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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“I thank the Member for taking an intervention. I want to highlight the fact that some of these institutions are global institutions and that these abuses have occurred in other countries around the world, so we need to highlight to them the fact that they have recourse and the means to make the payment to help these people here. Too often, especially when it comes to the Churches, it is left on the shoulders of parishioners, for example, so it is really important to note, from the Government, that some of these are global institutions and they should be participating and helping where they can.”
“We have heard from many families across Northern Ireland about the issue of respite — short-term breaks that can really prevent crisis in the future for families who will then turn to long-term care. I welcomed the £13 million that was announced by the Minister. That should be welcomed, and it was, indeed, welcomed across the Chamber, but we now need to see long-term implementation of the changes that are needed in the workforce and in our community. <BR /> <BR />Every issue adds up to determine a better future for every young person under the care of our government and our state. I will continue to work with every organisation that has a role to play in shaping those young people's lives and, most importantly, will continue to stand up for them and with them to determine their own future.”
“All they want is to determine their own future, but, to do that, they need the best start and help along the way. <BR /> <BR />I have also had the opportunity to ensure that the issue is championed through the Health Committee. We have brought the Health Department and trusts to the Committee to answer, on a quarterly basis, where they are with each of the review's recommendations, but, unfortunately, we have not gone far enough. I understand that funding issues are often in the way of major change, but there is no excuse for delay when it comes to the implementation of policy recommendations that will make lives better. We have seen some improvements, but we need to go further. <BR /> <BR />One of the issues, in particular, that I want to touch on is respite.”
“Every child in our society matters, and their future is in our hands. It has been two years this week since the publication of Ray Jones's review of children's social care services. That review contained 53 recommendations, ranging from a single agency for families and children, which actually works and delivers, to smaller residential homes for children in care and mixed skills in those homes and in the community. <BR /> <BR />Over the past few years, since being elected to the Assembly and while sitting on the Health Committee, I have had the opportunity to meet many of the young people who shaped that review. I thank Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) and Include Youth for introducing me to those very inspirational young people.”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Does she agree that improving and enhancing the opportunity for people to cycle is essential for improving public health and reducing congestion? How will she ensure that the active travel budget prioritises schemes over fixing footways and repairing street lights?”
“I thank the Minister for her statement. Will she outline other projects that will be prioritised by the Stable Lives Safer Streets research hub?”
“Minister, if you go to the Mater Hospital in my constituency in the evening, you will often find many police officers, many staff and many patients who are in crisis. The staff at the hospital know that those patients need help, and they want to give them help but the workloads of approved social workers and GPs are very intense and there are people falling through the cracks. What can the Minister's Department do as an interim measure, before those crisis centres are established, so that those hospitals that are often overwhelmed can get their patients the help that they need?”
“I thank the Minister for bringing forward the statement today. I want to deal in facts, as he said. There were no new policies — not issues — developed before the Executive agreed the strategy. The anti-poverty coalition was stood down by you. The child payment in Scotland reduced poverty from 26% to 22% and absolute poverty from 23% to 17%. Our Ministers put forward suggestions. <BR /> <BR />I take you at your word, however, that, in the implementation of the strategy through the action plan, we will see targets. In my constituency of North Belfast, 28% of children live in poverty. Will the action plan include constituency-based initiatives to target child poverty?”
“I thank the Minister for his answer. Forgive me if I missed or misheard what you said. Will you make it clear that you have brought papers to the Executive for approval? What has caused the delay in approval? Has your Department caused the delay, or have the papers not been brought to the Executive?”
“As a member of the Northern Ireland Policing Board's performance committee, I often look at police officer misconduct, for which the professional standards department is responsible. We are aware that there are some issues with the processes. Will the Minister provide an update on her Department's review of the police officer misconduct process?”
“Minister, almost a year ago, you stood and said an almost identical thing, with perhaps a little difference in the figures, about having to make cuts that would have a detrimental impact. None of the cuts that were outlined by you and your staff at the Health Committee happened. Why did those cuts not happen? Will it be the same again this year? Is it just fear-mongering, or are you trying to find efficiencies and waste in the five trusts across Northern Ireland, perhaps on administration costs?”
“Minister, the statement is nothing short of a disgrace and, at times, a personalised attack on members of the General Practitioners Committee. Our GPs see 200,000 patients a week but constituents need more access. It is the first time, I believe, since devolution that a contract has been imposed on medical staff in Northern Ireland. Is the Minister satisfied with that, and does he think that patients will actually get more access to their GPs?”
“<BR /> <BR />Last year, it was estimated that approximately 100 people in Northern Ireland missed out on a thrombectomy. Some of their stories have been brilliantly captured by a local film-maker, Harry Bateman, in his documentary, 'Thrombectomy: Restoring Life'. I urge Members to take 20 minutes to watch it via the Stroke Association website. In the documentary, Harry outlines the journey that he and his family have been on since his dad suffered a stroke in 2019. I also thank the Stroke Association and the secretariat of the all-party group on stroke for their continued work to campaign and raise awareness of the significant impact that a 24/7 thrombectomy service could have for stroke patients.”
“<BR /> <BR />Thanks to the efforts of hard-working stroke teams, Northern Ireland has a relatively well-developed thrombectomy service compared with the rest of the UK. Despite that, only 6·4% of patients receive a thrombectomy, meaning that we fall short of ensuring that every eligible patient, which is thought to be at least 10% of stroke patients, can benefit from that life-changing treatment. The only way to ensure that every eligible stroke patient receives a thrombectomy is by providing a 24/7 service. In the stroke action plan published in June 2022 the Department of Health committed to delivering a 24/7 service for Northern Ireland by the end of 2024. However, it was not achieved. The delay is unacceptable and will lead to more serious disabilities and, in some cases, death.”
“I rise today as the chair of the all-party group on stroke to highlight World Thrombectomy Day, which takes place tomorrow, Wednesday 14 May. For those who are unaware, thrombectomy is a mechanical procedure that, if carried out on eligible stroke survivors in a timely manner, saves brains by significantly reducing the chance of disability, such as paralysis, visual impairment and communication difficulties after stroke. It saves money, as each patient who receives a thrombectomy ultimately saves the health service an average of £47,000 over five years. It also changes lives, as a quarter of patients who receive a thrombectomy experience reduced disability, while a fifth achieve functional independence.”
“The Minister will be aware that North Belfast has some of the most impoverished areas in Northern Ireland. In developing the programme for tackling educational underachievement, will any pilot projects work hand in hand and, in particular, work in partnership with parents to tackle the issues of poverty that lead to educational underachievement?”
“<BR /> <BR />I am delighted to support the motion, but it is difficult to get up time and again to talk about the unacceptable delays in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Thank you very much for tabling the motion.”
“We are talking about people whose lives are so drastically impacted on — it impacts not only on them but on their families. <BR /> <BR />Another issue that many Members have touched on today is the fact that the statistics are not entirely complete. With the roll-out of Encompass, I ask the Minister this: when will we start to get complete statistics so that we can compare and see where progress has been made? We stood in the Chamber last week and welcomed the progress that was highlighted by the Minister on tackling waiting lists and the initiatives created, but we now need to see and evaluate the effectiveness not only of those actions but of the actions that have been taking place since the Assembly was restored.”
“<BR /> <BR />Those are just two examples of a slight increase from the previous quarter, but 31·7% and 37·9% are not good enough results, and I do not doubt that the Minister agrees. <BR /> <BR />The 2020 study published in the British Medical Journal, which states that, for many cancers, a four-week delay to surgery increases the risk of dying by 6% to 8%, adds even more weight to the idea that we should do something now to change that outcome permanently. Statistics from Cancer Research UK show that almost all those who are diagnosed with breast cancer at stage 1 will survive compared with only three in 10 who are diagnosed at stage 4. Likewise, with bowel cancer, nine in 10 people diagnosed at stage 1 will survive, yet it is only one in 10 for those who are diagnosed at stage 4.”
“In my questions after the ministerial statement last week, I also asked about the planning of other regional waiting lists, because many medics have highlighted the fact that there are multiple people on multiple waiting lists across the trusts. <BR /> <BR />We have also seen that 1,445 cancer patients started treatment following urgent GP referral for suspected cancer and that 37·9% of them started their treatment within the 62-day target. However, the target is 95%, as has been highlighted previously. When we speak to the medics on the ground, whether it is emergency medicine workers, staff, consultants or resident doctors, many say that some of those diagnoses are being made in our A&E departments. That is not a situation that we should find ourselves in.”
“<BR /> <BR />As has already been highlighted by many Members, only 31·7% — the target is 100% — of breast cancer referrals were seen within the 14-day target from September to December 2024. As colleagues have said, we heard from the Minister last week regarding the breast cancer regional referral system, and I asked a question after that ministerial statement about whether we could receive an update on that. If the Minister does not have an update today, we could perhaps ask for that update at our next Health Committee meeting. Regional planning is important. Breast cancer is just one of the cancers that can be targeted regionally.”
“I thank my colleague on the Health Committee for moving the motion. <BR /> <BR />Like others who have already spoken, I express deep concern and dismay at the current state of cancer waiting lists in Northern Ireland. Unfortunately, it is not the first time that we are debating the matter. We have discussed it over many months since the return of the Assembly, but the hope is that, in the end, the situation and outcome will get better. As a member of the Health Committee, I am frustrated by the lack of progress. However, I recognise the attempts at making progress. I can only imagine how difficult it is for members of the public and how they must feel when they do not have the capacity to get the answers that they require to the question of when they will receive their diagnosis or treatment.”
“I thank the Minister for his statement and welcome the actions that he has outlined. It is really important that we tackle waiting lists, particularly for long waiters and those who are on critical and red-flag lists. However, we often hear at Committee that there are people who are on multiple lists across multiple trusts, so what assessment has taken place on the current state of those waiting lists? Has use of a regional waiting list service, such as that for breast cancer, for other specialties been considered?”
“I also thank the wider community, the over 600 people who took the time to sign the petition and everyone who shared it on social media and with friends and family. The number of responses shows the strength of feeling in the community about the need to ensure the safety of pupils at the local primary school.”
“It is disappointing that the Department for Infrastructure's response so far has been that there is not enough traffic or that there has yet to be an accident at the site. That does not justify not installing a safe crossing. Whilst I understand the budgetary pressures that all Departments are under, primary-school pupils should not be required to put themselves in danger each day simply to receive an education, and they should not have to wait until an incident occurs and someone gets injured or worse for action to be taken. <BR /> <BR />The campaign has been a fantastic example of how children and young people can come together over a common cause to demand improvements in their local community. I thank the school council and school community of Ashgrove Primary School for their commitment to it.”
“<BR /> <BR />I am sure that, as elected reps, we all understand that, while we can make arguments for particular requests, one would struggle to find a stronger argument than seeing primary-school children in high-vis vests, explaining the dangers that they face from that busy stretch of road, which mean that they often have to dash between cars.”
“They invited me to walk to school with them early one morning and to see the roundabout. We arrived at 8.20 am, and, upon crossing the road, I found straightaway that it was a very dangerous situation. The school council joined me on 21 November at a meeting with Department for Infrastructure officials at the site to show them just how difficult the situation can be. The pupils were very eloquent in articulating the issues, and, indeed, they had their own options for a safe crossing. Doing that is quite difficult for any person, be they an adult or a child, so for the children to assess the situation and come up with their own design is applaudable.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker. I am delighted to present this petition to you on behalf of the school council at Ashgrove Primary School in my constituency. The petition has been signed by over 600 people, including parents of school pupils and members of the local community. It requests that the Department for Infrastructure installs a safe pedestrian crossing at Ashgrove roundabout. The petition is titled, 'Deliver Safe Crossing at Ashgrove Roundabout to Protect School Kids and Public'. <BR /> <BR />The request came directly from the pupils who make up the school council in that primary school. They raised their concerns about their safety and that of their fellow pupils to me. They have to cross the road at the roundabout twice daily to attend school and return home.”
“Future-proofing the PSNI is important. That can also come about as a result of efficiency in its spend. It is not just about resources; it is also about capital. I am a member of the Policing Board, which looks into these matters closely. What is the Minister's assessment of the NI Audit Office's (NIAO) recent report on the PSNI's fleet management?”
“— parts of our city centre. Will the Minister outline when the experimental pilot that she referred to will come to fruition?”
“I thank the Minister for her answer. Her party's previous Infrastructure Minister said that austerity was one of the reasons that the pedestrianisation had not happened. <BR /> <BR />Belfast City Council recently announced that Culture Night, for which the Cathedral Quarter is a hub, would return to Belfast. That is just one example of the benefits of pedestrianising —”
“The quick guidance that was issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) in England and Wales did not provide clarity; instead, it raises real-world circumstances that could be abused. Any response in Northern Ireland should be carefully considered. It is now time, however, for positive engagement in good faith. I want to assure every member of the trans community that I respect you, that Alliance respects you, and that we will do what we can to ensure that you do not live in fear.”
“The Supreme Court itself emphasised that it should not be seen as a victory for one group at the expense of another. As politicians, we have a responsibility to ensure that no group feels further marginalised or vulnerable because of the decision. Despite what some media reporting suggests, this debate is not about political hypotheticals but about real people who now feel uncertain as they go about their day-to-day lives — people who are living in fear. <BR /> <BR />We in Alliance are committed to advancing equality and human rights for all, including women, girls and the LGBTQIA+ community. We will continue to stand up for those rights and for the dignity and well-being of trans and non-binary people. Despite what some may say, the Supreme Court ruling has not provided clarity on its real-world implications.”
“First, I want to say that we do not want people to be afraid for their future. We do not want people to wake up and be concerned about how the ruling will impact on their lives. That is, however, already happening. These decisions affect people's lives. The ruling cannot be seen in isolation or in a vacuum; instead, it was made in the context of extreme anti-trans rhetoric, which is on the increase in public discourse, including within and outside this House. We have seen those divisive culture wars, filled with misinformation, result in real-world consequences, with hate crimes against the trans community rising in recent years across the globe. <BR /> <BR />The Supreme Court ruling must not be used to fuel division or hostility.”
“We often talk about change coming from within our communities, but change that comes from leadership is quite significant, in that it acknowledges, recognises and apologises for past mistakes. That was not beyond Pope Francis. My only desire and hope, as a person who is outside the Catholic Church, is that, for the next papacy, the conclave can select someone who will carry on his legacy.”
“<BR /> <BR />I speak today on behalf of those who mourn silently, as those in the Catholic Church often do. They mourn through prayer, whether at Mass, at home or in prayer groups. I think of people like my mother, who, like many others across Northern Ireland, travelled to Dublin in 2018 to witness the Pope and had the privilege of travelling to Vatican City. My mother, despite not being able to stand for very long or walk very far, was very determined and waited for many hours just to catch a brief glimpse and get blessed by the Pope. I respect and recognise the importance of the office and the person, but Pope Francis had an impact on all of us who hold the issue of morality so dear, whether we have faith or not.”
“I express my condolences on the death of Pope Francis. I have often spoken out about not being a person of faith. I was raised in a Catholic household and went to a Catholic school. Growing up, there was always a picture of Pope John Paul on the wall — now Pope Francis. Many of the grandchildren in my family just assumed that Pope Francis was another family member until they recently saw him on the news. That is what it is like for many households across the world. Particularly in Northern Ireland, it is not unusual to see a portrait of the Pope in your parents' living room, because they feel so closely connected to their faith. It is therefore not difficult for me to recognise and respect the significance not only of Pope Francis but of the position and the office itself.”
“— and we should ensure that the trust will cope, too.”
“We cannot allow bureaucracy to stop children from accessing the care that they deserve. Families are in crisis and have been for years. We need answers and deliverables that will achieve more respite in the now. It can be done. We have seen that we can recruit staff. We can see that parents are —”
“Minister, you said, the last time that I questioned you on the issue of fire safety, that if we get that open, we can enable Lindsay House to open as well, transferring the long-term placement from one to the other. What are we going to do when those parents who also need long-term placements come to the door of social services and say, "I cannot cope any more"? Are we going to shut down all the other respite facilities yet again? We do not have an answer for that. <BR /> <BR />We also have not got an answer about registration when it comes to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority and whether we can change the rules to allow short-term and long-term placements to coexist. If someone moves into a long-term placement that is supposed to be short-term, the other beds are shut down in their entirety. That is not acceptable.”
“<BR /> <BR />There are also a few more specifics that we need to point to, such as Greenhill. It was said that Greenhill would be taking on a new cabin that had four beds — a four-bed unit — that would have brought it up to being a six-bed unit, except they are actually closing the other two-bed unit. Why is that happening? When we asked about it at Committee a number of weeks ago, it was confirmed, after much deliberation, that it would be a four-bed unit. However, I have an answer to a recent question for written answer that says that it will be a two-bed unit seven nights a week. What on earth is the answer? What will Greenhill actually offer to parents? We need that answer. <BR /> <BR />We also need an answer on Redwood. The Minister committed to the £50,000.”
“It was the same last night when a number of new families reached out for support, many of whom, as my colleague from the Health Committee mentioned, are still waiting for a disability social worker to approach them and assess their respite needs. <BR /> <BR />I heard from families who said that their child has been deemed to need a 5:1 or a 3:1 care ratio of staff to child. However, those people are being abandoned to look after their child on their own. Why is a parent, who, in most circumstances, is a mother, left to deal with all the issues that their child with complex needs has — the child whom they so care about — every day, on a one-to-one basis, but they cannot get respite because the child's needs are so complex that they require a 5:1 or 3:1 staff ratio? Something is simply not adding up.”
“I want to highlight the Minister's commitment to the issue, given the fact that he has appeared before the Committee to answer questions and in the Chamber a number of times. However, I will say that the leadership on the matter comes not just from the Department but from across all the trusts, and therein lie some of the issues. <BR /> <BR />We are engaging on the South Eastern Trust tonight, but the issue is similar across all trusts in Northern Ireland where families are waiting. Many families have been in touch with all of us on the Health Committee and with their local MLAs. Every time I do a social media post or speak to the media on the issue, a new family comes to me for assistance.”
“I thank the Member, who is a colleague of mine from Lagan Valley, for securing the Adjournment debate. This is a very welcome opportunity to be in the Assembly to highlight these issues again. As a member of the Health Committee, I have been focusing a lot of my attention on respite services, and for the purposes of today's debate, I will focus primarily on children's respite services. <BR /> <BR />At the very first Health Committee meeting last year, I raised the matter of the review children's social care services in its entirety, the implementation of Ray Jones's report and, from that, the issue of respite. We did not secure an inquiry then, but it has become a priority for the Committee. It is something on which we have been engaging over the past year.”
“If the Minister will take a point, I do not know the figure — I will say that — but I know that the community and voluntary sector provides not just services that are commissioned by the trusts but services that the trusts should operate but do not because they do not have the ability to do so. It is rather unfair to put that back on the community and voluntary sector, because, as well as running those contracts, those people are running an absolute plethora of services because our services on the statutory side are failing them.”
“— the Executive. <BR /> <BR />As I said, this is not just an issue for the Department of Health. Where it falls within that Department's responsibility, however, it must be prioritised.”
“I look forward to hearing what the Minister will say. The carers' coalition has three asks, none of which is to remove the money from anyone who has received it. Rather, it has asked for an understanding to be provided of part of the scoring criteria, for a review to be undertaken of the funding scheme that will open again in the autumn and for a coordinated response from —”
“We all know that the first cull is of funding for non-statutory services. If we are truly to enable a shift-left agenda and put more into prevention, we need to put our money where our mouth is and prioritise what is needed in the Department of Health.”
“Given the services that Newington Day Centre provides, if it were trust-run, it would cost the trust £144 per person, but, because the services are provided by a day centre that is not trust-run, £17 of funding per person is received from the trust. At some point, the people who will not be able to avail themselves of those services will have to avail themselves of trust-run services. Will we just not offer services to them at all? That is what it is coming to. We already see that in many other areas. When we removed funding for the Healthy Happy Minds pilot, that did not stop children needing counselling services; it just meant that they had to go to the statutory functions.”
“Newington Day Centre has highlighted to me the fact that it will potentially have to stop the provision of some of its services. That provision enables adults to avail themselves of respite day services. The reason why that is so important is that it is not just a health issue; it is a societal issue. Many people with complex needs, particularly adults and older people who rely on carers, often go without, particularly when it comes to being able to be fulfilled and enjoy aspects outside of their healthcare. Therefore, it is important to realise that this is not just a health issue. It is incumbent on all of us to ensure that each of those organisations can maximise the funding that it gets. <BR /> <BR />When I spoke to Newington Day Centre, I wanted to get an assessment not of what it offers but of what it saves the health service.”