Diana Armstrong
Fermanagh and South Tyrone · Ulster Unionist Party · Northern Ireland
“Minister, thank you for your comments on the passing of Tom Frawley, which were befitting of a man of his stature. I, too, send my sympathy to his family.”
“Much is said about working towards regional balance in our economy. What assessment has been made of the geographical spread of PEACE PLUS funding? Can you provide assurances that rural communities are not being left behind in favour of urban centres, which have much more capacity to apply for that funding?”
“I mark a truly remarkable milestone in my home town of Enniskillen: the 350th anniversary of Enniskillen Presbyterian Church, one of the oldest Presbyterian communities in Ireland, with roots stretching back to the 1640s and the arrival of the Scottish settlers in Fermanagh during the plantation of Ulster.”
“The uproar that followed shook the General Assembly for a generation. The congregation was reproved, petitioned and visited by commission after commission, but they refused to move. It took until 1896 for the matter to be settled, and, now, music is accepted in all churches.”
“Nessie's warmth, shown towards a young teacher who had arrived knowing nobody, made all the difference. That is what community means. It is a story of continuity for generations of families, whose generosity and faith have shaped the church that we see today. It has always been my church.”
“It is a reminder that the roots of global stories can often be traced right back to a small community in Fermanagh. <BR /> <BR />Three hundred-and-fifty years is a long time, but what endures is not bricks and mortar: it is the warmth, the welcome and the service to others that has defined that congregation across the centuries.”
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“I thank my fellow constituency MLA Colm Gildernew for bringing forward this very important Adjournment topic today. I attended the same event as Colm in the Sliabh Beagh Hotel, which really raised my awareness of the issues facing the community in the protection of the landscape, species and habitat. <BR /> <BR />Sliabh Beagh is a 9,000-hectare European designated site and area of special scientific interest straddling the Fermanagh-Monaghan border. The peatlands cover a total area of 3,000 hectares: 1,000 hectares in the Republic of Ireland and 2,000 hectares in Northern Ireland. The protection of peat uplands carries ramifications across our whole society. There are many environmental, societal, economic, cultural and tourism reasons why we must take their protection very seriously.”
“Pay parity is not an aspiration; it is a principle. It is a line in the sand that the Assembly must not cross, for, if nothing else, we all can remember only too well the consequences of what happens when it is crossed. We can either preside over a system where staff are asked to continue to wait for pay that, they know, they are entitled to, where patients continue to wait and where our workforce continues to feel abandoned, or the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly can grasp this moment to affirm pay parity, approve the ministerial direction request from my party colleague Minister Nesbitt and show our health workers that we stand with them.”
“She also said that the pay award should be a matter of prioritisation for the Minister and his officials. She heard the Minister's response. <BR /> <BR />Órlaithí Flynn mentioned her support for the motion and her party's unwavering commitment to the staff. She said that they deserve decent, fair pay and working conditions and that we owe the full spectrum of staff nothing less than what is rightfully theirs. <BR /> <BR />Alan Robinson, a Member for East Londonderry, called health staff the "spine of the system" and said that the DUP supports the principle of pay parity, while recognising the financial challenges that exist in public services. My colleague Alan Chambers, a Member for North Down, said that it was shameful that our health sector has not received a pay award. <BR /> <BR />I now turn to my concluding remarks.”
“and talked about his recent visit to Altnagelvin. He also acknowledged the problems that can arise when workers who are on universal credit receive a lump sum, telling us how their money can be clawed back through the universal credit system. He appealed to the Minister to talk to the Finance Minister on that topic. <BR /> <BR />Paula Bradshaw said that the BMA has stated:”
“She hopes that the Finance Minister and the Health Minister can work together to resolve the issue. <BR /> <BR />Mark Durkan from Foyle expressed his:”
“Philip McGuigan, the Chair of the Health Committee, said that Sinn Féin is "committed to solving the problem" in the Executive and will continue to work to make pay parity a reality. Diane Dodds from Upper Bann stated that she is:”
“I will mention some of the comments that were raised. Seven Members contributed to the debate. It is undeniable that there is support and goodwill for our healthcare staff and a recognition that pay parity is needed. Gerry Carroll said that it:”
“If the ever-increasing prospect of industrial action is realised, patients will suffer delays, families will face uncertainty and staff will be forced to make choices that no professional should have to make: to stand up for fairness or to deliver care under impossible strain. The Assembly cannot allow that situation to unfold. Each of us, regardless of which party we are in, made commitments to value our health workers. Now is the time to show that those commitments were not hollow words but promises that we intend to keep. Our health workers in Northern Ireland do the same job as their counterparts in London, Cardiff and Glasgow. They carry the same burdens. Why, then, should their pay packets say otherwise? Why should they be asked to do more for less? <BR /> <BR />I thank everyone who took part in the debate.”
“Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I welcome the motion, as well as the opportunity to make a winding-up speech on what is undoubtedly one of the most pressing and urgent issues facing the Northern Ireland Executive. Having spoken to health workers and their families across Fermanagh and South Tyrone, I know that patience is running out. Time and again, they tell me the same thing, which is that it is not just applause that they want but action. It is not just praise in speeches that they want but parity in pay. The principle of parity matters, and perhaps even more deeply in rural communities and rural constituencies such as mine, where recruiting and retaining staff is already a challenge. <BR /> <BR />We must also be honest about the consequences of inaction.”
“The Minister mentioned DAERA's metric: the 5,000 population figure. What investment can he make in smaller rural communities that fall under that population figure?”
“Minister, I welcome your statement and very much welcome the works that are being undertaken at Sperrinview Special School in my constituency of Fermanagh and South Tyrone. I am very concerned, however, at the continuing escalating cost of emergency SEN placement provision, which has seen an 850% increase in just six years, although I fully appreciate the work that you have to do there. How will your Department and the EA provide equitable access across SEN schools in rural areas?”
“You outlined the steps that the Department is taking, which are commendable. Can you provide an update on the specific steps that the Western Trust is taking to address the challenges of consultant psychiatry pressures?”
“That is the type of vision that the public want to see, that the staff deserve and that patients need to see. Moreover, it is what local rural residents need. I genuinely hope that the Western Trust can provide the requested vision plan. As an MLA, I stand ready and willing to help in any way that I can. <BR /> <BR />Let me be clear: the South West Acute Hospital is not a problem to be solved but an opportunity to be embraced. With its facilities, its dedicated workforce and its entirely loyal community, it has a long and secure future ahead of it. As public representatives, it is our responsibility to make sure that that future is secured for everyone in Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Thank you.”
“All of those obvious blunders have had real consequences and left the local community even more anxious and frustrated. <BR /> <BR />In the eyes of many, the overall process in early summer was not a genuine attempt at engagement but a box-ticking exercise. That is not how healthcare planning should be done. That is why I welcomed the Minister's highly unusual but important intervention on 16 July. His request for a vision plan must be the starting point for a serious strategic conversation about how to restore confidence and clearly set out the role that the hospital hopes to play in years to come. <BR /> <BR />SWAH is an incredible hospital. It is a facility that has huge potential to meet local and regional needs. The trust needs to grasp the current opportunity.”
“Whilst the RQIA report earlier this year made recommendations for action that, I was pleased to see, were all accepted, there is still scope to make further improvements. The pathways are still challenging, and double ED waits still happen. It should have been obvious to absolutely everyone, therefore, that another consultation would need to be handled more carefully, sensitively and diligently. Unfortunately, what the trust presented us with in early July was the exact opposite of that. Instead of building confidence, it eroded it, and, instead of empowering staff and communities, it alienated them. A case in point was its decision to hold only one public engagement event and to do so in the middle of the Twelfth fortnight.”
“That is why the RQIA review ordered by Robin Swann last year was an important step forward. <BR /> <BR />I expect that I am not alone among the MLAs from Fermanagh and South Tyrone in having received harrowing accounts of the experiences of some patients. I pay tribute to the various local campaigners in the Gallery today — you are welcome — who have asked patients to come forward to relay those lived experiences. I also pay tribute to SOAS for the production of its road map, a set of proposals that could be part of the solution. <BR /> <BR />It is important that other critical voices, such as that of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS), are heard and listened to in this space.”
“The support staff, doctors, nurses, midwives and allied healthcare professionals (AHPs) who dedicate themselves every day to caring for patients are the backbone of those institutions, and we owe them our gratitude. They are skilled and resilient, and they deserve our admiration and, most important, our support. <BR /> <BR />Understandably, there is a lot of concern about the future of SWAH and the services that it provides. The trust's initial decision in 2022 to temporarily suspend emergency general surgery in response to staffing challenges left a number of unanswered questions and concerns. It did not help that, whilst commitments were given at that time, particularly in relation to the pathways, regrettably, not all of those commitments were properly delivered upon.”
“As the Minister has seen with his own eyes on many occasions, the SWAH is different: it is a hospital that still has the space, equipment and flexibility to provide world-class care. That is why I look forward to the trust and the Minister coming forward with further proposals for even greater utilisation. <BR /> <BR />I know that the Minister has specifically identified the uncommissioned theatre capacity as an opportunity that he expects to see utilised. The hospital has lots of potential to do more. Thanks to the efforts of the Minister, levels of elective activity in the SWAH have never been as significant as they are now. <BR /> <BR />Of course, a hospital is never just a building. A hospital's greatest strength is its workforce.”
“First, I join others in sending my best regards to my constituency colleague Deborah Erskine. Welcoming a new child into the family is precious, and I sincerely hope that she experiences a really healthy and happy remainder of her pregnancy. <BR /> <BR />I welcome the opportunity to speak on future services at South West Acute Hospital, an issue that goes to the very heart of healthcare in Fermanagh and Tyrone and, indeed, across the region. The South West Acute Hospital is one of the most modern and well-designed facilities anywhere in Northern Ireland. Purpose-built, state-of-the-art and deliberately built with the long term in mind, it remains a hospital with enormous potential. <BR /> <BR />Too often, in our wider public-sector estate, we talk about crumbling buildings or outdated infrastructure.”
“I was against the plan, because it goes far beyond the original NAP, and the proposals would have had a devastating impact on the agri-food sector. The reality of the NAP was that the Minister's carrot was too small and his stick too big. The agri-food sector must be part of the solution and not be treated as the problem. For that reason, the UUP will vote against the motion. <BR /> <BR />Lough Neagh is not a problem that can be solved by scapegoating one sector. The situation demands a multi-departmental response — something that has been lacking of late — and a clear strategy that has buy-in from all stakeholders.”
“The warning signs on Lough Neagh have been visible for years, yet the relevant Departments have failed to take coordinated, preventative action. The presence of 836 storm overflows that discharge directly or indirectly into the Lough Neagh management area and its tributaries points to a broader systemic issue, one that implicates not just DAERA but the Department for Infrastructure, which is failing us all. <BR /> <BR />It is also notable to acknowledge the invasive zebra mussels, the presence of which has changed the ecology by clarifying the water and shifting where and when the algae can grow. <BR /> <BR />I will briefly mention the nutrients action programme, as it is important that I clarify things.”
“It is therefore essential that we move past finding a scapegoat to understanding what is happening in Lough Neagh, because blaming farmers is too simple. <BR /> <BR />Farming is but one spoke in a large wheel that is affecting the lough, yet, according to AgriSearch analysis, the initial NAP proposals that Minister Muir published would have generated annual losses of around £1·6 billion across agriculture in Northern Ireland, had they been implemented. It is not unique to Northern Ireland but a global problem. In Great Britain, Lake Windermere is impacted on by raw sewage. <BR /> <BR />The Lough Neagh ecosystem is shaped by biology as well as chemistry: it is shaped by many inputs and many outputs.”
“I thank the Members who tabled the motion. People from all walks of life across Northern Ireland are concerned at the situation that is unfolding on Lough Neagh. They all want to have good-quality water in their inland waterways and, of course, in Lough Neagh, but I can say without a doubt that no one, for one moment, wants to play the blame game that some in the Chamber would have us play. We have to approach the problem with respect and understanding: respect for those who are already impacted on and understanding of the effect that any intended future actions will have on other stakeholders and sectors as we work towards having a plan to address the blue-green algae. If we are to move forward, it will require community and sector buy-in, not a top-down approach and virtue signalling in the House.”
“Will the Minister explain in greater detail any progress that has been achieved in reducing the prevalence of bovine TB on the island? Will he join me in meeting some farmers in County Fermanagh who have been affected?”
“I thank the Minister for his responses so far. He answered this question in some way in his response to Mr McCrossan. As the Minister knows, I represent a border area that is grappling with record levels of TB in cattle herds. Farming families will have seen the statement as having fairly weak words in relation to:”
“I thank the Minister for his reply. Has the delay with the A5 been factored into the next three-year Budget?”
“Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, where James and Sara were pupils, opened its doors to the friends of the young victims and to special counselling professionals from the Education Authority to ensure that the young people could have an opportunity to talk about their sense of loss and the fear that they were feeling. <BR /> <BR />The sense of shock and loss following that horrific event still resonates, and we must say collectively, "Never again". Violence against women and domestic violence is a scourge on society, and we cannot fail more women and children. We must turn words into action and act to make this place safer. Our heartfelt sympathies remain with the families and friends of Vanessa, James and Sara.”
“<BR /> <BR />I pay tribute to the workers from the emergency services who attended the scene at Drummeer Road that morning. We owe them respect and gratitude for the professional way in which they conducted their roles in the most difficult circumstances. I am aware that their attendance at the scene has had a profound impact and that counselling services are ongoing for those professionals who require it. I commend the local clergy, churches, schools, Gaelic clubs and Women's Aid for comforting friends, neighbours and the hundreds of mourners who attended the vigil and the funeral service in Maguiresbridge.”
“I rise on behalf of the community of Maguiresbridge in County Fermanagh, where the shadow of heartbreak Iingers on, with the community united by the unimaginable loss of three cherished lives: Vanessa Whyte, Sara Rutledge and James Rutledge. In the silence that is left behind, the community remembers not just the sorrow but the love, laughter and light that they brought to the lives of those who knew them. Their memory is defined not by the tragedy but by the warmth that they gave, the bonds that they built and the legacy of love that endures beyond the pain. That is why I want to place on record my heartfelt condolences to the families of those involved in the tragedy as they navigate their way through this difficult time.”
“<BR /> <BR />On behalf of the Ulster Unionist Party, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his wife, Eileen, children, wider family circle and his former comrades.”
“He was instrumental in key decisions, notably on the location of the Waterways Ireland headquarters in Enniskillen and in campaigning alongside the community to bring the South West Acute Hospital to the area. However, his heart was always in Belleek, where he worked tirelessly on local economic and heritage projects, most recently through the Belleek Development and Heritage Group. <BR /> <BR />When I encountered Tommy, he always greeted me with the same warm, genuine smile and asked how I was getting on in politics. He was a man who brought people with him with no need to be in the spotlight. He was highly respected as a decent man, and he will be remembered with great affection.”
“I have listened to the warm tributes that are being paid to Tommy Gallagher, who served the people of Fermanagh and South Tyrone with passion as their MLA for over a decade. Tommy was a kind and humble Fermanagh man who was always proud of his Fermanagh roots. He had a willingness to reach across the political divide in pursuit of a better future for the whole community, which, sometimes sadly, is something that is not always seen today. My Fermanagh colleagues and I recognised that Tommy was a man of conviction and decency who cared deeply for this place and its people and someone whom we could work with to achieve better outcomes for the west. <BR /> <BR />His achievements were worthy.”
“Thank you for your response, Minister. You will be aware that Unite the union and the GMB union are doing a lot of background work to protect jobs. You mentioned that you are doing that too. You may also have noted that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is seeking responses to its inquiry into Boeing's anticipated acquisition of Spirit AeroSystems. Will your Department feed into that inquiry as well?”
“I ask you to implement short-term solutions, such as part-time or weekend custody services in County Fermanagh, to alleviate pressure and improve access; to protect and restore the rural legal infrastructure, including local court hearings and police facilities, to ensure fair, proportionate and effective justice delivery; to collaborate with the Law Society and rural solicitors to identify service gaps and develop sustainable, long-term strategies for the legal profession; and to develop and publish a rural justice access strategy that aligns with statutory and policy commitments to ensure equitable justice provision across Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />I thank the Law Society for its sterling work in supporting law practices regionally and for recognising the value of their specialised work. I also refer to the Department of Justice's enabling access to justice programme, which explicitly recognises the need to modernise and reform how justice is delivered, with particular emphasis on removing barriers for rural and disadvantaged communities. I therefore call on you, Minister, to review the closure of Enniskillen custody suite, the decision on which was predicated on occupancy metrics during the COVID pandemic period.”
“Regional balance should equally apply to legal services. In rural areas, we have seen a number of essential services lost — local banks, community transport services, emergency general surgery at the South West Acute Hospital — and facilities closed, albeit temporarily, such as Fermanagh Lakeland Forum for an estimated three-year rebuilding programme. The removal of those services has the potential to reduce the level of residential business footfall in the area, as people want to live closer to acceptable services. It could be the death knell for local legal practices if we do not take cognisance of the consequences of those withdrawals. We cannot let that happen to legal practices that offer such valuable professional services in rural towns and communities.”
“<BR /> <BR />Lack of access to courts also means that solicitors face difficulties in lodging court documents, often travelling across the country when required to do so. Locally, I am told by solicitors that requests for Land Registry documents are a huge challenge due to the time that it takes for documents to be retrieved. That has a knock-on effect on the justice system. It slows the entire process down, costs money and time, and lowers the confidence of the public in the justice system. Minister, is it only rural practices that face those delays? Is it because of their size that they do not receive a timely service and retrieval of information from the Land Registry? <BR /> <BR />The Minister for the Economy seeks to grow the economy with the subregional economic plan for regional balance throughout Northern Ireland.”
“<BR /> <BR />Equally, local solicitors face the burden of long travel when attending court sittings. Enniskillen courthouse is open only three days a week, primarily for the delivery of Magistrates' Court business. Court hearings are increasingly being centralised in Omagh and beyond, yet again adding difficulties for solicitors in increased travel time, additional costs, stress and pressure. For example, the nearest Crown Court sits in Dungannon, meaning a 100-mile round trip from Irvinestown or Enniskillen. Practitioners will tell you of the difficulties encountered by their clients in attending courts. As one local solicitor stated, "Justice delayed is justice denied, but, in Fermanagh, justice is no longer just delayed: it is geographically out of reach".”
“A single taxi fare from Enniskillen to Strabane can cost between £80 and £100. In limited circumstances, to bring a client home from custody, police will provide a taxi service, in the rear of a police vehicle, for the most vulnerable who have no means to pay for transport. There is a question as to whether that is an effective use of police resources. <BR /> <BR />For local legal practices, that means that solicitors for the Fermanagh and South Tyrone area who are called to attend custody suites face travelling long distances with the PSNI custody teams to areas with which they are not familiar, often at unsociable hours. Minister, will you tell us whether you agree that that is acceptable? That is hardly a proposition to attract solicitors to rural practices.”
“The removal of officers from their local area impacts on response times and on their ability to progress ongoing investigations, placing additional pressures on the remaining resources in the rural area. <BR /> <BR />Local solicitors tell of encountering a range of clients in the custody setting. The majority of clients could be classed as being vulnerable due to educational, mental health or economic challenges. Following their arrest and interview, clients are expected to make their own way home from Strabane or further afield. In addition, clients are often required to return to custody on subsequent occasions to sign their bail or undergo further interviews. Inadequate bus timetables from County Fermanagh to Strabane often eliminate public transport as a viable option for clients who are travelling to and from custody.”
“Why was that decision taken? Why was an impact assessment not carried out? Minister, I would like to know the answer to those questions. The next nearest custody suite to Enniskillen, at that time, was Omagh, which has a 10-cell suite. In October 2023, it was announced that it would close for 12 months for refurbishment works. It remains closed today. The nearest custody suite to which Fermanagh PSNI can bring arraigned individuals is Strabane, which has a six-person cell. That is a designated custody suite for County Fermanagh, Omagh, Strabane and surrounding areas. That custody suite is regularly over capacity at weekends, meaning that the PSNI officers have to take individuals who were arrested in County Fermanagh to other custody suites, such as those in Waterside, Antrim or Lurgan. That ties up valuable PSNI resources.”
“That can mean that a solicitor who lives in, say, Lisnaskea will be required to attend a police station custody suite in Strabane in the early hours of the morning. Imagine what it is like for a solicitor to have to travel on rural roads at that time in the morning to deal with the case that has presented and then to travel home again, knowing that they may have caring responsibilities at home and a full day's work awaiting them in the morning. If you imagine that, you can clearly see how a rural practice is seriously disadvantaged by its peripherality and distance from services. <BR /> <BR />In March 2018, the custody suite in Enniskillen PSNI station closed for refurbishment works. Those works were delayed, and, in November 2021, the decision was taken, without consultation, to close the custody suite permanently.”
“At post-qualifying stage, rural firms pay salaries in the region of £17,000 to £22,000 per annum, whilst alternative, larger legal service providers can offer salaries of £50,000-plus per annum and more flexible working arrangements. With salaries like that on offer, you can imagine where newly qualified solicitors would prefer to start their careers. Tempting, higher salaries mean that smaller rural practices, such as those in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, face genuine struggles to attract qualified solicitors who will put down roots in the area and become part of an established team that offers professional services to the community. <BR /> <BR />It is especially difficult in rural practices when certain cases require solicitors to be on call during the night.”
“Despite the contribution that the sector makes to the economy, significant challenges in recruitment and retention present in rural constituencies. The 2022 Hook Tangaza report, 'The Solicitor Profession in Northern Ireland', states:”
“Solicitor firms are significant employers not just of legal talent and secretarial staff but of administrators and financial staff. Over 100 jobs have been created within the 16 firms in Fermanagh. The Adjournment topic is an appeal to the Minister to support those small law firms and value the role that they play in the community.”
“The downturn in those taking legal aid cases risks creating a dearth of access to justice in Fermanagh, and most likely the same scenario is experienced in South Tyrone, and that affects access to legal services for the most vulnerable in our society. <BR /> <BR />Law practices in Northern Ireland represent around 63% of legal sector activity. Their work was valued at approximately £460 million in 2019.”
“<BR /> <BR />The majority of those firms are small, and they struggle with the rising costs of doing business, such as increased National Insurance contributions; rates payable; the recruitment and retention of staff; the constant need for staff upskilling to ensure that they offer the most up-to-date and reliable service; access to training in new and developing digital technologies such as AI; and, indeed, succession planning. Of the 16 firms in County Fermanagh, at least three have ceased to provide legal aid in recent years. Stagnant fees, payment delays and increased bureaucracy in the system have discouraged firms from taking on legal aid-assisted cases due to the impact that those factors have on their economic sustainability.”
“The debate seeks to speak for legal practitioners not just in Fermanagh but in neighbouring rural constituencies who face similar issues and pressures. At the outset, I acknowledge the vital role played by solicitors in ensuring access to justice in rural areas such as Fermanagh and South Tyrone. Those services are an essential part of the local community, delivering services that no other organisation can deliver at a grassroots level, such as residential conveyancing, commercial transactions, wills, probate, family matters and support in court cases. Out of the just over 430 private practice solicitor firms in Northern Ireland, there are only 16 such firms in the whole of County Fermanagh. Whilst I quote Fermanagh in this instance, it is understood that South Tyrone shares similar pro rata statistics.”
“Thank you, Madam Principal Deputy Speaker. I welcome those attending this evening, particularly those in the Public Gallery. Thank you all for waiting for this length of time. We have Colin Mitchell, president of the Law Society of Northern Ireland, and he has some colleagues with him. You are welcome to hear the Adjournment debate. <BR /> <BR />I thank the Minister for being in the Chamber this evening, and I look forward to her consideration of and response to the topic being addressed. I thank my fellow MLAs from Fermanagh and South Tyrone in advance for their contributions to the debate that will follow. <BR /> <BR />Recently, the Law Society invited MLAs in County Fermanagh to attend a meeting to share concerns about access to justice and legal services in the county.”
“Minister, your Department is in possession of thousands of acres of farmland across Tyrone. It is unclear whether, following the judgement, your Department can still hold that land. Will you assure us that, if the land is returned, compensation for environmental destruction will be issued from your Department?”