Nuala McAllister
North Belfast · Alliance Party · Northern Ireland
“I have submitted quite a number of questions for written answer on autism services, and the answers, sometimes on the same day from the Department, contradict themselves. The Minister often refers to the emotional health and well-being framework as the idea that will frame all of the uniform services.”
“Absolutely. Everyone is taking my speech; I was going to say that. Of course, it is complex and subjective to the individual person. If we are truly talking about keeping an individual safe and other prisoners safe, we would not do what the amendment proposes; we would carry on in the way that the system already operates, using a risk-bas…”
“I thank the Member for his question. The Assembly Commission is progressing a programme of remedial works to address defects identified in the roof of Parliament Buildings and to protect the long-term integrity of this grade A listed building. The works have been structured in two phases.”
“More often than not, we have conversations in the Chamber or in public about trans women, but that would place a trans man who has been convicted of a violent crime against a woman in a prison with women. It does not make sense, and it is not coming from the perspective of safety; it is coming from ideology.”
“In providing catering services throughout Parliament Buildings, the Assembly Commission strives to meet the differing demands of the special dietary needs of our wide customer base.”
“I support amendment No 96 and oppose amendment No 97. I do not plan to speak to amendment No 96, as there were a number of interventions last night, and I will leave many of the remarks to my party colleague the Minister of Justice. <BR /> <BR />We oppose Timothy Gaston's amendment.”
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“That is one of the incidences and illnesses for which even more limited research and trials of products are taking place, so it is important that the motion is passed today. Hopefully, in the next few years, we will see what that review will look like and, hopefully, Northern Ireland can benefit from that as well. <BR /> <BR />One thing that we should keep an eye on is the fact that, when new medicines are approved and come on board to be used in the NHS, they are not always available for people in Northern Ireland, who are not able to avail themselves of those drugs in the same way as people in England and Wales. It is really important that, if the LCM passes and a review is undertaken, our citizens will also be able to avail themselves of those drugs in the end. We are happy to support the LCM today.”
“I understand that they are businesses and must keep themselves afloat, but there is no doubt that there are different ways in which they can operate and still ensure that they can produce medicines and provide them through the NHS. <BR /> <BR />I understand that countries and jurisdictions across the world offer incentives from government to those companies to participate in research and clinical trials and get the orphan drugs off the table. Just because a cancer is rare does not mean that its effects are rare. As I have said, 55% is an overwhelming number. I am unaware of and could not find stats on the figures for Northern Ireland, but, from seeing the media and the news, I am aware of the fact that not only do rare cancers cause 55% of cancer deaths across the UK but a lot of brain cancers are quite rare, particularly in children.”
“The term "rare cancers" may lead to a belief that not many people will be impacted. However, statistics from Cancer52, which is a coalition of over 100 charities, show that the reality is that 47% of cancers diagnosed in the UK are rare and less common cancers and that 55% of deaths from cancer are from rare and less common cancers. It makes sense that, for the majority of families who have been impacted and of individuals who have lost their life, it is because of rare cancers. <BR /> <BR />It is important that we pass the LCM so that Northern Ireland can benefit from any review of orphan medicines. It is particularly distasteful when pharmaceutical companies do not invest in those drugs because they may not bring profits.”
“I am happy to share my party's support for the LCM. For those who are unaware of the backstory, Dr Scott Arthur MP, the Member who has sponsored the Rare Cancers Bill, did so in response to the tragic death of his father-in-law Ivor in May 2018. He died only six months after being diagnosed with a rare brain cancer known as a glioblastoma. Dr Arthur said:”
“<BR /> <BR />It is great to see the Bill being brought to the Chamber. I look forward to participating at the Committee Stage to strengthen the Bill where we think that it should be strengthened and working with the Department to get it passed. The policy areas that can be implemented without having to find funding for them should be, but that is something into which we need to delve a bit deeper. I thank the Minister for introducing the Bill.”
“The Minister, or any other Member who has scrutinised legislation before, will hopefully provide clarity on that issue. We could get a balance if we heard from stakeholders and experts on the issue. However, when I ask stakeholders, whether they are from the Commissioner for Older People's office, the RQIA or anywhere else, if they would put their loved one into a care home that did not have CCTV, their answer is no. We all know why. It is not that you believe that there will always be wrongdoing, but when you hear of scandals, such as those at Dunmurry Manor and Muckamore, you want that protection. You want to make sure that if you, as the best person to look after your loved one, cannot be there, everything is done to protect them. That is something that the Committee could explore further.”
“I understand that the issue is complex, but I still do not understand how having mandatory CCTV in communal areas is outside the scope of the Bill and the powers of the Assembly. I am happy to hear more about that, and I am sure that I will at Committee. <BR /> <BR />I very much welcome the fact that CCTV use has made it into the Bill at this stage. I supported the PSNI in its campaign in that regard at the Policing Board and in Committee, but I want to know more about when the consultation will take place on the regulations and what they will contain. This is the first Bill that I will scrutinise as a member of a Committee since my being elected. Will regulations be made a timely manner, or will they be made some point in the future? That could be something that the Committee looks at.”
“<BR /> <BR />Before I finish, I will speak about CCTV. I am also a member of the Policing Board. Minister, I think that you and I were on the same Policing Board committees for some time. The issue of CCTV at Muckamore came up at the performance committee a number of times. The PSNI specifically called for mandatory CCTV then. It was able to gather together CCTV footage of 1,500 incidents over a few months. There were times when staff did not even know that the CCTV was turned on. Sometimes, it was turned off and then turned back on. I still do not understand why that happened, but if we had not had that footage, would we know about the scale of abuse at Muckamore Abbey? I understand the article 8 implications of ensuring that people have a right to a private life.”
“They have just been implemented in the Department of Justice. Hopefully, those will have maximum impact on learning. I therefore look forward to seeing how serious case reviews are implemented when the Bill becomes law. Independence is important, however, because, as we saw from the hyponatraemia inquiry, and as we see from some of the issues that have been coming out of the Muckamore inquiry, the implementation of some of the recommendations have been overseen by the very people who were involved in those scandals at a management level. Independence is therefore important so that we can learn lessons and implement change. I look forward to delving into that issue more at Committee Stage. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the introduction of offences. Hopefully, they will act as a deterrent to care workers and care providers.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will also talk about the independent advocate and about social workers' powers of investigation. An element of the Ray Jones review was to provide independent advocates for children, particularly in court proceedings. That responsibility is placed on individual social workers. Colin talked about capacity in social work teams. It is very important that we do not place that responsibility on the shoulders of social workers who have been qualified for only a couple of years. It is really important that we implement the workforce plan, because it is not just about vacancies but about where the gaps are. <BR /> <BR />I will talk a little bit about the proposed Adult Protection Board. I agree with Members who said that the board's independence is crucial. Serious case reviews are very important.”
“The next issue that I will speak about is accountability. Minister, you said that, in Part 1 of the Bill, there is a statutory duty on health trusts to do follow-up inquiries. The PSNI is included in the list of organisations that are required to participate in inquiries. I join Paul Frew in saying that there should be a statutory individual duty of candour. There is a statutory duty to participate in inquiries or investigations, but what is the deterrent to not doing so? What if someone does not make a full, wholesome and transparent summary to an inquiry? I am not sure whether the Minister can say today what the deterrent will be if someone does not participate. Perhaps we can look at that at Committee Stage, because it is a very important issue.”
“In his opening remarks on the Bill, the Minister spoke about families and the importance of keeping families involved in any safeguarding process and any orders that the Bill may use and about ensuring that due regard is given to the views of families. I look forward to examining that a bit further, because one of the aspects that we often come up against is where families come into the picture and where their thoughts and views about their loved ones can come in. Mrs Dodds mentioned the sharing of information: that is important. Some trusts have made way to go to court to ensure that information can be shared. The sharing of information and keeping families included is an issue that the Department needs to look at in its totality.”
“I wonder whether that was better in some ways, given how much he was connected to and adored his son and how he placed his trust in the staff at Muckamore hospital. The Bill is as much for people like Mervyn and Dawn and people like Glynn, who campaign every day for their children, as it is for the vulnerable adults who are affected. We are talking about very vulnerable adults: in their parents' eyes, they are still children whom they care about and have put into the care of the state. That is why we are here today, and I look forward to scrutinising the Bill in more depth as we move along to the Committee Stage. <BR /> <BR />The key principles are prevention, autonomy, empowerment, dignity, proportionality, partnership and accountability, and I will speak abut two: dignity and accountability.”
“<BR /> <BR />I will take a few minutes to speak about one of our former Alliance Party councillors, Mervyn Jones. He was an Alliance Party councillor for decades. Mervyn had a young son, Timmy, who lived in Muckamore. Some evenings, Mervyn would arrive late to council meetings. Mervyn passed away, unfortunately, in 2017, but I remember him speaking about dropping Timmy off and picking him up and about the fact that it was said that it was better if Timmy was left outside rather than brought in for the settling process. I always think about Timmy when I think and speak about Muckamore, because I know how much Mervyn and Dawn loved their son. Dawn still does. Mervyn did not live to know what had happened in Muckamore.”
“The collapse of the Assembly has meant that it has taken seven years. That is another example of delay due to the collapse of the Assembly. I hope that we do not reach that point again, because it affects real lives. This is about protecting vulnerable people. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the Bill. I particularly want to say a few words about the context and why we are here. Reading 'Home Truths' again, a number of months ago when the Adult Protection Bill was being discussed at the Committee, reminded you of the gravity of the situation. There was neglect; there were instances of sexual assault on female residents; there were residents leaving the home unnoticed; and there were inhumane and degrading treatments. Those words were used during the investigation. We thought that that would be the worst of it, but, in 2017, other issues arose.”
“I thank the Minister for moving the Second Stage. The Bill has been a long time coming, but it is important that it is here. I will be political for a second but not to the Minister. Eddie Lynch concluded his report, 'Home Truths', back in January 2020. Even in 2018, he foresaw that there would be a delay, but I do not imagine that he thought the delay would be this long. In 2020, he said:”
“I thank the Minister for his statement. I will turn to the allocation to the Department of Justice. I declare an interest in that I am a member of the Policing Board, and I welcome the work that the Minister of Justice has done with the board and the PSNI on the business case for the recovery of the PSNI's workforce over the next five years. <BR /> <BR />We have a future £7 million in this year's allocations. Will that be additional funding to the Department of Justice for the next four years to ensure workforce recovery with more police officers and, in particular, more neighbourhood policing teams so that our community can feel safer and we can be protected in our communities by front-line policing?”
“I want to go back to the issue of the lifecycle approach to the strategy. Will the Minister elaborate on the evidence that he used in deciding to adopt the three-pillar approach? Were the models in other jurisdictions, such as Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, looked at?”
“You do not need to point your finger at me.”
“I thank the Minister for taking an intervention. I really do welcome what she has said, particularly about the geophysical surveys. However, what is really important is what happens when those are carried out, who carries them out, and that institutions or churches, which are not covered by the public cemetery rules, do not have a say in determining who can carry those out, where and when. That is really important, especially when it comes to Milltown cemetery, which I have mentioned before.”
“Whether they are a birth mother, a woman or an adoptee and whether they came to harm physically or psychologically, we owe a lot of care and attention to their lived experience. We must ensure that, throughout the entire process, they are at the heart of the legislation, the redress scheme and the public inquiry. I look forward to continuing to work with them and my colleagues on the Committee for the Executive Office to ensure that the Bill passes.”
“A lot of them were under the care of religious institutions that, given their very origin, their religious beliefs and knowing how they should behave, should have known better. Yet, their so-called Christianity was not carried out in their works. <BR /> <BR />Then there were the state and charity-run institutions. The state already has a greater responsibility to care for every individual, so it is important that the state be represented. We have moved miles, given that every member of every political party in the House is standing up to say, "That was wrong". <BR /> <BR />Before I close, I will turn to the most important people involved: the survivors of the institutions.”
“We know it, see it and hear it in the stories of survivors: women were forced to give birth in secret and had their babies removed from them without their consent. We hear it in the spoken memories of women who were in the Magdalene laundries. Some, heavily pregnant, were forced to do hard labour. Let us reflect on that: they were forced to do hard, unpaid labour, yet some of the institutions claimed benefits for the women who were in their care, according to the testimony of some of the women who participated in the first Queen's University and Ulster University research. They claimed benefits for the women whom they forced to do hard labour, some of whom were heavily pregnant, and the women got no benefits themselves. That is another reason why redress is really important. Some women even worked until their death.”
“I was given assurances in the House that they would do that. Whilst the full detail of the terms of reference is not contained in the Bill, I am concerned about the preservation of those sites. I hope that that is something that the Committee can look at further and that it can be contained in the Bill. I am glad that the junior Minister mentioned the 4,500 records that have been preserved due to the 2022 legislation. It is also really important that records kept at hospitals and churches are accessed too, because we know that a number of churches right across Northern Ireland had links to various mother-and-baby homes and Magdalene laundries and that the churches have the records. <BR /> <BR />I return to the issue of accountability. It is very important that this Bill aims to answer the question of who was responsible.”
“In this Chamber, I have raised my concerns many times about the protection of burial sites, particularly around Milltown cemetery in Belfast. We know that infants who died in mother-and-baby homes in Belfast were buried there, with some relatives speaking up and asking for help to locate remains. I think of Paul Vincent O'Hanlon. He is the big brother of Fionnuala Boyle and he died of bronchial pneumonia at seven months having been in the care of a mother-and-baby home. He lies at the bottom of Milltown cemetery, an area at risk of being disturbed by digging works. Works are already disturbing the burial grounds of thousands of infants. However, we do not know the true number of babies there who came from mother-and-baby homes. That is why I asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to include burial sites in the public inquiry.”
“One of the issues raised by the initial report from Queen's University and Ulster University was the mortality rate amongst infants from mother-and-baby homes and associated children's homes. It is not at all surprising that we see parallels in Northern Ireland with the situation in the Republic of Ireland. I do not want to create fear or scare anyone by highlighting that issue, but it is really important, because we do not have the records for all the babies who were born in mother-and-baby homes. For those who died, we need to find out why they died and where they are buried. <BR /> <BR />That brings me to the topic — it will be no surprise that I mention this — of the preservation and recognition of burial sites. Tuam showed us that, where there was no respect in life, there was even less in death for many of these precious souls.”
“Many women of mother-and-baby homes and their adoptees, and survivors of Magdalene laundries, chose not to talk about their experiences for years, but there were others who did talk. Whether they talked about it or not, everyone knew what was going on. People knew what was happening. They did not know the full scale of it, but they were aware. However, because of the way that society was then — not many years ago — they turned a blind eye. Then, back in 2016 and 2017, the Tuam site was excavated. I pay tribute to Catherine Corless for all the work that she did to painstakingly locate the records of all those babies and find out where they were buried.”
“That is something that we must keep a brief on, ensuring that our Committee is given its right and proper process. Victims and survivors lost faith in the process, and an alternative report was published. We do not want to reach that stage, so it is important that victims and survivors are kept on board at all stages. <BR /> <BR />I also reflect on the issue of vaccine trials. I do not sit on the Committee, so I am not sure whether that is included in the terms of reference of the inquiry, but it is important to clarify whether that is the case, because some of the adoptees have talked specifically about that issue. <BR /> <BR />I turn my attention to burial sites. Junior Minister Cameron will be aware of the many conversations that we have had on that issue.”
“Many institutions could have come forward and offered up information before the legislation made it to the Floor of the House, but they chose not to. I think of the Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry when many people from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland had to come and give evidence. I think, for example, of Tuam. Whether it was the sisters or the religious institutions, they knew where those babies were. There were people who knew where those babies were all along, but they did not come forward before the legislation reached Parliament in the Republic or up here. <BR /> <BR />Lessons can be learned from inquiries elsewhere and from the schemes in the Republic. The commission turned down two opportunities to brief the Oireachtas Committee on the final report but took part in external academic seminars.”
“It is complex not because of the moral or ethical issues behind it — that is not difficult at all — but because of the trauma involved and because we may, at times, inadvertently or mistakenly re-traumatise people. I pay tribute to those people who have tried to work as diligently and sensitively as possible. <BR /> <BR />The power to compel the production of evidence is so important in the public inquiry. The junior Minister outlined the reasons why that had to be included in the Bill. It is really important to highlight — this is one of the stains of our past — the fact that institutions did not come forward when they could have done so. I think, for example, of the retention of babies' remains.”
“When the Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse Bill was going through its various stages in the Assembly in 2012, I remember victims coming to the Assembly to support the Bill and to sit in the Chamber and listen. Some of those victims were unable to make it to the date on which the redress payment went live. I know that their family members were able to avail themselves of it, but it was particularly sad to read about the death of certain individuals who had waited so long but were unable to get the redress payment. That is why we need to ensure that the individual harm payment is not delayed. <BR /> <BR />I acknowledge the difficult work that has already been undertaken by the truth recovery panel, Queen's University and Ulster University. This is a difficult and complex part of our history.”
“There have been a number of public statutory inquiries in Northern Ireland that have had the support of victims throughout the process, but there have also been inquiries from which victims have withdrawn their support because of the lack of support that they felt, be it in giving evidence or through legal representation. I think, for example, of the Muckamore inquiry. I know that some of the family members are not content with that process. It is really important, therefore, that we learn not just from the Republic of Ireland's public inquiry but from other public inquiries that we have held in Northern Ireland. <BR /> <BR />We need to ensure that the individual harm payment is not delayed.”
“When you add those together, how many of them would be disqualified if we were to keep that date of 29 September 2011? I wonder whether the junior Minister in her winding-up speech can say whether any calculations have been done on how many people that might affect and whether TEO will examine that point. That said, it is important that the Bill is not delayed, so I welcome that it is being debated here today. We need to get it through Committee Stage and the House, but we need to make sure that it does not exclude victims. <BR /> <BR />My colleagues spoke about the issue of support from victims.”
“First, I will examine the issue of redress and the current timeline in the legislation. Understandably, many family members of victims are concerned about the date in the Bill if their loved one passed away before it. I do not sit on the Committee, but I have a particular interest in the Bill. I am unsure of the reasoning behind that date. My colleagues Paula Bradshaw, the Committee Chair, and Stewart Dickson have outlined that, during Committee hearings, sufficient answers were not given for why that date is there. Perhaps we can hear more about it from the junior Minister during her winding-up speech. <BR /> <BR />Sorry, I think that I give the wrong figure. I said "15,000", but it was 10,000. There were 10,000 in the mother-and-baby homes and 3,000 in the Magdalene laundries.”
“There will be a lot of focus on the Committee Stage.”
“Those women and men have been through trauma as a birth mother or adoptee. The initial report by Queen's University and Ulster University included the case of one woman who was born in a mother-and-baby home and was brought back to one later in life by her adoptive parents because she was pregnant. That in itself, just a single case, is very traumatic. That is just one individual, and we know that there are 15,000 individuals. <BR /> <BR />Many aspects of the Bill will require greater scrutiny and, perhaps, amending, if required, so I particularly welcome thoughts by the junior Minister and by Members from Sinn Féin that there are some areas of the Bill that they are content possibly to amend.”
“Whether it is Magdalene laundries, mother-and-baby homes, the retention of babies' organs or symphysiotomy — if you do not know what the last named is, I recommend looking it up, because it is too graphic to describe — all those scandals have caused lifelong pain and distress for many women and their families across this island and those transferred across the globe. <BR /> <BR />Since becoming an MLA, I have had the opportunity to meet many of the women and men affected by a mother-and-baby home or Magdalene laundry. The legislation is a big moment for many, because it is a step closer to accountability, validation and the truth about what they or their loved ones have suffered. I thank every one of them for their strength and resilience in ensuring that this day would come.”
“I welcome the legislation that has finally been laid before the Assembly. Women and adoptees have waited too long for a public inquiry and redress, so this is a welcome day. That is not to say that the legislation is perfect, and there will be opportunity to make changes. I note specifically the arbitrary date of 29 September 2011, but I will come to that. <BR /> <BR />Unfortunately, across the island of Ireland, we are no strangers to the harm perpetrated against women and girls over the past century.”
“In 2015, solar thermal tubes, photovoltaic (PV) panels and rainwater harvesting equipment were installed on the roof. We can certainly look into the effect that those are having, and hopefully we will continue to improve that.”
“We work closely with the Department of Finance's energy management unit and other partners to ensure that effective measures are implemented to improve the energy efficiency and carbon footprint of Parliament Buildings wherever possible. <BR /> <BR />The Commission is also committed to sustainable development, including efforts to improve the energy efficiency of Parliament Buildings. In line with that commitment, the Commission first achieved accreditation to the environmental management International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard in September 2011. That accreditation was successfully retained in 2017 and has been retained each year since. To maintain the certification, the Commission must identify environmental impacts, set clear targets and measure performance to demonstrate continuous improvement.”
“I thank the Member for her question. A wide range of energy efficiency measures have been implemented in Parliament Buildings to reduce energy consumption. They include the installation of additional metering systems to enable improved management of energy usage; the replacement of existing lighting with LED lighting in basement areas and corridors on the first, second, third and fourth floors as well as in offices on those floors; the installation of more energy-efficient LED external lighting around the Building; and the replacement of televisions in Parliament Buildings with more energy-efficient models.”
“I thank the Member for his question. Groups that have specific requirements can make prior contact with the visitor experience team, and, if the required adaptations are possible, the team will facilitate them. If they are not immediately available, the team will explore other options to support the group in visiting Parliament Buildings. It is important that any member of the public who wishes to visit Parliament Buildings can do so regardless of whether they have a disability.”
“<BR /> <BR />For people who are deaf or hard of hearing, a signed tour in British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) is available on request. In the Assembly Chamber, we sign one Question Time each week in both BSL and ISL. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly also has an external disability advisory group that provides feedback and assistance on the accessibility of Parliament Buildings and the activities that take place within. Our engagement team is coordinating a Disabled People's Parliament to facilitate people with disabilities, including those with visual or hearing impairments. The Parliament is due to take place in November of this year.”
“The website also has contact details of staff who can assist visitors and answer any questions via telephone or email. We encourage visitors who have additional accessibility requirements to make advance contact with officials to discuss their individual needs. For people who are blind or partially sighted, a Braille tour guide provides information on Parliament Buildings and the Assembly and includes a tactile map of the spaces in Parliament Buildings. We also welcome assistance dogs to the Building. <BR /> <BR />Assembly information can be provided in alternative formats on request. Assembly Committees will make reasonable adjustments to allow people with disabilities to submit evidence in an alternative format, and the Gallery rules for attending Committees are provided in Braille.”
“I thank the Member for his question. With your permission, Principal Deputy Speaker, I may need an extra minute for the answer. <BR /> <BR />People visit Parliament Buildings for a range of reasons, and the Assembly Commission is committed to providing an exemplary and accessible service for all our visitors in a manner that respects their dignity and independence and promotes equality of opportunity and choice. Our approach to accessible services has been developed in consultation with the Equality Commission and underlines our commitment to be an Assembly for everyone. <BR /> <BR />The Assembly website has comprehensive information about visiting Parliament Buildings in a variety of formats, including easy-read and video.”
“Unfortunately, the Assembly Commission is taking forward no plans or proposals to provide a crèche facility at Parliament Buildings. As I said, without partners, such a facility would not be viable at this stage.”
“At the beginning of June, however, the Assembly Commission and other stakeholders were informed that there would be no Northern Ireland Civil Service-wide initiative on workplace nurseries and that colleagues should continue to pursue viable options within their business areas as appropriate. The Assembly Commission remains open to exploring cooperation on such a project, but, without other partners, the proposal's viability is questionable.”
“However, in November 2022, the Department informed the Assembly Commission that work on the childcare strategy had been paused due to the pandemic, and it was unknown whether the strategy would include the provision of a childcare facility, due to the significant changes to the Civil Service workforce on the estate, notably with regard to hybrid working. Subsequently, in September 2023, the Department confirmed that it had no immediate plans for a childcare facility on the Stormont estate. <BR /> <BR />In October 2024, the head of the Civil Service initiated a meeting with relevant stakeholders, including the Assembly's Chief Executive, to once again consider the feasibility of providing a childcare facility on the Stormont estate, and a further meeting took place at the end of April.”
“I thank the Member for her question. There is a bit of background to the issue, so I may take longer than a minute. <BR /> <BR />During 2019, the then permanent secretary of the Department of Finance was in liaison with the Assembly Clerk/Chief Executive and other stakeholders to explore the feasibility of opening a preschool childcare facility on the Stormont estate. The intention was that such a facility could be used by Members, Members' staff, Assembly Commission staff and Civil Service staff who worked on the estate. At the time, the Department advised that the feasibility of a childcare facility on the Stormont estate could be considered as a potential action for inclusion in a draft childcare strategy that the Department of Education was developing.”
“I will move on to a question that the Minister can answer because the topic is within her Department's portfolio and remit. <BR /> <BR />Victims are at the heart of a lot of the assaults that have occurred over the past few weeks. Will the Minister outline a little more the work that her Department has undertaken to support victims of hate crime?”