Aisling Reilly
West Belfast · Sinn Féin · Northern Ireland
“As well as thanking every one of the victims and survivors who have contributed, I take the opportunity to also thank the Members of the House past and present and, in particular, the Committee Chair and Committee members, who worked so diligently and carefully to study and examine the Bill, to listen to victims and survivors and to bring…”
“Dealing with that injustice was core to the approach of the Bill. <BR /> <BR />Before concluding deliberations on the Bill, I will bring our focus back to the women and children — now adults — their families and all survivors whose experiences have brought us to this point.”
“It is only by addressing the truths hidden in dark shadows that we can begin to properly shine a light on a society that continues to violate and oppress too many women and girls and to make sure that it never happens again and that, together, we commit to breaking the cycle of harm and violence against women and girls.”
“I hope that it now respects and fulfils the wishes of the women and girls who, for many decades, have suffered and been silenced. <BR /> <BR />It is a large, complex and sensitive piece of legislation. It is, no doubt, much more complex legislation than it first appeared, and there were many factors to balance.”
“<BR /> <BR />For some, the prospect of engaging with the inquiry may feel daunting. For that reason, we listened to victims and survivors when they told us that they wanted us to create a dual investigation, so that individuals had the option to engage with an expert independent panel and provide testimony in a different and more informal…”
“I say to the people who are still considering whether to come forward that your testimony matters. To those who have spent years searching for answers, I say that the inquiry will seek those answers.”
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“Tá an t-adh orainn go bhfuil Seachtain na Gaeilge againn, ní hamháin don cheiliúradh — agus tá seo ríthábhachtach — go bhfuil sí ann don chéad ghlúin eile a bheas ag ceiliúradh na teanga go ceann blianta fada amach romhainn. Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil le pobal na Gaeilge a sheasann an fód lá i ndiaidh lae agus a bhíonn mar ghuth láidir amuigh ansin. Beidh mise, mar bhall den phobal seo, i mo ghuth láidir istigh sa Teach seo. <BR /> <BR />Mar sin, coinnígí bhur súile ar oscailt do na himeachtaí a bheidh ag tarlú sa cheantar thart ort sna laethanta atá romhainn. Bígí páirteach iontu agus bainigí sult astu.”
“Idir 1ú – 17ú de mhí Mhárta bímid ag ceiliúradh Sheachtain na Gaeilge 2024 fud fad na tíre. Is ócáid iontach tábhachtach í Seachtain na Gaeilge i saol lucht labhartha na Gaeilge. Is deis í chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar ár gcultúr, ar ár teanga dhúchais agus ar ár bhféiniúlacht. Tugann sí deis do gach duine páirt a bheith acu sa teanga agus leis an chultúr, teanga agus féiniúlacht sin a fheicéail i gcroílár an phobail. Le linn an cheiliúrtha seo, bíonn imeachtaí agus gníomhaíochtaí éagsúla ar siúl ar fud na tíre, ag spreagadh daoine chun an Ghaeilge a úsáid agus a chur chun cinn. <BR /> <BR />Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a gabháil le cúpla grúpa amuigh ansin, go háirithe le Conradh na Gaeilge, Foras na Gaeilge, Féile an Earraigh agus le neart grupaí eile a imríonn ról mór sa phleanáil le linn an ama seo go háirithe.”
“I will be happy to come back to the Member in writing.”
“Go raibh maith agat, agus gabhaim buíochas leis an Chomhalta as an cheist sin fosta.”
“Engagement with stakeholders across a range of sectors is ongoing, including working together on prevention across education, in the workplace, when socialising and with our children and young people. This week, junior Minister Cameron and I, along with senior officials, met the UN special rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem. It was clear from our discussion that, in order to make progress, we need to see that violence against women and girls is everyone's problem and that solving it will require collective action by everyone in society.”
“Yes. Significant work has already been taken forward by the Departments of Justice and Health through the stopping domestic and sexual violence strategy; by statutory agencies, including through the PSNI's 'Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls Action Plan'; and by the voluntary and community sector. Despite that, ending all forms of violence, abuse and harm against women and girls remains one of the most pressing challenges facing our society today. <BR /> <BR />As a response, the previous Executive commissioned the development of the strategic framework, and work is under way to establish the foundation for the necessary whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis an Comhalta as ucht a ceiste.”
“The Member knows that we are operating in a very difficult budgetary situation, the impact of which is felt across all Departments and within our communities. We acknowledge the continuing good work that is being carried out by delivery partners in very challenging circumstances. Work is ongoing to develop an implementation plan to support the delivery of the strategic framework. That work includes the preparation of a detailed business case to inform ministerial decisions on associated funding requirements.”
“<BR /> <BR />We recognise that a lot of work is already being taken forward across Departments and in our communities. The framework is intended to enhance and complement that work in order to bring about the changes that we all want to see. It is essential that we work in a more strategic, joined-up way to tackle violence against women and girls. Governance structures are being designed to avoid duplication and maximise the effectiveness of public resources. Close departmental collaboration is ongoing, and monitoring will have an outcomes-based focus to ensure effective implementation.”
“We are committed to bringing forward the strategic framework to end violence against women and girls as soon as possible. This Executive strategy has been developed through a successful co-design process involving people and organisations from right across government and society, including, crucially, those with lived experience. Our officials are liaising with Departments and members of the co-design group regarding the outcome of the recent public consultation. Preparatory work to enable effective delivery is under way, and the draft two-year implementation plan is being developed for consideration by Ministers. The draft strategic framework is expected to be submitted for Executive consideration and approval in the coming weeks.”
“The Member will know that that is a local government matter, but we do acknowledge the vital importance of the hospitality sector in driving people to visit their local high street, particularly as retail habits continue to change. We also recognise the wide range of issues that the hospitality sector has faced, including COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis. Hospitality businesses will be a vital part of creating more sustainable high streets, and the recommendations of the report build a strong foundation.”
“The COVID recovery small settlements regeneration programme built upon the successful COVID-19 recovery revitalisation programme. Together, those programmes delivered £40 million of funding to address challenges faced by village, town and city centres. Consideration of the report is a matter for the Executive, and Ministers will shortly write to Executive colleagues inviting them to consider how they will take forward the findings of the report. <BR /> <BR />Delivering the recommendations will require resources, of course. That is why we need our public finances to be on a sustainable footing. The First Minister and deputy First Minister, with the Finance Minister, will make that case directly to the Treasury in the coming period.”
“The high street task force, as I said, was established by the last Executive to look at enhancing investment in cities, towns and villages that had changed over recent years. The task force worked with relevant Departments, businesses, organisations, trade unions, chambers of commerce and councils to look at the issues affecting high streets and their changing use. <BR /> <BR />Other action has been taken in parallel. For example, the ministerial advisory group for architecture and the built environment has developed a fresh approach to place-making called Living High Streets. A Living High Streets craft kit is available on the ministerial advisory group website to help local communities to develop more sustainable high streets.”
“I am happy to come back to the Member on that in writing.”
“The task force report was, as I said, published in March 2022, and the junior Ministers paid tribute to the work done by the task force and welcomed the strategic narrative. The recommendations will be of interest to a number of Departments. <BR /> <BR />2.15 pm”
“<BR /> <BR />High streets are at the heart of our society in more ways than one. They not only drive the economy but create shared spaces where society thrives.”
“On 6 August 2020, the Executive formed the cross-departmental high street task force, chaired by the junior Ministers. The Department for Communities provided the secretariat. The task force was appointed for five years. Its membership was drawn from a wide range of sectors, including retail, hospitality, academia, central and local government and the community and voluntary sectors. The task force's aim was to deliver the vision of sustainable city, town and village centres that are thriving places for people to do business, socialise, shop, be creative and use public services, as well as being great places to live. The task force's report 'Delivering a 21st Century High Street' was submitted in March 2022 to TEO, and junior Ministers at that time publicly accepted it.”
“I confirm that I am willing to take up the office of junior Minister in the office of First Minister, and I affirm the terms of the Pledge of Office as set out in schedule 4 to the Northern Ireland Act 1998.”
“I am, therefore, honoured and proud to nominate Michelle O'Neill to the position of First Minister.”
“It is a privilege for me to speak today. I know that I speak for every single one of us who is here now, the generation before us and the generation of the future, and for those who are no longer with us who made a day like this possible and who will be as proud as I am. I am delighted that this is happening today and that we will now have a functioning Executive and Assembly so that we can deliver for the people whom we represent. As a child growing up in west Belfast, a day like today seemed unimaginable. It seemed unimaginable for our parents and our grandparents, but nothing is impossible. Here we are, and, for the first time, an Irish republican will take up the position of First Minister. She will lead with determination, have a true vision for change and be a First Minister for all.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Comhghairdeas leat, agus guímid gach rath duit sa phost seo.”
“Is féidir linn tús a chur ar an obair agus an £600 sin a chur isteach i bpócaí na ndaoine — £600 a bheadh mar líne slándála do theaghlaigh agus do oibrithe. <BR /> <BR />Caithfimid freastal ar ár bpobal láithreach; caithfimid freastal ar gach duine fud fad an Tuaiscirt. Tá Sinn Féin tiomanta do bheith ag obair ar son gach duine. Táimid tiomanta fosta don cheannaireacht a thaispeáint atá de dhíth. Dúirt muid, agus táimid á rá arís, go bhfuil muid réidh le comhoibriú le páirtithe eile atá ag iarraidh sochaí fhorásach a chruthú. <BR /> <BR />Tá barraíocht ama curtha amú idir Bealtaine agus an lá inniu. Ní mór don mhoill, don chleasaíocht agus do na leithscéalta stopadh anois díreach. Déanaigí an rud ceart. Toghaigí Ceann Comhairle agus ligigí dúinn dul i gceann oibre ar son an phobail anois. <BR /> <BR />Go raibh maith agat.”
“Is léir gur sin ionsaí eile ar an Ghaeilge. <BR /> <BR />Níl mé cinnte an raibh sé ar an eolas ag an am nach mbeadh sin ag tarlú, nó an bhfuil sé breá sásta daoine a mhíthreorú, ach seo muid ar an 7 Nollaig agus an £600 sin níos faide ó dhaoine ná a bhí riamh. <BR /> <BR />Táimid ag cluinstin anois ó Rialtas na Breataine nach mbeidh sin ag titim amach go dtí an bhliain úr — b’fhéidir. Tá diúltú an DUP Tionól a bhunú le páirtithe eile ag cur bac ar an airgead sin ag dul amach ar an doras. Tá an DUP ag diúltú tacaíocht, meas agus dínit a thaispeáint do dhaoine; tá siad ag diúltú go fóill glacadh le toradh an toghcháin. Ach inniu is féidir linn dóchas a thabhairt do dhaoine. Is féidir linn Ceann Comhairle a thoghadh agus Coiste Feidhmiúcháin a chur ar bun.”
“Gheall an tAire Eacnamaíochta ón DUP arís agus arís eile go mbeadh £600 d’íochaíocht tacaíochta ag teacht do dhaoine anseo i mí na Samhna. Níl mé cinnte an raibh sé ar an eolas ag an am nach mbeadh sin ag tarlú, nó an bhfuil sé breá sásta daoine a mhíthreorú, ach seo muid ar an 7 Nollaig agus an £600 sin níos faide ó dhaoine ná a bhí riamh. <BR /> <BR />Táimid ag cluinstin anois ó Rialtas na Breataine nach mbeidh sin ag titim amach go dtí an bhliain úr — b’fhéidir. Tá diúltú an DUP Tionól a bhunú le páirtithe eile ag cur bac ar an airgead sin ag dul amach ar an doras.”
“An mbeidh sé i nGaeilge? Will it be in Irish?”
“<BR /> <BR />Tá teaghlaigh ag streachailt le billí arda fuinnimh, ag streachailt le bia a chur ar an tábla, agus ag streachailt leo san fhuacht. Tá an ghéarchéim sa chostas maireachtála ag éirí níos measa, agus níl Coiste Feidhmiúcháin ná Airí áitiúla in áit againn le tacú agus le cuidiú leis an phobal. Níl aon ábhar dóchais ann do dhaoine. Ach tá daoine sna Binsí díreach os mo chomhair amach breá sásta ligean do dhaoine — dár gcairde, dár dteaghlaigh, dár gcomharsana, dár bpobail — streachailt leo. Mo náire sibh.”
“Táimid ag caint ar chearta bunúsacha anseo, agus beidh mise, agus pobal iomlán na Gaeilge, ag coinneáil súil ghéar ar chur i bhfeidhm an dlí agus beimid ag dúil leis sin a fheiceáil a luaithe is féidir. <BR /> <BR />Seo arís muid i mbéal an gheimhridh agus cóngarach don Nollaig. Arís ag teacht le chéile lenár ndícheall a dhéanamh le Ceann Comhairle a thoghadh don chúigiú huair le seacht mí i ndiaidh do dhaoine teacht amach i mí na Bealtaine le vóta a chaitheamh dúinn. <BR /> <BR />D’aithin muid uilig — seachas an DUP, ar ndóigh — gur léir go mbeadh teaghlaigh agus oibrithe ag streachailt ó lá go lá le hardú an chostais maireachtála, agus is é sin go díreach an rud atá ag titim amach os ár gcomhair inniu.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Bhéarfaidh mé seans do Chomhaltaí na cluasáin ateangaireachta a chur orthu féin. <BR /> <BR />Ba mhaith liom tús a chur ar m’óráid trínár gcombhrón, ar son Bhinsí Shinn Féin agus ar son gach duine sa Tionól, a dhéanamh le clann agus le cairde Matthew McCallan, agus le gach duine a raibh aithne acu air. Tá ár smaointe lena mháthair, lena athair agus libh uilig ag an am seo. <BR /> <BR />Ba mhaith liom a lua fosta, mar ghaeilgeoir, gurb é inniu an chéad lá de stádas oifigiúil an Achta Gaeilge ina dhlí. Is rud stairiúil go bhfuil an tAcht rite agus go bhfuil cosaint do gach duine a sheas an fód agus a raibh baint acu leis an fheachtas go dtí seo. Agus is mar gheall ar ráitis shuaracha amhail na ráitis ó dhaoine áirithe inniu atá gá agus tábhacht leis an Acht agus leis an dlí seo.”
“Is dul chun cinn suntasach é an lá inniu ar an bhóthar i dtreo comhionannais. Tá mise ag súil, faoi choimirce an Chinn Comhairle úir, gurb ionann seo agus ré nua don pholaitíocht ó Thuaidh. <BR /> <BR />Tá mé ag dúil go mór le sochaí a thógáil a chaitheann le gach saoránach le comhionannas, cothroime agus meas. Tá súil agam go bhfuil gach duine anseo réidh leis an tsochaí sin a thógáil liom.”
“Ach is léiriú é sin ar an am atá tharainn. Anois amharcfaimid i dtreo na todhchaí. Is cóir do gach páirtí anseo amharc i dtreo na todhchaí chomh maith. <BR /> <BR />Mar sin de, tá tábhacht ar leith ag baint leis an lá atá inniu ann. Tá sé tábhachtach dóibh siúd a bhfuil grá acu don teanga, an pobal céanna a leanas ar aghaidh leis an fheachtas chun aitheantas agus cosaint a bhaint amach don Ghaeilge anseo. Tá sé tábhachtach do gach aon duine sa Tionól a chreideann go bhfuil sé de dhualgas orthu ionadaíocht chuí a dhéanamh ar gach duine a bhfreastalaíonn siad orthu. <BR /> <BR />Ní bagairt í an Ghaeilge ar dhuine ar bith. A mhalairt atá fíor. Ba cheart dúinn sin a cheiliúradh. Is fíor sin faoin Ghaeilge sa tSeomra seo; is fíor sin faoi Acht na Gaeilge; is fíor sin faoi chomhionnanas.”
“Just to clarify, I did indicate, but I appreciate that it was in Irish, so apologies. <BR /> <BR />Thug Alex a shaol don tseirbhís phoiblí agus do ghníomhaíochtaí polaitíochta, agus tá a fhios agam go leanfaidh sin ar aghaidh san am atá romhainn. Ádh mór ort, a chara, agus ar Liz. Go raibh céad míle maith agat uainn uilig i Sinn Féin. <BR /> <BR />Tá sé tábhachtach a aithint gurb é seo an chéad uair riamh a bhí Comhalta ar bith in ann óráid a thabhairt os comhair an Tionóil go huile agus go hiomlán inár dteanga dhúchais. Ba mhaith liom an deis seo a thapú chun cur i gcuimhne nár cheart gur cuireadh cosc ar úsáid na Gaeilge ná ar úsáid na seirbhísí aistriúcháin san Fhoirgneamh seo ariamh. Ach tá cur amach againn ar fad ar stair na héadulaingthe maidir le comhionannas agus cearta teanga san áit seo.”
“Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Tabharfaidh mé faill do na Comhaltaí cluasáin a úsáid más maith leo. <BR /> <BR />Cuirim fáilte roimh an deis labhairt inniu agus muid ag cur ainmneacha chun cinn le Ceann Comhairle agus, le cuidiú Dé, Leas-Chinn Comhairle a roghnú sa Teach inniu. <BR /> <BR />Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas ó chroí a ghabháil ar bhonn pearsanta agus thar ceann gach Comhalta de chuid Shinn Féin ar na Binsí seo lenár gcara agus ár gcomhghleacaí Alex Maskey. Le linn tréimhse dhoiligh de dhá bhliain, bhí Alex cothrom agus díograiseach le gach duine. Thug Alex —”
“<BR /> <BR />There is nothing more for me to add other than to commend the Bill to the House.”
“The banning of hospital car parking charges will put money back into workers' pockets. At the end of the day, that is what we want to do. We do not want to see anybody being out of pocket through going to work; we certainly do not want to see ill patients being out of pocket through going to hospitals. The Bill will put money back into people's pockets. It will allow the sick and ill to progress their medical treatment without additional worry, and it will rectify an inequality felt by those who live in our rural communities. <BR /> <BR />Today in the Assembly we have passed numerous progressive Bills that will improve the lives of so many of our constituents. We have passed Bills on period poverty and domestic abuse, and another couple of important Bills will come after this. I am proud that my Bill will be added to that list.”
“This is my final speech in the mandate, so I will take the opportunity to thank all Members for their contributions and remarks this afternoon and for showing their unwavering support for the Bill. <BR /> <BR />I particularly thank the Minister and his Department for working closely with me. His amendments also showed his willingness to work to ensure that the legislation is practical. The Bill will make a massive difference to people. I hope that the amendments address most of the concerns that Committee members raised, including concerns about the time frame and the potential unintended consequences. <BR /> <BR />There is nothing much more that I can say that I have not already said at each stage about the debt of gratitude that we owe to our health and social care workers.”
“<BR /> <BR />I hope that this Bill will be the first step towards full recognition of the sacrifices that our health and social care staff make for us daily. The Bill will make a difference to so many people, and we know that from listening to Unite, UNISON, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie, allied health professionals, the Royal College of Nursing, the Rural Women's Network and others. Again, I thank them all for taking the time to meet me and for attending the Committee to show their unwavering support for the Bill.”
“Finally, I wish to express my deepest appreciation for all of our health and social care staff across the North, who, in the past two years, have brought us through an unprecedented event. That is not just a cliché: it is the truth. You are the heroes who walk among us, and you deserve fair pay, safe staffing and good working conditions. <BR /> <BR />It is my wish that this legislation will ensure that workers, families and patients are no longer burdened, worried or at a disadvantage as a result of hospital car parking charges. The Bill tells workers, patients and families who attend a hospital, either for work or for care, that we are listening and that we heard them when they told us that hospital car parking charges are an unfair tax on them and that they simply cannot afford it.”
“A private Member's Bill is a large piece of work, as every Member who has taken one through the House will know, but, with the support of the staff in the Bill Office and the Speaker's Office, it has been made much easier for me. I thank my party support, Catherine and Ciaran, who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes supporting not just me but our entire MLA team.”
“I took over the Bill from former Sinn Féin MLA Fra McCann, who is supposed to be here. He may well yet make his way here, so, hopefully, we will see Fra in the not-too-distant future to witness the Bill's passage today. The Bill reflects Fra's desire to help people, and I am proud to carry on that important work. <BR /> <BR />It is my honour to stand as a Sinn Féin Member and to bring the Bill to its Final Stage. The Hospital Parking Charges Bill is something that I have worked hard on over the past few months, and I am delighted that I have been able to deliver a Bill that will help everyone across our communities. I thank the Bill Clerks and the Bill Office for supporting and guiding me through the process.”
“Standing Order 42(1) requires there to be a minimum of five working days between each stage of a Bill. As the Further Consideration Stage of the Hospital Parking Charges Bill was completed and passed at the beginning of this week, I am asking the Assembly to suspend Standing Order 42(1) in order to ensure that it can complete its Final Stage today, on the last sitting day of the Assembly before dissolution, and complete its legislative journey. I ask all parties to support the motion.”
“Minister, you mentioned the success of the plastic bag levy. However, it has been three months since the EU single-use plastics directive was due to come into law here, and there is still no sign of it. You previously told us that you had repeatedly contacted the British Government about that. Do you have an update for us, or are those British Ministers ignoring you?”
“The Utility Regulator and the Consumer Council continually raise the point that home heating oil is not regulated in the same way as gas and electricity are, so prices can just go up. Are you looking at emergency measures to regulate the oil industry here?”
“<BR /> <BR />I will finish with a quick comment. Illness is neither an indulgence for which people must pay nor an offence for which people should be penalised but a misfortune, the cost of which should be shared by society.”
“<BR /> <BR />Again, I welcome the cooperation of the Minister and his Department, and we will support the Minister's amendments today. I recognise that the amendments will ensure that the Department can work, practically, to undertake the changes that scrapping hospital parking charges will bring and put the necessary systems in place. I also recognise that the amendments will clarify some of the concerns raised at Committee Stage by some members. We are not reinventing the wheel with this legislation. It has been done in other jurisdictions, as some have said, and legislation is currently going through Westminster. We must learn the lessons from other jurisdictions, particularly Scotland and Wales, about how they were able to introduce and operate free hospital car parking for workers and patients.”
“At a time when there are significant workforce shortages, we must create conditions that make the sector more attractive for workers. We must recruit and retain and take action to make hospital and healthcare centres places in which people want to work. <BR /> <BR />Many of our health and social care workers are amongst the lowest paid in our workforce, working long hours, sometimes in the most stressful environments. During the pandemic, we saw at first hand the sacrifices and endurance of our health and social care workers. Our passage through the pandemic might have been a lot worse were it not for the sacrifices of those workers. Instinctively, we all knew that when we were applauding them on a Thursday night, but applause simply is not enough.”
“Indeed, some carers even told us that they are unable to visit a sick family member owing to the costs imposed. We all know that a bit of TLC from close friends and family is important for any patient's recovery process. Patients with motor neurone disease said that hospital car parking charges are in the top 10 most expensive regular costs that they face monthly. <BR /> <BR />Workers feel that they are bearing the brunt and subsidising the health system, which has been under-resourced for years. We heard from workers who are paying up to £60 a week on hospital car parking. How can that be fair? Unions report that, during exit interviews, car parking charges are often raised as a reason that staff are leaving the health and social care sector, and we all agree that the retention of staff is critical.”
“I also met Macmillan, Unite, UNISON and the Rural Women's Network, all of which expressed their full support for the Bill. I thank each and every one of those groups for taking the time to meet me, to write or to give oral evidence to the Committee. Some of the evidence that we heard came from allied health professionals representing 13 medical professional groups, ranging from physiotherapists to radiographers and occupational therapists. They explained that the exorbitant cost of making multiple site visits throughout each working day to various hospitals really hit them hard in the pocket. Marie Curie told us that hospital parking charges impose financial pressures on terminally ill patients and their carers, families and loved ones. Those pressures are worsened by the frequency with which many patients have to attend hospital.”
“I am pleased to hear that the Minister supports the intent of the Bill. I have worked closely with his Department over the past number of weeks and months, and I thank him and his officials for the continuous open door and open dialogue throughout the process. I also thank the Health Committee for its scrutiny of and work on the Bill over the past number of months. We are legislators, and we want to make legislation that impacts on people's lives for the better. That is exactly what this Bill is intended to do. <BR /> <BR />The Committee heard from a range of groups, such as the Royal College of Nursing, allied health professionals, various health unions and Marie Curie. It received further written submissions from groups that were all in full support of the Bill.”
“Patients should not be penalised for their ill health when accessing vital hospital services, and this Bill, as Pádraig said, will put money back into patients' and workers' pockets. At a time when the cost of living is ever-increasing and our health workers are under ever-increasing pressure, the Bill can and will make a real difference. It will remove that unfair additional tax on health and social care workers and any additional financial burden placed on workers, patients and their families whilst accessing hospital services as a result of incurring hospital parking charges. <BR /> <BR />The ethos of the National Health Service is that healthcare is free at the point of delivery, based on need and not on the ability to pay, yet, at the very first point of access, staff, patients and their loved ones are faced with a financial barrier.”
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to my private Member's Bill, the Hospital Parking Charges Bill, at Further Consideration Stage. The Bill is about abolishing hospital car parking charges for Health and Social Care workers, patients and their families. Parking charges have for too long been an unfair tax on front-line health workers, who have been holding our health service together.”