to the issues that I outlined, including hospital waiting lists and the condition of roads. Instead, we are debating a motion on a subject that people never raise with me.”
“It is an appointment such as that that risks undermining public confidence in the appointments process. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear: where DUP Ministers made appointments, they were conducted through an honest, open and transparent process. Individuals were appointed on merit, ability and suitability. Claims to the contrary are unfounded. People are concerned about hospital waiting lists, the condition of roads and the pressure on public services, and they expect the Assembly to address those challenges. Instead, we are debating a motion that appears to be designed by the SDLP to generate political headlines. I can assure the SDLP that it will not even make the news tonight or be discussed around dinner tables.”
“The decisions that it takes today will help to shape the economy for generations. It is essential, therefore, that appointments to its board command public confidence. That is why the histories of those being appointed are looked at. Alongside others with close connections to Sinn Féin, the Economy Minister appointed Peter Lynch to the board of Invest NI. Mr Lynch was convicted in 1993 of conspiracy to murder an RUC officer. Such an appointment does not send the right message to potential investors considering Northern Ireland as a destination for investment and growth, yet the SDLP chose in its opening remarks to attack DUP appointments more so than an appointment that was made by Sinn Féin: someone who was convicted of conspiracy to murder an RUC officer.”
“The motion appears to be less concerned about improving governance and more about focusing on political point-scoring. It highlights the absence of a Commissioner for Public Appointments. The absence of such a commissioner, however, does not mean the absence of scrutiny. Departments are bound by a public appointments code, legal obligations and established audit requirements. Robust safeguards exist, and public appointments remain subject to oversight and accountability. That is not to say that we do not share concerns about certain appointments. <BR /> <BR />I was surprised that the SDLP, when opening the debate, did not once reference a recent Invest NI appointment. Invest NI plays a critical role in attracting business, securing investment and supporting economic growth across Northern Ireland.”
“The SDLP cannot simultaneously demand strong and experienced leadership in public bodies while objecting when experienced public servants apply successfully for positions through the public appointments process.”
“There are many burning issues outside the Chamber, yet here we have the Opposition using vital time to score points on a matter that is never mentioned to me on the doors. I never hear this on the doors, and I go out to speak to people regularly. <BR /> <BR />Many individuals across all political parties who are appointed to public bodies have served in elected office. The argument that is being advanced by the SDLP appears to suggest that former Ministers, councillors or MLAs should somehow be excluded from public appointments. Such an approach would deprive public bodies of valuable experience, knowledge and expertise.”
“Minister, your party has shamefully used vulnerable people for its own party political aims around the employment rights Bill. You and your colleagues wrongly stated that the DUP blocked provision for neonatal parental leave, despite your having taken two years to bring the legislation to the Executive table. Will you apologise to neonatal parents like me for disgracefully using children and carers for party campaigning on the issue? Take my party leader and my deputy First Minister up on their offer to split the Bill and let the aims for parental leave —”
“I thank the Communities Minister. It is really good news for my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone that the first homes will be built on the Old Eglish Road in Dungannon. Often, people in my constituency feel that such housing is centred in urban, Belfast-centric areas. Minister, how will you ensure a continued regional balance to this approach to providing housing across Northern Ireland?”
“I thank the First Minister for her statement. The Minister will know that two major road capital projects are on pause in my constituency: the A5 and the A4 Enniskillen bypass. Those two road projects are vital for connectivity in my area, but they are being hampered by the net zero climate change targets. First Minister, was there a discussion about the Irish Government's legislation that exempts major infrastructure projects from climate change legislation? What is the First Minister's view on similar legislation for Northern Ireland?”
“For four years, we have been in this situation, yet the Health Minister has failed to take the necessary action; instead, the trust has been forced to rely on private ambulance provision that comes at a cost to the Department and, essentially, to us as ratepayers and taxpayers. Therefore, it is important that the Minister steps in and acts. I thank the health staff who have been doing their utmost to ensure patient safety. I will try to meet the Health Minister, the RQIA and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service on this, but it is time for action and to stop treating the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone —”
“We still have a pause — a temporary cessation — of emergency general surgery in Fermanagh, and, when you look at the fact that ambulance transfers are having a serious knock-on impact on the service, you see that that is having a detrimental impact. One aspect of the report that stood out for me was the fact that the Department of Health has not provided or commissioned any additional resource to alleviate the pressures experienced by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service in supporting the changes to emergency general surgery at the SWAH that are increasing the transfers in the system. <BR /> <BR />This has been going on for too long.”
“For some time, I have been raising serious questions about patient transport arrangements and the impact that lengthy journeys and delays can have on patients. Constituents and healthcare staff have consistently voiced their concerns about the challenges associated with transfers between the hospital sites, and those concerns cannot be overlooked when assessing the overall effectiveness of the current emergency general surgery model. <BR /> <BR />The people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone were promised an awful lot when the service and the pathways were changed. We were promised that new roads would be built and that ambulance transfers would be in place. It is clear from the RQIA report that those things have not happened in tandem with the change of that service.”
“Last week, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) published its report following an unannounced inspection of emergency general surgery pathways at the South West Acute Hospital (SWAH). While the report outlines a number of positive developments, it is vital that the findings and the figures are fully scrutinised and not simply accepted at face value. <BR /> <BR />Of particular concern are the issues highlighted regarding patient transfers from SWAH to Altnagelvin. Those concerns are not new.”
“I want to ensure that they feel safe, that they are protected and that they are valued in our health service. The abuse has not been isolated to recent days; it has been present for healthcare staff for quite some time. Minister, will you, please, work with the Justice Minister and all Ministers to ensure that the perpetrators of that racial abuse stop and are held to account?”
“I was horrified at the riots that took place in Northern Ireland, which were really dark. On Friday, in my constituency in the Western Trust area, political parties stood together at the South West Acute Hospital and Altnagelvin Area Hospital sites to say no to racist abuse and intimidation of our healthcare staff. Whilst I understand people's right to protest, it crossed a line. Violence is wrong, and we have to condemn it side by side. <BR /> <BR />I was cared for in hospital, and my daughter was cared for in hospital, by international doctors and nurses, and I want to say, "Thank you" to them.”
“The Minister has not forgotten about Fermanagh. I welcomed his announcement of three quarters of a million pounds for the redevelopment of Enniskillen library. We went down on what was a very happy day to visit that library. Can he update me on progress on the redevelopment of Enniskillen library, please?”
“I thank the Minister for that answer. I am deeply concerned about it, as well. He will know that I have raised water quality issues with him quite a lot. This is a water quality issue — right here, right now. I have previously raised with him a waterway that is adjacent to Rhone Road. Over the weekend, we have also seen animal carcasses dumped in a waterway on Tullybryan Road in Ballygawley. How can we be more agile in getting agencies to work together quickly to get those carcasses removed from the waterways? In the Rhone Road situation, which I wrote to him about, the carcasses had disintegrated into the waterway before any action was taken. That is a water quality issue.”
“Minister, we know that £159 million has been spent to date on the A5, and I think that that figure will probably increase. Last week, two public engagement events cost £20,000. That does not include staff costs. While taxpayers' money keeps being spent, action to deal with the problem is not in motion. Sinn Féin is presiding over locking up our infrastructure. Minister, if the Court of Appeal judgement goes against you, what is plan B? What are you doing to make sure that that plan is implemented as soon as possible?”
“The Member has just read out a long list of point-scoring. If he cares deeply about anti-poverty, surely he should address anti-poverty rather than taking the political attack lines that always seem to come from his direction.”
“I thank the Minister for what he has announced. My question is whether the transformation fund is delivering quickly enough, particularly when it comes to infrastructure. Just last week, we had another damning report about planning delays. Money was announced over a year ago, yet not a single independent inspector has been appointed. What is the hold-up when planning is so critical to the economic prosperity of Northern Ireland?”
“What happened? The Ulster Unionists voted against it; Alliance voted against it; the SDLP voted against it; and Sinn Féin voted against it. <BR /> <BR />Paying lip service in the media is one thing, but taking action is another. While I welcome the fact that Sinn Féin apparently has come to its senses, the reality is this: legislation must be practical, proportionate and workable. It cannot become so rigid that it paralyses infrastructure investment, undermines regional connectivity and prevents the delivery of projects that save lives. Northern Ireland contributes only a tiny fraction of global emissions, yet we have created a legislative framework that risks blocking Northern Ireland moving forward. The DUP is prepared to work on that. It is time that others showed the same impetus on the issue.”
“<BR /> <BR />The Climate Change Committee also warned that infrastructure, transport and energy policies would have to align with climate legislation, which would mean that major roads and infrastructure projects would face increasing legal and planning challenges unless Ministers could demonstrate compatibility with carbon budgets. And so we come to the A5. While I welcome the First Minister's belated admission that climate legislation may need to be revised, it is a remarkable U-turn from a party that championed that legislation only a few weeks ago in the Chamber. The DUP warned that this would happen. Only last month, the DUP tabled a motion calling for a proper cost-benefit analysis of Northern Ireland's net zero targets while recognising the impact that they could have on strategic infrastructure projects such as the A5.”
“Let us take a short walk down memory lane. In 2022, when climate change legislation was making its way through the Assembly, the DUP warned of the consequences of imposing unrealistic and unworkable targets in Northern Ireland. It was not only the DUP that sounded that alarm: experts did too. The UK's independent Climate Change Committee repeatedly warned that a full net zero target for Northern Ireland was not realistically achievable. Its advice was clear: Northern Ireland could credibly achieve around 82% reduction in emissions by 2050 — not absolute net zero. However, Sinn Féin, Alliance and the SDLP decided that they knew better, and now, we are living with the consequences.”
“Over the weekend, Sinn Féin loudly rang the irony klaxon on net zero targets.”
“<BR /> <BR />The shifting timelines are shameful. It is not good enough. We need to see action from the Economy Minister and the Infrastructure Minister, working together, to support rural communities and to provide businesses with support. When such incidents happen, our businesses and rural communities struggle, but there is no support for them. It is important that we get clarity, communication and support for our rural communities, who suffer as a result of the impact of such events.”
“Local businesses, particularly in rural communities, where things are difficult enough, face a perfect storm and are hurting and struggling to keep open, so it is shameful that the bridge has still not been fixed. <BR /> <BR />There has also been a lack of communication with the community and, may I add, public representatives. Timely communication would enable us to get information to our constituents. When I was in touch with DFI a number of months ago, for example, it said that it was ahead of schedule. Now, we see shifting timescales. The road was to reopen on 10 April, but nobody seemed to know whether that was going to be the case. April 10 has come and gone, and now it is saying that it will be late May. We are only a matter of days away from late May, and we still have no clarity on when the bridge will open.”
“I rise to talk about a local issue relating to Maydown Road, Benburb, and the bridge there that has collapsed, cutting off rural communities. The bridge collapsed seven months ago. That causes difficulties in a rural community; it is difficult for communities to go about their normal daily life. The bridge collapsed due to damage during storm Amy. It is disgraceful that we are still sitting here seven months on, and the shifting timelines from Roads Service have not helped the community. Communities are suffering, as are the businesses in the Benburb area. A local shop has reported to me that its downturn is about 20%, and a local pub has reported that its downturn is between 40% and 50%. That is huge.”
“The scandal developed from 2008. We are nearly 20 years down the line. Who should be held accountable? There must be accountability in the system.”
“Minister, it was wholly regrettable that, in your statement to the House on Thursday, you did not speak about the women who died. Two lives were lost, and they deserve to be remembered. Their lives should not have been lost as a result of the scandal. Minister, obviously you have ruled out a public inquiry. An awful lot of the questions today relate to accountability, but there is also trust. Trust in the system has been lost.”
“I thank the Minister for his answer and his proactive work on housing, which stands in stark contrast to the bluster of others in the Chamber. The Minister talked about a review of both the grant for and the design of social housing. Will he outline what stage that is at and, most importantly, what it will deliver?”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. You cannot forget about me.”
“Yes. I am coming to that. <BR /> <BR />Even more concerning is the fact that around 50% of those storm overflows are expected to remain unclassified. Minister, that is just not acceptable. It is a scandal that is happening under our noses. When will you and your Department stop disproportionately placing blame on farmers and skewing blame towards that one sector, and put your efforts into challenging the Infrastructure Minister to take responsibility and get proper data?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer, but there is a fundamental problem with overflows along the Lough Neagh site. Farmers are being continually singled out and blamed for the pollution of Lough Neagh, yet the evidence that I got recently following an FOI request on the performance of NI Water tells a very different story. There are 106 storm overflows in the vicinity of Lough Neagh. Of those, only 11 have been assessed, of which just 2·8% were deemed to be satisfactory. By my calculation — I am not good at maths — that means that less than one storm overflow has been assessed as satisfactory.”
“<BR /> <BR />It is time for parties to own this and to understand that net zero targets have caused the problem. Recently, in the Chamber, the SDLP, Sinn Féin, Alliance and the UUP all backed the writing of a blank cheque for spending on net zero and climate change in Northern Ireland. When you go to the doors in your constituency, think about the amount of money that has been handed back on our major roads capital projects in Northern Ireland. The simple reality is that Sinn Féin is not delivering.”
“Sinn Féin was warned about that, specifically when it came to infrastructure, and now we see projects being held up, such as the one in my constituency, a much needed project to reduce congestion in a town that is integral to the economy of my constituency. A sum of £16·3 million was handed back. That is such a sad indictment in relation to what we are dealing with with our roads and major capital projects in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />The Minister will say that those are committed-to projects, and they are. She will say that I am creating fear and concern in communities, but there is a simple economic factor, namely inflation. With delay, the cost of the projects rises. With a cash-strapped Executive, we will have to find over £25·5 million for those projects, but we will also have to fund a shortfall because delay costs.”
“The A6 Randalstown to Castledawson; the A6 Londonderry to Dungiven; the Lagan pedestrian and cycle bridge; Belfast Rapid Transit phase 2; the Newry southern relief road; and the A4 Enniskillen bypass: what do all those infrastructure projects have in common? Money has been handed back into the pot in 2025-26 by the Infrastructure Minister because she cannot continue with those projects as a result of net zero climate change targets. <BR /> <BR />Communities are waiting. Motorists are waiting. Roads are crumbling. Meanwhile, Sinn Féin continues to blame the Brits. It continues to blame everybody else but does not take responsibility for its poor decision-making, which heralded in the net zero climate change targets.”
“— will you press on with the implementation of removal, or will you restore emergency general surgery?”